Dear alumni and friends,
We stand at a crossroads in the history of our medical school. Incredible opportunities lie within our grasp; opportunities to serve patients, our fellow Iowans, people across the country and around the world. One new opportunity, led by the National Institutes of Health, involves a focused effort to bring scientific discoveries from "the bench to the bedside" through the establishment and support of centers for clinical and translational science.

Currently, the Carver College of Medicine ranks 30th among 125 medical schools that receive NIH funding. Our College plays a vital role in keeping the UI at the forefront among research-intensive universities in this country. This is recognized by such authorities as the Carnegie Foundation, which describes The University of Iowa as having a "very high research activity." Still, we aim to improve our ranking and expand our research enterprise.

We will take a number of steps to achieve this goal. The first is the establishment of the University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science to serve as the academic structure that manages and fosters such research across the University's various colleges and departments. The Institute was approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa at its Dec. 11, 2006 meeting.

The writing is on the wall: The NIH Roadmap makes it very clear that it will be directing a larger portion of its funding toward clinical and translational research. Under the leadership of Dr. Gary Hunninghake (see story, page 10), our new associate dean for clinical and translational sciences, the Institute will be well-positioned to compete for this important funding.

The Institute will also enable the UI to expand the quantity and quality of clinical trials involving human subjects and also bolster translational research, which generally refers to the process of developing new clinical trials based on the latest scientific advances, as well as assessing and developing new treatments that enhance patient care.

This represents a new model for pursuing and conducting federal- and industry-sponsored clinical research. This Institute will be the epicenter of a statewide research network that will include community physicians and other health care providers. This means that Iowans across the state will gain greater access to new therapies and treatments.

We must also make additional research space a priority. The centerpiece will be the construction of a new 200,000-square-foot research building at an estimated cost of $100 million. The new Life Sciences Building will provide a unique environment where faculty with common interests collaborate to explore high risk/high yield research.

I have often been accused of being an "eternal optimist," a character trait to which I plead guilty. But, there are many reasons for my optimism: this is a fantastic medical school with world-class faculty, outstanding staff, wonderful students and absolutely unmatched support from alumni. While I certainly recognize the challenges posed by our ambitious goals, I firmly believe we will succeed.

Robillard's signature Jean E. Robillard, MD ('74 F pediatrics) Dean of the UI Carver College of Medicine and UI Vice President for Medical Affairs