Research
Research Awards
Recognizes faculty at the professor level for their distinguished contributions to research. Awardee(s) is provided with a plaque and recognized at the department’s annual Academic Forum.
2024
Richard L. Kravitz, M.D., M.S.P.H., Professor, General Medicine and Bioethics and Director of UC Center Sacramento
Past Recipients
- 2023, Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, M.D., Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine
- 2022: Sidika E. Karakas, M.D., Professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- 2021: John C. Rutledge, M.D., Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine
- 2020: Saul Schaefer, M.D., Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine
- 2019: Chong- Xian Pan, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Hematology and Oncology
- 2018: Jerold Last, Ph.D., Professor, Pulmonary and Critical Care
- 2017: Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, M.D., Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine
- 2017: Tzipora Goldkorn, Ph.D., Professor, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
- 2016: Ezra Amsterdam, M.D., Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine
- 2016: Robert Weiss, M.D., Professor, Nephrology
- 2015: Carroll Cross, M.D., Professor, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
- 2014: Charles Halsted, M.D., Professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
- 2013: George Kaysen, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Nephrology
Recognizes faculty at the assistant and associate level for their distinguished contributions to research. Awardee(s) is provided with a plaque and recognized at the department’s annual Academic Forum.
2024
Theresa H. Keegan, Ph.D., M.S., Professor, Hematology and Oncology
Past Recipients
- 2023: Enkhmaa Byambaa, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- 2022: Stephen G. Henry, M.D., M.Sc., Associate Professor, General Medicine, Geriatrics and Bioethics
- 2021: Justin M. Oldham, M.D., M.S., Assistant Professor, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
- 2020: Christopher Bowlus, M.D., Professor and Chief, Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- 2019: Jason Adams, M.D., M.S., Assistant Clinical Professor, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
- 2019: Sooraj Tejaswi, M.D., M.S.P.H., Associate Professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- 2018: Primo Lara, M.D., Professor and Chief, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- 2018: Uma Srivatsa, M.D., Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine
- 2018: Elisa Tong, M.D., Associate Professor, General Medicine, Geriatrics and Bioethics
- 2017: George Thompson, III, M.D., Associate Professor, Medical Microbiology and Immunology
- 2016: Michael Schivo, M.A.S., M.D., Assistant Professor, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
- 2015: Valentina Medici, M.D., Associate Professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- 2014: Amir Zeki, M.D., Assistant Professor, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
- 2013: Chong-Xian Pan, M.D., Assistant Professor, Hematology and Oncology
Dr. John (Jack) Rutledge, M.D. was an outstanding cardiologist and physician scientist who dedicated 45 years of his life to a distinguished career in academic medicine contributing greatly to elevating the standing of the University. He held many leadership roles and served as The Department of Internal Medicine's Vice Chair for Research. He was admired by his colleagues for his many qualities including his intellect, creativity, and selflessness in advancing the careers of others having mentored over 70 health science trainees during his long and distinguished career including graduate students, residents, and fellows. The Trainee Research Award is named in his honor to acknowledge his remarkable legacy of dedication to mentoring and developing science trainees and early career faculty. Awards are given for outstanding papers or manuscripts published, submitted, or in preparation during current academic year.
Each awardee is presented with a $1,500 research award and plaque. Each mentor is presented with a $500 research award. Awards are distributed at the department’s annual Academic Forum. The award is intended to:
- Recognize and reward trainees (residents, clinical fellows, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars) for excellence in research
- Encourage scientific academic careers
- Attract research-oriented medical students to our residency program
- Encourage trainees’ scholarship by pairing them with highly successful mentors
- Increase departmental cohesion around trainee scholarship
- Encourage philanthropic support from the community for our department’s academic mission because of our commitment to developing medical scientists
2024 Residents
Morgan Casper, M.D.
Mentor: Uma Srivatsa M.B.B.S., M.A.S., F.H.R.S.
"Mapping Ventricular Arrhythmogenic Substrates: Insights from Electroanatomic and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathies"
Tahir Mahmood, M.D.
Mentor: Michael D. Shapiro, DO
"Effect of PCSK9 inhibition on plasma levels of small dense low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol"
Ayman Teeham Ullah, M.D.
Mentor: Jonathan Riess, M.D., M.S.
"Genomic Associations of Chemoimmunotherapy Outcomes in a Real-World Cohort of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Patients"
Clinical Fellows
Madhab Ray, M.D., M.S., M.B.A.
Mentor: Baback Roshanravan, M.D., M.S.P.H., M.S.
"Development and validation of a predictive model for the diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease in low-income countries based on two cross-sectional studies"
Aaron Tsumura, M.D.
Mentor: Joseph Tuscano, M.D.
"Checkpoint inhibition in hematologic malignancies"
Alex Zhornitskiy, M.D.
Mentor: Eric J. Mao, M.D.
"Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized Hispanic Patients with IBD: Results of a Large National Cohort Study"
Postdocs and Graduate Students
Armin, Ahmadi
Mentor: Baback Roshanravan, M.D., M.S.P.H., M.S.
