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OAVCR Excellence Awards honor 2025 research accomplishments

Published on Monday, November 17, 2025

By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

Photos By: Jay Ferchaud/ UMMC Communication

The University of Mississippi Medical Center honored its top researchers at the 2025 Research Excellence Awards, recognizing work aimed at transforming health care and improving lives.  

The annual ceremony, held Wednesday at the Norman C. Nelson Student Union, celebrated faculty and staff whose research has attracted significant external funding, advanced scientific understanding and strengthened the university’s reputation as the state’s leader in biomedical research. UMMC presented two platinum medallion awards, seven gold, eight silver and nine bronze.

Honors for Early Career Investigator and Meritorious Research Service-Faculty were also presented, as was the Richard L. Summers Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Research Award, Translational Research Team Award, the Melissa and Pete Shepherd Jr., PhD New Investigator Prize and two patent awards. 

Gene Bidwell 2023
Bidwell

“This event is about more than numbers and grants,” said Dr. Lee Bidwell, associate vice chancellor for research. “It’s about celebrating the people whose curiosity, collaboration and commitment are driving discoveries that make a difference for Mississippians.” 

UMMC saw a total of $101,429,993 in research funding during the past fiscal year. The Medical Center’s research included an all-time high 482 proposal submissions, 336 awards and more than 200 active clinical trials. 

UMMC’s research portfolio spans more than 400 active projects addressing Mississippi’s most pressing health challenges, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, addiction and rural health disparities. Research achievements include: 

  • The Medical Center has established the Mississippi Violence Injury Prevention Program, led by Dr. Lei Zhang, professor and associate dean for research and scholarship in the School of Nursing, through a $5.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.  
  • The Jackson Heart Study Field Center celebrated its 25th year of operation and was renewed for five more years with a $17.3 million NIH contract. 
  • The Balance and Auditory Research Center was established in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery with a $11.9 million NIH grant, secured by Dr. Wu Zhou, professor of otolaryngology. 
  • UMMC’s Cancer Center and Research Institute is boosting research through the launch of a new cancer biology PhD track that’s now enrolling students and has recruited 17 new faculty members since 2023. 
  • Dr. Babette LaMarca, chair and professor of pharmacology and toxicology, led the founding of the Mississippi Preeclampsia Collaborative Center, funded by a new NIH Specialized Center of Research Excellence (SCORE) grant of $7.4 million. This SCORE grant brings together a unique interdisciplinary team of established and productive primary and co-investigators with significant expertise in the pathophysiology of hypertension and preeclampsia from the Cardiovascular-Renal Research Center and Women’s Health Research Center, coupled with the Mississippi Center of Excellence of Perinatal Research at UMMC. 
  • The MIND Center’s Dr. Thomas Mosley, Robbie and Dudley Hughes Distinguished MIND Center Chair, and Dr. Gwen Windham, professor of medicine, collaborated with researchers across the country to discover the lifetime risk of dementia, resulting in publication in Nature Medicine. 
Caroline Compretta 2023
Compretta

“In Mississippi, we continue to face a unique set of challenges and opportunities in health care and research,” said Dr. Caroline Compretta, assistant vice chancellor for research. “Our population is among the sickest and most marginalized in the country, making the work of our researchers and providers more vital than ever." 

Cari Fowler 2021.jpg
Fowler

From early-career innovators to seasoned scientific leaders, the 2025 OAVCR Excellence Awards showed UMMC’s impact as a hub of research excellence. 

“Our researchers are solving problems that matter most to Mississippi,” said Cari Fowler, senior director of research operations at UMMC. “They’re finding new ways to prevent disease, improve care and build healthier communities.” 

Those honored include: 

Platinum Medallion - $5 million 

  • Gailen D. Marshall, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine 
  • Lei Zhang, PhD, School of Nursing 
Dr. Lee Bidwell, right, associate vice chancellor for research, congratulates platinum medallion winners Dr. Gailen Marshall, R. Faser Triplett Chair of Allergy and Immunology and Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor, and Dr. Lei Zhang, professor and associate dean for research and scholarship in School of Nursing, Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor and Harriet G. Williamson Endowed Chair of Population Health Nursing.
Bidwell, right, congratulates platinum medallion winners Dr. Gailen Marshall, R. Faser Triplett Chair of Allergy and Immunology and Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor, and Dr. Lei Zhang, professor and associate dean for research and scholarship in School of Nursing, Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor and Harriet G. Williamson Endowed Chair of Population Health Nursing.

