Aileen Anderson named vice chancellor for research at UC Irvine
Director of stem cell center has elevated campus as a leader in biomedical innovation
- Anderson brings a 30-year legacy at UC Irvine, including renowned discoveries in spinal cord injury regeneration and unprecedented growth in regenerative medicine and biomedical innovation.
- During her tenure as director, research funding at the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center increased 3.5-fold, and its CIRM Alpha Clinic for Cell and Gene Therapy opened.
Irvine, Calif., June 26, 2025 — After a nationwide search, the University of California, Irvine has tapped one of its own to lead its research enterprise, naming internationally recognized neuroscientist Aileen Anderson as vice chancellor for research. In her new role, she will helm the Office of Research, which provides central campus administrative support, oversight and compliance assurance for UC Irvine’s research programs.
Anderson heads UC Irvine’s Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. Its membership includes 65 faculty from the schools of medicine, biological sciences, engineering, arts, and pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences who are dedicated to accelerating stem cell, regenerative medicine and gene therapy research and transformative treatments for serious diseases. Under her leadership, the center’s overall research portfolio has grown significantly, from $7.8 million in 2016, the year before she became director, to $27 million currently. In addition, clinical research support has increased more than 12-fold, from $811,000 to $9.7 million.
“Professor Anderson is a brilliant scientist and a visionary leader,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman. “She will serve as vice chancellor for research during a time when the national research environment is both highly competitive and critically important to our collective future. I am confident in her ability to lead our research mission with integrity, creativity and purpose, and I look forward to what she and our robust research community will accomplish together.”
Anderson is a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, anatomy and neurobiology, and neurosurgery. She earned a Ph.D. at UC Irvine in 1995 and joined its faculty in 2001. Anderson’s research focuses on discovering new approaches to treating spinal cord injuries and central nervous system disease. Her recent work has yielded groundbreaking evidence for the regeneration of the corticospinal tract, a major pathway in the spinal cord responsible for the voluntary movement of the body, particularly the limbs and trunk, as well as a new cellular therapy for chronic spinal cord injuries.
A founding faculty member of the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Anderson collaborated with UC Irvine faculty to secure support for three graduate training programs and a program aimed at first-generation and socioeconomically disadvantaged undergraduate students. Additionally, she led the development of UC Irvine’s Good Manufacturing Practice facility and the CIRM Alpha Clinic for Cell and Gene Therapy, the latter of which accelerates the advancement of regenerative medicine treatments for patients with a variety of debilitating injuries and diseases.
As vice chancellor for research, Anderson will oversee UC Irvine’s research strategy, operations, and policy, working closely with deans, faculty members and research leaders across all campus areas. She will also play a crucial role in building partnerships within the University of California system, as well as with federal agencies, private industry and community stakeholders.
“I’m honored to take on this role at such a pivotal and challenging moment for research in higher education,” Anderson said. “UC Irvine’s research community is one of the most dynamic and collaborative in the country. I’m excited to work together with our investigators from all parts of campus to expand our impact, support our researchers and advance discoveries that improve lives around the world.”
She will begin her tenure as vice chancellor for research on July 1. Anderson succeeds Pramod Khargonekar, who has held the position since July 2016. Under Khargonekar’s leadership, the funding for research grants and contracts has risen from $378 million to $668 million.
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.
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