"Impaired incretin homeostasis in non-diabetic moderate-severe chronic kidney disease"
Nicholaus L. DeCuzzi
Mentor: Amir Zeki, M.D. and John Albeck, Ph.D.
"Spatiotemporal Clusters of ERK Activity Coordinate Cytokine-induced Inflammatory Responses in Human Airway Epithelial Cells"
Yang Zheng, Ph.D.
Mentor: Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, M.D.
"Acute PKA Modulation of the Cardiac Sodium Current is Mediated by 14-3-3"
Previous Recipients
2023 Recipients
Residents
Anthony Kong, M.D.
Mentor: Javier Lopez, M.D.
"Medical Disruptions During Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Necessary Appraisal for the Development of Emerging Remote and Virtual Care Models"
Sartajdeep Bobby Kahlon, M.D.
Mentor: Shio Urayama, M.D.
"Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound for Pre-Intervention Evaluation in Early Esophageal Cancer"
Clinical Fellows
Ebaa Al-Obeidi, M.D.
Mentor: David Gandara, M.D.
"Convergence of Precision Oncology and Liquid Biopsy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer"
Tamer Othman, M.D.
Mentor: Joseph Tuscano, M.D.
"Yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan plus ATG/TLI conditioning for allogeneic hematopoietic cell 3 transplantation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma"
Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
Phung Thai, Ph.D.
Mentor: Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, M.D.
"Disruption of mitochondria-sarcoplasmic reticulum micro domain connectomics contributes to sinus node dysfunction in heart failure"
Paulo De Alcantara Rocha
Mentor: Martin Cadeiras, M.D.
"Neonatal Chemokine Markers Predict Subsequent Diagnosis of autism Spectrum Disorder and Delayed Development"
2022 Recipients
Residents
David Alexander Goodson, M.D.
Mentor: Ling-Xin Chen, M.D.
Comparison of Estimation Equations of Glomerular Filtration Rate in an Ethnically Diverse Population of Potential Living Kidney Donors
Roshni Khatiwala, M.D.
Mentors: Dali Fan, M.D. and Uma Srivatsa, M.D.
Electrical Abnormalities with St. Jude/Abbott Pacing Leads: A systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Clinical Fellows
Brian Pham, M.D.
Mentor: Rasmus Hoeg, M.D.
Safety and Tolerability of Lenalidomide Maintenance in Post-transplant Acute Myeloid Leukemia and High-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Cindy Piao, M.D.
Mentor: Souvik Sarkar, M.D.
A Machine Learning Model to Predict Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients
Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
Renata Abrahao, M.D.
Mentor: Theresa Keegan, Ph.D., M.S.
Stage at Diagnosis and Survival Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Lymphomas Following the Affordable Care Act Implementation in California
Danielle Hyun Jung Kim
Mentor: Judy Van de Water, Ph.D.
Neonatal Chemokine Markers Predict Subsequent Diagnosis of autism Spectrum Disorder and Delayed Development
2021 Recipients
Residents
Andew Chiou, M.D.
Mentor: Jeffrey Southard, M.D.
Understanding Repeat Hospitalizations in Intermediate-To-High Risk Aortic Stenosis Patients Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
Saivageethi Nuthi, Ph.D.
Mentor: Amparo Villablanca, M.D.
Lipotoxic Injury Deferentially Regulates Brain Microvascular Gene Expression in Male Mice
Erick Romero, M.D.
Mentor: Martin Caderias, M.D.
Rejection-associated Mitochondrial Impairment After Heart Transplantation
Alexandra Ramirez- Celis
Mentor: Judy Van de Water, Ph.D.
Risk Assessment Analysis for Maternal Autoantibody-Related Autism (MAR-ASD): A Subtype Of Autism
Lu Ren
Mentor: Nipavan Chiamvimonat, M.D.
Adenylyl Cyclase Isoform 1 Contributes to Sinoatrial Node Automaticity via β-Adrenergic Receptor Pathway at Functional Microdomains
2020 Recipients
Clinical Fellows
Minh-Vu Nguyen M.D., M.Sc.
Mentor: George Thompson, M.D.
Paper: Posaconazole Serum Drug Levels Associated with Pseudohyperaldosteronism
Janelle Vu Pagashetti, M.D.
Mentor: Justin Oldham M.D.
Paper: Derivation and Validation of a Diagnostic Prediction Tool for Interstitial Lung Disease
Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
Cindy V. Valencia, M.P.H.
Mentor: Elisa Tong, M.D.
Factors Underlying Disparities in Latino and Non-Latino White Medicaid Smokers Receiving Provider Advice and Assistance in California Post-Medicaid Expansion
David Yang
Mentor: Ching-Hsien Chen Ph.D.
Tackling MARCKS-PIP3 Circuit Attenuates Fibroblast Activation and Fibrosis Progression
Awards are given for outstanding papers or manuscripts published, submitted, or in preparation during current academic year. Awardees are presented with a $250 monetary award and plaque at the department’s annual Academic Forum. The award is intended to:
- Reward trainees (residents, clinical fellows, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars) for excellence in diabetes research
- Encourage trainee scholarship
2024
Grace LeBleu, MSc, RDN
Mentor: Fawaz G. Haj, Ph.D.
