Carolina Rodriguez Tirado, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow in microbiology and immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is one of eight recipients of the 2026 Dr. Eddie Méndez Scholar Award from Fred Hutch Cancer Center. The award recognizes exceptional early-career scientists conducting innovative research in cancer, infectious diseases, and basic science.

Dr. Rodriguez Tirado was recognized for her research on cancer dormancy, which seeks to understand why some cancer cells survive treatment and remain hidden in the body long after an initial tumor has been eliminated. By uncovering the biological processes that allow these dormant cells to persist—and, in some cases, begin growing again years later—her work could lead to new approaches for preventing cancer recurrence and metastasis.

She presented her work at the Dr. Eddie Méndez Scholar Symposium on July 16 at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle. The symposium brought together award recipients with Fred Hutch faculty and senior leaders to discuss their scientific discoveries, exchange ideas, and build professional networks that support the next generation of scientific leaders.

Dr. Rodriguez Tirado conducts her research as a postdoctoral research fellow in the laboratory of Maria Sosa, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Einstein.