Clinical/Laboratory Research Professional Award
Many of our UC College of Medicine staff serve our research mission in a way that vastly transforms productivity and drives the research enterprise. They do so by contributing to publications and grant proposals; acquiring and managing clinical trials; designing and executing experiments; recruiting, educating, and protecting clinical research participants; analyzing data; maintaining regulatory compliance; engaging the community in the research enterprise; and mentoring future researchers. They often serve with little recognition for the time and expertise they commit to improving the quality and rigor of laboratory and clinical research.
This year’s nominees were exceptional and the selection was difficult. Following review of the nomination packets by clinical and basic science faculty and senior researchers, we are pleased to announce the 2020 recipients of the Research Professional Award:
Clinical Research Professional Awardee

Elizabeth
Kopras, BA
Nominated by: Francis X. McCormack, MD, Patricia Joseph, MD, Nishant Gupta, MD, Robert Burkes, MD
Elizabeth (Kope) Kopras has been at the University of Cincinnati since 1992, supporting research in Cardiology, Digestive Disease, Environmental Health, and (currently) Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine. Her institutional knowledge and years of research participation are put to use facilitating scientific projects for fellows and faculty. She helps them navigate their way through a project, from research design and funding applications to operationalizing the study and publishing the data. Kope connects her scientists with other experts who help them conduct research that will change the way we understand diseases, with the goal of improving health outcomes. These experts include patients and their families. She enjoys reporting scientific discoveries back to the people who are impacted by disease.
Laboratory
Research Professional Awardee
Sarah
Anthony, BS
Nominated by: Michael Tranter, PhD, Phil Owens, PhD, Lisa
Green
Sarah Anthony is a Senior Research Assistant in Dr. Mike
Tranter’s lab in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of
Cardiovascular Health and Disease. Sarah graduated from UC’s College of Arts
and Sciences in 2005 and worked as a research assistant in multiple departments
before joining Dr. Tranter’s lab in 2012. The primary goal of the Tranter lab
is to increase our understanding of the RNA binding protein Human Antigen R
(HuR) in the setting of cardiometabolic disease. Sarah’s specific research
interests involve the role of HuR in brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and
crosstalk between adipose and cardiac tissues, work that recently garnered her
two first author publications. In addition, she oversees the day-to-day
operations of the lab, including managing the animal colony, assisting with
writing grant applications and manuscripts, and beating the lab’s graduate
students in the New York Times daily mini crossword puzzle. She is also
currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Molecular Genetics.
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