Dr. Elizabeth Kim , a research associate in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, has received a 2026 Tri-Institutional Breakout Award for Junior Investigators.
Weill Cornell Medicine, The Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center present the awards annually, recognizing exceptional investigators for their remarkable research achievements, impactful findings and high potential for success as independent investigators. The winners, at least one from each institution, receive a $25,000 unrestricted prize.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive this recognition for my work,” said Dr. Kim, who received her doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology at Louisiana State University School of Medicine. “It will have a major impact on my future career progression.”
Working in the lab of Dr. Crina Nimigean , a professor of biochemistry and biophysics in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Kim’s research focuses on drug targeting of HCN1, an ion channel protein found on many types of neurons. Mutations in the HCN1 channel are associated with diseases, such as epilepsy. Ion channels are gates embedded in cell membranes that allow electrically charged particles (like sodium and potassium ions) to enter or exit cells, creating electrical signals essential for nerve impulses, muscle contractions and heartbeats.
Using the general anesthetic propofol, Dr. Kim solved the structure of the propofol binding site on the HCN1 channel. The study , led by Dr. Kim and colleagues and published in Nature in 2024, discovered and elucidated how propofol can restore the mutant channels, linked to epilepsy, to normal function.
“It was surprising to see propofol molecularly correct some of these epilepsy mutations,” Dr. Kim said.
“On a fundamental level, Dr. Kim’s approach of combining structural biology, electrophysiology and computational insights sets a new standard for how complex membrane proteins are studied,” Dr. Nimigean said. “Her work has the potential to transform both fundamental understanding and clinical approaches to ion channel disorders.”
In upcoming research, Dr. Kim is using the structural data on propofol’s binding site to uncover mechanisms of HCN1 drug selectivity with the goal of repairing faulty ion channels and finding a treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy.
In addition to the 2026 Tri-Institutional Breakout Award, Dr. Kim’s research has received funding from a Biomedical Research Fellowship from the Hartwell Foundation and a Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health.
“Dr. Kim’s Tri-Institutional Breakout award reflects not only her accomplishments to date but also her clear trajectory toward leadership in the ion channel field,” Dr. Nimigean said.
Dr. Kim was honored with the other 2026 award winners, Dr. Lucas Tian from the Rockefeller University and Dr. Seungjae Lee from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, on June 5 at the Tri-Institutional Breakout Prize Scientific Symposium.