The University of �鶹��ý accounted for more than $61.2 million—92% of all federal biomedical research funding awarded in the state from the (NIH)—in fiscal year 2025.

�鶹��ý received $66.7 million overall in NIH funding, according to a new report from . The investment supported 902 jobs and generated $188.7 million in economic activity statewide.

NIH funding supports a wide range of research across UH, from improving disease detection and treatment to addressing health disparities and strengthening public health systems that serve island communities, reinforcing the university’s role in advancing health research and innovation in �鶹��ý.

had the largest share, with 72 awards totaling $60.7 million, while the received two awards totaling $468,391. While overall funding remained strong, NIH’s shift to multi-year funding—which obligates the full grant value upfront—resulted in 5,564 fewer grants being funded in FY2025 compared to FY2024.

“Even in a highly competitive and uncertain federal funding environment, University of �鶹��ý researchers continue to deliver work that improves lives here at home and beyond,” said Chad Walton, UH interim vice president for research and innovation. “These investments fuel discoveries, support high-quality jobs and strengthen our local economy. Every dollar makes a difference for our communities.”

Research highlights

Recent awards reflect the diversity of NIH-funded research at UH:

• $322,891 from the National Cancer Institute supports Shugeng Zhao Cao, professor at the at UH Hilo. The project, Discovery of novel natural TEAD inhibitors for the chemoprevention of liver tumors, explores natural compounds from Hawaiian microorganisms to develop the first preventive therapy for liver cancer.



• $2,039,744 from the National Human Genome Research Institute supports Lang Wu, associate professor at the at the UH Cancer Center. The research advances genomic tools and approaches to better understand complex diseases and support precision health applications. (Related UH News story)
• $459,287 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases supports Youping Deng, professor at the . The project, Hawaii Advanced Training in Artificial Intelligence for Precision Nutrition Science Research, strengthens training in the use of artificial intelligence for nutrition and metabolic health research. (Related UH News story)

Cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and community members are invited to the free workshop “How Clinical Trials Save Lives,” hosted by the ’s Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community. The event will be held on Saturday, April 18, 9–11 a.m. at the Sullivan Conference Center.

Attendees will learn how trials work, hear from experts and patient panelists, and explore how participation shapes future care. The event will follow with light refreshments and a preview of the new ���ʻō���� Early Phase Clinical Research Center, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Participants can attend in-person and via Zoom. .

‘Where research turns into real hope’

“Clinical trials are where research turns into real hope,” said Naoto T. Ueno, director of the UH Cancer Center and a two-time cancer survivor. “They give patients access to promising therapies and new possibilities.”

Clinical trials allow patients to receive new treatments or new combinations of existing therapies, often before they are widely available, while being closely monitored by research teams.

Related UH News story: UH cancer support network champions patient advocacy

The UH Cancer Center administers nearly 90% of cancer clinical trials in �鶹��ý. Its new ���ʻō���� facility will expand access to early-phase trials locally.

The workshop also marks the one-year anniversary of the Cancer CARE Community and honors founder Susan Hirano, whose vision continues to support and empower those affected by cancer. Since launching, the Cancer CARE Community has connected hundreds statewide, continuing Hirano’s legacy of hope and support.

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During spring break, University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� nursing student Jolene Chun joined National Guard search and rescue efforts in high-risk flood zones in Waialua to help ensure the safety of residents and property during the state evacuation order in March. Chun, a state-activated �鶹��ý Air National Guard Staff Sergeant medic with the U.S. Air Force, is pursuing her advanced degree through the (GEPN) in the (SONDH).

“The most impactful moment during the search was witnessing the devastation of mass amounts of property and vehicles displaced due to the powerful impact of the flood,” Chun said.

Chun earned her bachelor of arts in with a concentration in disaster preparedness and management from UH West Oʻahu in 2021. Her decision to serve as a medic in the �鶹��ý Air National Guard was influenced in part by educational opportunities, including tuition assistance that supported her undergraduate degree.

Her training in the GEPN program built on her clinical experience as a medic, strengthening her ability to respond in high-pressure situations.

“The program helped me render aid with definitive treatments in mind, which made me more confident assisting in the field,” she said.

Even to make the smallest difference, I will answer the call.
—Jolene Chun

Balancing both roles, Chun said the skills complement each other and reinforce a shared focus on patient care, making her immediate decision to assist during spring break instinctive.

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to assist in responding to people in the community. Even to make the smallest difference, I will answer the call,” she said.

A long-term commitment to service

Chun plans to graduate in 2028 and commission as a �鶹��ý Air National Guard nurse, eventually pursuing the to continue serving �鶹��ý communities. In addition to focusing on women’s wellness, she aims to help improve coordination across federal, state, city and private sectors to expand access to healthcare.

