Dr. Larsen to lead UNMC clinical research efforts

Jennifer Larsen, M.D.

To help bolster its clinical research enterprise, UNMC has appointed Jennifer Larsen, M.D., as associate vice chancellor for clinical research.

The appointment, which is effective July 1, was announced today by UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D.

“We’ve wanted to strengthen our clinical research for some time and are excited that Dr. Larsen has accepted the challenge,” Dr. Maurer said. “I have complete confidence that she will elevate our clinical research program and help us move closer to the goal of becoming a world-class academic health sciences center.”

What is clinical research? Clinical research: Helps us understand how our bodies work; Compares the effectiveness of drugs; Tests devices that will be used in patients, as well as devices used by health care providers to take care of patients; Studies the prevalence of a disease or condition and how health services are delivered; Determines the best strategies to change behaviors that affect health; and Evaluates what procedures best protect patient safety and change other health outcomes.

Dr. Larsen is the Louise and Morton Degen Professor and chief of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism. She has served as associate dean of clinical research in UNMC’s College of Medicine since 2006 and director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research since 2007. She also is founder and leader of the Clinical Research Center at The Nebraska Medical Center.

She will work with Christopher Kratochvil, M.D., who was recently named assistant vice chancellor for clinical research and chief medical officer of UNeHealth Corporation.

“With Dr. Larsen’s outstanding scientific, clinical and organizational skills, I fully expect that our clinical research program will grow at the same breathtaking rate that has been shown by the basic sciences over the past decade,” said Tom Rosenquist, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research.

As director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Dr. Larsen led the development of UNMC’s proposal for a multi-million-dollar, Clinical and Translational Sciences Award (CTSA) from the National Institutes of Health.

Monthly seminar set for today Michael Shambaugh-Miller, Ph.D., of the geographic information system Unit at the College of Public Health, will present “Medical Geography” as part of the monthly Clinical and Translational Research seminar series today at nooin in the Durham Research Center, Room 1004.

In addition, in her new position, Dr. Larsen will:

• Increase clinical research at UNMC and its partner organizations, The Nebraska Medical Center and UNMC Physicians;
  
• Coordinate all clinical and translational research and research compliance; and
  
• Establish education requirements for researchers.