Alexander “Sasha” Kabanov, Ph.D., Parke-Davis Chair in Pharmaceutics and director of the Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, has been named the fourth Scientist Laureate for the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The award is the highest honor UNMC bestows on researchers.
Dr. Kabanov, who is on the faculty of the UNMC College of Pharmacy, was honored along with 22 other researchers recently named UNMC Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator award winners for 2009.
“Dr. Kabanov has shown innovation and energy that have been astonishing, both for their high level and for their diversity,” said Tom Rosenquist, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research. “He is a research star, not just at UNMC, but in the United States and around the world. I am extremely pleased that UNMC is able to attract and retain scientists of this caliber.”
Dr. Kabanov, who came to the medical center in 1994, is one of the world’s leading experts in nanomedicine. He was a Distinguished Scientist in 2006.
The Distinguished Scientist award — which is sponsored by the chancellor — recognizes researchers who have been among the most productive scientists in the country during the past five years.
New Investigator awards go to outstanding UNMC scientists who in the past one to three years have secured their first funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense or other federal sources.
New Investigators also had to demonstrate scholarly activity such as publishing their research and/or presenting their findings at national conventions.
Distinguished Scientists and New Investigators receive merit-based salary supplements of $10,000. Dr. Kabanov receives a $20,000 supplement for being named scientist laureate.
UNMC will host an event on April 6 to recognize the honorees.
The 2009 Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator award winners are (* denotes New Investigator award recipient):
College of Medicine
· Steven Caplan, Ph.D.
· John Davis, Ph.D.
· Howard Fox, M.D., Ph.D.
· Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D., Ph.D.
· Tammy Kielian, Ph.D.
· Jennifer Larsen, M.D.
· Nora Sarvetnick, Ph.D.
· James Turpen, Ph.D.
· Paul Dunman, Ph.D. *
· Lie Gao, Ph.D.*
· Neena Haider, Ph.D.*
· Duygu Harrison-Findik, D.V.M., Ph.D.*
· Paul Sorgen, Ph.D.*
· Feng Xie, M.D. *
College of Pharmacy
· Peter Kador, Ph.D.
· Luis Marky, Ph.D.
· Elena Batrakova, Ph.D.*
College of Public Health
· Todd Wyatt, Ph.D.*
Eppley Institute
· Tadayoshi Bessho, Ph.D.
· Youri Pavlov, D.Sc. *
· Tahir Tahirov, Ph.D.*
College of Nursing
· Bernice Yates, Ph.D.*
Previous laureates
· 2006 — Stephen Rennard, M.D.;
· 2007 — Irving Zucker, Ph.D.;
· 2008 — Howard Gendelman, M.D.
As the state’s only academic health science center, UNMC is on the leading edge of health care. Breakthroughs are possible because hard-working researchers, educators and clinicians are resolved to work together to fuel discovery. In 2009, UNMC’s extramural research support topped $100 million for the first time, resulting in the creation of 3,600 jobs in Nebraska. UNMC’s academic excellence is shown through its award-winning programs, and its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading health care centers. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 550 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.