Richard Jove, Ph.D., a nationally recognized expert in the role of STAT proteins in cancer, has been named to lead Beckman Research Institute.
As director, Jove will be responsible for the institute’s academic, capital and recruitment areas and will facilitate relationships between basic scientists and clinical investigators.
He has served as interim director since Arthur Riggs, Ph.D., announced he would step down from his administrative position as director and return to research fulltime. Jove will maintain his current role as deputy director of the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Jove will encourage collaborations to boost City of Hope’s mission of rapidly translating scientific discoveries into new treatments while continuing the institute’s tradition of innovative biomedical research.
“The City of Hope strategic plan outlines ambitious goals that require integrated efforts among all facets of the institution,” he said. “My focus will be to promote and shape collaboration and help forge novel, effective connections among different disciplines, with the ultimate goal of translating new discoveries into treatments benefiting patients.”
Jove’s appointment comes at an exciting time, said Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer. “The field of biomedical research is entering an era of unparalleled opportunity, where collaborations between basic science and clinical researchers are fulfilling the promise of advances in molecular and cellular biology,” Friedman said.
“It is also an exciting time for our institution. This year, City of Hope will commemorate Beckman Research Institute’s 25th anniversary and celebrate its numerous contributions to the field of biomedical research. We are pleased that we will have the outstanding leadership and expertise of Dr. Jove to begin this new era.”
John Rossi, Ph.D., Lidow Family Research Chair and professor of molecular biology and dean of the Graduate School of Biological Sciences, chaired the search committee that recommended Dr. Jove’s appointment.
“Dr. Jove was selected to lead Beckman Research Institute based on his outstanding scientific qualifications and his broad vision for the future of the institute,” said Rossi. “In addition to his scientific experience, Dr. Jove is a first-rate research administrator. Throughout his career, he has facilitated close links between basic scientists and clinical investigators to accelerate translational research and apply new discoveries to the treatment of patients with cancer. He is well-suited to lead the institute into a new era of outstanding translational science.”
Jove credits Riggs’ leadership and scientific vision in helping to shape City of Hope as a world-class research facility. “It is a privilege to serve as director and follow in the steps of Dr. Riggs, whose work was critical to the modern biotechnology industry and to the collaborative environment that has come to define City of Hope,” he said. “As an institution, we are fortunate that Dr. Riggs will serve as Beckman Research Institute director emeritus and professor of biology, continuing his commitment to scientific inquiry.”
Riggs praised Jove’s leadership and superior record as a researcher. “His combination of skills will ensure City of Hope remains at the forefront of scientific excellence and that we uphold our mission to rapidly transfer laboratory discoveries into therapeutic applications that help patients,” Riggs said.
An accomplished scientist, Jove has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for two decades since establishing his research laboratory. His work has improved understanding of the role of STAT3 signaling in cell growth and survival in a wide range of human tumor cells. He has authored more than 150 scientific papers in leading research journals. He serves as a permanent member of the National Cancer Institute Cancer Center parent committee as well as numerous international conference organizing committees and scientific advisory boards. Jove earned his doctorate in molecular biology from Columbia University and received postdoctoral training in cancer research at Rockefeller University.
“It is an honor to be given the opportunity to be part of an institution with a mission as vital as City of Hope,” said Jove. “As we celebrate our long and distinguished history of scientific accomplishment, we look to the future to capitalize on the opportunities that collaboration and new research discoveries will provide.”