As the affected communities continue cleaning and rebuilding, Chun reflects on the ongoing efforts. “I am appreciative that the National Guard members are still out there working with the community to help the land and people pick up the pieces to hopefully normalize after the effects of the Kona Low system.”

SONDH Dean Clementina Ceria-Ulep added, “Jolene’s dedication as a nursing student and medic showcases the remarkable service and leadership our students bring to �鶹��ý communities.”

What began as a weeklong summer experience at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s (JABSOM) turned into something much bigger for Hawaii Baptist Academy student Callie Kawaguchi.

After attending JABSOM’s last summer, an immersive introduction to medical school, Kawaguchi helped organize the Convention for Future Medical Leaders, held February 28, at Hawaii Baptist Academy. The event brought nearly 100 high school students from across �鶹��ý together to .

First medical school experience

“They really catered to making sure that we learned about med school,” Kawaguchi said of her MDT experience. “No one had ever told me what it really was about. I found learning about medical school valuable.”

The weeklong MDT program introduces high school students to problem-based learning, anatomy demonstrations, clinical skills labs, simulated patient encounters and computerized manikin simulations. Participants learn to recognize symptoms of illnesses common in �鶹��ý and practice basic clinical skills such as taking vital signs, listening to heart and lung sounds and interviewing patients.

“I was really curious,” Kawaguchi said. “And I think I really got what they were talking about.”

Inspiring future healthcare leaders

Inspired by the experience, Kawaguchi created the Convention for Future Medical Leaders to help other students learn about the medical field.

The goal of the MDT program is to inspire an interest in learning about healthcare.
—Damon Sakai

“There have been career days just for your own high school,” she said. “But I wanted a convention just for medical stuff and for high schoolers around the island.”

JABSOM faculty, staff and students participated in the event, including MDT Director Damon Sakai, who spoke about the importance of early exposure to health careers.

“The goal of the MDT program is to inspire an interest in learning about healthcare,” Sakai said. “�鶹��ý continues to face a significant healthcare workforce shortage, so early exposure programs like MDT are increasingly important.”

Registration for summer program

Registration for the opens on March 23. The program runs July 6–10, at JABSOM in Kakaʻako and is open to high school students in grades 10–12 who are at least 16 years old.

“There’s currently a medical worker shortage in �鶹��ý,” Kawaguchi said. “And I wanted other people to get a little closer to what they want to do in the future.”

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A new report from the (UHERO) emphasizes the crucial role of the UH Community Colleges’ Good Jobs �鶹��ý (GJH) program in successfully placing residents into high-demand, higher-paying careers. The preliminary analysis by Rachel Inafuku provides more evidence that these targeted training programs are helping families combat �鶹��ý’s persistent, high cost of living.

“Consistent with the , average real quarterly wages for [Good Jobs �鶹��ý] completers were more than $2,000 higher two quarters after program completion than two quarters prior,” the report said. This increase demonstrates how these short-term programs are creating essential earning power.

Higher healthcare earnings

The most dramatic gains were found among those who transitioned into a new field after training. In healthcare, the largest GJH pathway, participants who switched from non-healthcare industries—such as retail or food services—saw their average quarterly earnings rise by more than $5,500 two quarters after completion. This amounts to an annualized earnings increase of $22,000 for workers entering a sector with sustained high demand due to �鶹��ý’s aging population.

Significant gains for skilled trades

Similarly, skilled trades completers realized significant wage gains, earning roughly $2,600 more per quarter post-program. Employment patterns for this group also shifted away from lower-wage sectors and toward construction, manufacturing and public administration, aligning with the state’s thriving construction industry and its well-above-average wages.

Smaller increases for tech

Outcomes varied by sector. Technology students—many of whom were mid-career workers with pre-program earnings higher than the average GJH student—experienced smaller wage increases and more modest changes in industry placement.

Read more UH News Good Jobs �鶹��ý stories

Overall, these findings highlight how post-training earnings trajectories reflect both the specific skills acquired and the broader structure of �鶹��ý’s labor market.

Inafuku said, “As �鶹��ý continues to face a high demand for workers in critical sectors alongside persistent cost-of-living pressures, workforce programs that align training with industry needs can address both challenges—placing workers in more stable, higher-paying jobs while helping employers meet demand.”

UHERO is housed in UH ����ԴDz�’s .

Kauilaonālani Tengan is inspired to encourage greater participation from Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Filipino communities in diabetes clinical trials to ensure research better reflects the populations most affected by the disease.

Leave your assumptions and biases at the door and engage these communities with aloha.
—Kauilaonālani Tengan

He is translating that goal into practice through applied research. A master of science student in epidemiology at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� , Tengan was part of a study team at The Queen’s Health Systems (QHS) whose findings were published in in the study Exploring Diabetes Clinical Trial Participation: A Diverse Group Interview Study.

