To Our Readers

R. Ariel Gomez, M.D.

At the end of the 20th century, new developments in biomedical science at the molecular and genetic levels promised to bring basic and applied biomedical science closer together: new diagnostics, drugs, and therapies would closely follow our understanding of disease pathologies and biological processes. Molecular and genetic science also have provided a common language for researchers in very different fields and departments. For each investigator featured here, the promise of molecular and genetic research is being realized—typically in a network of collaborations. We now are able to raise and address questions about disease and health undreamed of a generation ago. We understand these questions and answers to be interlocking: what we learn about one stage of life can affect our understanding of every other stage. We’ve coined the phrase “lifespan biology and medicine” to describe this moment in biomedical science. The University of Virginia’s rich tradition of collegiality and our compact research infrastructure are uncommonly well-matched to this extraordinary opportunity.

R. Ariel Gomez, M.D.
Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies