UAB Synopsis, Vol. 24, No. 9, Month 00, 2005
Albert F. LoBuglio, MD, who stepped aside as UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center director October 1, 2004, has been recognized as Distinguished Professor and Director Emeritus. The University of Alabama Board of Trustees bestowed the honors during its February 4 meeting. Cancer Center Senior Scientist Peter D. Emanuel, MD, has been named Cancer Center acting director until a national search is completed.
The resolution honors Dr. LoBuglio's 21 years of service as physician, researcher, and administrator. He joined UAB as Cancer Center director in 1983. During his tenure, he developed an infrastructure to attract national multimillion dollar cancer research grants, and he recruited top cancer scientists, physician-scientists, and clinicians. He led the Cancer Center's successful competition for continual Core Grant funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and for continual designation as a "Comprehensive" Center. The Cancer Center remains the only NCI-designated "Comprehensive" Cancer Center in a five-state region.
Dr. LoBuglio established a priority for investigator-initiated translational research. He was the driving force behind the Cancer Center's successful efforts to win four highly competitive SPORE (Specialized Program of Research Excellence) grants from the NCI, for translational research in ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and brain cancers.
Dr. LoBuglio, who served 4 years as School of Medicine associate dean for research, has played a major role in planning UAB's physical growth. He led institutional planning to establish the first Department of Genetics and was instrumental in securing funding through grants and gifts for the Kaul Genetics Building to house the Howell and Elizabeth Heflin Center for Human Genetics, which opened in 2001. In addition, he was architect of the university's reorganization, review process, and funding mechanisms for university-wide interdisciplinary research centers.
In 1984, Dr. LoBuglio organized the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Supporters Board, a volunteer community organization that has raised more than $6 million for the center.