"Phospho-Proteomic Analysis of Insulin Signaling in Cultured Podocytes Reveals Novel Signaling Networks Between PTP1B, TCPTP, and Shp2"
Saivageethi Nuthikattu, Ph.D.
Mentor: Amparo Villablanca, M.D.
"Single nuclei transcriptomics in diabetic mice reveals altered brain hippocampal endothelial cell function, permeability, and behavior."
Madhab Ray, M.D., M.S., M.B.A.
Mentor: Baback Roshanravan, M.D., M.S.P.H., M.S.
"Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Calcutta schoolteachers and its relationship with cardiovascular risk as assessed by the ASCVD model"
Rahaf Shishani
Mentor: Bethany Cummings, D.V.M., Ph.D.
"Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Reduces Gut Luminal Deoxycholic Acid Concentrations in Mice"
Nicolle K. Sweeney
Mentor: William M Ridgway, M.D.
"A high sucrose diet modifies brain oxylipins in a sex-dependent manner"
Saivageethi Nuthikattu, Ph.D.
Mentor: Amparo Villablanca, M.D.
"The Brain’s Microvascular Response to High Glycemia and to the Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Is Sexually Dimorphic"
Lankai Cathy Xu, M.D.
Mentor: Valentina Medici, M.D.
"Liver Cirrhosis Prediction Models in a Population of Latina and White Women"
Past Recipients
2023
Ming-Fo Hsu, Ph.D.
Mentor: Maryam Afkarian, M.D., Ph.D.
"Deficiency of the Src homology phosphatase 2 in podocytes is associated with renoprotective effects in mice under hyperglycemia"
Anthony An Khong, M.D.
Mentor: Javier E. Lopez, M.D.
"Medical Disruptions During Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Necessary Appraisal for the Development of Emerging Remote and Virtual Care Models"
Nina Liu, M.D.
Mentor: Javier Lopez, M.D.
"Individualized Strength- and Aerobic-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Functional Capacity and Metabolic Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetes"
Jennifer E. Norman Ph.D.
Mentor: Amparo Villablanca, M.D.
"A high sucrose diet modifies brain oxylipins in a sex-dependent manner"
Saivageethi Nuthikattu, Ph.D.
Mentor: Amparo Villablanca, M.D.
"The Brain’s Microvascular Response to High Glycemia and to the Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Is Sexually Dimorphic"
Lankai Cathy Xu, M.D.
Mentor: Valentina Medici, M.D.
"Liver Cirrhosis Prediction Models in a Population of Latina and White Women"
Ming-Fo Hsu, Ph.D.
Mentor: Maryam Afkarian, M.D., Ph.D.
"Deficiency of the Src homology phosphatase 2 in podocytes is associated with renoprotective effects in mice under hyperglycemia"
Anthony An Khong, M.D.
Mentor: Javier E. Lopez, M.D.
"Medical Disruptions During Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Necessary Appraisal for the Development of Emerging Remote and Virtual Care Models"
Nina Liu, M.D.
Mentor: Javier Lopez, M.D.
"Individualized Strength- and Aerobic-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Functional Capacity and Metabolic Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetes"
Jennifer E. Norman Ph.D.
Mentor: Amparo Villablanca, M.D.
"A high sucrose diet modifies brain oxylipins in a sex-dependent manner"
Saivageethi Nuthikattu, Ph.D.
Mentor: Amparo Villablanca, M.D.
"The Brain’s Microvascular Response to High Glycemia and to the Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Is Sexually Dimorphic"
Lankai Cathy Xu, M.D.
Mentor: Valentina Medici, M.D.
"Liver Cirrhosis Prediction Models in a Population of Latina and White Women"
2022
Phung Thai, Ph.D.
Mentor: Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, M.D.
Ketone Ester D-β-Hydroxybutyrate-(R)-1,3 Butanediol Prevents Decline in Cardiac Function in Type 2 Diabetic Mice
2021
Tagreed Mazi
Mentor: Valentina Medici, M.D.
Ethnicity-specific Alteration in Plasma and Hepatic Lipidomic Profile May Contribute to High NAFLD Rate and Severity in Hispanics, A pilot study
2020
Phung N. Thai, Ph.D.
Mentor: Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, M.D.
Ketone ester diet enhances mitochondrial bioenergetics, preserves mitochondrial quality control and improves cardiac function in diabetic mice
Awards are given for outstanding proposals. Awardees receive $7,000 to support their project.
- Support and promote collaborative translational research with focus on infectious diseases and endocrinology
- M.D. physician researcher investigators at all levels.
2024
John C. Yoon, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Endocrinology
Title of Proposed Study: "Finding new approaches to harness brown fat activity for liver health"
Past Recipients
2023
Hiba Basheer, M.D.
Health Science Assistant Clinical Professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
"Study of The Prevalence, Transcriptional Profile and Genetic Signature of Thyroid Cancer Among Transgender Females."