Jaume Padilla, associate professor, nutrition and exercise physiology, has received CAFNR’s 2024 Outstanding Mid-Career Research Award as part of the College’s annual Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony. 

Joining the University of Missouri in 2009 as a postdoctoral fellow, he become an associate professor with tenure in 2019. His research is having a major impact on the field of cardiovascular research.  

“His focus is on the connections between cardiovascular disease, physical inactivity, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, and addresses some of the greatest challenges facing society,” said nominator Dojin Ryu, director of the Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences. 

Padilla’s achievements include more than 175 peer-reviewed publications, more than $11 million in extramural funding and prestigious awards such as the 2023 Impact Award from the American Physiological Society. He serves as a permanent member of an NIH study section and an associate editor for the Journal of Applied Physiology.  

“During his time as Postdoctoral Fellow and later in his Professorship track, I have directly witnessed Jaume’s growth and success as a scientist, and I can attest that he is an outstanding independent investigator with great capacity to continue his exponential ascend in productivity and research excellence,” said Luis Martinez-Lemus, professor of medical pharmacology and physiology and director of the Center for Precision Medicine. 

“Dr. Padilla has brought much positive recognition to the Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Science,” said Ryu. “We recognize that he is a major asset not only to our academic unit, but also to the larger university. His bold spirit and willingness to push scientific boundaries has had an energizing effect that transcends departmental boundaries.”