Carbone Cancer Center members recognized as Vilas Professors

These research awards are granted to University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty members with proven research ability and unusual qualifications and promise. The recipients of the award have contributed significantly to the research mission of the university and are widely recognized both nationally and internationally.

The Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship, an award recognizing distinguished scholarship as well as standout efforts in teaching and service, was earned by:

• Weibo Cai, PhD, associate professor of radiology. Cai’s research is primarily focused on molecular imaging and nanotechnology, which his research group applies to treatments and detection of cancer. Cai is affiliated with the departments of medical physics, biomedical engineering and materials science and engineering. He is faculty lead for the Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology Lab at UW.
• Kristyn Masters, PhD, professor of biomedical engineering. Masters specializes in tissue engineering, where she and her research group study wound healing and blood vessel formation, both processes of which are crucial to understanding cancer growth and survival. Masters is also a member of the School of Medicine and Public Health’s affiliated Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center.

The Vilas Faculty Mid-Career Investigator Award, recognizing research and teaching excellence, was earned by:

• Carla Pugh, MD, PhD, professor of surgery. Pugh’s research interests include developing surgical and decision-making simulators that are used to train medical students. She is the faculty leader for the Department of Surgery’s Simulation & Engineering for Surgical Education (SENSE) lab.

UW Carbone Cancer Center