Associate Director, Center for Inherited Muscle Research (F71490) - Dept of Neurology/SOM

Mission or Goal of Unit: 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 CIMR is to be a premier muscular dystrophy center leading the nation in developing genetic precision therapies through informed clinical trials.

Chief Purpose of this position: The Department of Neurology is seeking candidates for Associate Director, Center for Inherited Muscle Research (CIMR). As an associate director of CIMR, the faculty member will undertake muscular dystrophy research activities that are aligned with the CIMR vision and mission. 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 students, fellows, and other trainees. The candidate will serve as a member of departmental as well as university wide service committees. This position will support the Director of CIMR in executing this vision. The Associate 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 CIMR and the research network. They will support site selection and network investigators. They will interact with research teams within the CIMR to foster the development of novel therapeutics for the muscular dystrophies. They will work closely with the Program Director at CIMR in the Department of Neurology at 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: [

• Teaching Train and mentor clinical/pre-clinical residents, and fellows.
• 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.
• Service Serve as a member of departmental as well as university side service committees.
• Clinical Participate in the Muscular Dystrophy Association multidisciplinary clinic.

Required Qualifications:

• MD or equivalent and minimum of 4 years extensive experience in muscular dystrophy research
• BC/BE in Neurology
• An understanding of outcome measure development in the muscular dystrophies
• Experience participating in multicenter clinical trials
• Publication record in genetic nerve and muscle disorders
• 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 matrix environment within academic medicine
• Proven success in collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams