Shaheen appointed as PI and director of NC TraCS; Buse steps down as Co-PI

Nicholas Shaheen, MD, MPH, has been named PI and director of the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences (NC TraCS) Institute. Shaheen, who has been acting as Co-PI since 2020, assumed the expanded role after John Buse, MD, PhD, stepped down as Co-PI.

Buse has been an integral part of NC TraCS since its inception. During his tenure, he has made critical contributions to the institute's mission of accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into policies and practices so that new therapies and cures can reach all patients faster.

He was instrumental in the initial application to the NIH's Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program (CTSA), which funded NC TraCS in 2008. With his help, the CTSA grant was successfully renewed in 2013, 2018, and again in 2023, totaling more than $224 million in research funding.

"We are deeply grateful for John's invaluable contributions and unwavering dedication to NC TraCS," said Blossom Damania, PhD, vice dean for research at the UNC School of Medicine. "His vision and expertise have been pivotal in shaping the success of the institute as well as UNC's larger research enterprise."

Buse is the Verne S. Caviness Distinguished Professor in the School of Medicine. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the 2024 National Scientific and Health Care Achievement Awards from the American Diabetes Association. His extensive record of more than 500 scholarly publications has shaped diabetes treatment guidelines worldwide.

As the new director, Shaheen brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to advancing clinical and translational research. He is the Mary Kay and Eugene Bozymski and Linda and William Heizer Distinguished Professor of Medicine. A gastroenterologist and epidemiologist by training, Shaheen is known for his groundbreaking research on Barrett's esophagus. He has led several large, multi-center trials testing new endoscopic technologies that have fundamentally changed the care of patients with esophageal neoplasia.

"As our Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research in the School of Medicine, I am excited to have Nick lead our CTSA program. His leadership will be crucial in guiding NC TraCS into its next phase of growth and innovation," said Damania. Shaheen will be responsible for the vision, strategic planning, and overall management of the institute. He will continue with his own research and remain a member of the UNC Division of Gastroenterology.

"We are excited to see Shaheen take the helm of NC TraCS," said Andrea Carnegie, PhD, chief operating officer of NC TraCS. "His extensive background and passion for research make him the ideal leader to continue our efforts to identify and overcome barriers to clinical and translational research."

About NC TraCS

NC TraCS is the integrated hub of the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that combines the research strengths, resources, and opportunities of the UNC-Chapel Hill campus with partner institutions North Carolina State University in Raleigh and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro.