Jarrod Fortwendel, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy, has been appointed director of the UTHSC Center for Pediatric Experimental Therapeutics.
The mission of the Center for Pediatric Experimental Therapeutics (CPET) is to integrate basic, applied, and clinical sciences in the development of new treatments for childhood diseases. The appointment comes from College of Pharmacy Dean Marie Chisholm-Burns, PharmD, MPH, MBA, FCCP FASHP, FAST; Steven Goodman, vice chancellor for Research; and UTHSC Chancellor Steve Schwab, MD.
“Dr. Fortwendel’s track record in research and as a model citizen within the department makes him an outstanding selection for this position,” Dr. Chisholm-Burns said. “He is a valued member of our team, and I am excited about his leadership for the center and look forward to his initiatives and I am supportive of his and the center’s progression.”
“Our UTHSC Centers of Excellence, such as the CPET, provide an opportunity to take advantage of the synergism created by interdisciplinary teams of scientists working toward a common goal,” Dr. Goodman said. “Dr. Fortwendel has the experience and expertise to effectively lead this effort to improve therapeutics that impact the health of children.”
“This center has been a leader in the field of drug discovery and therapeutic intervention,” Chancellor Schwab said. “Dr. Fortwendel is well prepared to drive this essential mission forward.”
Dr. Fortwendel heads a multi-NIH-funded research laboratory focusing on fungal pathogenesis and antifungal resistance. He has approximately 50 peer-reviewed publications and numerous national and international presentations on his research.
“I am excited to direct this long-standing resource in an effort to expand the already strong basic and clinical research at UTHSC focused on improving the treatment of childhood diseases,” Dr. Fortwendel said.