Competition in the 2026 ACCP Clinical Research Challenge (CRC) began in February with 69 teams vying for a spot in Round 2: Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission. Teams achieving the top 40 scores after the initial online Journal Club Round submitted an LOI. Teams achieving the top 20 scores after round 2 were invited to compete in Round 3: Research Protocol Development. Teams were tasked with developing a research proposal designed to demonstrate the value of clinical pharmacy–led services and/or initiatives in the area of pharmacogenomics. Teams were provided with a specific research environment in which to formulate their proposals.
The proposals were reviewed by the CRC Review Panel, with those ranking in the top one-third referred for evaluation and selection of awards by the CRC Oversight Panel. Please join ACCP in congratulating the finalist teams and award winners.
2026 ACCP Clinical Research Challenge Finalist Teams:
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Boston
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy
Temple University School of Pharmacy
University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
University of Florida School of Pharmacy
University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
University of North Texas Health Science Center UNT System College of Pharmacy
University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
2026 ACCP Clinical Research Challenge Awards:
Championship Team: University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
Proposal Title: Pharmacist-Led SLCO1B1-Guided Statin Prescribing to Improve Statin Adherence and Reduce Patient-Reported Side Effects
Student Team: Tyler Moores, Jennifer Ho, Lauren Brady
Faculty Adviser: Erika Ernst, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCIDP
Second-Place Team: Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Proposal Title: Evaluation of a Novel Pharmacy Service Utilizing Genotype-Guided Tacrolimus Dosing in Kidney Transplant
Student Team: Drexler Yesiki, Kaedan Hwynn, Landon Wilson
Faculty Adviser: Alexander Stumphauzer, Pharm.D., BCIDP
Third-Place Team: University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
Proposal Title: Genotype-Enriched Interventions in Optimization of Medications in the Elderly (GENOME)
Student Team: Brett Haslem, Justin Xu, Emma Doederlein
Faculty Adviser: Michael Dorsch, Pharm.D., FCCP
Fourth-Place Team: University of North Texas Health Science Center UNT System College of Pharmacy
Proposal Title: Clinical Outcomes of a Pharmacist-Driven CYP2D6 Pharmacogenomic Service for Acute Pain Management
Student Team: Amun Majeed, Khushi Patel, Avae Odza
Faculty Adviser: Ashlyn Aguiniga, Pharm.D., BCACP, CDCES
These teams are invited to present their research design during a poster session at the 2026 ACCP Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. In addition, each student member of these teams will receive a complimentary Annual Meeting registration. For complete competition information, click here.
Please join ACCP in recognizing and thanking the following members of ACCP for their contributions and service to the College in advancing this important program for our student members.
2026 CRC Oversight Panel
Sandra Benavides, Pharm.D., FCCP
Doug Fish, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, BCCCP
Anne Hume, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Irene La-Beck, Pharm.D.
Beth Phillips, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Tiffany Pon, Pharm.D., BCPS
Journal Club Author Panel
Carol Heunisch, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCP
Pam Ku, Pharm.D., BCPS
Dan Majerczyk, Pharm.D., BCPS, BC-ADM, CACP
Dianne May, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Journal Club Review Panel
Allison Bernknopf, Pharm.D., BCPS
Timothy Gladwell, Pharm.D., BCACP, BCCP, BCPS
CRC Review Panel
Jacob Brown, Pharm.D.
Kyle Burghardt, Pharm.D.
Daniel Crona, Pharm.D., PhD
Robert DiDomenico Jr, Pharm.D., FCCP
Abigail Elmes-Patel, Pharm.D., MHPE, BCPS
Teresa Ho, Pharm.D., BCPS
Kelly Lee, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPP
Abbie Leino, Pharm.D., BCPS
Tien Ng, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Philip Rodgers, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Tyler Shugg, Pharm.D., PhD
James Stevenson, Pharm.D., MS, BCPP
Rebecca H. Stone, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCACP, BCPS
Chad VanDenBerg, Pharm.D., BCPP
Lusi Zhang, Pharm.D., PhD, MHI
For complete information on the Clinical Research Challenge, visit http://www.accp.com/stunet/crc/eligibility.aspx.