Rebecca Cunningham named Interim VP of Research, Animal Care & Use Program Institutional Official

July 1, 2019

Headshot of Rebecca Cunningham, M.D.Rebecca Cunningham, MD, has been appointed interim vice president for research in the University of Michigan (U-M) Office of Research effective June 1, 2019. Dr. Cunningham has also been named as the University’s Institutional Official (IO) for the Animal Care & Use Program, effective July 1, 2019.

As interim vice president for research, Dr. Cunningham will assume overall responsibility for nurturing the excellence and integrity of research across the entire university, including research on the campuses of Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint. She will oversee the U-M Office of Research, which encourages interdisciplinary research, oversees research policy, provides central services in support of faculty research and economic outreach, and manages activities related to compliance and the responsible conduct of research.

Designated by the University’s president and serving as a representative of senior U-M administration, the IO bears ultimate responsibility for the Animal Care & Use Program and is responsible for resource planning and ensuring alignment of program goals with the institution’s mission. In this role, Cunningham also provides operational oversight for the activities under the assistant vice president for research–animal compliance oversight and the assistant vice president for research–animal resources.