News Release

Christian Newcomer, a prominent veterinarian and specialist in laboratory animal medicine, has been appointed The Johns Hopkins University's first associate provost for animal research and resources, responsible for university-wide planning and other issues relating to research using animal subjects.

Newcomer, who joined Johns Hopkins on May 21, had previously served for two years as director of the Veterinary Resources Program at the National Institutes of Health. He will help the university prepare for future changes in the availability of animals, animal care standards, or the way in which animal research is conducted.

"There are just an incredible number of issues that come up in a big and vibrant animal research program like Johns Hopkins'," Newcomer said. "I will work to determine how we keep a step ahead of where the science is going, and how we do that the right way."

Newcomer will serve as an advisor and frequent consultant to the university's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, a group that reviews all animal research protocols to ensure that use of animal subjects is essential and that any pain or discomfort to animals is minimized.

"Dr. Newcomer will supply the overall leadership, planning and vision to get our animal program back into the first rank of institutions doing animal research and keep us there," said Ted Poehler, vice provost for research at Johns Hopkins.

Newcomer graduated with a bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Michigan in 1973. He earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1977. He has previously worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He served as president of the American College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996 and 1997 and has been a consultant for the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (now AAALAC International) since 1983.

Newcomer will oversee planning and development for animal research facilities at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions campus, the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus, and an off-campus farm owned by Johns Hopkins.

"Chris will not only bring his expertise and authoritative view in overseeing animal research, but he will also integrate the management of our university's animal research infrastructure," said Chi Dang, vice dean for research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "There is a great need for a person with his background to take on the responsibility of ensuring that Hopkins has the best infrastructure for animal research and the foresight to plan for the future."