As Vice President for Research and Innovation at VCU, Dr. Rao is responsible for the overall strategy, compliance, growth and expansion of the university’s research enterprise. As the institutional official, he leads the OVPRI in its efforts to ensure the optimal operational efficiency of the divisions of: Clinical Research, Sponsored Programs, Research Compliance, Research Development, Research Integrity and Ethics, Communications and Outreach, Finance and Operations, Information Systems, and Technology, Commercialization and Economic Development. Dr. Rao oversees VCU’s research institutes and centers, core laboratories and institutional committees including the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Institutional Review Board. He also serves as an advisor, board member and trustee of various local and national organizations.
In collaboration with researchers and administrators across the university and by increasing research engagement with faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, Dr. Rao is committed to fostering collaborative and cross-cutting basic, clinical and translational research at VCU. An additional focus is the translation of VCU discoveries and innovations from the bench to the community, via public and private partnerships, as well as contributions to the region’s overall growth and economic development.
To strategically advance VCU’s research priorities, a Strategic Research 
Priorities Planning Committee, composed of research thought-leaders and faculty experts across VCU, created a bold plan to serve as a framework for future investments and growth. Based on the excellence in research and scholarship within the university and the VCU Health System, VCU will commit to "Improving the Human Condition" by focusing on four thematic initiatives:
- Enriching the human experience
- Advancing the societal wellbeing
- Optimizing health
- Supporting sustainable energy and environments
As part of the implementation of this five-year strategic plan, Dr. Rao, together with colleagues across the university, will promote the initiatives through a culture of creativity, collaboration, organizational excellence, team science and recognition.
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Vice President for Research and Innovation
