Honors and Grants

Rebecca Allen, Obstetrics and Gynecology, was accepted as an Active Fellow of the American Gynecological & Obstetrical Society (AGOS). She will be formally introduced as an Active Fellow at the September Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ana Sofia Barber DeBrito, Obstetrics and Gynecology, was recognized with the Media Award from the American College of Nurse Midwives Ana Sofia Barber De Brito, MSN, CNM recently received the Media Award from the American College of Nurse Midwives. The award recognizes a media event presenting Midwifery accurately and positively, promoting the profession. Ana Sofia received this award in recognition of her role in the recent Rhode Island Public Television series special entitled “The Risk of Giving Birth.”

Linda Carpenter, Psychiatry & Human Behavior, was awarded the Clinical Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Society Gold Medal of Honor at the organization’s annual meeting in London on June 15. The Society has awarded the medal, which recognizes foundational contributions in the field of TMS, only three previous times in the past decade. Learn more.

Daphne Koinis-Mitchell, Psychiatry & Human Behavior, received the CTR Excellence in Service and Mentoring Award at the 2024 National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE) in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes a successful mentor who exemplifies research excellence and who has generously given their time to support junior investigators in a clinical and translational research (CTR) program.

Ashley Stuckey, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Medical Science, was named Director of Medical Staff Affairs for the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology on May 1, 2024.

Peter A. Belenky, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (MMI), received $99,383 for “Relating impacts of antibiotics on the gut metabolome and microbiome to host physiology and weight” from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Richard J. Bennett, MMI, received $2,235,497 for “C. albicans-intrinsic mechanisms defining gut colonization” from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Diane Hoffman-Kim, Neuroscience, received $104,989 for “Impact of electro-mechanical microenvironment on neural connectivity” from the Ellison Institute, LLC.              

Emilia Huerta-Sanchez, Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, received $1,902,614 for “Characterizing modes of natural selection via diverse ancient and modern samples” from National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Joseph A. Inger, medical student, with mentor, Sean Lawler, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, received $3,000 for “mGluR3 Modulation as a Combination Therapy in Glioblastoma” from the American Brain Tumor Association.

Rich N. Jones, Psychiatry & Human Behavior, received $752,902 for “Health and Retirement Study: Yrs 35-40.” The grant is a subaward through Regents of the University of Michigan from the National Institute on Aging.  

Adam Levine, Medical Affairs, received $2,417,130 for “External Validation and Implementation of a Novel Mobile Health Application for Acute Diarrhea Management across the Lifespan” from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Sofia B. Lizarraga and Judy Shih-Hwa Liu, Molecular, Cellular Biology Biochemistry (MCB), received $450,210 for “Uncovering sex-specific differences in ASH1L-disease” from the National Institute of Mental Health.

John Marshall, MCB, received $482,753 for “A novel BDNF potentiator for the treatment of neonatal brain injury” from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Eric M. Morrow, MCB, received $3,933,240 for “Metabolic Mechanisms in Locus Coeruleus Neuron Vulnerability in Neurodegenerative Disease” from the National Institute on Aging.

Mandar T. Naik, MCB, received $445,246 for “NMR Fragment-based Design of New b-lactamase Inhibitors” from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Nicole R. Nugent, Psychiatry & Human Behavior, received $60,000 for “Social Services Block Grant Education Services.” The grant is a subaward through the State of Rhode Island Department of Human Services from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Gary M. Wessel, MCB, received $23,892 for “Mechanisms of specification, quiescence, and regeneration of primordial germ cells” from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Yang Zhou, MMI, received $80,000 for “Innate immune responses in a mouse model of HPS that develops spontaneous lung fibrosis” from American Thoracic Society and $299,398 for “Targeting CHI3L1 and its receptors in pulmonary hypertension” from the American Heart Association.