Honoring her critical research into women\u2019s and population health, the Eastern Nursing Research Society has named University of Rhode Island College of Nursing Assistant Professor Erica Liebermann<\/a> its 2026 recipient of the Rising Star Research Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The award recognizes a junior investigator who has \u201cshown promise in establishing a program of health and\/or nursing research.\u201d Over the past five years at URI, Liebermann\u2014a nationally and globally recognized nurse practitioner and health researcher\u2014has established an innovative program of research focused on HPV vaccination, as well as breast and cervical cancer prevention and early detection. She has secured more than $550,000 in competitive funding as Principal Investigator, including a federal AHRQ R03 grant and the prestigious Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators<\/a>, which provides $450,000 to advance her EMPOWER study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am honored to have been selected as this year\u2019s ENRS Rising Star Award recipient,\u201d Liebermann said. \u201cI view this award not just as a recognition of my own work as a global women\u2019s health researcher, but as a celebration of our collective work as nurses and nurse scientists working to advance women\u2019s health and health equity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Liebermann’s project focuses on improving cervical cancer screening and follow-up in primary care in Rhode Island through a women-centered, nurse-led model of patient education and management for cervical cancer screening. The goal is to improve cervical cancer health literacy and guideline-concordant care, increase access to screening and follow-up, reduce cervical cancer disparities, and ultimately advance progress toward cervical cancer elimination in Rhode Island and beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n