Vice Chancellor for Research

The University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) has appointed Aileen Anderson, PhD, as Vice Chancellor for Research.

Dr. Anderson is an internationally recognized neuroscientist. She brings a 30-year legacy at UC Irvine, including renowned discoveries in spinal cord injury regeneration and unprecedented growth in regenerative medicine and biomedical innovation. Dr. Anderson heads UC Irvine’s Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. Its membership includes 65 faculty from the schools of medicine, biological sciences, engineering, arts, and pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences who are dedicated to accelerating stem cell, regenerative medicine, and gene therapy research and transformative treatments for serious diseases. Under her leadership, the center’s overall research portfolio has grown significantly, from $7.8 million in 2016, the year before she became director, to $27 million currently. In addition, clinical research support has increased more than 12-fold, from $811,000 to $9.7 million. During her tenure as director, research funding at the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center increased 3.5-fold, and its CIRM Alpha Clinic for Cell and Gene Therapy opened.

Anderson is a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, anatomy and neurobiology, and neurosurgery. Anderson’s research focuses on discovering new approaches to treating spinal cord injuries and central nervous system disease. Her recent work has yielded groundbreaking evidence for the regeneration of the corticospinal tract, a major pathway in the spinal cord responsible for the voluntary movement of the body, particularly the limbs and trunk, as well as a new cellular therapy for chronic spinal cord injuries. A founding faculty member of the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Anderson collaborated with UC Irvine faculty to secure support for three graduate training programs and a program aimed at first-generation and socioeconomically disadvantaged undergraduate students. Additionally, she led the development of UC Irvine’s Good Manufacturing Practice facility and the CIRM Alpha Clinic for Cell and Gene Therapy, the latter of which accelerates the advancement of regenerative medicine treatments for patients with a variety of debilitating injuries and diseases.

As vice chancellor for research, Anderson will oversee UC Irvine’s research strategy, operations, and policy, working closely with deans, faculty members, and research leaders across all campus areas. She will also play a crucial role in building partnerships within the University of California system, as well as with federal agencies, private industry, and community stakeholders.

Dr. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana. She earned a PhD in Biology and Neurobiology from UC Irvine and completed postdoctoral fellowships in neurobiology at Harvard University and UC Irvine. 

David Bellshaw, Joe Kralick, Alice Holland, and Christina Errico brought this search to a successful conclusion.