Dr. Emil Lou named to TIME’s 2026 TIME100 Health list of the world’s most influential leaders in health
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (2/11/2026) — TIME has named Emil Lou, MD, PhD, to the 2026 TIME100 Health List of the World’s Most Influential Leaders in Health. Dr. Lou is a professor with tenure at the University of Minnesota Medical School, a Masonic Cancer Center researcher and a medical oncologist with M Health Fairview. The 2026 TIME100 Health spotlights the 100 most influential leaders in health this year.
Dr. Lou, a member of the University of Minnesota Medical School faculty for nearly 15 years, was recognized by TIME for his innovative approach toward translational research in oncology, including his leadership in the first‑in‑human clinical trial using a CRISPR/Cas9 gene‑editing approach to help the immune system target advanced gastrointestinal cancers. Published in The Lancet Oncology, the trial showed potential for tailoring cutting-edge treatments that improve outcomes in patients with late-stage forms of this disease.
“I am humbled and honored by this recognition, which reflects the synergies achieved by scientific collaboration and the power for teamwork to make a difference by bringing hope to people suffering from incurable cancers,” said Dr. Lou. “In my dual role as both a physician and scientist, I see every day how there is a strong need to devise better treatments. My clinical practice informs my research with the ultimate goal of moving the needle forward to improve the lives of these patients.”
Research in Lou’s lab also has uncovered the important role of intercellular communication in cancer occurring via tunneling nanotubes — essentially ‘biological skyways’ that connect cancer cells and allow them to communicate and share resources, contributing to drug resistance and tumor growth.
A distinguished physician-scientist and researcher with an active clinical practice, Dr. Lou cares for patients with gastrointestinal and rare cancers at the Masonic Cancer Clinic of the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. He has served as a past or current expert member of committees for professional societies including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research and the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, and distinguished himself for his involvement in science communication and engagement with patient advocacy organizations at the regional, national and international levels.
The full list and related tributes appear in the 2/23 issue and online at http://time.com/time100health.
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About the University of Minnesota Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. We acknowledge that the U of M Medical School is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous people, and we affirm our commitment to tribal communities and their sovereignty as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with tribal nations. Learn more at med.umn.edu.
About the Masonic Cancer Center
The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, is the Twin Cities’ only Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated ‘Outstanding’ by the National Cancer Institute. As Minnesota’s Cancer Center, we have served the entire state for more than 30 years. Our researchers, educators, and care providers work to discover the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and cancer-related diseases as well as provide whole-of-life care and resources for survivorship. Learn more at cancer.umn.edu.