Christopher Davies, Ph.D., believes research is a calling for many people working in the biomedical sciences. He brings that passion for discovery to his new role as associate dean for research at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.
“The importance of research stems from the need, and often a desperate need, for more medical breakthroughs to improve the lives of people across the world,” Davies said. “In USA’s case, it also means addressing the health needs of patients in the Gulf Coast region, where diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer are worryingly prevalent.”
The associate dean for research is a new position at the USA College of Medicine.
“As a member of the senior leadership team, Dr. Davies will promote growth and innovation for the College of Medicine’s research mission as well as facilitate research collaboration among the entire university and health system,” said John Marymont, M.D., MBA, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the USA College of Medicine. “He has the necessary experience and skill set to lead this endeavor.”
Davies will assist faculty to obtain external funding, develop interdisciplinary research teams, promote collaborations supportive of large program and center grants, and position the College of Medicine to capitalize on innovative funding opportunities. He also will oversee USA Health’s clinical trials office, grants administration office, and research core facilities.
“I was drawn here because of the quality and depth of research at USA, as this forms an outstanding platform for future development,” he said. “I was also struck by the strong aspiration of the college and university leadership to grow the research base at USA, coupled with the obviously strong potential to do so. At a time when it seems that research is being scaled back at some institutions, it is refreshing to see USA make a strong declaration that research is important.”
Davies said expanding clinical research already is a clear priority, and he will be looking for areas that could be competitive for large center funding. “The Center for Lung Biology illustrates the success that can be achieved by drawing researchers together from different disciplines under a common theme,” he said.
Most recently, Davies was assistant provost for research infrastructure and a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He also was interim chair of the Department of Oral Health Sciences.
Davies received a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Bristol in Bristol, England. He completed postdoctoral training at the University of Bristol, Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology.
His personal research focuses on the antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria, with a focus on Neisseria gonorrhoeae’s resistance to cephalosporins. His lab is working with a pharmaceutical company to translate their understanding of resistance mechanisms to the development of new agents to treat gonorrhea.
“A major crisis is looming as our current armamentarium of antibiotics is depleted by resistance,” he said. “By understanding how bacteria achieve resistance at the molecular level, we hope to design new antimicrobials that circumvent such mechanisms.”
