Abstract: Dr. Chris Loomis, Vice-president (Academic), pro-tempore, provides an overview of Memorial University with a special emphasis on entrepreneurship and the university’s expertise in oceans.

Biography: Dr. Loomis received his PhD in Pharmacology & Toxicology from Queen's University at Kingston in 1983. Until 1987, he was an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Queen's, holding joint appointments in the Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Anaesthesia, and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.

In 1988, Dr. Loomis moved to Memorial University of Newfoundland as Associate Professor of Pharmacology in School of Pharmacy, with a joint appointment to Basic Medical Sciences (Neuroscience Group, Faculty of Medicine). He was promoted to Full Professor in 1996 and became the Director of the School of Pharmacy in 1998.

In 2002, Dr. Loomis was appointed Vice-President (Research) of Memorial University. During his first term, total research income increased from approximately $35M to more than $90M per year, targeted largely in strategic areas. From 2002-2007, Memorial University ranked first among Canadian universities with medical/doctoral programs in the rate of growth in research income (RE$EARCH Infosource Inc.) more than doubling the group average.

He was appointed Vice-President (Academic) pro tempore in October, 2008.

Dr. Loomis is a multiple recipient of the Dr. Albert R. Cox Award for outstanding medical research and the Bristol Myers-Squibb Award for excellence in pharmaceutical teaching.

He serves on a number of Boards including Springboard Atlantic Inc. – the organization of Technology Transfer Offices in Atlantic Canada, Genesis Group Inc., and C-CORE. Dr. Loomis is a former member of the Board of Directors of Genome Atlantic, the Rx&D Health Research Foundation Advisory Council, and the Panel of Examiners of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada.

Sponsored by IEEE Canada and the IEEE Newfoundland and Labrador Section
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