UAB Synopsis, Vol. 24, No. 9, March 14, 2005
Richard B. Marchase, PhD, has been named UAB vice president for research, President Carol Z. Garrison, PhD, says. He has served as acting vice president since August 2004.
"Dr. Marchase's nearly 20 years experience at UAB and his reputation within the international research community are tremendous assets that will prove invaluable in this role," Dr. Garrison says. "He has worked diligently and effectively to enhance UAB's infrastructure so that we can support faculty as they continue to grow our research enterprise.
"I want to thank Dr. Robert Rich, senior vice president and dean of the School of Medicine, and the entire search committee for their successful efforts in determining the best person to lead UAB's research program."
Dr. Marchase joined UAB in 1986 as associate professor of cell biology and anatomy. He was named professor of cell biology in 1990. Later that year, he became chair of that department, a position he held until 2000, when he was named associate dean for biomedical research for the School of Medicine.
He is principal investigator on several awards for research infrastructure from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including $15.9 million for construction of a biosafety facility. NIH also supports his laboratory, which studies the effects of hyperglycemia on resuscitation and tissue viability. He is currently on the editorial board of Shock and has served similar roles with the American Journal of Physiology: Cell and The Anatomical Record.
Past president of the Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Neurobiology Chairpersons, Dr. Marchase serves on the steering committee of the Group on Research Advancement and Development for the Association of American Medical Colleges. He is a member of the board and vice-president elect of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology, a coalition of 22 societies representing 65,000 members.
Dr. Marchase received his bachelor's degree in engineering physics from Cornell University and was recipient of the Hamilton Award as the outstanding graduate in science and engineering. He received his doctorate degree with distinction in biophysics from Johns Hopkins University.
At Duke University, he completed postdoctoral training and was named assistant professor. He was an initial recipient of the Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation.