Two CVRC members, Karen Hirschi, PhD, and Lukas Tamm, PhD, received Research Achievement Awards from the University of Virginia on February 5. The awards were presented by President Jim Ryan, Executive Vice President and Provost Ian Baucom, and Vice President for Research Lori McMahon at the 6th annual Research Achievement Awards Event at Boar’s Head Resort.
Dr. Hirschi received a Distinguished Research Award for her internationally recognized work on vascular biology. Her specialty is studying the growth of blood vessels, cellular regeneration, and how these factors influence vascular disease. Her reputation led her to serve as the President of the North American Vascular Biology Organization from 2014-2015, receive major awards from the American Heart Association, and become the founding director of UVA’s Developmental Genomics Center.
Dr. Tamm received a Research Mentor Award for creating a welcoming, collaborative research culture and guiding his mentees to prominence in their fields. He has a record of helping his students find opportunities for professional growth, funding, and recognition in the scientific community in addition to producing highly impactful research on membrane proteins.
Additionally, Drs. Gary Owens, PhD, (resident member) and Kevin Janes, PhD (member) were recognized for being two of the 25 professors who brought the most external funding to UVA. Drs. Brant Isakson, PhD, (resident member), Jayakrishna Ambati, MD, Lian-Wang Guo, PhD, Tajie Harris, PhD, Richard Price, PhD, and Joshua Wythe, PhD, (members) were recognized by their Deans and Schools for “going above and beyond in their research endeavors”.