In late October, we received word that Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D. and Vice President for Research at the University of Utah would be departing for a new position as President at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF).
Many here at the U have voiced their congratulations and thanks to Dr. Weyrich for his years of service and leadership. We too, in health sciences research, would like to add our voice and express our deep gratitude for the leadership of Dr. Weyrich.
“Dr. Weyrich is an original and creative investigator, as evidenced in his work showing that anucleate human platelets splice precursor mRNA into products that regulate inflammation. He has been a distinguished investigator throughout his career, whose work is the genesis and reference point in a wealth of subsequent research,” write Associate Vice President for Research Will Dere, M.D., and Vice Dean of Research for the School of Medicine Chris Hill, D.Phil.
“He has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a talented administrator and inspirational leader. As the COVID-19 pandemic ensued, many institutions shuttered and waited for further guidance,” Dere and Hill continued. “Under Dr. Weyrich’s leadership, the University of Utah ensured that its research community was safe. But he also had the vision to mobilize. The U funded a wide variety of COVID-19-related research, making our institution a source of important data and information during the pandemic.”
Under Weyrich’s leadership, the U disbursed $1.3 million in COVID-19 seed grant funding, which has led to $62 million in external funding, more than 400 research projects, and more than 450 publications.
Weyrich has been a presence at the university since 1993, where he began as a postdoctoral fellow. He has served in a variety of capacities and has spent the last five years leading the way as the Vice President for Research. His leadership has continued to bring the U to the forefront of academic research.
U President Taylor Randall wrote, “Under Weyrich’s five years of leadership as the U’s fifth VPR, the university has been awarded over $2.1 billion toward research. In the fiscal year 2021 alone, the U reached a historic high of $641 million in research funding. Weyrich’s work was critical toward securing the U’s invitation to the Association of American Universities, which is composed of the top 66 North American research universities working toward transforming lives through education, research, and innovation.”
It is impossible to encapsulate the career and impact Dr. Weyrich has had on this community. He will be missed, but we are collectively excited for the next step in his career and are grateful for his contributions to the health sciences and the university.