Biochemistry professors and co-directors of the National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison (NMRFAM) Katherine Henzler-Wildman and Chad Rienstra have been selected as 2026-2027 Vilas Associates, awarded by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. The Vilas Associates Competition recognizes “new and ongoing research of the highest quality and significance.”
Henzler-Wildman is known for her exploration of the dynamics, mechanisms, and functions of transport proteins that control movement of molecules across cell membranes. Her research focuses on drug efflux pumps, and is broadening our understanding of the mechanisms involved when cells use proton gradients to energize the process of removing toxins and drugs from the cell.
“The Vilas Associate award will let me further explore the relationship between substrate specificity and energetic efficiency in transporters beyond our NIH-funded research,” says Henzler-Wildman. “This is important for understanding how the function of promiscuous antibiotic efflux pumps might affect bacterial energy metabolism and for thinking about how we might engineer transporters for different tasks.”
Rienstra’s research group has pioneered nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods and technologies that have helped solve high-resolution structures of small proteins. They have also discovered innovative approaches to understand larger structures. Their efforts are having a major impact on understanding Parkinson’s disease, fungicidal drug action and protein-lipid interactions in blood coagulation.
“I am honored to be named a Vilas Associate, joining a prestigious group of colleages at UW who create such a stimulating intellectual environment on campus,” says Rienstra. “The funding will help to ensure continuation of research projects despite uncertainties in the federal funding landscape.”
Award recipients are chosen competitively by divisional research committees, based on a detailed proposal. Winners receive research salary support during the summers of 2026 and 2027, in addition to $12,500 flexible research funds over the two years.
Written by Renata Solan.