In 2013, Case Western Reserve University expanded its annual approach of honoring faculty achievements in teaching and mentoring via campus awards to include a recognition program for excellence in research. Called the Faculty Distinguished Research Awards, the program demonstrates the great value CWRU places on academic discovery.
Specifically, Faculty Distinguished Research Awards are presented to individuals who uphold and build upon the university’s history as an innovative, research-driven institution, and who establish national and international reputations for their research or creative projects.
Visit the Office of Institutional Research website to view a comprehensive list of past award recipients.
2025 FDRA Recipients
Two faculty members received the Faculty Distinguished Research Award (FDRA) for 2025 and were recognized at the Faculty Awards Dinner at Harcourt House in April.
Grace McComsey
Grace A. McComsey, MD, an internationally recognized leader in HIV, COVID-19, and translational medicine research, has been named a recipient of Case Western Reserve University's 2025 Faculty Distinguished Research Award. The honor recognizes a career marked by groundbreaking scientific discoveries, transformative clinical leadership, and a deep commitment to improving patient care around the world.
McComsey is the Gertrude Chandler Tucker Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, vice dean for clinical and translational research at the School of Medicine, and principal investigator of the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) of Northern Ohio. Over more than two decades, her research has changed the understanding and treatment of HIV-related complications while helping shape national responses to emerging infectious diseases.
Early in her career, McComsey conducted pioneering studies revealing how HIV infection and antiretroviral therapies can affect metabolism, cardiovascular health, bone density, and inflammation. Her work was among the first to identify mitochondrial toxicity associated with early HIV treatments, helping clinicians recognize and reduce serious treatment-related side effects. Her findings also contributed to a broader understanding of long-term health risks in people living with HIV and informed clinical guidelines used worldwide.
More recently, McComsey has been at the forefront of research exploring novel strategies to address metabolic complications in HIV, including studies involving GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of medications now widely used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Her work reflects a commitment to precision medicine and developing targeted interventions that improve long-term health outcomes.
When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, McComsey quickly mobilized research efforts in Northeast Ohio. She established a critical biospecimen repository, led clinical trials evaluating vaccines and therapeutics, and helped create the infrastructure needed for researchers across the region to respond rapidly to the public health crisis.
She also became a national leader in the study of long COVID. As principal investigator of the Northeast Ohio hub of the NIH-funded RECOVER initiative, she directs research aimed at understanding the biological causes of persistent symptoms, identifying patients at risk, and evaluating potential treatments.
McComsey's influence extends beyond her individual research program. She currently leads the $62 million Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio, which brings together seven universities and health systems to accelerate scientific discovery and improve health outcomes across the region.
Her scholarly record is equally remarkable. McComsey has published more than 360 peer-reviewed articles, delivered over 100 invited presentations worldwide, secured major NIH funding, and mentored more than 50 trainees and early-career investigators, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in academic medicine and biomedical research.
The Faculty Distinguished Research Award recognizes not only McComsey's groundbreaking discoveries but also her extraordinary leadership in translating scientific advances into better care for patients and stronger research opportunities for future generations.
Michael Scharf
For more than three decades, Michael P. Scharf has helped shape the field of international criminal law, influencing how nations, courts, and policymakers pursue justice in the aftermath of war, genocide, and mass atrocities. In recognition of his extraordinary scholarly contributions and global impact, Scharf has been named a recipient of Case Western Reserve University's 2025 Faculty Distinguished Research Award.
Scharf, the Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Professor of Law and associate dean for global legal studies at the School of Law, is among the world's leading scholars of international law and accountability. His scholarship has helped define modern approaches to war crimes prosecutions, international tribunals, transitional justice, and the development of customary international law.
Throughout his career, Scharf has combined rigorous legal scholarship with practical engagement in some of the world's most consequential international justice efforts. Before joining Case Western Reserve University, he served as attorney-adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State and later became a co-founder of the Public International Law & Policy Group, a nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal assistance to governments and international organizations. Through that work, he has advised on transitional justice and accountability initiatives in countries including Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Uganda, and Côte d'Ivoire.
His influence extends far beyond academic publications. Scharf has authored or edited more than 20 books and dozens of articles that are widely cited by courts, tribunals, diplomats, and scholars around the world. His work on international criminal tribunals, accountability mechanisms, and the evolution of customary international law has become foundational reading for practitioners and students alike.
Among his many achievements, Scharf has received multiple book awards from the International Association of Penal Law and has been recognized with the International Bar Association's Leadership Award and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation's Richard W. Pogue Award for Excellence in Community Leadership and Engagement. He has also been ranked among the most cited scholars in international law.
At CWRU, Scharf has played a pivotal role in building international law programs and mentoring future generations of lawyers and scholars. His nomination noted that his scholarship stands apart for its "unique blend of doctrinal clarity, historical insight, and practical relevance" and for its ability to shape both academic discourse and real-world policy.
The Faculty Distinguished Research Award recognizes Scharf's lasting impact on the study and practice of international law and his continued commitment to advancing justice on a global scale.