Julie Lumeng, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, has been appointed assistant vice president for research at the University of Michigan, where she will play a leadership role in advancing the human subjects portfolio across the research enterprise.
Her five-year appointment as assistant vice president for research-clinical and human subjects research was approved July 16 by the U-M Board of Regents.
“The rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic has completely transformed how we live our lives, and from a scientific perspective, this situation has reminded us all of the incredible importance of clinical and human research,” said Lumeng, whose appointment takes effect immediately.
“The University of Michigan is a global leader because of its ongoing commitment to supporting and catalyzing research that addresses critical challenges with broad societal impact. I look forward to partnering with colleagues across all three campuses to strengthen our reputation as a leader in clinical and human research.”
Lumeng, the Thomas P. Borders Family Research Professor of Child Behavior and Development, will work with research leadership from across U-M to develop strategic plans around clinical trials operations, clinical research and the human subjects portion of the research enterprise. Human research accounts for about 40 percent of the university’s funded research portfolio.
She will oversee the Human Research Protection Program, which is responsible for protecting the rights and welfare of participants in research conducted or reviewed by U-M. Lumeng also is responsible for the coordination and oversight of the U-M Institutional Review Boards.
“Dr. Lumeng joined our team amid a truly extraordinary pandemic, but her expertise has already proven to be invaluable,” said Rebecca Cunningham, vice president for research.
“She immediately stepped in to help navigate the university’s strategic process for safely ramping up human research. Dr. Lumeng’s leadership and collaboration across disciplines is a primary reason why the University of Michigan was able to successfully re-engage in-person human research, and I am certain she will play a key role in advancing our human research portfolio across the enterprise in the coming years.”
In addition to her new role in the U-M Office of Research, Lumeng also was appointed associate dean for research at the Medical School and executive director of the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research. These roles are complementary and her appointments to both will strengthen and coordinate clinical and human research across UM.
Lumeng received a medical degree from U-M in 1997 and her research focuses on the development of eating behavior and obesity in children, as well as psychosocial stress as a contributor to children’s development and wellbeing. She previously served as director of the U-M Center for Human Growth and Development and associate chair for research in the Department of Pediatrics.
