Toni M. Ganzel, dean of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, recently announced that Jon B. Klein, M.D., Ph.D., who holds the James Graham Brown Foundation Endowed Chair in Proteomics, has accepted the position of vice dean for research in the School of Medicine, effective July 1.
Dr. Klein is recognized internationally for his expertise in biomarker discovery related to kidney disease. He has authored more than 160 peer-reviewed papers and has received grant support throughout his career from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Additionally, the Core Proteomics Laboratory has played a direct role as a resource in an additional $8 million in funding of multi-investigator grants, such as COBRE Awards and successful P30 proposals at UofL.
Dr. Klein has an active interest in translational research and commercialization of research that has resulted in five patents and a number of invention disclosures. In addition to conducting an actively robust research program, he serves as a staff physician at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center, maintaining a weekly general nephrology clinic and staffing the in-patient nephrology consult service.
A native of New Orleans, Dr. Klein earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin and his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the Kansas University Medical Center. He is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology. Dr. Klein has been at UofL since 1982 when he came to the School of Medicine for a fellowship in nephrology. He joined the faculty in 1985 as an assistant professor in Internal Medicine in the Nephrology Division. Having enrolled in graduate school during his renal fellowship, he completed his doctorate in microbiology and immunology at UofL in 1988. In 2000, he was promoted to professor of medicine and became director of the University’s Core Proteomics Laboratory. In 2004, he was named the James Graham Brown Foundation Endowed Chair in Proteomics, an endowed chair created through the “Bucks for Brains” initiative.
In his new role of Vice Dean for Research, Dr. Klein will provide oversight of and support to the research infrastructure within the School. He will act as the liaison with entities such as the Office of Grants and Contracts and provide oversight to the research regulatory offices. He will work with faculty and staff to assure that the School of Medicine meets or exceeds all requirements for research compliance.
Dr. Klein will also work with faculty and staff in the development of research protocols and budgets, completion of required documents, adherence to guidelines, dissemination of information about available clinical trials, streamlining the accounting process, and providing training to investigators and clinical coordinators. He will serve as the School’s chief liaison with Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation, Bill Pierce, Ph.D., and in the effort to achieve funding of the Clinical and Translational Science Award program at the University of Louisville.