UVa Names Skalak New VP of Research
Thomas C. Skalak, professor and chairman of the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia, has been appointed vice president for research at U.Va. Announcement of Skalak’s appointment, which will be effective Aug. 1, was made by U.Va. President John T. Casteen III. Skalak succeeds Dr. R. Ariel Gomez, who is stepping down from the post that he has held since June 2003.
The vice president for research at U.Va. plays a leading role in promoting a University research culture that supports innovation and leads to discoveries that will transform society. As part of this role, Skalak will lead the development and promotion of institutional research priorities and themes, assist faculty members to develop new research areas, encourage investment in research infrastructure, and help enable faculty members to pursue creative scholarship as individuals and in small groups, as well as in major center grants. Major new fundraising efforts will be initiated in support of these goals.
During more than 20 years at the University of Virginia, Skalak has been principal investigator responsible for more than $30 million in research grants. He is currently principal investigator of a $4.5 million grant from the Coulter Foundation to enhance biomedical technology transfer that links faculty in engineering, medicine and business, with the aim of delivering new methods and products to clinical use and commercialization.
Skalak was the youngest president of the national Biomedical Engineering Society (2000-01) and is a member of the society’s board of directors. He is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and serves on several of that organization’s committees, including as national development chair and fellows selection chair.
