February 17, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Richard B. Marchase, Ph.D., has been named vice president for research at UAB, effective immediately, announced UAB President Carol Z. Garrison. Marchase has served as acting vice president since August.

“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,” Garrison said. “He has worked diligently and effectively to enhance our infrastructure at UAB so that we can support our 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.”

Marchase joined UAB in 1986 as an 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.

Marchase is the principal investigator on several awards for research infrastructure from the National Institutes of Health, including $15.9 million for the construction of a biosafety facility. The 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 had similar appointments with the American Journal of Physiology: Cell and The Anatomical Record.

He is a past-president of the Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Neurobiology Chairpersons and 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.

Marchase received his bachelor's degree in engineering physics from Cornell University and was the recipient of the Hamilton Award as the outstanding graduate in science and engineering. He received his doctorate with distinction in biophysics from Johns Hopkins University. He completed his postdoctoral training and then was named an assistant professor at Duke University. He was an initial recipient of the Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation.