Co-Director, Muscular Dystrophy Translation Research (F71490) - Dept of Neurology/SOM - Virginia Commonwealth University

Mission or Goal of Unit: Virginia Commonwealth University is a premier urban, public research university with a
diverse student body and both research-intensive and community-engaged designations from the Carnegie Foundation. Located in historic Richmond, Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students on two campuses.

The mission of the School of Medicine is to provide preeminent education to physicians and scientists in order to improve the quality of health care for humanity. Through innovative, scholarly activity and a diverse educational context, the School seeks to create and apply new knowledge, and to provide and continuously improve systems of medical and science education. Furthermore, it is our mission to develop more effective health care practices to address the needs of the diverse populations we serve, and to provide distinguished leadership in the advancement of medicine and science.

The mission of the Muscular Dystrophy Translational Research Program (MDTRP) is to advance therapeutic development across the muscular dystrophies and other rare disorders and to train future clinical scientists in experimental therapeutics. 

Chief Purpose of this position: We are seeking candidates for Co-Director, Muscular Dystrophy Translation Research.  As a co-director member of the MDTRP, the faculty member will undertake muscular dystrophy research activities that are aligned with MDTRP vision and mission: to improve the lives of all Virginians by developing an improved knowledge of the muscular dystrophies and other genetic nerve and muscle disorders; develop novel therapeutics for these disorders; and translate these therapies into practice. The vision of MDTRP is to be a premier muscular dystrophy center leading the nation in developing genetic precision therapies through informed clinical trials.

As a faculty member in the department of neurology at the school of Medicine, the candidate will also support the department with teaching responsibilities including mentoring graduate students, medical residents, fellows, and other trainees. The candidate will serve as a member of departmental as well as university wide service committees.

This senior level position will provide programmatic leadership for the MDTRP in conjunction with the Director. The co-Director will support the establishment of the Muscular Dystrophy Clinical Research Networks, creating a rigorous regulatory and quality assurance system to ensure compliant operations. Candidates will foster the development and conduct of additional studies within the MDTRP and the research network. They will support site selection and network investigators. They will interact with research teams within the MDTRP to foster the development of novel therapeutics for the muscular dystrophies.  They will work closely with the Program Director at the MDTRP in the Department of Neurology at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Candidates must have a proven experience in multicenter clinical research, outcome measures, and clinical trials in muscular dystrophy.  Candidates will be involved in exciting and highly integrated inter-disciplinary research projects that seek to take a full translational approach to moving novel therapies forward for the muscular dystrophies. In addition, candidates will be expected to submit grant applications for peer-reviewed extramural funding.

Position Responsibilities: 
Research: Undertake research projects that support the translational development of therapies for the muscular dystrophies.  This can include natural history studies, clinical outcome development, clinical trial design and conduct of therapeutic trials.
Clinical: Participate in the Muscular Dystrophy Association multidisciplinary clinic.
Teaching and Mentoring: Train and mentor clinical preclinical students, residents, and fellows.
Service: Serve as a member of departmental as well as university wide service committees.  

Required Qualifications: 

• MD or equivalent and minimum of 4 years extensive experience in muscular dystrophy research
• BC/BE in Neurology
• A deep understanding of outcome measure development in the muscular dystrophies
• Experience conducting a multicenter clinical trial
• Extensive publication record
• Proven trainee and faculty mentorship skills
• Track record working in multi-disciplinary fields
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience working in a matric environment within academic medicine
• Proven success in collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams

Position Type: Clinical
Full time equivalent:1.0
Tenure: Open
Rank: Open
Months: 12
Department: Neurology

Salary: Commensurate

ORP Eligibility: Yes

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Erin Krevonick
Contact Email: erin.krevonick@vcuhealth.org
Contact Phone: 804 827-1577