Mary Peace McRae, PharmD, PhD, has been selected as the School of Medicine’s new Assistant Dean of Research. In that role, she will direct the operations of the Office for Research in support of the School of Medicine’s strategic plan. McRae comes to us from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy where she holds a tenured position in the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science. As a researcher, educator, and administrator, Dr. McRae has held several leadership positions which have strengthened her abilities to lead and inspire across scientific disciplines and departmental lines. She has served as vice chair of graduate studies and graduate program director for VCU’s Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science where she oversaw the entire life cycle of the graduate student. With respect to research, she is an NIH-funded principal investigator studying the interplay of HIV and opioids on factors that impact antiretroviral efficacy within the brain. She has served the NIH as a study section member for numerous special emphasis panels. She also brings outstanding administrative and leadership skills necessary to stimulate and support biomedical discovery at the School of Medicine. Her broad experience in research and education will skillfully help SOM faculty navigate the grant process and support achievement of Office of Research’s vision and goals.
Dr. McRae earned her bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University, her PharmD degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She will begin her new role as Assistant Dean of Research on December 1, 2022. We wish to thank Dr. David Driscoll for his many contributions to the School of Medicine Office of Research.