Gold Medallion - $1 million 

  • Lais F. Berro, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior 
  • Alexandre da Silva, PhD, Department of Physiology and Biophysics 
  • Tearsanee C. Davis, DNP, FNP-BC, Center for Telehealth 
  • Thomas E. Dobbs, MD, Department of Population Health Science 
  • Ajay P. Singh, PhD, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Center and Research Institute 
  • Andrew C. Voluse, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior 
  • Wondwosen K. Yimer, PhD, Department of Data Science 
Dr. Lee Bidwell, left, associate vice chancellor for research, and Dr. Caroline Compretta, right, assistant vice chancellor for research, honor gold medallion winners, from left, Dr. Alexandre da Silva, associate professor of physiology and biophysics; Dr. Wondwosen Yimer, associate professor of data science; Dr. Lais F. Berro, assistant professor of psychiatry; Dr. Tearsanee C. Davis, director of clinical programs and strategy for the UMMC Center for Telehealth; Dr. Andrew C. Voluse, associate professor of psychiatry; and Dr. Ajay Singh, professor of cell and molecular biology and associate director of basic and translational research at CCRI.
Bidwell, left, and Dr. Caroline Compretta, right, assistant vice chancellor for research, honor gold medallion winners, from left, Dr. Alexandre da Silva, associate professor of physiology and biophysics; Dr. Wondwosen Yimer, associate professor of data science; Dr. Lais F. Berro, assistant professor of psychiatry; Dr. Tearsanee C. Davis, director of clinical programs and strategy for the UMMC Center for Telehealth; Dr. Andrew C. Voluse, associate professor of psychiatry; and Dr. Ajay Singh, professor of cell and molecular biology and associate director of basic and translational research at CCRI.

Silver Medallion - $500,000 

  • Lorena M. Amaral, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology 
  • Hanna J. Broome, PhD, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 
  • Noha S. Elsayed, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology 
  • Candace Howard-Claudio, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology 
  • Amy Kohtz, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior 
  • Matthew E. Kutcher, MD, Department of Surgery 
  • Brigitte E. Martin, PhD, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 
  • Utsav Nandi, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine 
Dr. Lee Bidwell, left, associate vice chancellor for research, and Dr. Caroline Compretta, right, assistant vice chancellor for research, congratulate silver medallion winners, seated from left, Dr. Candace Howard-Claudio, professor of radiology; Dr. Amy Kohtz, assistant professor of psychiatry; Dr. Matthew Kutcher, associate professor of trauma and critical care surgery; and standing, Dr. Utsav Nandi, associate professor of emergency medicine; Dr. Hanna Broome, associate professor of cell and molecular biology; Dr. Noha Elsayed, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology; Dr. Lorena M. Amaral, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology; and Dr. Brigitte Martin, assistant professor of cell and molecular biology.
Bidwell, left, and Compretta, right, assistant vice chancellor for research, congratulate silver medallion winners, seated from left, Dr. Candace Howard-Claudio, professor of radiology; Dr. Amy Kohtz, assistant professor of psychiatry; Dr. Matthew Kutcher, associate professor of trauma and critical care surgery; and standing, Dr. Utsav Nandi, associate professor of emergency medicine; Dr. Hanna Broome, associate professor of cell and molecular biology; Dr. Noha Elsayed, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology; Dr. Lorena M. Amaral, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology; and Dr. Brigitte Martin, assistant professor of cell and molecular biology.

