INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named Timothy W. Corson, PhD, as the new chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Corson is currently the Merrill Grayson Senior Professor in Ophthalmology and Vice Chair for Basic and Translational Research in the Department of Ophthalmology at IU School of Medicine. He also holds appointments in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Since joining IU School of Medicine in 2010, Corson has demonstrated world-class research in his laboratory, and a devotion to mentorship through his work with students—ranging in age from high school, undergraduate, medical students and residents, as well as faculty. He directs the Basic Science Research in Ophthalmology elective for upper-year medical students, and also has co-led summer research programs at the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center for high school and undergraduate students from populations underrepresented in medicine.
“Dr. Corson is a collaborative and transformational leader, well-funded researcher and dedicated educator,” said Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, dean of IU School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of University Clinical Affairs for IU. “His vision aligns with the School of Medicine’s interdisciplinary and aspirational approach to education and research. I’m confident he will advance us to further excellence across all of our missions.”
The major focus of Corson’s lab at IU is neovascular eye diseases. Through his work, he has identified two novel protein targets for blocking neovascularization in eye diseases like wet age-related macular degeneration and has discovered novel lead therapeutic compounds covered by multiple patent applications. His research program has resulted in more than 80 papers and 11 patents during his career and has been supported by more than $7.2 million in grant funding.
For the past five years, Corson has served as the leader of laboratory research in the Department of Ophthalmology. In this role he has helped lead the department in recruiting top new talent and mentoring existing faculty—with support of chair David Wallace, MD, MPH, this has more than quadrupled the department’s NIH funding between 2019 and 2021.
“I am honored by the opportunity to lead the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and am excited to take on this new challenge,” said Corson. “Pharmacology and toxicology is a unique field given its central role in all aspects of medicine. The outstanding faculty with the department reflect the major strategic areas of IU School of Medicine research. I’m eager to work with the faculty to continue to forge new collaborations to advance our leading-edge research and education here at the school.”
Corson is a 1999 graduate of the University of Toronto with an Honors Bachelor of Science (HonBSc) in molecular genetics and molecular biology. He earned his Master of Science (MSc) in neuroscience/pharmacology and a PhD in molecular genetics, also from the University of Toronto, and later pursued chemical biology research as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Jean-François St-Denis Fellow in Cancer Research at Yale University.
Corson will officially assume his new role April 1, 2023.
