The announcement in February that researchers at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center are part of a $20 million multi-institutional award from the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) to develop new radiopharmaceutical cancer therapies signaled UT Health Science Center’s increasing role in high-profile collaborative research across the state.
The appointment Thursday of David Sholl, PhD, as the executive director of the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute and vice provost of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, stands to increase such research collaborations statewide and assist UT Health Science Center researchers in participating in that effort.
“David is a gifted scientist, who has had prior experience working at the interface of biophysics and health care research,” said UT Health Science Center Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD. “David will be a real asset to our UT Health Science Center community, as we seek to broaden our collaborations with ORNL and across the University of Tennessee System.”
Having previously served as a Governor’s Eminent Scholar while working at Georgia Institute of Technology, Dr. Sholl has an affinity for the Tennessee Governor’s Chair program, which he will collaboratively oversee. UT Health Science Center’s research enterprise benefits from having two outstanding scientists who hold the highly esteemed title of University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor’s Chair. Robert Davis, MD, MPH, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics, is the founding director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics and the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor’s Chair in Biomedical Informatics. Robert W. Williams, PhD, chair of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, holds the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor’s Chair in Computational Genomics.
Additionally, the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine is moving to strengthen and coordinate its statewide research efforts across its four campus locations to foster more joint scientific initiatives. Led by Executive Dean G. Nicholas Verne, MD, in Memphis; Dean Robert Craft, MD, in Knoxville; Dean James Haynes, MD, in Chattanooga; and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Brian Wilcox, MD, in Nashville, statewide research meetings and discussions are ongoing.
UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) founded UT-ORII in 2021 specifically to increase innovation, research, technology, and economic growth in Tennessee. In announcing Sholl’s appointment, ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer, PhD, alluded to more research collaborations in the future. “David’s extensive background working in academia and the national lab system, as well as delivering tremendous scientific results throughout his career, makes him an excellent choice to lead UT-ORII,” Dr. Streiffer said. “I look forward to working with David as we expand UT-ORII’s impact.”
Dr. Sholl has served as the institute’s interim director since June 2023, adding major multi-institutional research initiatives, including the cancer project involving UT Health Science Center researchers, and recruiting joint research faculty, as well as graduate students.
“David is a proven leader and has the vision we need for UT-ORII,” President Randy Boyd said. “He has done a remarkable job as interim director and I look forward to seeing all UT-ORII will accomplish under his leadership.”
Dr. Sholl said UT and ORNL have partnered on projects for decades. However, prior to the launch of UT-ORII, there was no organization solely dedicated to growing the strengths of both institutions toward discovery, innovation, and training graduate students. “UT-ORII has achieved a lot in the last year and there are many exciting things to look forward to in the future,” he said.
Dr. Sholl brings a wealth of academic and industry knowledge. He served 15 years as a professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and 10 years on the faculty of Carnegie Melon University. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
“At UT Health Science Center, we welcome David’s leadership and look forward to working with him as we strive to fulfill our vision: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities,” Chancellor Buckley said.