University of Minnesota's Dr. Michael Osterholm and Dr. Emil Lou Named to TIME's 2026 TIME100 Health List

TIME named two renowned University of Minnesota faculty members — Dr. Michael Osterholm and Dr. Emil Lou — to the 2026 TIME100 Health List of the World’s Most Influential Leaders in Health. Osterholm is a Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota. Lou is a Tenured Professor, physician-scientist and board-certified gastrointestinal oncologist with the University of Minnesota Medical School, Masonic Cancer Center and M Health Fairview.

The 2026 TIME100 Health spotlights the 100 most influential leaders in health this year. As the global order has shifted, these titans, innovators, leaders, pioneers and catalysts have pushed ahead new ideas — from gene therapies to regulatory agencies — to build healthier populations around the world.

“Dr. Michael Osterholm and Dr. Emil Lou have championed groundbreaking work in public health and medicine,” said University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham. “We celebrate and honor them and their work. Dr. Osterholm’s leadership in protecting global health and addressing emerging infectious disease threats, and Dr. Lou’s innovative research and treatment approaches in cancer care, reflect the very best of our University’s mission. We are proud of their commitment to educating the next generation of health professionals and driving discoveries that improve lives. They provide evidence‑based information and innovative solutions clinicians and communities rely on to protect and advance health throughout Minnesota, the nation and the world.”

Dr. Michael Osterholm: A Globally Recognized Leader in Infectious Disease Preparedness 
A distinguished public health scholar, researcher and educator, Osterholm has served as a pioneer and leader in the research and prevention and control of infectious diseases throughout the world. He has spent more than five decades shaping public health policy and practice at the University of Minnesota, served as Minnesota State Epidemiologist, and advised multiple U.S. federal agencies and every presidential administration since Ronald Reagan. 

At the University, Osterholm recently led CIDRAP’s launch of the Vaccine Integrity Project, an initiative dedicated to providing trusted, science-based information for informed vaccine choices. 

​​“I am honored to receive this recognition, which I share with the entire support team at the University of Minnesota and, specifically, the extraordinary scientists and researchers at CIDRAP and the Vaccine Integrity Project, who show up every day committed to evidence, transparency and public service,” said Osterholm. “Any impact attributed to me is the result of deeply collaborative efforts focused on protecting health and earning public trust. I’m grateful to share this honor — in a moment when evidence-based health policy is under assault in our country — with colleagues who believe that rigorous science, clearly communicated, can save and protect lives.” 

Osterholm is a prolific scholar and communicator, with more than 420 publications, frequent international media appearances, and membership in the National Academy of Medicine and the Council on Foreign Relations. His commitment to public health extends to his books featured on The New York Times Best Sellers list — Deadliest Enemy and Living Terrors. His most recent book, The Big One, was released last year and examines the mistakes that were made during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting key lessons that will be critical to mitigating the impact of the next pandemic.

Dr. Emil Lou: Driving Groundbreaking, First-in-Human Clinical Trials and Cancer Research  
Lou, a member of the University of Minnesota Medical School faculty for nearly 15 years, was recognized by TIME for his innovative approach toward translational research in oncology, including his leadership in the first‑in‑human clinical trial using a CRISPR/Cas9 gene‑editing approach to help the immune system target advanced gastrointestinal cancers. Published in Lancet Oncology, the trial showed potential for tailoring cutting-edge treatments that improve outcomes in patients with late-stage forms of this disease. 

Research in Lou’s lab also has uncovered the important role of intercellular communication in cancer occurring via tunneling nanotubes — essentially ‘biological skyways’ that connect cancer cells and allow them to communicate and share resources, contributing to drug resistance and tumor growth. 

A distinguished physician-scientist and researcher with an active clinical practice, Lou cares for patients with gastrointestinal and rare cancers at the Masonic Cancer Clinic of the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. He has served as a past or current expert member of committees for professional societies including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research and the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, and distinguished himself for his involvement in science communication and engagement with patient advocacy organizations at the regional, national and international levels. 

“I am humbled and honored by this recognition, which reflects the synergies achieved by scientific collaboration and the power for teamwork to make a difference by bringing hope to people suffering from incurable cancers,” said Lou. “In my dual role as both a physician and scientist, I see every day how there is a strong need to devise better treatments. My clinical practice informs my research with the ultimate goal of moving the needle forward to improve the lives of these patients. 

“In partnership with the sponsor of this clinical trial, Intima Bioscience, and scientists Drs. Beau Webber and Branden Moriarity from the University of Minnesota, and our respective teams, we were able to translate pioneering science into the clinic by tailoring treatment toward the novel cancer target CISH. To witness a young adult patient with previously incurable colorectal cancer become cancer-free as a result of this treatment — still ongoing, nearly three years to date — is an amazing achievement that we are working tirelessly to replicate and bring to the many more patients in need of more effective treatments today and in the years to come.”

The full TIME100 Health list and related tributes appear in the Feb. 23 issue, available on newsstands on Feb. 13, 2026, and now at time.com/time100health. 

About the University of Minnesota 
The University of Minnesota, with campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and the Twin Cities, is driven by a singular vision of excellence. We are proud of our land-grant mission of world-class education, groundbreaking research, and community-engaged outreach, and we are unified in our drive to serve Minnesota. Visit system.umn.edu.

About the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Part of the University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office, CIDRAP is a global leader in addressing public health preparedness and emerging infectious disease response. Founded in 2001, CIDRAP works to prevent illness and death from targeted infectious disease threats through research and the translation of scientific information into practical applications, policies and solutions. Learn more at cidrap.umn.edu. 

About the University of Minnesota Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. We acknowledge that the U of M Medical School is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous people, and we affirm our commitment to tribal communities and their sovereignty as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with tribal nations. Learn more at med.umn.edu.

About the Masonic Cancer Center
The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, is the Twin Cities’ only Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated ‘Outstanding’ by the National Cancer Institute. As Minnesota’s Cancer Center, we have served the entire state for more than 30 years. Our researchers, educators, and care providers work to discover the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and cancer-related diseases as well as provide whole-of-life care and resources for survivorship. Learn more at cancer.umn.edu.