Dear Members of the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM Community,

In April 2025, Dean Emeritus Karen Antman, MD, established a research taskforce to develop scenarios, strategies and financial options in response to a decrease or slowdown in federal research funding. The committee played an important role in tightening the school operating budget with minimal negative impact.

Moving forward, I have charged the committee to build on their work and engage the school community to develop strategies to 1) adapt the school research enterprise within the context of a rapidly changing federal funding landscape; 2) increase research activities while saving costs; and 3) help faculty to pivot their research to optimize alignment with government priorities.

The Research Infrastructure and Strategy Committee (RISC) members comprise faculty and staff representing areas of research, education, finance and communications.

RISC Members

Co-chairs: Rachel Fearns, PhD and Donald Lloyd-Jones, MD

Michael Alosco, PhD

Chris Andry, MPhil, PhD

Megan Bair-Merritt, MD, MSCE

Rachel Flynn, PhD

Jeannine Foley, PhD

Christopher Gabel, PhD

Fredric Majnoun

Jamie McKnight, PhD

Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD

Maria Ober

Julie Palmer, ScD, MPH

Tony Rizzo

Andy Taylor, PhD

Bob Varelas, PhD

RISC plans to hold listening sessions to solicit input from the community; please watch for more details. You also may send any input or suggestions to: CAMedDean@bu.edu.

Thank you,

Hee-Young Park, PhD Dean, ad interim