Diana Florescu, MD, named UNMC Scientist Laureate

Diana Florescu, MD, professor in the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine, has been named the 17th UNMC Scientist Laureate

The award is the highest honor UNMC bestows upon its researchers.

“Dr. Florescu embodies what makes UNMC researchers so special,” said Ken Bayles, PhD, UNMC vice chancellor for research. “She rolled up her sleeves during a time of international crisis and delivered important data about the efficacy of new therapeutics and vaccines to fight SARS-CoV-2 infection. She is one of our unsung heroes during this pandemic and a credit to UNMC and what it stands for.”

“This is a singular and very well-deserved honor for Dr. Florescu that recognizes her clinical research accomplishments over the course of her career,” said Mark Rupp, MD, chief of the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases. “Dr. Florescu has developed an internationally recognized clinical research program, and she has contributed greatly to our understanding of infectious diseases associated with solid organ transplantation, as well as our ability to recognize, treat and prevent these complications. More recently, Dr. Florescu has been inspirational over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic as she worked tirelessly to help develop therapeutic agents and vaccinations to battle COVID-19. The ID Division and all of her UNMC colleagues could not be more pleased or proud.”     

Dr. Florescu will be honored, along with 18 other researchers recently named UNMC Distinguished Scientist, Research Leadership and New Investigator Award winners for 2022, during a hybrid virtual and in-person awards ceremony on March 9 at 4 p.m. at the Durham Research Center auditorium.

Other research awardees include:

New Investigators:

• Aditya Bade, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Su Chen, PhD, UNMC College of Public Health
• Gargi Ghosal, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Abraham Mengist, PhD, UNMC College of Public Health
• Jordan Rowley, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Derrick Samuelson, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Micah Schott, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Jawed Siddiqui, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Benjamin Teply, MD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Siwei Zhao, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine

Distinguished Scientists

• David Brett-Major, MD, UNMC College of Public Health
• Benson Edagwa, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Jered Garrison, PhD, UNMC College of Pharmacy
• Dejun Su, PhD, UNMC College of Public Health
• Ashley Wysong, MD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Steven Yeh, MD, UNMC College of Medicine
• Sowmya Yelamanchili, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine

Research Leadership:

• Babu Guda, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
• James Lawler, MD, UNMC College of Medicine

Community Service to Research:

• Doris Lassiter
• Mona Zuffante