image: The faces of the future of Better Science For All! These 80 medical students were selected for cohort 5 of the Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP).
Credit: Sara Furlong
The Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) has selected its fifth annual cohort of medical students, welcoming a new class of future physician-investigators committed to advancing community-engaged clinical research and improving participation in clinical trials.
This year’s cohort includes outstanding medical students from institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico who will participate in a six-week summer experience designed to introduce future physicians to clinical research early in their careers. Through immersive training, mentorship, and hands-on experiences, students gain exposure to the role clinical trials play in improving patient outcomes and expanding access to innovative therapies.
Winn CIPP is part of the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program (Winn Awards), a national initiative dedicated to developing the next generation of clinical investigators equipped to engage communities and improve participation in clinical trials. The program is implemented under the direction of Dr. Robert A. Winn, who was recently appointed as vice president and cancer center director at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
The program was founded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation), an independent charitable organization, in 2020 and is supported through collaboration with multiple organizations and industry partners united by a shared commitment to improving participation in clinical trials and expanding access to research opportunities.
“Clinical trials are essential to improving patient care and advancing medicine, but meaningful progress requires researchers who understand the importance of engaging communities, overcoming barriers, and building trust,” said Dr. Robert A. Winn. “These students represent the future of clinical research leadership, and we are proud to support them as they begin this journey.”
The Winn CIPP experience combines mentorship, education, service-learning, and exposure to clinical and translational research environments at leading institutions across the country. Students also participate in educational programming focused on community engagement, clinical research operations, patient-centered communication, and career development. The program culminates in a weekend symposium that brings the entire cohort together to connect, present research, and learn from clinical research leaders.
Funders for the 2026 cohort include the BMS Foundation, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Genentech, and AstraZeneca.
Meet the 2026 Winn CIPP Cohort 5 Awardees
- Temiloluwa Adanlawo – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Angel Agyemang Prempeh – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Omosalewa Akintunde – Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Vaughnessa Alexander – SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Ritta Alhanna – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Nina Almodova – University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Michael Amankwaah – Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine – Knoxville | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Don Asafu-Adjaye – Tulane University School of Medicine | Funded by Genentech
- Long Huen Au – University of California, Davis School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Marie Ayiah – University of California, Irvine School of Medicine | Funded by Genentech
- Anthony Benitez – University of California, Davis School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Mihret Beregen – University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Vanessa Blas – Harvard Medical School | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Shelby Brooks – University of Louisville School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Harold Peon Castro – Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Mira Cechova – Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Justin Chae – Creighton University School of Medicine | Funded by AstraZeneca
- Jashanpreet Chahal – Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo | Funded by Genentech
- Debora Chrispin – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Caleh Collins – University of Kentucky College of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
- Kynzie Combs – Indiana University School of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
- Chenia Coulanges – Florida State University College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Arman Danesh – University of California, Irvine School of Medicine | Funded by Genentech
- Kezia Danso – New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Karen Gallegos Diaz – Tulane University School of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
- Vincent Doan – Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine – Knoxville | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Ruth Efrem – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Ogheneruno Egi – William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Robby Felix – Drexel University College of Medicine | Funded by AstraZeneca
- Joseph Garcia – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Melissa Gaviria Garrido – Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Elaine Hernández González – Tulane University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Kaden Green – Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
- Jordan Grider – LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in New Orleans | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Jaazmin Hairston-Chainey – Rutgers New Jersey Medical School | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Charbel Harb – Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Jessica Hiley – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Shelby Hodges – Howard University College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Lazaro Rivera Iglesias – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by Genentech
- Megan Job – Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Danielle Johnson – Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Douglas Johnson – University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia | Funded by Genentech
- Jehan Kamoona – University of California, Davis School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Hayan Khan – University of California, Riverside School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Michelle Lai – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Alejandra Lamoso – University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Josh Leake – William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by AstraZeneca
- Andrea McDowell – Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Karin McMillon – Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Brianna Mireku – Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Hayat Mohammed – Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine | Funded by AstraZeneca
- Emelia Moore – Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Karima MuhammadPoe – Morehouse School of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
- Abgel Negassa – Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center | Funded by Genentech
- Terry Nguyen – University of California, Davis School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Ayanle Nur – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
- Derek Ocasio – University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Aaron Ogbennah – Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine – Knoxville | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Bryan Ortiz – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Mathew Park – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | Funded by Genentech
- Shivangi Patel – Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Ethan Pham – Tulane University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Teonna Piphus – Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Jessica Porras – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Karen Linares Quintos – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Adriana Rodriguez – Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Marilyn Rodriguez – The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Nicole Nieves Rodriguez – Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Marcos Romero – The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Julio Sagastume – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Christopher Santana – Florida State University College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Amitej Singh Toor – University of California, Irvine School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Nisha Suresh – University of Kentucky College of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
- Camille Tollette – Howard University College of Medicine | Funded by AstraZeneca
- Jane Tran – Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine – California | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- William Danh Tran – Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Natalie Tripplet – Morehouse School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Karan Trivedi – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Michael Yang – Tulane University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Amir Alexander Young – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
Poised to become future leaders in community-oriented clinical research, Winn CIPP students are helping build a future where clinical research better reflects and serves all communities.
About the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program
Winn Awards program
The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program (Winn Awards) is transforming the future of clinical research. Through rigorous training, mentorship, and hands-on experience, we empower researchers with the skills and expertise to engage a broader range of patients — ensuring that the communities enrolled in trials reflect the populations affected by disease. By bridging this gap, we help advance treatments that are safer and more effective for all. Visit www.winnawards.org for more information.
The Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (CIPP)
The Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program is an immersive 6-week summer experience that introduces medical students to clinical research early in their training, instilling a research and community-oriented perspective that guides them throughout their careers. This foundation ensures that when they embark on their own research or patient care, clinical trials remain a key consideration.
Visit www.winnawards.org for more information.