2026 Zucker Research Prize Recipients Announced
Tufts University School of Medicine has named Mark Sarnak, MD, MS, and Susan Parsons, MD, MRP, as the 2026 recipients of the Zucker Research Prizes, which recognize faculty members for careers of outstanding research and significant contributions across basic, translational, and clinical sciences.
The Zucker Research Prizes include two awards: The Milton O. Zucker, MD, FACS, and Natalie V. Zucker Award, presented annually to a woman scientist for career achievement in research, and The Zucker Family Prize, awarded to a faculty member for a distinguished body of research. Each award carries a $10,000 honorarium. As in previous years, the selection process drew from a highly competitive pool of nominees.
Zucker Family Prize
Mark Sarnak, MD, MS, a professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, has been named this year’s recipient of the Zucker Family Prize. He serves as chief of the Division of Nephrology at Tufts Medical Center and directs workforce development at the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Dr. Sarnak is being recognized for a research career that has helped shape understanding of the links between kidney disease and cardiovascular health.
Dr. Sarnak’s work spans basic, translational, and clinical research, with a focus on chronic kidney disease and its relationship to cardiovascular outcomes. Over nearly 30 years at Tufts, he has been a central figure in advancing this area of study and translating findings into clinical practice.
Karen Freund, MD, MPH, Sheldon M. Wolff Professor and Chair of Medicine, nominated Dr. Sarnak for the prize and noted the breadth of his contributions.
“He is a rare individual who has made substantial contributions to basic, translational, and clinical research that have changed clinical practice, as well as having impact through teaching and mentorship.”
Dr. Sarnak has authored more than 450 peer-reviewed publications, with over 70,000 citations. He has also maintained continuous National Institutes of Health funding for more than 26 years. In addition to his research, he has played an important role in mentoring trainees and supporting the development of the clinical research workforce.
The Milton O. Zucker, MD, FACS, and Natalie V. Zucker Award
Susan Parsons, MD, MRP, a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine, has been named the recipient of this year’s Milton O. Zucker, MD, FACS, and Natalie V. Zucker Award. She directs the Center for Health Solutions at the Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies and serves as medical director of the Reid R. Sacco Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at Tufts Medical Center’s Cancer Center.
Dr. Parsons is recognized for her work in cancer outcomes research, with a particular focus on adolescent and young adult oncology, patient-reported outcomes, and survivorship. Her research has centered on improving long-term outcomes and quality of life for patients with cancer.
Her nomination was submitted by Harry Selker, MD, MSPH, executive director of the Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, who described her career as being “defined by innovation, leadership, and a sustained commitment to improving the lives of children, adolescents, and young adults affected by cancer.”
At Tufts, Dr. Parsons has developed a large interdisciplinary research program focused on cancer care delivery and outcomes. She is also a co-founder of HoLISTIC, the Hodgkin Lymphoma International Study for Individual Care, an NCI-funded consortium that brings together more than 80 investigators worldwide.
Through this collaboration, Dr. Parsons and her colleagues assembled and harmonized data from approximately 30,000 survivors of classical Hodgkin lymphoma. The group developed and validated clinical prediction models that were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and NEJM Evidence. This work has contributed to a more detailed understanding of survivorship risks and has informed care for patients over the long term.
Recognizing Sustained Contributions
The Zucker Research Prizes recognize sustained achievement in research and its impact on patient care. This year’s recipients have built careers that combine scientific contribution with mentorship, leadership, and collaboration.
Dr. Sarnak and Dr. Parsons represent different areas of medicine, but both have made lasting contributions to their fields and to the research community at Tufts University School of Medicine.