MSK Awards and Appointments October 2026

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) today announced the following awards and appointments:

Junhong Choi Receives NIH Director's New Innovator Award

Junhong Choi, PhD
, Assistant Professor in the Developmental Biology Program at the Sloan Kettering Institute, was named a 2026 NIH Director's New Innovator Award recipient (NIH). Dr. Choi was among just 42 researchers nationwide selected for this prestigious honor. Established in 2007, the NIH Director's New Innovator Award is among the NIH's premier early-career research honors. It recognizes exceptionally creative investigators who are pursuing bold, potentially transformative ideas that challenge conventional approaches to scientific research.

Dr. Choi's research aims to uncover how cells acquire their identities and develop specialized functions. His lab is creating methods to record a cell's history so researchers can trace the changes and events that shape its development. This work could provide new insights into how cells develop and inform future approaches to cell-based therapies.

Gregory Goldgof and Juan Osorio Named Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators

Gregory Goldgof, MD, PhD , and Juan Osorio, MD , were named Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. The program supports promising early-career physician-scientists in their innovative cancer research. Goldgof's research explores the use of artificial intelligence to improve screening and predict outcomes for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, a group of blood disorders that can progress to leukemia. Osorio's research investigates how antibody-drug conjugates, a type of targeted cancer therapy, interact with the immune system.

Michael Postow Receives 2026 Melanoma Research Foundation Breakthrough Consortium Pilot Translational Award

Michael Postow, MD , Chief of the Melanoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), is a recipient of a 2026 MRF Breakthrough Consortium (MRFBC) Pilot Translational Award . The award supports innovative research aimed at accelerating the development of promising new approaches to melanoma treatment.

The MRF Breakthrough Consortium is a national network of 34 melanoma centers of excellence that collaborate to advance research and bring promising discoveries closer to clinical application. Dr. Postow was selected alongside Shankar Suman, PhD, of Mayo Clinic Rochester, as one of this year's award recipients. The awards reflect the consortium's commitment to advancing translational research and improving outcomes for people with melanoma.

Gregory Goldgof Receives 2026 MPN Challenge Award

Gregory Goldgof, MD, PhD , received a 2026 MPN Challenge Award from the MPN Research Foundation. The award supports innovative research aimed at advancing the understanding and treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), a group of blood cancers. Goldgof's research, conducted alongside co-principal investigator Jeetayu Biswas, MD, PhD , with mentorship from Omar Abdel-Wahab, MD , uses artificial intelligence to better understand myelofibrosis and improve outcomes for patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Joseph Sun Receives Frederick W. Alt Award for New Discoveries in Immunology

Joseph Sun, PhD , received the 2026 Frederick W. Alt Award for New Discoveries in Immunology from the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). The annual award recognizes a former CRI postdoctoral fellow whose research has made a significant impact on the field of immunology. Sun was recognized for his groundbreaking discoveries in immune memory, which demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cells can develop lasting memory after viral infection. His findings have reshaped our understanding of the immune system and could inform the development of future cancer immunotherapies.

Zeda Zhang Receives Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award

Zeda Zhang, PhD , a postdoctoral fellow at the Sloan Kettering Institute, was honored with a 2026 Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Young Investigator Award at the foundation's annual scientific retreat in October. The award helps develop the next generation of leaders in prostate cancer research by providing funding and mentorship to promising early-career researchers who are bringing innovative ideas and fresh perspectives to the field. Zhang's research has included investigating uPAR as a potential target for CAR T cell therapy in solid tumors.

Prasad Adusumilli and Michael Offin Receive $2.6 Million FDA Grant for Rare Cancer Research

Prasad Adusumilli, MD, FACS , and Michael Offin, MD , received a $2.6 million R01 grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate CAR T cell therapy for peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare cancer affecting the lining of the abdominal cavity. One of six new clinical trial grants awarded through the FDA's Orphan Products Grants Program in fiscal year 2026, the four-year award will support research aimed at advancing treatment options for patients with this rare cancer.

Stefano Ientile Receives Leonard Achan Sr. Health Equity Scholarship

Stefano Ientile, Administrative Coordinator at MSK, received the 2026 Leonard Achan Sr. Health Equity Scholarship from the Foundation for Healthcare Leaders of New York. Ientile was recognized in connection with HLNY's 10th Annual Mini-Congress on October 22. The scholarship recognizes graduate students committed to serving underserved communities and improving the healthcare system. Named in memory of Leonard Achan Sr., the scholarship provides mentorship and support to help develop the next generation of healthcare leaders dedicated to advancing health equity in New York.

Tamiesha Huntley Receives Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award

Tamiesha Huntley, BSN, RN, CCRN, received the Fourth Annual Cancer Nursing Today CARE Award. The award recognizes oncology nurses and advanced practitioners who demonstrate a commitment to professional growth, role modeling, resilience, and emotional intelligence. A critical care nurse since 2006, Ms. Huntley leads quality improvement initiatives focused on enhancing patient safety, improving clinical workflows, and advancing evidence-based nursing practices. She also mentors fellow nurses and collaborates across disciplines to improve patient care.