By David Fuller, Ph.D.
It’s my pleasure and honor to serve as the associate dean for research in the College of Public Health and Health Professions. Our college has a vibrant and expanding research portfolio. Our diverse and cutting-edge work spans topics ranging from understanding the molecular mechanisms that lead to muscle atrophy during cancer to understanding the impact of autonomous (self-driving) vehicles to improving the health of pregnant women in Africa, and so much more. Collectively, we are unified in our desire to positively impact public health in our local community, state, nation and world. I encourage you to review our latest PHHP Impact magazine to learn more about the impact of PHHP research.
In my role as associate dean for research, my vision is that college faculty, staff, students and postdoctoral fellows feel supported and valued, and work together to enable success in the complex process of conducting high level scientific studies in the academic setting. While challenges will always be present, we meet them together through open communication, mutual respect and collaboration.
I’d like to take a moment to remind you of some of the programs offered by the PHHP office of research. These include the Research Innovation Fund, designed to help investigators obtain essential preliminary data for larger grant applications, as well as our PHHP Grant Feedback Portal that provides a critical review of grant aims. I’m also very excited for the upcoming PHHP Days in April, which will be a celebration of all that we represent as a college. We will have a new initiative at PHHP Days this year. Rather than having an external plenary lecturer, we will feature short “TED Talk-style” presentations from our own faculty. These talks emphasize the pillars of our college, which include teaching, research, service and clinical endeavors. Please save April 14-15 on your calendar for this exciting event.
I enthusiastically look forward to working with you all as we continue to grow and build our PHHP research programs.
David Fuller is the College of Public Health and Health Professions’ associate dean for research and a professor in the department of physical therapy.