Temerty Medicine faculty receive Research Excellence Awards for outstanding scientific contributions

The Office the Vice Dean, Research and Health Science Education is pleased to announce Jacqueline Beaudry, Jean-Philippe Julien, Christopher Wallis and Sharmistha Mishra as the 2026 recipients of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine Research Excellence Awards.

These competitive, research-focused awards celebrate excellence and innovation of early to mid-career researchers in basic and clinical sciences and are made possible by a transformational gift from Jim and Louise Temerty and the Temerty Foundation, whose investment supports discovery, collaboration and innovation across Temerty Medicine.

Four awards are presented each year: one to an early-career and one to a mid-career researcher in each of basic and clinical sciences.

In the realm of basic sciences, the early-career recipient is Jacqueline Beaudry, assistant professor in nutritional sciences whose primary research interest is adipose tissue physiology.

Jean-Philippe Julien, associate professor of biochemistry and immunology,  received the mid-career award in basic sciences. Also a senior scientist at SickKids Research Institute, his work focuses on the use of antibody mechanisms in vaccine and immunotherapy design.

Christopher Wallis, assistant professor of surgery (division of urology) and urologic oncologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, received the early-career award in the clinical sciences. He uses a patient-focused approach to examine how physician-level social determinants influence surgical outcomes and care delivery.

The mid-career award in clinical sciences was awarded to Sharmistha Mishra, associate professor of medicine (division of infectious diseases), who creates mathematical models of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Also a clinician scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, her models take into account social and structural inequalities as causes and consequences of epidemics.

Justin Nodwell, vice dean, Research and Health Science Education and professor of biochemistry said the recipients’ research programs exemplify the kind of evidence-informed innovations that Temerty Medicine strives to foster.

“Not only is their phenomenal work helping to fundamentally advance our understanding in basic and clinical sciences, but it also significantly improves health outcomes and policy."