Research
Research Awards
To support investigators secure career development (K) and research (R) awards and transition into independent researchers. Applicants must have prior approval from their division chief. Preference will be given to candidates with a track record of actively applying for research grant opportunities. The department funds one award amount of $100,000 per year, up to 2 years. Up to $20,000 per year may be used to fund materials and supplies. Funds may only be used for the PI salary. Salary support for other personnel not allowed.
2025-2027 Awardee
Katyayini Arabindi, M.D.
Fellow, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Recognizes faculty at the professor level for their distinguished contributions to research. Awardee is provided with a plaque and recognized at the department’s annual Academic Forum.
2026 Awardee
M. Eric Gershwin, M.D., MACR, MACP, Ph.D. (hon)
Professor of Medicine Emeritus, Rehired,
Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Recognizes faculty at the assistant and associate level for their distinguished contributions to research. Awardee is provided with a plaque and recognized at the department’s annual Academic Forum.
2026 Awardee
Susan D. Brown, Ph.D., FSBM, FABMR
Associate Professor, Division of General Medicine and Bioethics
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.
2026 Awardee
Derek J. Bays, M.D. M.A.S.
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases
Title of Proposed Study: "Identifying the causal links between type 1 diabetes-associated gut dysbiosis and chronic kidney disease"
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 John C. Rutledge, M.D. 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
2026 Resident Awardees
Ahad Firoz, M.D.
Resident, Department of Internal Medicine
Mentor: Shirin Jimenez, M.D.
"Prognostic implications of one-year left ventricular systolic function after heart transplantation"
James Vu, M.D.
Resident, Department of Internal Medicine
Mentor: Vikrant Rachakonda, M.D.
"Substance use navigation is associated with improved 90-day transplant-free survival in alcohol-associated hepatitis"
2026 Clinical Fellow Awardees
Dayna Isaacs, M.D., M.P.H.
Clinical Fellow, Division of Hematology and Oncology
Mentor: Mamta Parikh, M.D., M.S.
"Results from a Phase 1b trial combining selinexor and pembrolizumab 1 in patients with refractory advanced urothelial carcinoma"
Guneet Kalka, M.D., M.P.A.
Clinical Fellow, Division of Hematology and Oncology
Mentor: Aaron Rosenberg, M.D. M.S.
"Intensified CyBorD Improves Renal Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma with Concomitant Acute Renal Injury"
2026 Postdoc and Graduate Student Awardees
Fatin Fazrina Roslan
Postdoctoral Scholar, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Mentor: Padmini Sirish, Ph.D.
"Cardiac Regenerative Therapy Using Gene-Edited Stem Cells"
Jiefu Wang
Postdoctoral Scholar, Division of Endocrinology
Mentor: John Yoon, M.D., Ph.D.
"Adipose NNAT functions as a molecular rheostat to promote or inhibit lipolysis and insulin resistance depending on the dietary context."
Andrew Chin, M.D.
Professor, Division of Nephrology
Catherine Chia, M.D.
Professor, Division of Hospital Medicine
Elise Harris, M.D.
Associate Physician Diplomate, Division of General Medicine and Bioethics
Amy Sage, M.D., M.P.P.
Associate Physician, Division of General Medicine and Bioethics
The goal of the Richard A. and Nora Eccles Harrison Small Grant for Diabetes Research Award is to recognize and reward trainees and junior faculty for research in the treatment or prevention of diabetes mellitus or its complications, with the goals of encouraging research targeting diabetes or its complications and fostering collaboration across departments, colleges, and centers. A one-time award ($15,000 in two installments) will be offered every year for outstanding ongoing project in diabetes or its complications.
2026 Awardee
Tayi Diana Kuo, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
Mentor: Joaquin, Lado-Abeal, M.D., Ph.D.
"The Role of Group-Specific Component (Gc) in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy"
Awards are given for outstanding papers or manuscripts published, submitted, or in preparation during current academic year. Awards will be given for 1) outstanding manuscripts published or submitted during current academic year ($1,000); 2) manuscripts in-preparation or ongoing projects ($500).
- Reward trainees (residents, clinical fellows, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars) for excellence in diabetes research
- Encourage trainee scholarship
2026 Awardees
Abigail Arons, M.D., MPAff
Assistant Professor, General Medicine and Bioethics
"A Qualitative Study Exploring Diabetes Prevention Intervention Needs and Ideas Among Young Adults at High Risk for Diabetes"
Xiaoyu Duan
Graduate Student Researcher, Radiology and Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Valentina Medici, M.D.
"Quantification of 18F-FDG Delivery Rate for Liver Inflammation Using Shortened Dynamic PET Imaging Protocols"
Destiny Gomez, M.S.
Graduate Student Researcher, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Mentor: Nicholas Kenyon, M.D., M.A.S.
"Hyperinsulinemia-Induced Airway Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes and Therapeutic Rescue by GLP-1 Receptor Agonists"
Steven Kracke, M.D.
Resident, Department of Internal Medicine
Mentor: Hiba Basheer, M.D.
"Safety Outcomes of Empagliflozin in Veterans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Congestive Heart Failure, or Chronic Kidney Disease in VA Northern California Health Care System"
Asami Takagi, M.D.
Resident, Department of Internal Medicine
Mentor: Abigail Arons, M.D., MPAff
"Screening for Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Risk in Young Adults (Ages 18-29): A Systematic Review"