HPH NOW, July 7, 2006, New Leadership for DBS, BPH, and Department of Biostatistics

Laurie Glimcher

Laurie Glimcher, Irene Heinz Given Professor of Immunology, became the new head of the Division of Biological Sciences (DBS) on June 30. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Glimcher received the 2001 Excellence in Science Award from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) and the 2006 Huang Meritorious Career Award from the American Association of Immunologists, an organization of which she is the past president She also holds an appointment at HMS as Professor of Medicine. For her other recent awards, see the Around the School column.

Michael Grusby

Michael Grusby, Professor of Molecular Immunology, became the new director of the PhD Program in Biological Sciences in Public Health (BPH), also effective June 30. He is the former Director of the Gene-Targeting Core Facility at the Harvard/JDF Center for Islet Transplantation and has conducted award-winning research honored by the Arthritis Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Sandler Program for Asthma Research. Grusby is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at HMS.

Glimcher and Grusby succeed Professor Dyann Wirth, who previously headed the DBS and BPH. Professor Wirth has been appointed the Richard Pearson Strong Professor of Infectious Diseases and has assumed the chair of the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases.

DEPARTMENT OF BIOSTATISTICS CHAIR

Louise Ryan, Professor of Biostatistics, assumed the chair of the Department of Biostatistics on July 1.

Professor Ryan, who holds a PhD in statistics from Harvard University, joined the HSPH faculty in 1985. Her research focuses on statistical methods related to environmental risk assessment for cancer, developmental, and reproductive outcomes. She has made many contributions to methodology for the analysis of clustered outcomes as they occur in these settings.

Recently, Professor Ryan has become interested in community-based environmental health research and has organized field experiences for students related to that interest. She is an effective teacher at both the graduate and undergraduate levels and has an outstanding record as an advisor and mentor to graduate students. She is a fellow of the American Statistical Association and a winner of the Spiegelman Award, given each year to an outstanding biostatistician under the age of 40.

Professor Ryan succeeds Professor Stephen Lagakos who, since 1999, has led the department to many notable achievements in its educational and research endeavors. Professor Lagakos will undertake a sabbatical during the 2007 calendar year.