Dr. Davies praises UNMC’s research growth and aims even higher

UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD

UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, praised UNMC researchers for growing the university’s research portfolio and transforming lives through their discoveries.

Dr. Davies highlighted UNMC research in his monthly forum, which followed release of the latest figures showing that total research expenditures increased by 8% to $217.7 million in fiscal year 2024. That’s the largest total in UNMC’s history.

Over the last 10 years, UNMC’s research has grown compounded at about 5.5% a year, which Dr. Davies called fantastic.

“Our research portfolio continues to grow, and we have faculty who are doing really high-quality work that’s allowing that to be the case,” he said. “So, I want to congratulate all the faculty members who are involved in research at UNMC.

“You’re making a difference by helping us grow our research portfolio, but more importantly, you are helping to transform lives through helping us make discoveries.”

Even so, Dr. Davies said UNMC leaders are considering additional avenues to increase research growth to not only remain competitive but surpass other great research universities

“We have a vision of being extraordinary,” he said. “We have fantastic faculty; we have great facilities. We’re looking at all of that to ask the question: What is it going to take to get us to that next level where we are amongst the very best in the country?”

Dr. Davies also highlighted three UNMC researchers during the forum.

  • Hamid Band, MD, PhD, the Elizabeth Bruce Professor of Cancer Research with the UNMC Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, director of the Center for Breast Cancer Research and UNMC’s 19th Scientist Laureate.
  • Rusty McCulloh, MD, associate vice chancellor for clinical research, UNMC; vice president for research, Nebraska Medicine; and director of clinical and translational research operations, Children’s Nebraska.
  • Bhopal Mohapatra, PhD, who earned his PhD at UNMC and now is an assistant professor in the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy.

Dr. Band, who will receive the Scientist Laureate Award in a Nov. 14 ceremony, said he is honored to be part of a UNMC community that recognizes research as important.

In being named the Scientist Laureate, he said it is an honor to have the affirmation for his research from UNMC leadership and his peers. Dr. Band also credited the work behind the research by his research graduate students and collaborators.

“They’re the backbone of what this represents,” he said. “Their contributions have been immense.”

Dr. Davies thanked the panel of researchers, “You all exemplify what makes UNMC such a special place.”

Dr. Davies also:

  • Encouraged employees to complete their annual benefits enrollment, which continues through Nov. 15. Employees can complete their enrollment through Firefly.
  • Urged employees to donate to the annual Employee Giving Campaign, which runs through Nov. 22. Donations support the United Way of the Midlands, Give Nebraska and their programs. Employees should see their UNMC email for a donation link.
  • Urged employees to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines  and document them in the Health Tracking System.
  • Highlighted the UNMC and Nebraska Medicine pilot shuttle program, which is implementing some changes starting this week. Riders can download the TransLoc app for their mobile devices through Google Play or the Apple App Store. It will allow users to see shuttle routes and track shuttles. In addition, the 4 to 8 p.m. shuttle will reverse its route so it can pick up passengers from Durham Outpatient Center and the Sorrell Center more quickly, and the Kiewit Tower shuttle stop has been discontinued due to lack of usage.
  • Said UNMC’s new staff advisory council remains in the planning stages and will be working toward council elections in the near future.
  • Cited UNMC’s continued facilities development, with the naming of EDGE District west of Saddle Creek Road and progress on Project NExT, as the first phase of the state-of-the-art clinical training space, called Project Health, works through its design phase.
  • Highlighted his recent community visit to South Omaha (see an upcoming UNMC Today for coverage of the meeting with community leaders) and his ongoing efforts to address housing needs for UNMC’s growing enrollment of rural health students.

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