Mark E. Lowe, MD, PhD, an academic leader and accomplished pediatric physician-scientist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been appointed the university’s vice chancellor for research. He also has been named senior associate dean of research at WashU Medicine. Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, Provost Beverly Wendland and David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor of medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, announced the appointments, which are effective July 1.
Lowe, the Harvey R. Colten Professor of Pediatric Science, has served since 2022 as the university’s interim vice chancellor for research and the interim associate dean of research at WashU Medicine.
As vice chancellor, Lowe leads the university’s ambitious research mission, which in 2022 attracted more than $1 billion in funding from public and private sources. This includes an estimated $620 million in funding from the prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support innovative investigator-initiated laboratory and clinical research programs, as well as graduate training programs in the sciences.
“We are elated to have Mark Lowe at the helm of our research mission,” Martin said. “A highly regarded academic leader, Mark brings a deep knowledge of Washington University to this position along with his own extensive research experience. He will build upon our many strengths as a top research university, helping to ensure that our numerous, diverse research programs continue to grow and thrive.”
In overseeing the university’s leading-edge, collaborative research programs, Lowe’s responsibilities stretch across the university’s Danforth and Medical campuses. He is responsible for the university’s massive research infrastructure, including oversight over research operations, administration, policies and compliance, and promoting the ethical conduct of research and a culture of responsibility among faculty, students and staff engaged in research.
“I’m honored to lead Washington University’s research mission and be a strong advocate for our researchers and their work,” Lowe said. “As our research programs grow, it is important that our researchers — and all those involved in our research mission — have the institutional support from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research to succeed in their academic endeavors.”