The Office of Research
We foster bold collaborations, empower our resilient community, streamline and improve our research infrastructure, and transform research though our investigator-focused programs and services. This allows our amazing faculty to do what they do best – to accelerate science in ways that improve health for all.

About
Office Updates (Jan. 2025)
Read more about the office’s updates for 2025 as originally presented by Dr. Azra Bihorac at the College of Medicine Town Hall on Jan. 16.

Committees/Governance
A resilient research community relies on the engagement of faculty and staff in the leadership structure to support strategic initiatives, planning, and policy across our research enterprise. View a list of the office’s committees here.

Departments and Schools
View a comprehensive list of the departments and schools across the College of Medicine Gainesville and Jacksonville campuses.

STAFF DIRECTORY
Our Leadership
Senior Associate dean for research
Azra Bihorac, M.D., M.S., FCCM, FASN

Director of Research strategy and operations
Marah Berry

Assistant Dean Of Innovation And Entrepreneurship
May Khanna, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean of Clinical Research
Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant dean of basic research
Todd Brusko, Ph.D.

Our staff
Assistant Director of Strategic Research Initiatives
Katie Blackburn, MSPH

Assistant director of data management
Ben Griffith, MBA

Assistant Director of Research training and workforce development
Elizabeth Palmer, Ph.D.

Assistant Director of finance
Jeremy Schmidt, MHA, CHFP

Research Administration Manager
Todd Barnash

Administrative Specialist III
Melissa Layne

Data Scientist II
Aditya Subramanian

Communications specialist
Manny Rea

Administrative specialist II
Cassidy Pinner

Assistant director of the clinical research hub
Mary Ellen Toombs

Compliance analyst I
Katie Barnes

Clinical Research Analyst III
Nieci Black

Clinical research Analyst II
Amanda Slater

Student assistant technical specialist
Sai Gangasani

Student Assistant Technical Specialist
Daniel George

Associate Director of the Clinical Research Hub
Clare Martin

research administration manager
Ashley Carver

Student assistant technical specialist
Paige Reeves

Clinical research analyst I
Christopher James

Grants Accountant II
Kelsey Walter

Grants Accountant I
Emily Jackson

Clinical research analyst I
Devin Mercado

"Our office fosters research excellence, improves the environment for basic, translational and clinical sciences, and facilitates research discoveries that will ultimately lead to advances in health care outcomes."
– Azra Bihorac, M.D., MS FCCM, FASN

Research News
Seeding Start-Ups event invites college…
The inaugural event allowed investigators to exercise selling their science in a friendly farm environment.

UF College of Medicine faculty appointed…
Barry Byrne, M.D., Ph.D., will serve as ASGCT president in 2027.

“An Extra Review and an Extra Chance”…
With the opening of the 2025-26 R01 Boot Camp application, two alumni share their experiences.

UF College of Medicine office of research
Events and Deadlines
-
Jun 26
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
-
Jul 10
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
-
Aug 14
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
-
Sep 11
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
-
Oct 09
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
-
Nov 13
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
-
Dec 11
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
-
Jan 08
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
-
Feb 12
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
-
Mar 12
-
CRH HubTalk Series
10:00am to 11:30am
-
Upcoming HubTalk
April 24, 2025, 10 – 11:30 AM
