David Cortez was named associate director for Basic Science Research at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
Cortez, the Richard Armstrong Professor of Biochemistry, joined Vanderbilt University in 2002. He is an expert in the field of DNA damage response and repair and made seminal discoveries about the mechanisms that maintain genome integrity.
Cortez is a member of the editorial boards for Cell Reports and Molecular and Cellular Biology. Cortez has been a co-leader of the Genome Maintenance Research Program since its inception in 2007 at VICC, and served as director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University for eight years.
Cortez replaces Scott Hiebert, professor of biochemistry and Hortense B. Ingram Professor of Cancer Research, who has served in the role since 2008. Hiebert is a member of the National Cancer Advisory Board.
Hiebert will continue in his role as associate director for shared resources and another interim leadership role to be announced soon. He will continue to focus on the molecular mechanisms of acute leukemia and the action of tumor suppressors in his own research program.
