Foundation Celebrates 2026 Pre-Doctoral Summer Fellowship Awardees

The National Scleroderma Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Pre-Doctoral Fellowship awards.

The Pre-Doctoral Summer Fellowship Award Program encourages and fosters the next generation of researchers by cultivating interest in the cause and cure of scleroderma under the mentorship of an established scleroderma researcher. An annual award program designed to recognize PhD students conducting research related to scleroderma, the program cultivates and supports students’ early interests in working to discover the cause and cure of scleroderma.

Students submit a proposal on research relevant to adult or pediatric scleroderma. Applications are accepted annually and due each spring, with awards given out at the beginning of June.

Neerja Marwaha Bhagat Research Scholar Fellowship

Each year, one recipient will be honored as the Neerja Marwaha Bhagat Research Scholar in recognition of their drive to discover the cause and cure of scleroderma. The Neerja Marwaha Bhagat Research Scholar Fellowship was established to honor the legacy of a longtime leader of the National Scleroderma Foundation Mid-Atlantic Chapter.

This year, the Neerja Marwaha Bhagat Research Scholar Fellowship Awardwas given to Chen-Yu Wang, PhD (c), from Dartmouth College. He is currently in the Molecular and Cellular Biology program, working with his mentor, Patricia A. Pioli, PhD, on her project Harnessing Human CAR T Cells to Combat Fibrosis.

Arnold Postlethwaite Fellowship Pre-Doctoral Summer Fellowship

Annually one recipient will be awarded the Dr. Arnold Postlethwaite Summer Fellowship. The endowed memorial fellowship was established by the family of Dr. Arnold Postlethwaite and honor’s his career as a scleroderma specialist and his 22-year relationship with the National Scleroderma Foundation’s Medical & Scientific Advisory Board and support group leader.

This year the Arnold Postlethwaite Fellowship Pre-Doctoral Summer Fellowship Award was given to Audrey Galimba, PhD (c), from the Medical University of South Carolina. She is currently in the Biomedical Sciences program, working with her mentor, Carol Feghali-Bostwick, PhD, on her project The Role of ID1 in Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Congratulations to our FY26 Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Awardees:

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