The National Institutes of Health has announced that two UC Davis Health System researchers will receive NIH Director’s New Innovator Awards to support their research work.

Elva Diaz and Kathy DeRiemer are receiving two of this year’s 55 Innovator Awards, which are funded by the NIH Common Fund’s Roadmap for Medical Research and encourage investigators to explore bold ideas with the potential to speed the translation of research into improved health.

Diaz, an assistant professor of pharmacology, will receive $1.5 million over five years to develop novel therapies for childhood brain cancer. DeRiemer, an assistant professor of public health sciences and medical microbiology and immunology, will also receive $1.5 million over five years for her work on tuberculosis.

More information: nihroadmap.nih.gov/newinnovator.