Dr. Praveen Sethupathy ’03, professor of physiological genomics, has been named as the next chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences. He will assume the role on October 1, 2024.

“Dr. Sethupathy’s leadership and academic contributions make him an exceptional candidate to lead the Department of Biomedical Sciences,” says Lorin D. Warnick, D.V.M., Ph.D. ’94, Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “His collaborative, comprehensive and innovative approach to scientific discovery has been an asset to the college since he arrived, and I know he will bring the same qualities to his role as chair.”

Sethupathy studied computer science and biology as an undergraduate at Cornell University, received a graduate degree in genomics at the University of Pennsylvania, and went on to pursue a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Human Genome Research Institute under the mentorship of former NIH director Dr. Francis Collins. Sethupathy served as assistant professor of genetics at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill for six years there before joining the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in 2017.

At CVM, Sethupathy uses molecular and genome-scale approaches to study normal physiology and disease etiology in the digestive system, with a focus on defining gene regulatory mechanisms that control liver and gut biology and disease.  His recent work spans both basic science, such as microRNA control of lineage allocation in the gut epithelium, and translational science that looks to solve diseases of the digestive system such as diabetes, Crohn’s and fibrolamellar carcinoma. He also currently serves as director of the Center for Vertebrate Genomics.

Sethupathy will be taking over for Dr. Paul Soloway ‘79, who served as chair of the department since 2017, and who will return to his position as professor of molecular genetics. “Paul has been an outstanding leader of the department,” says Warnick. “We appreciate his work to advance the research, education and diagnostic service missions of the department and for all his efforts to maintain progress of those activities through the COVID-19 pandemic. We wish Paul success in this next phase of his career. We also appreciate the service of the search committee and for everyone who participated in this important recruitment,” Warnick says. The appointment of an acting chair for a brief period between the end of Dr. Soloway’s term and Dr. Sethupathy starting will be announced in the near future. 

Written by Lauren Cahoon Roberts