This weeklong event, led by Kate Tracy, Ph.D., senior associate dean for research at Larner and director of research at UVM Health, celebrated the outstanding research contributions of faculty, research fellows, medical students, and graduate students, highlighting the breadth and depth of inquiry taking place across the college. From groundbreaking findings to interdisciplinary collaborations, the celebration underscored Larner’s commitment to advancing health through research—research that has contributed to the University of Vermont’s designation by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 institution.
Highlights from the Week
Monday - The celebration kicked off with a lecture by 2024 Larner Research Laureate Dan Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., titled “Fixing Broken Lungs: A Scientific and Philosophical Journey.” Dr. Weiss’s work focuses on building a scientific foundation for the clinical application of cell therapies in lung diseases.
Tuesday - The BioLabs Innovation Center at UVM officially opened with a ribbon cutting, speeches, and tours of its state-of-the-art laboratory space. More than 50 attendees from UVM, Larner, BioLabs, the city of Burlington, and local industries gathered at the Colchester Research Facility to mark this milestone. The center offers early-stage life science startups critical infrastructure and resources to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Tuesday Afternoon - Approximately 60 graduate and medical students presented their research posters throughout the Hoehl Gallery, Medical Education Building lobby, and Given Courtyard.
Wednesday - Six Larner researchers took the stage for the third annual Research Rally, delivering TED Talk–style presentations on topics ranging from suicide prevention and stroke in women to the microbiome as medicine. Presenters included Tom Delaney, Ph.D., Osama Harraz, Ph.D., Tracy Madsen, M.D., Ph.D., Michael Previs, Ph.D., Booker T. Davis IV, Ph.D., and Leslie Young, M.D.
Thursday - Dr. Tracy hosted the annual awards presentation and delivered the research celebration address highlighting numerous achievements over the past year. Awards (see winners, below) were presented to honor excellence across multiple categories, including:
- Research publications by students and trainees
- Clinical trials and coordination
- Mentorship and career-stage achievements
- Junior and senior investigators of the year
Friday - The week concluded with the Stetson Lecture, delivered by Dr. Steffen Lindert from UCLA’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. A multidisciplinary computational scientist, Dr. Lindert shared insights from his work in protein structure prediction, biomolecular simulations, and computer-aided drug discovery. The Stetson Lecture Series, now in its 10th year, is made possible through the support of John W. Stetson, Larner Class of ’60, and Roberta Stetson, UVM Class of ’57.
Dean’s Celebration of Excellence in Research Award Winners
The awards ceremony on Thursday, September 25, celebrated the outstanding dedication of Larner and UVM researchers to advancing medicine and science. While all nominees demonstrated significant commitment to their work, a select few were honored for their exceptional contributions.
Category: Clinical Trials
Winner: Bradley Watts, M.D., Psychiatry
Category: Mid-Career Investigator
Winner: Jeremy Barry, Ph.D., Neurological Sciences
Category: Rising Star New Investigator
Winner: Bader Chaarani, Ph.D., Psychiatry
Category: Research Mentor
Winner: Michael Toth, Ph.D., Department of Medicine
Category: Research Laureate
Winner: Margaret Vizzard, Ph.D., Neurological Sciences
Category: Clinical Research Coordinator
Winner: Emily Houston, Neurological Sciences
Category: Scientific Research Staff
Winner: Adrian Sackheim, Emergency Medicine
Category: UVM Health Medical Group Junior Researcher of the Year
Winner: Amanda Kallen, M.D., Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services
Category: UVM Health Medical Group Senior Researcher of the Year
Winner: Bradley Watts, M.D., Psychiatry
Awards for Outstanding Research Publication
Medical Student
John Rustad, “Tele-Flexible Laryngoscopy Enables Remote Specialty Airway Evaluation in Rural Emergency Department”
Medical Student
Sarah Krumholz, “Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products and Incident Hypertension in REGARDS”
Graduate Student
Cameron Cordero, “Contributing Factors to the Oxidation-Induced Mutational Landscape in Human Cells”
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Deena Snoke, Ph.D., “Novel Preclinical Model of Human Lung Cancer Cachexia”
Resident
Carina Zhang-Petersen, M.D., “Changes to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Screening Guidelines and Incidence of Breast Cancer”
The University of Vermont has been designated 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.
