Sajid Shahul, MD, has joined the UNMC College of Medicine as associate dean for clinical research for the UNMC College of Medicine. In his new role, Dr. Shahul will help advance the medical center’s mission leveraging UNMC’s multidisciplinary expertise to expand clinical trials and capitalize on the vast array of comprehensively annotated biomedical and health data repositories to directly benefit patients and communities across Nebraska.
Dr. Shahul, who arrived at UNMC in October, also joins the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology as professor of anesthesiology and serves as associate director of UNMC’s Clinical Research Center, director of interdisciplinary research for the Child Health Research Institute, and associate director for clinical research and clinical trials at the Center for Heart and Vascular Research.
“What drew me to this leadership role is the opportunity to foster collaboration across UNMC,” Dr. Shahul said. “My goal is to create synergy and operational excellence by bridging together clinical and basic science departments and centers. Working closely with senior leadership—including the senior associate dean of research, associate vice chancellor for clinical research, and directors of the Child Health Research Institute and the Heart and Vascular Research Center – I aim to catalyze cross-disciplinary partnerships that strengthen our research enterprise across UNMC, our clinical network and communities statewide.”
Dr. Shahul brings more than 20 years of experience in clinical trials, with a focus on maternal cardiovascular health. His research has followed women with preeclampsia through pregnancy and postpartum to better understand the development of heart disease later in life.
“My goal is to build on the strong infrastructure that already exists at UNMC and to collaborate with others to grow it further,” he said. “We have a wealth of talent and resources, and I want to help connect those assets across all levels, from medical students to senior investigators, so we can continue moving our clinical research enterprise to the leading edge.”
Among his top priorities, Dr. Shahul plans to enhance mentorship, strengthen educational opportunities for learners and foster collaboration among departments and community partners.
“Mentorship is the cornerstone of developing research,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by many people over the years, and I’m eager to give back and to help open new doors for medical students, residents, fellows and young investigators.”
Dr. Shahul will focus on expanding research participation and access across Nebraska, especially in rural communities. His goal is to partner with community leaders to raise awareness of available clinical trials and research resources. Through strategic partnerships with community leaders, he aims to raise awareness of clinical trial opportunities and research resources.
“I’d like to inform patients and community leaders about what we’re doing and why, and involve them from the very beginning,” he said. “Hearing what matters most to our patients and communities will help shape research that truly meets their needs.”
Looking to the future, Dr. Shahul sees major opportunities in innovation and technology, including community engagement enhanced by artificial intelligence and remote patient monitoring. He envisions developing data hubs and repositories that enable investigators to learn from real-world clinical information and deliver more personalized care.
His passion for research is rooted in curiosity, stemming from a defining patient encounter early in his career.
“Years ago, I cared for a young mother with peripartum cardiomyopathy who asked me, ‘Why do I have this?’” he said. “I didn’t have an answer then, but I dedicated my career to finding one. Fifteen years later, she still sends me a photo of her children every year. Those lifelong connections remind me why this work matters.” As he settles into his new role, Dr. Shahul said he is eager to listen, learn and lead collaboratively. “I’m here to help promote, collaborate and grow together,” he said. “I’m thrilled to be at UNMC and to build something that benefits our patients, our investigators and our communities.”