June 2024

Dear UVA faculty, students, and staff:

I’m extremely honored to begin my role as your Vice President for Research. UVA has a strong track record of impressive research accomplishments across disciplines, which is exciting.  President Ryan’s bold and inspiring 2030 Plan, the collaborative spirit across Grounds, the dedication to discovery and innovation, and the desire for excellence, is inspiring. The significant investments in the Grand Challenges and in strategic research areas signals that new advances in knowledge and impact are on the near horizon. For all of these reasons, and many more, I was drawn to this position. I feel so fortunate to be your colleague, and I am here to serve, to facilitate, and to support research in every corner of this great institution.

I am a fundamental and translational neuroscientist who uses experimental models to understand how brain circuits involved in learning and memory are impacted by neurodegenerative disease and neuropsychiatric illness. My laboratory has been continuously funded by the NIH for nearly 25 years. I am also a passionate educator and have taught professional students, graduate students, and undergraduates during my 23 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). For six years I served as dean of the UAB Graduate School and eight years as director of the Comprehensive Neuroscience Center. For the past almost three years, I served as VPR at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

As I embark on this new role, I cannot wait to learn about all of you and to find out more about what the Office of the Vice-President for Research can do to support you. I am interested in hearing your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. Also, please stay tuned for announcements about new ways and events that will make it easier for us to engage with one another. 

In the next few months, I will be specifically focusing on enhancing the services provided by the research support offices and finding solutions for barriers.  We will be creating a more robust internal and external research communications program, in order to share the amazing things that are happening. I will also be working hard on implementing the goals of the strategic research infrastructure plan. 

I’m excited to work with all of you and continuing to help UVA’s research enterprise grow and have even greater impact. I know together we will do great things!

At Your Service,

Lori L. McMahon, PhD