Ronald Gregg, Ph.D., chairman of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, has been named director of the UofL Center for Genetics and Molecular Medicine (CGeMM). Larry Cook, M.D., executive vice president for health affairs at UofL announced the appointment.

“Dr. Gregg has been instrumental in establishing the Center’s DNA Core Facility, which is a resource for researchers across the entire university. His leadership as chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a tremendous asset to the Center as we continue to expand our efforts at converting basic science into clinical applications,” Cook said.

Gregg was named chair of the biochemistry and molecular biology in 2009. He joined UofL in 1997 and in 2000 was named director of the Center’s DNA Core Facility

The Center is designed to foster interactions among investigators studying diseases that have a genetic component, and ensure they have access to the latest technologies for genetic analyses. A second mission of the Center is to foster education at all levels, with a special focus on medical and graduate student education.

“The future of medicine will be in the realm of personalized medicine, which is based on the genetic makeup of each individual and tailoring treatment accordingly,” Gregg said. “The CGeMM provides the interactive environment for bringing together a diverse array of researchers and educators to aid in the understanding of genetics in disease processes and treatment and to help in the personalized medicine process.”

A graduate of the University of Adelaide in Australia, Gregg earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Queensland in Australia. He completed postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin in the departments of Physiological Chemistry and Genetics.

Gregg’s research focuses on discovery and understanding of the function of genes that cause vision defects under low-light conditions. Most recently, he has identified genes critical to signaling from rod photoreceptors, which detect light under low light conditions, and second order neurons that forward those signals to the brain. An internationally invited speaker, Gregg is the author of more than 80 scientific papers. He serves as a journal reviewer and scientific grant reviewer.