EVMS, UVA sign historic
research agreement
November 13, 2007
 |
Gerald J. Pepe, Ph.D.
Dean and Provost
Eastern Virginia
Medical School |
 |
Sharon L. Hostler, M.D.
Interim Dean and
Vice President, University of Virginia
School of Medicine |
CHARLOTTESVILLE and
NORFOLK—Eastern Virginia Medical School and the University of
Virginia School of Medicine have signed an historic agreement that will
advance medical research at the two schools.
The tenth medical school established in the U.S., the UVA School of
Medicine is one of the nation’s leading medical research centers,
ranking in the top quartile of American medical schools each year in
terms of NIH funding.
Founded in 1973, EVMS is one of the nation’s youngest medical schools.
EVMS was established with the specific mission of improving the health
of the eastern region of Virginia, home to approximately 25 percent of
the state’s population. As a result, EVMS research has focused on
translational research that meets the specific needs of the local
community, which experiences high rates of various illnesses, including
cancer, heart disease, diabetes and infant mortality.
“Eastern Virginia Medical School and the University of Virginia School
of Medicine share a commitment to enhance the translation of basic
research discoveries into treatments that will benefit the citizens of
Virginia. This agreement combines the strengths of our institutions and
will reach nearly one quarter of the residents of the Commonwealth,”
said Sharon L. Hostler, M.D., interim dean and vice president of the
University of Virginia School of Medicine.
“Strong translational research requires excellence at both the bench and
the bedside, and an environment that fosters close collaboration between
the two,” said Gerald J. Pepe, Ph.D., dean and provost of Eastern
Virginia Medical School. “UVA is an extraordinarily successful research
institution, and the opportunity to partner with their faculty will
strengthen and complement our research here at EVMS and bring many
benefits to the citizens of Virginia.”
Under the terms of the memorandum, the schools will jointly fund the
hire of a clinical research manager, who will be located on the EVMS
campus in Norfolk. The schools will explore ways of sharing clinical
data and samples as well as creating a shared biomedical informatics
infrastructure.
An Operations Committee will oversee the relationship and identify areas
for collaboration. The committee will include from EVMS the Dean and
Provost, the Associate Dean for Research and a faculty member; and from
UVA the Senior Associate Dean for Research, the Associate Dean for
Clinical Research and the Associate Dean for Basic Research. The
agreement also advances medical education by offering joint workshops
and symposia for faculty and students at both schools.
“By fostering collaboration among our researchers, creating
opportunities for students and faculty to further their education and
developing common cores to support our joint research objectives, UVA
and EVMS hope to create a model partnership other medical schools across
the country can emulate,” Hostler said.
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