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OKLAHOMA CITY – The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine is proud to announce the appointment of Carlos D. Bustamante, Ph.D., as the inaugural Vice Dean of Research, effective September 1, 2025, pending approval by the OU Board of Regents.
Dr. Bustamante is internationally recognized as one of the foremost experts in medical and population genetics. His groundbreaking research has significantly advanced scientific understanding of human genetic variation and its impact on health and disease. A MacArthur Fellow and a former professor at both Cornell and Stanford Universities, Dr. Bustamante also served as the founding Chair of the Department of Biomedical Data Science at Stanford. His leadership in the development of statistical methods continues to shape the fields of medical and evolutionary genomics.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Dr. Bustamante has played pivotal roles in major National Institutes of Health initiatives, including the 1000 Genomes Project and ClinGen, where he co-led efforts to standardize how genetic variants are interpreted in a clinical context. As a principal investigator with the National Human Genome Research Institute Genome Sequencing and Analysis Centers, he contributed to early advancements in sequencing technologies and genomic annotation. In addition to his research, Dr. Bustamante has led T32 training programs to mentor emerging scientists and has published more than 250 scientific papers, shaping the careers of hundreds of researchers.
Beyond academia, Dr. Bustamante is the founder and CEO of Galatea Bio, a venture-backed genomics company focused on developing scalable precision health technologies. His experience in both academic and industry settings positions him uniquely to foster impactful partnerships and drive innovation through public-private collaboration.
The creation of the Vice Dean of Research role marks a significant milestone in the OU College of Medicine’s deepening commitment to research and scholarship as a central pillar of our mission, said College of Medicine Executive Dean Ian Dunn, M.D., FACS, FAANS.
In this new capacity, Dr. Bustamante will collaborate closely with leaders across the College of Medicine, the OU Health Sciences, OU Health, and the OU Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships.
“His leadership will help expand the College’s research infrastructure, support faculty and trainee development, and elevate our impact in basic, translational, clinical, and health outcomes research,” Dunn said.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university with campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. In Oklahoma City, OU Health Sciences is one of the nation’s few academic health centers with seven health profession colleges located on the same campus. OU Health Sciences serves approximately 4,000 students in more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs spanning Oklahoma City and Tulsa and is the leading research institution in Oklahoma. For more information about OU Health Sciences, visit www.ouhsc.edu.
Pejman Kazempoor, an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma’s School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, has been recognized for his commitment to addressing methane emissions and providing a cleaner world.
Muhammad Furqan, M.D., professor of hematology-oncology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Associate Director of Clinical Research at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, is leading a national clinical trial evaluating whether immunotherapy can improve outcomes for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following surgery.
The Native Nations Center for Tribal Policy Research at the University of Oklahoma will launch its first Sovereign Policy Intensive in September, a new program designed for elected tribal officials that focuses on understanding broadly relevant federal systems grounded in departmental structures, legislation and appropriations, and legal frameworks.
