Now in its 10th year, the weeklong event highlights the dynamic collaborations, innovative discoveries, and exchange of ideas that define Larner’s research community.
The celebration reflects Larner’s longstanding commitment to advancing health through research, a mission that helped earn the University of Vermont’s designation as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education. As one of the nation’s leading research universities, UVM continues to expand its impact through discoveries that improve patient care, inform policy, and strengthen communities.
Led by Kate Tracy, Ph.D., senior associate dean for research at the Larner College of Medicine and director of research at UVM Health, the celebration recognizes the outstanding contributions of faculty, research fellows, medical students, and graduate students whose work is advancing scientific knowledge and improving health outcomes in Vermont and beyond.
Throughout the week, researchers across the college will showcase pioneering discoveries, emerging fields of study, and cross-disciplinary collaborations that are shaping the future of medicine and health care. The event also offers opportunities for networking, mentorship, and the development of new partnerships among investigators at every stage of their careers.
“The scholarship, innovation, and creativity of our faculty, fellows, and students not only advance scientific knowledge but also reflect a deep commitment to improving lives and addressing some of the most pressing health challenges facing Vermonters.” — Kate Tracy, Ph.D.
“The Dean’s Celebration of Excellence in Research recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of our research community,” said Dr. Tracy. “The scholarship, innovation, and creativity of our faculty, fellows, and students not only advance scientific knowledge but also reflect a deep commitment to improving lives and addressing some of the most pressing health challenges facing Vermonters. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and look forward to the discoveries that lie ahead.”
This year’s Research Laureate, Margaret Vizzard, Ph.D., Colleen A. and Gregory L. Holmes Green and Gold Professor of Neurological Sciences, will kick off the week’s events on Monday with the Research Laureate Lecture, “I Have Accomplished Almost Nothing on My Own: The Community Behind My Research Journey,” reflecting on the mentors, collaborators, and community that shaped Dr. Vizzard’s scientific career. Other highlights of the week include Tuesday’s Research Poster Session, where medical and graduate student research will be on display and students will be available to discuss their work; a Research Rally on Wednesday, where investigators will deliver TED Talk–style presentations about their research in seven minutes or less; an awards presentation and research address by Tracy on Thursday; and the Stetson Lecture, “Building Vascularized Human Tissues in Three Dimensions,” presented by Jennifer Lewis, Sc.D. Supported by alumni Dr. John Stetson ’56, M.D.’60, and Roberta B. Stetson ’57, the lecture series brings renowned experts to discuss cutting-edge innovations and technologies shaping the future of medicine.
Dr. Lewis is the Jianmin Yu Professor of Arts and Sciences, the Hansjörg Wyss Professor for Biologically Inspired Engineering in the Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and a core faculty member of the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. An internationally recognized materials scientist and pioneer in biologically inspired engineering, Lewis is known for her work in the directed assembly of functional, structural, and biological materials. Her innovations in advanced manufacturing and 3D-printed tissues have helped drive breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and biomedical technology, while multiple startups have commercialized technologies developed in her laboratory, ranging from printed electronics to kidney tissue therapeutics.
Lewis has received numerous honors, including the National Academy of Sciences James Prize for Science and Technology Integration, the Sigma Xi Gold Key Award, the Lush Prize for Scientific Research, the Materials Research Society Medal, and the Department of Defense Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship. She has also been recognized by the inaugural Forbes 50 Over 50: Vision list, Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business, and Foreign Policy’s 100 Leading Global Thinkers.
The Dean’s Celebration of Excellence in Research is open to the university community. For the full schedule and event details, visit the Dean’s Celebration of Excellence in Research website.
Research like this has contributed to the University of Vermont’s designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 institution, placing it in the top tier of research universities in the U.S.
