James Shull, Ph.D., a professor at UNMC’s Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, has been named chairman of UNMC’s department of genetics, cell biology and anatomy. He assumed the post Sept. 1.
Dr. Shull succeeds Thomas Rosenquist, Ph.D., who became vice chancellor for research in February 2002. James Turpen, Ph.D., professor of genetics, cell biology and anatomy, served as interim chairman of the department.
“We are fortunate that Dr. Shull will be leading the UNMC genetics, cell biology and anatomy department,” said James Armitage, M.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine. “As an outstanding teacher and researcher, Dr. Shull will further strengthen the department’s research and academic endeavors.”
Dr. Shull said his primary goal is to lead the department to national prominence in research, while providing the highest quality educational experience to UNMC students and fellows. “To achieve this goal we must recruit and retain faculty of the highest caliber and establish graduate and postgraduate training programs that attract outstanding students and fellows to our institution,” he said.
“I am pleased and honored to have the opportunity to lead the department of genetics, cell biology and anatomy as we work to integrate the vast knowledge emerging from the decoding of the human genome, the genomes of experimental animal models used to study human diseases, as well as the genomes of numerous disease-causing organisms into our teaching and research activities,” Dr. Shull said. “It is clear the practice of medicine is being dramatically altered by this new knowledge of molecular genetics, and I believe our department will play a lead role in preparing our students to utilize this information to improve the care of their patients.”
The department of genetics, cell biology and anatomy has 20 faculty members and three emeritus faculty members. About 300 students in medical, allied health and graduate programs annually study in the department, learning genetics, cell biology, molecular biology and various aspects of the anatomical sciences including gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, microscopic anatomy and developmental anatomy.
In a series of studies published over the past six years, Dr. Shull and his colleagues have demonstrated that the ACI rat provides a valuable experimental model for studying the mechanisms through which estrogens induce breast cancer development. His research is helping lay the groundwork for identifying the genes that are responsible for breast cancer susceptibility in humans.
Dr. Shull has served UNMC in a variety of leadership positions. He has directed the Molecular and Biochemical Etiology Program of the Eppley Cancer Center since 1996 and serves as the leader of the Breast Cancer Training Program.
A native of Chapman, Nebraska, Dr. Shull joined UNMC in 1987. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1984.