Leadership

Vice President for Research

Timothy L. Stemmler, Ph.D.

As vice president for research, Dr. Timothy Stemmler serves as MUSC's chief scientific officer, overseeing all its associated divisions, which include responsibility for accreditation and regulatory affairs, university-wide promotion of research across all colleges and centers, representing the president and provost on internal and external research matters, and identifying institutional research strategies and benchmarks in relation to the MUSC strategic plan.

Dr. Stemmler received his graduate degree in Biophysical Chemistry from the University of Michigan and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Utah. Prior to joining MUSC, he spent over 25 years at Wayne State University, where he held leadership roles including interim vice president for research, associate dean for research and director of research in the department of pharmaceutical sciences.

Dr. Stemmler's research is internationally recognized, particularly his work on iron-sulfur biosynthesis to advance the understanding of protein functions in the genetic disease Friedreich's ataxia. His interdisciplinary approach has combined biochemical, biophysical, and structural tools, contributing significantly to scientific discovery and the training of future research leaders.

With consistent funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Heart Association, Dr. Stemmler's career reflects a substantial and lasting impact on the scientific community. His research collaborations span over 60 research groups worldwide, underscoring his ability to build meaningful partnerships and foster innovation across disciplines.

Associate Vice Presidents for Research

Patrick A. Flume, M.D.

Dr. Patrick Flume serves as the associate vice president for clinical research. In this appointment, he provides policy/strategic planning oversight of two key areas of the OVPR by working with administrative staff, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Office of Research Integrity. Additional duties include serving as VPR liaison to University Compliance, Conflict of Interest, the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, and the Office of Grants and Contract Accounting.

Leslie Lenert, M.D.

Dr. Leslie Lenert serves as the associate vice president for data science and informatics. In this appointment, he works to enhance the computing infrastructure of the university for research, focusing on the implementation of a Learning Health System model at MUSC in coordination with the Information Solutions group. Through his team at the Biomedical Informatics Center, he works to enhance researchers’ access to data from the health system.

Assistant Vice President for Research

Kevin Gray, M.D.

Dr. Kevin Gray serves as the assistant provost for research advancement. In this appointment, he works to enhance the profile and impact of MUSC's research mission through partnership and collaboration. He fosters and facilitates community, inter-institutional, and business relationships to advance strategic research development and engagement.

Contact Us

To learn more about MUSC's research areas and current research opportunities, contact Allison Olawsky (lincolna@musc.edu).

Additional Inquiries

Media Requests

MUSC's Office of Public Relations team connects the media and scientists to explain research and health care-related issues. Contact Staci Gouveia in the Office of Public Relations for more information.

Research Support

For information for researchers related to funding or research support services, contact the Office of Research Development.

For information for researchers related to research support services, please visit SPARC or contact the SCTR Success Center at 843-792-8300 or success@musc.edu.

Clinical Trial Participation

If you are interested in participating in a clinical research study, please visit the SCresearch.org or Clinical Trials to view clinical research participant opportunities. Research professionals are available at 843-792-8300 and can provide you with more information about study opportunities.

Clinical Trial Oversight

If you are seeking a qualified MUSC investigator to conduct a clinical study, please contact the SCTR Research Opportunities & Collaborations program.

For more information about becoming a community partner or about participating in our community engagement & outreach program, contact SCTR at 843-792-8300.

Research Innovation

To connect researchers with industry partners to bring scientific discoveries to the marketplace, contact the Z ucker Institute for Innovation Commercialization.