The Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is pleased to announce the selection of five exceptional early-career faculty members as recipients of the 2026 Duke Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA) K12 Scholar Award.
The 2026 Duke CTSA K12 Scholars are:
Benjamin Catanese, MD
Medical Instructor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology
Mentor: Christina Wyatt, MD
Project Title: Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Body Composition and Physical Function in Advanced CKD
Jashalynn German, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition
Mentor: Matthew Crowley, MD
Project Title: Enhancing Shared Decision-Making in the Treatment of Obesity and Dysglycemia
Wen-Hsuan Wendy Lin, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pathology
Mentor: Ken Young, MD, PhD
Project Title: Defining Tumor Microenvironment Ecosystems in Nodal Follicular Helper T-cell Lymphoma
Justin Low, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Mentor: Matthias Gromeier, MD
Project Title: Restoring Tumor-Intrinsic DNA Sensing to Enhance Treatment Efficacy in Glioblastoma
Anna Williams, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Mentor: Rasheed Gbadegesin, MBBS
Project Title: A Multi-Level Care Transition Intervention for Neonatal AKI Survivors
The Duke CTSA K12 program, led by Program Directors Rasheed Gbadegesin, MBBS, and Asheley Skinner, PhD, provides mentored research training, structured career development, and protected time to support the transition to independent research careers. Through this program, scholars gain the skills necessary to translate scientific discoveries into improved patient care and health outcomes.
Kimberly Johnson, MD, MHS, MPI of the Duke CTSA and chief health disparities research officer for Duke CTSI, oversaw the competitive review and selection process.
The 2026 cohort will begin a three-year tenure in July 2026, joining current K12 scholars Allie Martin, MD, MPH, and Adam Johnson, MD, MPH.
The Duke CTSA K12 is funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K12TR005435.
Read more about the Duke CTSA K12 program.