Attendees of the Innovation Impact Case Award Luncheon on October 13 included: top row from left: Robert Hampshire, Thierry Boudet, Peter Crawford, Linsey Griffin, Rick Huebsch, Iris Borowsky and bottom row from left: Kim Kirkpatrick, Joon Cho, Prasad Boradkar, Rebecca Shlafer, Richard Graves, Shashank Priya, Peter Nealy.
The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) honored the 2025 Innovation Impact Case Award winners at a luncheon with Vice President for Research and Innovation Shashank Priya on October 13. This annual award recognizes University of Minnesota research that has had a significant impact outside of academia.
Two projects received awards this year: Richard Graves, Center for Sustainable Building Research in the College of Design for his project “Leading the Built Environment to Sustainability in Minnesota" and Rebecca Shlafer, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health in the Medical School for her project "Supporting the Health of Children and Families Impacted by Incarceration in Minnesota."
The luncheon began by welcoming award winners and their guests, along with a presentation of the awards by Vice President Priya. “This award reminds us what makes research at the University of Minnesota so powerful. It doesn’t stop at discovery. It moves forward to make change, to improve lives, inform policy, and strengthen our communities here in Minnesota and beyond,” shared Priya.
Among the event guests were Peter Crawford, Vice Dean for Research in the Medical School; Prasad Boradkar, Dean in the College of Design; and Linsey Griffin, Associate Dean in the College of Design.