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RGC Winner 2023
Dear CCI,
We are pleased to announce the winner of the 9th Annual Richard Carroll Excellence in Research Award. This year’s winner is Kathleen Haines. Kathleen was mentored by Richard Carroll himself, after joining the June lab more than 17 years ago, back when the CCI was known as TRP (Translational Research Program), and the Monday morning data sessions were held in person in a small conference room that fit ~20 people in BRB. Having learned from the best (still referencing Richard’s techniques and protocols to this day), Kathleen’s aseptic technique and tissue culture acumen are second to none, and for the past four years, Kathleen has graciously trained incoming new hires in PDL to successfully culture primary human cells and precious patient samples. In 2021, Kathleen extended the training program to assist those in three neighboring laboratories on our floor, as well. Additionally, Kathleen plays a critical role in managing the inventory and coming up with creative solutions for storage due to space constraints. In the height of the pandemic, the labs were each tasked by UPenn leadership to have a dedicated Covid-19 Compliance Officer. Kathleen volunteered to take on these additional responsibilities for PDL, helping to ensure we were abreast on the current policies and providing a safe working environment to resume our research. Kathleen has been an enthusiastic team player, helping where needed, while often having to put aside research projects that she is passionate about to execute process and product development studies to develop new INDs in the queue. Like Richard, Kathleen has a passion for science, is a wealth of knowledge, and volunteers to do the less exciting, yet mission critical roles, to advance the mission of CCI.
The purpose of this award as you may remember is to acknowledge the folks behind the scenes that make things happen but often do not get recognized for their efforts-like the award’s namesake Richard Carroll. Richard was a wonderful scientist who had an infectious love of science and working in the lab. Richard often did the jobs that did not get much fanfare in order to make the entire CCI program more successful in getting therapies to patients.
Kathleen will get a plaque acknowledging them as the winner of the award and their name will join others on wall near the elevator. She will also be able to attend a meeting of their choice or to attend workshop to improve their skills. Richard was a firm believer that everyone doing science should always be learning new things and by allowing folks who normally don’t attend meetings to go we further pay tribute to Richard’s ideals.
Please join us in congratulating Kathleen on being recognized by this award.
All the best,
Richard Carroll Award Selection Committee.