Congratulations to ASPEN's 2025 Stanley J. Dudrick Research Award Recipient
Carla Prado, PhD, RD, FCAHS
Distinguished Professor and
Canada Research Chair in Integrative Nutrition, Body Composition, and Energy
Metabolism; Director of the Human Nutrition Research Unit, University of
Alberta, Canada
A message from Dr. Prado
"Thank you, ASPEN and the Dudrick Committee, for this incredible honor, which reflects the invaluable support and collaboration I have received from my trainees, peers, and mentors. I am deeply inspired by Dr. Dudrick’s legacy—a pioneer and visionary leader whose contributions increased recognition of clinical nutrition as a critical component of patient care, and its profound impact on improving health outcomes.
Building on this legacy, my research program is dedicated to evaluating the prevalence and relevance of abnormal body composition, and the role of effective nutrition therapy. A key focus of my work is determining the precise energy and protein requirements of patients with cancer to prevent or reverse muscle loss, thereby enhancing their health, quality of life, and survivorship.
In addition to research, I am deeply committed to promoting the importance of nutrition therapy to diverse audiences. I place a strong emphasis on knowledge translation and dissemination, striving to increase awareness and understanding of the essential role nutrition therapy plays in improving clinical care. I look forward to sharing more about this scientific journey at the Stanley J. Dudrick Symposium during the ASPEN Nutrition Science & Practice Conference in 2026. Join us!"
Congratulations to ASPEN's 2024 Stanley J. Dudrick Research Award Recipient
Manpreet S. Mundi, MD, FASPEN Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
A message from Dr. Mundi
"I am extremely honored and humbled to be selected as the recipient of the Stanley J. Dudrick Research Scholar Award. Early on in his career, Dr. Dudrick recognized the devastating impact of malnutrition after three of his patients passed away from the condition despite successful operations. His efforts to identify a safe and effective remedy led to the development of total parenteral nutrition, which has been credited for saving millions of lives worldwide. Yet even today, despite the availability of effective therapies, malnutrition remains underdiagnosed and continues to contribute to significant patient morbidity and mortality. Following in Dr. Dudrick's footsteps, I have remained motivated by the devastating impact of malnutrition that I witness in my daily practice. With my research program, I aspire to improve upon existing treatment paradigms in order to decrease complications, improve the quality of life of patients who need nutrition support, and to increase awareness of this debilitating condition. I am grateful to both the Dudrick family and the selection committee for this prestigious and inspirational award."
View past Dudrick Award Recipients
Eligibility:
- ASPEN Members
- Mid-career investigators and ASPEN members who have an advanced degree (MD, PharmD, MS, PhD, or equivalent) and who have completed formal training in nutritional research/therapy within the past 10-15 years.
- Demonstration of exceptional research productivity and the potential to continue to contribute to the field of nutrition therapy.
Application Information:
- To nominate a colleague, please submit a letter of recommendation to ASPEN Staff, who will then contact the nominee for an application.
- To nominate yourself, please complete the online application.
This award entails:
- A Cash Award
- Attendance at the ASPEN Nutrition Science & Practice Conference
- The honor of planning and chairing ASPEN’s Dudrick Symposium at the following year’s Nutrition Science & Practice Conference
- Opportunity to submit proceedings of their planned Dudrick Symposium to the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (JPEN)