We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Elizabeth Winzeler as the SSPPS Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, effective November 1, 2023. Her broad research background in genomics, medicinal chemistry, informatics, microbiology, molecular pharmacology, and structural biology has led to innovative antimalarial drug discovery and development accomplishments across industry and academia. Dr. Winzeler is dedicated to mentoring and diversity/inclusion initiatives, including serving as a mentor in the UC San Diego RAPID Program. Dr. Winzeler is the director and founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Malaria Drug Accelerator (MALDA), an international consortium seeking to develop better malaria treatments. She is also a member of the governing board of the Tres Cantos Open Lab Foundation, and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2021.
Dr. Winzeler received her BA in Fine Arts/Natural Sciences from Lewis and Clark College, her MS in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State University, her PhD in Developmental Biology from Stanford University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Genetics and Genomics at Stanford University. She then served as scientist and then director of Cellular Biology at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF), concurrent with Assistant and Associate Professorships at The Scripps Research Institute in the Departments of Cell Biology, Genetics, and Immunology and Microbial Science. While working at GNF she identified novel chemotypes that are now in late-stage clinical trials for both treatment and prevention of malaria.
Dr. Winzeler joined UC San Diego as a Professor of Pediatrics in 2012, and obtained a joint appointment with SSPPS in 2017. She currently also serves as director of Translational Research at the UC San Diego Health Sciences Center for Immunity, Infection, and Inflammation.
Congratulations, Associate Dean Winzeler!