2026 CFI affiliated medical school award recipients

Center for Immunology Trainees Honored at 2026 Medical School Awards

2 minutes

The Center for Immunology (CFI) is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of its MD and PhD trainees, who were recently honored as part of the University of Minnesota Medical School’s 2026 awards. These awards, spanning multiple categories, highlight excellence in creative basic science research, academic achievement, and leadership.

CFI-affiliated trainees demonstrated remarkable depth and impact in their contributions to the field of immunology and biomedical research. Several individuals received multiple distinctions, underscoring the high caliber of their scientific work.

John Roy Lozada (Cichocki Lab) was a notable multiple-award recipient. His honors include the Beatrice Z. Milne and Theodore Brandenburg Award, which recognizes exceptional graduate research in the basic sciences. Lozada also received the Dr. Marvin and Hadassah Bacaner Research Award for creative basic science research, the J. Jacob Kaplan Award for outstanding research, and the Veneziale-Steer Award for outstanding research in cellular growth regulation. This across-the-board recognition reflects his strong and sustained contributions to foundational scientific discovery.

Jenna Dick (Hart Lab) also received multiple distinctions, showcasing her versatility as a future clinician-scientist. Her awards include the Medical Student Achievement Award, conferred on fourth-year medical students for distinctive performance in leadership, community service, academic achievement, and research. Jenna was further recognized with the Graduating Medical Student Research Award, the J. Jacob Kaplan Award, and the J. Thomas Livermore Memorial Award for outstanding undergraduate research in hematology.

Additional honors were awarded to:

  • Liliana Thron (Skinner Lab), recipient of the Dr. Marvin and Hadassah Bacaner Research Award for creative basic science research.

  • Taylor DePauw (Jameson Lab), who was honored with the J. Jacob Kaplan Award for outstanding research contributions.

Together, these awards reflect the exceptional talent, dedication, and scientific impact of trainees within the CFI community. The CFI extends its warmest congratulations to all of this year’s recipients on their well-deserved recognition and looks forward to their continued success in advancing immunology and human health.