Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce that Jennifer R. Grandis, MD, has accepted the position of Associate Vice Chancellor—Clinical and Translational Research (AVC-CTR). Dr. Grandis will begin service in her new post in January 2015 while also holding a faculty appointment as Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

This is a critical role for UCSF given today’s rapidly changing landscape of research and patient care that requires the university to have a comprehensive and robust translational and clinical research infrastructure that supports the research and clinical needs of the future. Jennifer will lead and shape the strategic direction for broad elements of our clinical and translational research enterprise including the Clinical & Translational Institute (CTSI). In addition, her responsibilities include serving as a liaison to national committees in the field and overseeing all aspects of clinical trials infrastructure and processes in the EVCP organization. Jennifer will be collaborating with multiple entities and other leaders on campus, including the Medical Center, the four Schools and Graduate Division, and key ORUs and centers on campus.

Jennifer comes to UCSF from the University of Pittsburgh, where she is currently a UPMC Endowed Chair in Head and Neck Cancer Surgical Research and Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology and Pharmacology & Chemical Biology. She leads the Head and Neck Cancer Program and is Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Otolaryngology. Additionally, she is Health Sciences Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Program Integration. Her research areas include precision medicine approaches, signal transduction, molecular targeted therapies and mechanisms of resistance to EGFR inhibitors in head and neck cancer. She has a history of successfully mentoring undergraduates, medical students, otolaryngology residents and fellows in her laboratory. Jennifer also is an American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor (since 2008) and is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation as well as the American Association of Physicians. In 2012, she was elected to the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies.

Jennifer is looking forward to moving to San Francisco with her husband Don who will join the faculty in the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine. Please join me in welcoming her and Don to UCSF.

I am deeply grateful to interim CTSI Director Deborah Grady. Deborah did an outstanding job following Clay Johnston’s departure. She has continued the exciting work of CTSI during this transition period and is a tremendous asset not only to CTSI but to the entire University. Jennifer and I will continue to rely on her wise counsel and commitment to the Clinical & Translational enterprise at UCSF.

Read more at: http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119101/grandis-appointed-new-associate-vice-chancellor-clinical-and-translational

Sincerely,

Jeffrey A. Bluestone, PhD
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost