Research Recognition

 AURI Research Awards

Each year in the Fall, we take the time to recognize our faculty members who have contributed significantly to research at AU in the following categories: Emerging Scientist Award, Distinguished Research Award(s), and Lifetime Achievement Award.  Below is a listing of all of our past winners since 2006.    

---

2020

 Emerging Scientist Award

Kenneth Sang-Ho Kwon, Ph.D.

Medical College of Georgia    

Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy

Education
  Ph.D.,    Physiology, Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, 2005

Research Interests
Exosome biogenesis in epithelial cells• Exosomes in kidney injuries• 

---

 Emerging Scientist Award

Kumar Vaibhav, Ph.D.

Medical College of Georgia
  Department of Neurosurgery

Education
    Ph.D., Toxicology, Hamdard University, 2013

Research Interests
Brain Injury induced neuroinflammation • Heterogenous nature of TBI and stroke• mechanism behind TBI-induced inflammation and subsequent injury progression

---

Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity Award

Mary-Kate Lizotte, Ph.D.

Medical College of Georgia
    Department of Social Sciences

Education
    Ph.D., Political Science and Government, State University of NY, Stony Brook, 2009

Research Interests
Political Science and Government• 

---

Distinguished Researcher Award

Dr. Yuqing Huo

Medical College of Georgia
    Department of Vascular Biology

Education
Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, Peking Univ, 1998

Research Interests
Examination of metabolic effect on leukocyte recruitment and activation• fibroblast activation • activation and proliferation of vascular cells in animal models of atherosclerosis • thrombosis • diabetes/obesity • pulmonary hypertension • retinopathy • cardiac hypertrophy and renal fibrosis• 

---

Distinguished Researcher Award

Dr. Nahid F. Mivechi

Georgia Cancer Center
    Department of Radiology and Imaging

Education
Ph.D., Cell Biology, Genetics, Radiation Biology, Florida State University, 1981

Research Interests
Musculoskeletal biology and aging • Regenerative medicine • Anatomical sciences

---

 Lifetime Achievement Award

DR. DAvid Munn

Georgia Cancer Center
    Department of Pediatric Oncology

Education
MD, Medical College of Georgia, 1984

Research Interests
Tumor immunology and the molecular mechanisms of immune suppression and tolerance in the tumor microenvironment • Regulation of anti-tumor T cell activation by tolerogenic dendritic cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the setting of cancer • Activation of suppressive tumor-associated Tregs via the PTEN lipid-phosphatase pathway • Regulation of the dendritic cell (DC) population in tumors and the choice between tolerogenic vs. immunogenic DCs • Tolerance-induction to dying tumor cells mediated via the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and PTEN+ Tregs

---

 Lifetime Achievement Award

sylvia Smith, ph.d., farvo

Medical College of Georgia
    Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy

Education
    Ph.D., Basic Medical Science, University of South Alabama, 1987                                          MA University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 1979                                                                                  BS, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 1977

Research Interests
Diseases that affect retinal neurons including ganglion cells (diabetic retinopathy) and photoreceptor cells
(retinitis pigmentosa, RP) • Retinal degeneration •