“I have a family history of cardiometabolic diseases and I remember visiting extended family who had to fly from Molokaʻi just to receive quality care here on Oʻahu,” he said. “This [experience] instilled in me a desire to learn more about health issues so prevalent in our islands and contribute to innovative solutions.”

Research findings and lessons learned

While at QHS, Tengan split his time between health equity research and clinical data management, utilizing electronic medical records to address research questions. He helped conduct interviews with 56 hospitalized patients to explore what motivates—or prevents—patients from joining diabetes clinical trials.

Although 84% expressed willingness to participate, most had never been asked. Barriers included mistrust, concerns about medication risks, and lack of understanding, while many Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants cited family and community benefit as key motivators.

“Engaging face-to-face with people in a clinical setting humanized health data for me,” Tengan said. “It reminded me that these are people, not statistics. I realized that my work has a lasting impact, so it is my responsibility to do things in a pono manner.”

Tengan hopes to carry these lessons forward. “Leave your assumptions and biases at the door and engage these communities with aloha,” he said. “It is vital that we do work in an ethically and culturally nuanced way because there are real world impacts in the data that we publish.”

The study was part of an Food and Drug Administration-funded project at The Queenʻs Medical Center, in collaboration with the UH ����ԴDz� , and clinical partners. also found that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants are consistently underrepresented in U.S. clinical trials.

“Kauilaonālani’s perspectives and real-life application from quantitative analyses are so important to building collective public health,” said Tetine Sentell, public health professor and study co-author.

�鶹��ý is facing a critical shortage of neurosurgeons, leaving many patients with long waits or forced to travel off-island for care. The (JABSOM) is working to address the shortage through a mentorship program that trains the next generation of specialists while encouraging them to practice locally.

JABSOM alumnus Thomas Noh returned home to join the faculty and quickly saw how the problem would worsen as current neurosurgeons retire.

“There was an opportunity, and a need, for JABSOM to build interest in the field and get more people excited about going into neurosurgery,” he said.

The program offers hands-on surgical rotations, opportunities to contribute to research projects in Nohʻs lab and access to professional networks, with an emphasis on empowering women and students from underrepresented communities.

“One of �鶹��ý's super powers is that we have incredibly bright, very motivated students who want to make �鶹��ý their home,” Noh said. “If we can connect this pool of extremely qualified candidates with opportunities across neurosurgery, there’s hope that some of these students will get excited about it and want to build a career in �鶹��ý.”

Invaluable mentorship experience

Third-year medical student Janette Bow-Keola said the mentorship has been invaluable.

“When I started med school, I had the idea that I wanted to pursue neurosurgery, but I didn’t think it was really achievable, coming from my background as an underrepresented person in medicine,” she said. “I struggled with imposter syndrome and doubting whether I was right for medicine or worthy of going into neurosurgery.”

Through the experience I’m getting at JABSOM, I’ve built confidence in myself and my training and what I can offer patients.
—Janette Bow-Keola

When Bow-Keola met Noh, he affirmed that neurosurgery was within reach and that JABSOM could help her get there. “Through the experience I’m getting at JABSOM, I’ve built confidence in myself and my training and what I can offer patients,” she said.

Bow-Keola plans to return to �鶹��ý to address disparities in care and the declining neurosurgeon workforce.

Another success story is alumna Andie Conching—the first known Native Hawaiian woman accepted into a neurosurgery residency—who also credits mentorship at JABSOM and plans to return home to practice.

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�鶹��ý Gov. Josh Green emphasized that cancer research and medical science are not only matters of public health, but also essential to national and global security, during a roundtable discussion at the ’s 17th Annual on January 23.

The three-day international symposium, held January 21–23, at the UH Cancer Center in Kakaʻako, brought together leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to share cutting-edge discoveries in cancer genetics and environmental carcinogenesis — the interaction between genetic and environmental factors that influence cancer risk and treatment outcomes.

Cuts, costs, commitment

Speaking before nearly 100 attendees including international and U.S. cancer researchers, UH faculty, students and community members, Green addressed concerns about the future of medical research amid rising costs and federal funding cuts. The discussion was moderated by Michele Carbone, co-founder of the Weinman Symposium and director of thoracic oncology at the UH Cancer Center.

Cancer does not know a red state or a blue state.
—Gov. Josh Green

“The challenges are many, but there’s no question that states can help,” said Green. He pointed to a plan to provide an additional $7.5 million to the UH Cancer Center to help sustain research momentum during a difficult fiscal period.

Green warned that reductions in federal research funding threaten the nation’s ability to respond to future health crises and stressed that science should transcend politics.

