Originally Released: July, 1999
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The University of Maryland School of Medicine has chosen a distinguished scientist from the National Institutes of Health, Howard B. Dickler, M.D., as the new Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. In this role, Dr. Dickler will oversee the school's $130 million research program that encompasses 23 different areas of medical specialty.
Dr. Dickler has been Chief of the Clinical Immunology Branch of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for the past ten years, where he managed an extensive research program involving hundreds of researchers throughout the U.S. He is known for developing a program that cuts the time for funding grant applications from 10 months to 13 weeks.
"Dr. Dickler has extensive experience in both basic and clinical research. He has planned and managed complex projects that involve scientists from academic institutions and private industry, as well as several NIH institutes and charitable foundations. His skills and knowledge will be extremely valuable for the growth and success of our research programs," says Donald Wilson, M.D., M.A.C.P., Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
At the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Dickler led a research program which focused on the role of the immune system in the development of autoimmune diseases such as juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. His program also was responsible for research on the function of the immune system in the lining of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, the most common sites for infectious organisms to attack the body. In addition, he developed research programs on immune deficiency diseases of children and fostered studies on the destructive inflammatory response triggered by infectious diseases including tuberculosis and Lyme disease.
"The University of Maryland School of Medicine is an exciting and growing place, and I look forward to using my experience to help it grow further," says Dr. Dickler. The University of Maryland School of Medicine ranks 13th among public medical schools in NIH research funding and has 983 scientists on the faculty.
"Research and technology are becoming increasingly expensive, so we have to make good choices about what paths to pursue. Inter-departmental collaboration and capitalizing on organized research centers can help us make the most of our resources," Dr. Dickler says.
Dr. Dickler earned his bachelor's degree from the Johns Hopkins University and graduated first in his class from the George Washington University School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical College and did research fellowships at the Rockefeller University and at the National Cancer Institute. He then joined the National Cancer Institute as a senior investigator and conducted research in immunology for 15 years before moving to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
In his new position, Dr. Dickler succeeds J.Tyson Tildon, Ph.D., who was the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies from 1994 until June 1999, when he retired from the School of Medicine. Dr. Tildon, a professor of pediatrics, had previously served as the Director of Pediatric Research. Dr. Tildon is the current chairman of the Baltimore City School Board and is writing a book on mentoring.
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