Bronze Medallion - $250,000 

  • Lavanya Challagundla, PhD, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 
  • Kristin Edwards, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology 
  • Lisa A. Haynie, PhD, FNP-BC, School of Nursing 
  • Cynthia W. Karlson, PhD, Department of Pediatrics 
  • Ana T. Palei, PhD, Department of Surgery 
  • Susana M. Salazar Marocho, PhD, DDS, Department of Biomedical Materials Science 
  • Seema Singh, PhD, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Center and Research Institute 
  • Pradeep Vaitla, MD, Department of Medicine 
  • Yufeng Zheng, PhD, Department of Data Science 
Dr. Lee Bidwell, left, associate vice chancellor for research, and Dr. Caroline Compretta, right, assistant vice chancellor for research, congratulate bronze medallion winners, seated, from left, Dr. Lisa A. Haynie, professor of nursing; Dr. Seema Singh, professor of cell and molecular biology and CCRI associate director of education and training; Dr. Cynthia Karlson, professor of pediatrics; Dr. Susana M. Salazar Marocho, associate professor of biomedical materials science; and standing, Dr. Pradeep K. Vaitla, medical director of kidney-pancreas transplantation; Dr. Ana T. Palei, associate professor of research in the Department of Surgery; Dr. Lavanya Challagundla, assistant professor of cell and molecular biology; and Dr. Yufeng Zheng, associate professor of research in the Department of Data Science.
Bidwell, left, and Compretta, right, congratulate bronze medallion winners, seated, from left, Dr. Lisa A. Haynie, professor of nursing; Dr. Seema Singh, professor of cell and molecular biology and CCRI associate director of education and training; Dr. Cynthia Karlson, professor of pediatrics; Dr. Susana M. Salazar Marocho, associate professor of biomedical materials science; and standing, Dr. Pradeep K. Vaitla, medical director of kidney-pancreas transplantation; Dr. Ana T. Palei, associate professor of research in the Department of Surgery; Dr. Lavanya Challagundla, assistant professor of cell and molecular biology; and Dr. Yufeng Zheng, associate professor of research in the Department of Data Science.

Discovery Awards 

Early Career Investigator 

Noha S. Elsayed, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, an emerging leader in hypertension and cardiovascular disease research 

Dr. Lee Bidwell, associate vice chancellor for research, presents the Early Career Investigator Award to Dr. Noha Elsayed, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology.
Bidwell presents the Early Career Investigator Award to Dr. Noha Elsayed, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology.

Meritorious Research Service-Faculty 

David E. Stec, PhD, Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, who was recognized for decades of leadership, mentorship and contributions to kidney and metabolic disease research  

Richard L. Summers Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Research 

Vinayak K. Nahar, MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology, who was honored for his research in skin cancer prevention, tele-dermatology, and behavioral health research 

Dr. Lee Bidwell, left, associate vice chancellor for research, presents the Richard L. Summers Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Research to Dr. Vinayak K. Nahar, associate professor of dermatology.
Bidwell presents the Richard L. Summers Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Research to Dr. Vinayak K. Nahar, associate professor of dermatology.

Melissa and Pete Shepherd Jr., PhD New Investigator Prize 

Dr. Xing Fang, MD, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow, whose Alzheimer’s disease research was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 

Dr. John Hall, Arthur C. Guyton Professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, congratulates Dr. Xing Fang on winning the Melissa and Pete Shepherd Jr., PhD, New Investigator Prize.
Dr. John Hall, Arthur C. Guyton Professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, congratulates Dr. Xing Fang on winning the Melissa and Pete Shepherd Jr., PhD, New Investigator Prize.

Translational Research Team Award 

  • William B. Hillegass, MD, PhD, professor of research 
  • Seth T. Lirette, PhD, associate professor of research 
  • Wondwosen K. Yimer, PhD, associate professor of research 
  • Yufeng Zheng, PhD, associate professor of research 

Their collaborative efforts in the Department of Data Science are helping transform data into actionable evidence across dozens of clinical and public health studies. 

Dr. Lee Bidwell, left, associate vice chancellor for research, congratulates Translational Research Team Award winners, from left, Dr. William B. Hillegass, professor of research; Dr. Seth T. Lirette, associate professor of research; Dr. Yufeng Zheng, PhD, associate professor of research; and Dr. Wondwosen K. Yimer, associate professor of research, all of the Department of Data Science.
Bidwell congratulates Translational Research Team Award winners, from left, Dr. William B. Hillegass, professor of research; Dr. Seth T. Lirette, associate professor of research; Dr. Yufeng Zheng, PhD, associate professor of research; and Dr. Wondwosen K. Yimer, associate professor of research, all of the Department of Data Science.

Patent Awards 

  • Dr. James Rowlett, professor of psychiatry and human behavior, for methods to treat benzodiazepine misuse/use disorder. 
  • Dr. Amol Janorkar, chair and professor of biomedical materials science, for production of macro and micro biopolymer particles for active release. 
Dr. Lee Bidwell, right, associate vice chancellor for research, congratulates, from left, Dr. Amol Janorkar, chair of biomedical materials science in the School of Dentistry, and Dr. James Rowlett, professor of psychiatry, on their patents.
Bidwell, right, associate vice chancellor for research, congratulates, from left, Dr. Amol Janorkar, chair of biomedical materials science in the School of Dentistry, and Dr. James Rowlett, professor of psychiatry, on their patents.