In 2016, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) set a goal of doubling its research footprint over the next 10 years. This investment required a renewed investment of resources. This fiscal year, UTHSC’s investment was augmented with a commitment by the University of Tennessee Foundation (UTFI). UTFI’s Love Collins, III, vice chancellor of development and alumni affairs at UTHSC, announced that he was dedicating a position on his expanding team to research philanthropy.
In January 2018, Love hired Greg Harris to head the new initiative. As senior director of development for regional and research philanthropy, Greg will work closely with VCR Goodman, the Office of Research, and its entities offering his expertise when it comes to philanthropic funding for research that crosses all colleges, campuses, and institutions.
“Greg will play a key role in helping drive UTHSC towards being a top-tier health science center,” said Dr. Goodman. “By aligning investments and initiatives that are vital to the expansion of the institutional research footprint with the capabilities and resources of UTFI, we are setting ourselves on the path to success.”
Dr. Goodman’s initial top research priorities are:
- The Memphis Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which will bring together the expertise of UTHSC, the University of Memphis, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Industry Leaders (Revotek, Medtronic, and FedEx) to perform basic, clinical, and translational research in the areas of stem cell biology, 3D bio-printing, and tissue engineering for organ repair and replacement therapies.
- The Memphis Consortium for Sickle Cell Disease and Classical Hematology Research, which aims to be a consortium without walls designed to develop collaborative sick- le cell research among all participating Memphis institutions and create standardized evidenced-based clinical care across participating institutions that will support clinical and translational research.
- Infrastructure build, equipment, and Institutional Research Core Labs
- Other initiatives including the VCR Distinguished Lecture series, CORNET Awards, and the Clinical Trials Governance Board.
“While Dr. Goodman’s research priorities represent grand-scale initiatives, I am most excited about the clinical trial platform he and his team are building,” said Greg. “Potentially a model other state universities will duplicate in the future; the system offers clinical trial sponsors a cadre of seven in-state partners providing a statewide reach of an incredibly diverse population of patients. I’m building a strategy that should attract research philanthropy from companies interested in seeing this platform excel.”
Prior to working for UTFI, Greg was employed with several universities and nonprofits over a 30-plus year career in the Advancement profession. Immediately before taking on his new position at UTHSC, Greg served as Life University’s vice president for university advancement in Atlanta where he led the development, alumni relations, postgraduate education, community investment, and government relations. Greg has held vice president positions at several nonprofits and his experience and expertise includes the areas of fundraising, alumni and membership relations, event planning, data management, strategic planning, and government and community relations.
Greg is married to Lindsey Fore Harris and they have two children. In addition to enjoying family activities, he is an avid college football fan and an investor in new technologies. Greg is a seeker of life changing experiences and has enjoyed hang gliding in several states; leading safaris in Africa; tubing over waterfalls; and performing music on the national stage.