Congratulations to assistant professor Nirmala Parajuli on receiving a Barton Pilot Award! The project, “The role of Hsp72 chaperone in monocyte-derived macrophage activation and renal graft failure” is a one-year award which begins January 1, 2021. The project will test the hypothesis that renal cold storage induces CCL2 and Hsp72 in renal allografts, which promotes monocyte-derived macrophage infiltration and activation as a mechanism of graft injury. The award amount is $25,000.
Professor Paul Prather has been named Vice Chair of the department! Dr. Prather was selected based upon his proven leadership abilities as evident by his directorship of the T32 Systems Pharmacology and Toxicology (SPaT) training program; his service as chair of the department promotion and tenure committee and the faculty search committee; his new position as director of the Pharmacology, Toxicology and Experimental Therapeutics graduate track; and his coordination of subprojects within his R01 grant, which is the single largest NIH award in the department. Additionally, he has acted as a role model for everyone by juggling all his duties capably and calmly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks Dr. Prather for agreeing to serve the department in an expanded leadership role!
Professor Lee Ann MacMillan Crow will begin serving as the GPIBS Track Director, effective December 1. She will become the contact person for the program and chair the GPIBS Advisory and Admission Committees, and work with the track directors as we continue to move this exceptional program forward. Dr. MacMillan Crow has served on countless dissertation/thesis committees and served as a major advisor to many Ph.D. students. She has served as graduate program director for the former Interdisciplinary Toxicology program and since the start of GPIBS has served as the track director for the Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Experimental Therapeutics (PTET) track. Professor Paul Prather will take over as the PTET Track Director. Dr. Prather has been involved with graduate education throughout his career here as well. He is currently the PI on the highly interdisciplinary SPaT T32 NIH training grant.
Congratulations to associate professor Sung Rhee who has been approved by the College of Medicine Promotion and Tenure Committee to advance to the rank of Professor! This promotion is effective July 1, 2021. Dr. Rhee joined the department in 2006 as a Research Assistant Professor. He entered the tenure track in 2009 as Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2012. Dr. Rhee has been the recipient of awards by NIH and the American Heart Association for his research on regulation of cardiovascular ion channels in cerebral arteries as it relates to hypertension and stroke. He has served as primary mentor for two graduate students and has been on numerous dissertation committees. In addition to his departmental contributions, Dr. Rhee is director of the cardiovascular module for medical students at UAMS and was the recipient of the Sophomore Golden Apple award for five consecutive years. Way to go Dr. Rhee!
Professor and Chair, Nancy Rusch, has accepted appointment as Interim Executive Associate Dean for Research. Dr. Rusch was appointed by COM Dean Christopher Westfall to serve in this position beginning January 1, 2021 following the retirement of professor Richard Morrison, who currently holds the position. Dr. Rusch will fulfill this role until a permanent replacement is selected. She will continue to serve as Professor and Chair of the department during this time. Congratulations Dr. Rusch on accepting this important leadership position in the College of Medicine!
