Azab Named 2026 Emerging Leader by NAM
Kareem Azab, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, has been selected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine's 2026 Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Scholars program. According to NAM, the program is comprised of early- to mid-career professionals from a wide range of disciplines and aims to create a platform for new leaders to collaborate with the NAM and its members to advance science, address persistent challenges in health and medicine, and spark transformative change to improve health for all.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as a National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Scholar. As a researcher working at the interface of cancer biology, immunology, nanomedicine, and biomedical engineering, this recognition is especially meaningful to me because it highlights the importance of multidisciplinary and translational science in addressing some of the most challenging problems in medicine,” Dr. Azab said. “My lab’s mission is to develop innovative therapeutic and drug delivery strategies that can better target cancer and improve patient outcomes, while bridging fundamental discovery with clinical translation.
Over his appointed three-year term, Dr. Azab and his fellow scholars will engage in a variety of activities throughout the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, including meeting with NAM leadership and members; coordinating an annual forum; participating in National Academies activities; publishing NAM Perspectives; and attending the NAM’s annual meeting each October. The program will provide mentorship, collaborative opportunities, and innovative opportunities among participating scholars, NAM members, and sector experts.
“Over the next three years, I look forward to engaging with an exceptional community of scientific and healthcare leaders, learning from their perspectives, and contributing to discussions that help shape the future of medicine and translational research,” Dr. Azab said. “I am especially excited about opportunities to advance collaborative approaches that integrate engineering, immunology, and clinical insight to accelerate the development of more precise and effective therapies for patients.”
See the full list of the NAM Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Scholars.