“Cancer does not know a red state or a blue state,” he said. “It doesn’t know ideology. This is something we should commit ourselves to for humanity.”

He also tied biomedical research directly to global security, citing emerging technologies such as RNA-based research and vaccines. “If we don’t fund important research and someone else does—and they control that scientific discipline—we’re not just at a disadvantage during outbreaks,” Green said. “It’s unsafe to have monolithic control of major technologies.”

UH Cancer Center Director Naoto Ueno expressed appreciation for the governor’s support. “His vision, making sure that there is long-term cancer research, really makes a big difference,” Ueno said. “There are 70,000 people in �鶹��ý with cancer. The only way to cure cancer for future generations is to advance research.”

Green also presented the 2026 Weinman Award to Antoni Ribas of UCLA, a leader in cancer immunotherapy research.

Read more at the .

A study co-led by researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� has found that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—may significantly increase the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in adolescents. MASLD affects about 10% of children and up to 40% of children with obesity and can increase long-term risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and liver cancer.

The findings were published in and is a collaboration with the .

PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in nonstick cookware, stain- and water-repellent fabrics, food packaging and some cleaning products. They persist in the environment and accumulate in the body over time. More than 99% of people in the U.S. have measurable PFAS in their blood, and at least one PFAS is present in roughly half of U.S. drinking water supplies.

“Adolescents are particularly more vulnerable to the health effects of PFAS as it is a critical period of development and growth,” said assistant professor Shiwen “Sherlock” Li of UH ����ԴDz�’s Department of Public Health Sciences in the , who served as lead and corresponding author. “In addition to liver disease, PFAS exposure has been associated with a range of adverse health outcomes, including several types of cancer.” ()

Linking PFAS, genetics and lifestyle

The research examined 284 adolescents and young adults in Southern California who were already at higher metabolic risk because their parents had type 2 diabetes or were overweight. PFAS levels were measured through blood tests, and liver fat was assessed using MRI.

Adolescents are particularly more vulnerable to the health effects of PFAS as it is a critical period of development and growth.
—Shiwen Li

Higher blood levels of two common PFAS chemicals—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)—were linked to a greater likelihood of MASLD. Adolescents with twice as much PFOA in their blood were nearly three times more likely to have MASLD. The risk was even higher for those with a genetic variant (PNPLA3 GG) known to influence liver fat. In young adults, smoking further amplified PFAS-related liver impacts.

“MASLD can progress silently for years before causing serious health problems,” said Lida Chatzi, professor of population and public health sciences and pediatrics and director of the . “When liver fat starts accumulating in adolescence, it may set the stage for a lifetime of metabolic and liver health challenges. If we reduce PFAS exposure early, we may help prevent liver disease later.”

Li noted that this is the first study to examine PFAS and MASLD in children using gold-standard diagnostic criteria and to explore how genetic and lifestyle factors may interact with PFAS exposure.

Reducing exposure

Exposure to PFAS can vary by location. Li recommends checking local Consumer Confidence Reports to see whether a water provider tests for PFAS, and using a water filter if PFAS are detected. Avoiding products or packaging made with PFAS may also help reduce exposure. Given rising rates of MASLD in young people worldwide, the researchers call for continued investigation and policies that reduce PFAS use in consumer products.

Other study partners also included the University of California Irvine, West Virginia University, Johns Hopkins University and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Elliot Kalauawa, now an assistant clinical professor at the (JABSOM) at the , was recently honored with ’s Alumni of Merit Award—the highest award given by its alumni association—recognizing his decades of work expanding healthcare access for underserved communities in �鶹��ý. On December 6, Whitman College hosted an award presentation at JABSOM in his honor.

Kalauawa has taught future physicians at JABSOM for more than 40 years, serving as a preceptor who guides students through hands-on clinical training in community health. He works closely with learners at Waikiki Health, where he spent nearly four decades caring for vulnerable and houseless populations. Many students consider their time with him a formative part of their medical education because of his patient-centered approach and deep commitment to health equity.

From Whitman to �鶹��ý

His journey began nearly 50 years ago as a �鶹��ý student adjusting to life far from home.

“I definitely wanted to come back already,” he said. “Washington and Oregon are beautiful states, but to me, �鶹��ý is still the best place to live.”

That goal to become a physician formed when Kalauawa was about 11, after a long wait to see a doctor at the Queen Emma Clinic. “Must be they don’t have enough doctors, so I think I’ll be a doctor,” he remembered. Once he decided, “there was no changing, there was no thought of anything else.”

Even with the prestigious honor, Kalauawa remains humble. “Nobody receives an award on their own… It’s not just me, it’s definitely not a one person type of thing,” he said.

Read more at .