Anindya Dutta, Ph.D., MBBS, has been named chair of the Department of Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.

Dutta received his Bachelor of Medicine-Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 1981 from Christian Medical College, Vellore in India, and his Ph.D. in 1989 from Rockefeller University in New York. He completed a residency in medicine at Christian Medical College Hospital in India, a postdoctoral fellowship at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory supported by the American Cancer Society, and a residency in pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dutta joins UAB School of Medicine from the University of Virginia School of Medicine where he serves as the chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and was recognized with the Distinguished Scientist Award of the University of Virginia for his work on genome instability and noncoding RNAs in cancer. He has served on numerous professional societies including the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society of Investigative Pathology (which awarded him an Outstanding Investigator Award), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (where he was elected as a fellow).

“UAB and the state of Alabama have made wise and timely investments that will bring the fruits of the human genome revolution to medicine,” Dutta said. “I was very attracted by these new opportunities.”

The Department of Genetics has a long-standing reputation for delivering outstanding care for patients and families through integrated clinical and laboratory services. Its interdisciplinary group of faculty is focused on performing basic laboratory and clinical research, providing inpatient and outpatient consultation services, and offering state-of-the-art genetic diagnostic testing.

“Dr. Dutta’s strong academic background will bolster the already thriving Department of Genetics,” said Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the School of Medicine. “I am confident his external experience will align with our current, outstanding faculty to broaden the horizons of genetics at UAB.”

Dutta will officially assume the role of chair on March 15, 2021.