INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine will enhance research that explores whether medical treatments or therapies are effective in humans with the appointment of a new associate dean for clinical research, Naga Chalasani, MD, an international leader in gastroenterology and hepatology research with extensive experience in patient-oriented research, clinical trials and drug development.
As the associate dean for clinical research, Dr. Chalasani will help IU School of Medicine grow the number of researchers engaged in clinical trials, encourage faculty participation and leadership in industry-sponsored clinical trials, promote the clinical trials resources of the IU Clinical Trials Office (CTO) and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), liaise with hospital partners and pharmaceutical companies, and implement best practices to improve clinical research across the school.
The new position will be an addition to Dr. Chalasani’s current roles as David W. Crabb Professor of Medicine at IU School of Medicine, division chief of gastroenterology and hepatology in the Department of Medicine and adjunct professor of cellular and integrative physiology. He joined IU School of Medicine in 1997 and became division chief in 2007.
Dr. Chalasani is internationally known for his expertise in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and drug-induced liver injury, and he is the lead author for the multisociety practice guideline on the diagnosis and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as the American College of Gastroenterology practice guideline on the diagnosis and management of drug-induced liver injury.
Dr. Chalasani has also consulted on drug development activities and regulatory matters related to fatty liver disease and drug safety for pharmaceutical companies and the United States Food and Drug Administration. He currently serves as the academic chair for the International Consortium for Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development’s initiative on drug-induced liver injury.
Anantha Shekhar, MD, PhD, IU associate vice president of research for university clinical affairs and IU School of Medicine executive associate dean for research affairs, said Dr. Chalasani’s scientific expertise, experience and industry connections make him an ideal fit for the position of associate dean for clinical research.
“Naga brings a deep knowledge of our institution and our hospital partners to this position, with proven experience in clinical trials, corporate relationships and corresponding regulatory issues,” Dr. Shekhar said. “I look forward to working with him to advance this extremely important area of research at IU School of Medicine.”
Dr. Chalasani said he is excited to serve in this new role and believes the university and school are well positioned to succeed in their goal to enhance clinical research.
“IU possesses an unprecedented opportunity to dramatically increase our patient-oriented research portfolio because of our extensive clinical footprint throughout the state of Indiana and very large physician workforce through key hospital partners, as well as our growing clinical trials infrastructure through our CTO and the Indiana CTSI,” Dr. Chalasani said. “I believe a robust clinical research portfolio is essential for the school to fulfill its mission of dramatically improving the health and well-being of the residents of Indiana.”
Dr. Chalasani will begin his new duties on July 1, 2017.