University of Maryland, Baltimore had the opportunity to get a free lunch from President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, deans and vice presidents in this annual Founders Week tradition.

Ryan Pearson, PhD, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences and director of the Bio- and Nano-Technology Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy has been awarded a $3.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to move forward with a unique approach to defeating sepsis using nanoparticles. His approach is different because the custom-designed nanoparticles are not used to transport other drugs, but are themselves the treatment.

As an ACS-IMPACT Research Scholar at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Gabrielle Olibris spent her summer in the lab of Aditi Banerjee, PhD, targeting medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain cancer, with a novel therapeutic compound called BNPP-433.3 Beta.BNPP-433.3 Beta shows strong potential, she said, explaining, “This is already patented, so it’s a drug that’s already being used to treat prostate cancer.”By exploring a new use for an existing cancer drug, Olibris hopes to help advance research that could lead to safer, more effective treatments for children.#breakthroughscantwaitumb #cancerresearch

With a passion for social justice and public interest law, Danielle Basdekis arrived at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2023 to pursue a Juris Doctor degree and hit the ground running. In two years, she has distinguished herself as a student, scholar, and leader, with her contributions significantly enriching the law school and advancing the mission of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).The third-year student has made her mark on the Francis King Carey School of Law through her academic pursuits and leadership roles. Basdekis, who will be a clerk for Justice Angela Eaves on the Supreme Court of Maryland after graduating next spring, said she was “overwhelmed” by the Student of the Year honor.Read more: https://elm.umaryland.edu/elm-stories/2025/Founders-Week-2025-Student-of-the-Year-Danielle-D-Basdekis.php

Being named the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) 2025 Founders Week David J. Ramsay Entrepreneur of the Year has been a full-circle moment for Rajabrata Sarkar, MD, PhD.The School of Medicine professor is an expert in treating blood vessel disorders, a nationally known researcher in his field, and a partner in the medical technology startup MDC Studio.Read more: https://elm.umaryland.edu/elm-stories/2025/Founders-Week-2025-David-J-Ramsay-Entrepreneur-of-the-Year-Rajabrata-Sarkar-MD-PhD.php

From the remote reaches of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the front lines of global vaccine development, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) professor Kirsten E. Lyke, MD, has charted a career defined by brilliance, persistence, and compassion.The School of Medicine professor and Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health researcher has built a global reputation for vaccine innovation.Because of her impactful work, Lyke has been named the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) 2025 Founders Week Researcher of the Year.Read more: https://elm.umaryland.edu/elm-stories/2025/Founders-Week-2025-Researcher-of-the-Year-Kirsten-E-Lyke-MD.php