Academic Enterprise Announcements


Headshot of Dr. Toyin Babarinde on a light teal background with the words "New Research Office Announced" on a dark teal banner.

New Office of Strategic Research Development, Leadership Announced

The Office of the Vice President for Research is pleased to announce the establishment of the Office of Strategic Research Development (OSRD), a centralized institutional office that provides support for proposal development to further enhance UTMB's research enterprise.  OSRD serves as a catalyst for multidisciplinary team science and is equipped to assist with all phases of proposal development, including but not limited to ideation, planning, and editing.  This support is offered to UTMB's junior, mid-career, and senior faculty members. 

OSRD’s mission is to assist in the development of large competitive institutional and individual research grants that support researchers, clinicians, and educators. Through the identification of emerging research opportunities and enabling UTMB research investigators to increase their competitive edge, OSRD will achieve its mission of enhancing and sustaining UTMB's reputation as a preeminent academic center of excellence by increasing funding success.

Toyin Babarinde, PhD, was recruited to UTMB to serve as the office's inaugural Executive Director.  Dr. Babarinde earned her PhD from The University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. She joins us from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and brings with her over 15 years of Research Planning and Development experience.   Since joining UTMB in May 2023, Dr. Babarinde and her team have developed an operational framework to stand up the OSRD.  She will provide oversight and direction for the OSRD and together with her growing team, provide research development support for major institutional initiatives; facilitate the development and editing of complex funding proposals; and track research development initiatives across the institution.

Dr. Babarinde is thrilled to be at UTMB and to collaborate with institutional research leaders, faculty members, and research development professionals from across campus and the Texas Medical Center to further enhance the university's research enterprise.

Visit the Office of Strategic Research Development for more information and to access its services.

Many thanks,

Randall J. Urban, MD
Vice President and Chief Research Officer

Claudia Y. Delgado, MBA
Associate Vice President for Research Administration

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