Drs. Broadhurst and Ghosal named Gilmore Award winners

A scientist working to apply novel technology to solve patient- and community-centered challenges in high-consequence infectious disease case management and another striving to identify new targets and biomarkers for cancer therapy and develop strategies to overcome cancer-therapy drug resistance were recently named winners of UNMC’s prestigious Joseph P. and Harriet K. Gilmore Distinguished New Investigator Award. 

Jana Broadhurst, MD, PhD, and Gargi Ghosal, PhD, were presented this year’s Gilmore Award at the College of Medicine Dean’s Research Symposium April 13. 

“Drs. Broadhurst and Ghosal reflect the wealth of talented young investigators in the College of Medicine,” Dean Bradley Britigan, MD, said. “Their recognition as recipients of the Gilmore awards places them among a prestigious list of faculty who have gone on to have outstanding research careers. My congratulations to them.” 

Dr. Broadhurst is an assistant professor in the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology. She also holds appointments as medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit Clinical Laboratory, Emerging Pathogens Laboratory, and with the Global Center for Health Security. 

“I am deeply grateful to the Gilmore family, the Emerging Pathogens Laboratory and Emerging Threats Epidemiology Group teams, our phenomenal collaborators, community partners, study participants, the College of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Global Center for Health Security. We will strive to strengthen and build upon these great partnerships.” 

Jana Broadhurst, MD, PhD

Dr. Ghosal is an associate professor in the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy.  

“It’s an honor to receive this prestigious award. This recognition extends to all the hardworking members of the Ghosal Lab. Our team is encouraged by this recognition and excited to continue our scientific contribution in the field of genome instability and DNA repair. I am grateful for the phenomenal support of my department chair Vimla Band, PhD, my mentors, the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, funding sources and for all the resources available at UNMC for our research.” 

Gargi Ghosal, PhD

Dr. Ghosal said her research journey began by understanding how DNA – the blueprint of life – is copied from one daughter cell to another, until cell death, with no errors. DNA is subjected to continuous damage and the cells have several DNA repair pathways that respond to DNA damage and maintain genome stability. Her lab works to examine how deregulation of the DNA damage response and repair pathways drives the development of cancer, premature aging syndromes and aging. One of her long-term goals is to see translation of these discoveries into improved care for cancer patients. 

Dr. Broadhurst gained critical field laboratory experience during the mid-2010s West Africa Ebola epidemic. Since coming to UNMC, her work has spanned NIH- and CDC-funded projects for novel infectious disease diagnostic development and clinical and surveillance testing programs in underserved community settings. Dr. Broadhurst and her team developed the modified PCR saliva COVID-19 test used on campus.