Mark Magnuson, Louise B. McGavock Professor and professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, has been named senior associate dean for research for the School of Medicine Basic Sciences. He succeeds Chuck Sanders, who will transition from vice dean to a new role as senior advisor to the dean, effective July 1.
Beginning Monday, April 14, Magnuson will serve as senior associate dean for research-designate until July 1, when he will begin service as senior associate dean for research. Sanders and Magnuson will work together closely during this time, supporting a deliberate and collaborative handoff. This transition plan ensures that institutional knowledge is preserved and that the school remains well-positioned to advance key priorities with steady leadership.
“It has been one of the great honors of my life to serve the School of Medicine Basic Sciences in my associate and vice dean roles for the past 8.5 years,” Sanders said. Sanders is the Aileen M. Lange and Annie Mary Lyle Professor of Cardiovascular Research and a professor of biochemistry. “It has been a real pleasure to work with deans Marnett and Kuriyan.”
The Office of Research in Basic Sciences supports discovery through core facilities, research development, infrastructure, and the strategic advancement of initiatives designed to grow the school’s research footprint and reputation.
“Vanderbilt is a powerhouse in biomedical discovery, and our momentum is due in no small part to the research leadership that has shaped and supported our community,” said John Kuriyan, dean of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences. “I am deeply grateful to Chuck for his vision and dedication. His accomplishments as vice dean include everything from infrastructure modernization to advancing new directions in drug discovery and therapeutic development. I’m thrilled that he will continue to advise me and support our strategic efforts in this next chapter.”
In his new capacity as senior advisor to the dean, Sanders will continue to serve on school leadership councils and provide strategic guidance related to research priorities, partnerships, and emerging opportunities.
Magnuson is an internationally recognized leader in pancreatic cell identity, plasticity, and gene networks whose research spans basic and translational science who has held numerous high-impact leadership roles throughout his career at Vanderbilt. He is founding director of the Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology and was the associate director for shared resources at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center from 2002 to 2010. He previously served as assistant vice chancellor for research at VUMC from 1999 to 2005 and as director of the Vanderbilt Genome Editing Resource since 1998. Magnuson joined Vanderbilt as a fellow in clinical and molecular endocrinology in 1985 and has been a faculty member since 1987.
“Mark brings to this role extraordinary scientific insight, a collaborative spirit, and a strong institutional memory that will be invaluable as we look toward the future,” Kuriyan said. “I am excited to partner with him in continuing to elevate the research enterprise at Vanderbilt.”
“I look forward to working with Dean Kuriyan and our many other outstanding faculty, staff, and trainees in the School of Medicine Basic Sciences,” Magnuson said. “Our scientific opportunities are nearly endless, and we have never been better situated.”