Abhishek Kulkarni Wins 2025 Abul-Hajj and Hanna Award

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry is happy to announce that Abhishek Kulkarni has been named the recipient of the 2025 Abul-Hajj and Hanna Award for Exceptional Graduate Student in Medicinal Chemistry! 

Abhishek works in Prof. Carston Wagner's laboratory. Read more about the work of the Wagner Lab here.

Abhishek has spent his graduate career developing chemically self-assembled nanorings (CSANs) that eradicate tumors through immune cell tumor targeting. He has worked closely with his PI and peers to design and develop the first pro-nanobody approach that selectively activates T-cell engagers, thus decreasing potential off-target T-cell engagement and deleterious immune cell activation.

Abhishek is well-known for being a stellar citizen of the department with his can-do attitude and his willingness to step in to support Medicinal Chemistry however he can. For example, his contributions to planning MIKIW 2023 in Minneapolis were instrumental to the huge success of the event. Members of his lab also appreciate his mentorship; Abhishek is always willing to teach difficult material, troubleshoot issues, and discuss experiments with his peers. 

He had this to say about receiving the award:

I am extremely honored to be the Abul-Hajj-Hanna Exceptional Graduate Student Awardee. Ever since I joined our program, it was my dream to be able to compete for this prestigious award. My hard work in the lab as well as my service to our department would not have been possible without the support of my advisor Rick Wagner and my colleagues in the Wagner Lab, so I am very thankful to them. I would also like to thank the award committee for their time in reviewing applications and finding me worthy of this award. I am now a firm believer that hard work always pays off, and that dreams do indeed come true!

Congratulations, Abhishek!