Announcing the 2025 Irving Scholars
The Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research is pleased to announce the 2025 Irving Scholars. This prestigious program supports outstanding early-career researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center who are advancing science to improve human health. Each year, the program provides dedicated funding to help accelerate impactful clinical and translational research.
This year’s scholars - Dr. Matthew Cummings, Dr. Alison Taylor, and Dr. Robert Bauer - are leading important studies in sepsis, lung cancer, and cardiometabolic disease. Their work is helping to shape the future of patient care through innovation, collaboration, and scientific discovery.
Matthew J. Cummings, MD, MS
Herbert Irving Assistant Professor of Medicine
Project Title: “Molecular Endotyping and Immune Response Trajectories in Sepsis in Uganda”
The Irving Scholarship will enable Dr. Cummings to define molecular endotypes of sepsis and map longitudinal immune trajectories among critically ill adults in Uganda - advancing the first precision medicine clinical trial for sepsis treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Cummings received his MD from Albany Medical College and completed residency and chief residency in Internal Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), followed by a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellowship and MS in Patient-Oriented Research. Since joining Columbia’s faculty in 2021, he has rapidly distinguished himself as an NIH-funded physician-scientist whose clinical-translational research has advanced the understanding of sepsis and critical illness, particularly in global and resource-limited settings. His work has led to the discovery of novel molecular sepsis subtypes and clarified how co-infections like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis shape immune responses in African populations.
Dr. Cummings is principal investigator on multiple NIH-funded studies, including a current R01 and K23, and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts in leading journals such as The Lancet, Critical Care, and Nature Communications. He is a recipient of the American Society for Clinical Investigation’s Young Physician-Scientist Award and Columbia’s Ewig Clinical Scholar Award for excellence in clinical teaching. He also serves as Associate Program Director for Global Health and Co-Director of the Global Health Pathway within the Internal Medicine Residency at Columbia.
A collaborative investigator and committed mentor, Dr. Cummings leads Columbia’s contributions to the multinational STAIRS consortium, which is launching the first trial of host-directed sepsis therapy in sub-Saharan Africa. His research exemplifies the integration of clinical care, global health, and precision immunology, and his Irving Scholarship will accelerate a body of work poised to shape both science and practice in sepsis care worldwide.
Alison M. Taylor, PhD
Florence Irving Assistant Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology (in the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center)
Project Title: “Histology-Specific Consequences of Chromosome 19p Deletion in Lung Cancer”
The Irving Scholarship will support Dr. Taylor’s investigation into how chromosome 19p deletions shape gene expression and immune signaling in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. By uncovering how these alterations influence tumor biology, Dr. Taylor’s work could lead to new prognostic biomarkers and precision treatment strategies for lung cancer.
Dr. Taylor earned her PhD in Genetics from Harvard University, following a BS in Biology from MIT. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she developed one of the first CRISPR-based models to study chromosome arm-level aneuploidy. Since joining Columbia in 2020, Dr. Taylor has built a thriving translational research program focused on the functional and clinical impacts of chromosomal alterations in cancer, with a particular emphasis on lung squamous cell carcinoma.
A recognized leader in cancer aneuploidy research, Dr. Taylor is principal investigator on several NIH grants, including an R01 and R35, as well as an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant. Her lab integrates experimental and computational tools to model aneuploidy events and analyze their role in immune evasion, tumor progression, and therapy resistance. Her publications span Nature, Cancer Cell, and J Immunotherapy of Cancer, and she has been honored with the AACR Gertrude B. Elion Award and NextGen Star designation.
Dr. Taylor also serves as co-course head for Columbia’s graduate pathology seminar and mentors a large, diverse group of students, postdocs, and community-engaged researchers. A committed educator and advocate, she completed the Irving Institute’s Community-Based Participatory Research Program and continues to collaborate with nonprofit partners on increasing cancer screening access in communities of color. With deep expertise, a strong record of innovation, and a passion for mentorship and community impact, Dr. Taylor’s work is poised to transform our understanding of chromosomal alterations in cancer and their clinical implications.
Robert C. Bauer, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (in the Institute of Human Nutrition)
Project Title: “Translating Human Genetic Insights into Therapeutic Targets for Cardiometabolic Disease”
The Irving Scholarship will support Dr. Bauer’s research at the intersection of human genetics, molecular biology, and translational cardiometabolic science. His work leverages gene variants discovered in large-scale human studies to uncover the biological mechanisms behind conditions such as coronary artery disease (CAD), fatty liver disease, and obesity. By identifying and functionally dissecting these genes, including TRIB1, ADAMTS7, and C/EBPɑ, Dr. Bauer aims to uncover new therapeutic strategies that address disease drivers beyond traditional lipid-focused treatments.
Dr. Bauer earned his BA in Biology from Columbia University and his PhD in Genetics and Gene Regulation from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed postdoctoral training at Penn in cardiovascular disease modeling, integrating genetic and functional approaches to study lipid metabolism, hepatic steatosis, and atherosclerosis.
Since joining Columbia in 2018, Dr. Bauer has established a nationally recognized lab focused on translating genetic associations into targeted interventions. His lab is a founding member of the Cardiometabolic Genomics Program in the Division of Cardiology, and his work has revealed new insights into how TRIB1 influences lipid metabolism across liver, adipose, and immune tissues. In parallel, his studies on ADAMTS7 and smooth muscle foam cell biology are redefining our understanding of atherosclerosis beyond cholesterol.
A recipient of multiple R01 grants from NHLBI and NIDDK, as well as awards from the American Heart Association and NY Nutrition Obesity Research Center, Dr. Bauer has been honored as a Fellow of the AHA and a finalist for the Irving H. Page Junior Faculty Research Award. His group is currently exploring how adipose-specific gene regulation impacts systemic metabolism, and how extracellular enzymes like ADAMTS7 mediate “outside-in” signaling in vascular disease.
A devoted educator and mentor, Dr. Bauer serves on Columbia’s Nutrition and Metabolic Biology PhD Training Committee, has mentored dozens of trainees across all levels, and actively supports students through NIH Diversity Supplements and SPURS. His leadership roles extend to national service with the AHA, Kern Lipid Conference, and NIH study sections. By translating human genetic discoveries into therapeutic blueprints, Dr. Bauer’s work is reshaping how we understand, and potentially treat, the root causes of cardiometabolic disease.