It is a pleasure to announce that Russell Prough, Ph.D., has accepted the post of Vice Dean for Research at the School of Medicine, beginning Sept. 1. His final appointment is contingent upon approval by the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Prough will be responsible for supporting an appropriate research infrastructure and liaison with the executive vice president for research, providing leadership within the School of Medicine and HSC in areas such as grants and contracts, IRB processes and oversight of animal care and use. In addition, the vice dean is charged with assuring that the School of Medicine meets or exceeds all requirements for research compliance, while balancing the needs of faculty work assignments with those efforts.

With the staff in the SOM Research Office and in the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research, other areas of responsibility will be to assist the administration in assuring adequate support for the clinical research enterprise including the development of protocols and budgets, completion of required documents, adherence to guidelines, dissemination of information about available clinical trails, streamlining the accounting process and providing training to investigators and clinical coordinators. This position is also charged with serving as the School of Medicine’s primary liaison with the effort to achieve funding of the CTSA at the University of Louisville.

Dr. Prough joined the University of Louisville in 1986 as Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, holding the post until October 2000. He has served as professor of biochemistry and oral biology for 22 years.  He previously served as vice dean for research and vice president for health affairs/research from 1998-2003. He is currently the Preston Pope Joyes Endowed Chair of Biochemical Research and the acting chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Dr. Prough has distinguished record of research, funding and publication in the area of drug and carcinogen metabolism and aldehyde toxicity in cardiovascular tissues. He participates on collaborative projects in these areas with other UofL research faculty. He is the author or co-author of more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, a monograph on the metabolism of anti-cancer drugs and has presented more than 100 invited lectures.

As an educator, Dr. Prough has mentored dozens of pre- and post-doctoral fellows and taught a number of graduate and medical school courses. He has a consistent and exemplary record of institutional service on various university committees and task forces over the last two decades.

I am delighted that Dr. Prough has once again agreed to serve the School of Medicine as ice dean for research and look forward to his leadership.

Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A.

Dean, School of Medicine