NIA is pleased to welcome Kenneth Edward Santora, Ph.D., as its new director of the Division of Extramural Activities (DEA). Santora previously directed the Office of Extramural Research Policy and Operations at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He will succeed Robin Barr, Ph.D., who is retiring from federal service Jan. 31, 2020.
Santora received his Ph.D. in Immunology and Pathology from the Boston University School of Medicine, and a B.S. in Biology from St. Joseph’s University. His research focused on antibody engineering for cancer therapies and HIV-related immunology, including his work in a post-doctoral Cancer Research Training Fellowship with the National Cancer Institute.
He began his NIH career as a scientific review officer at NIAID in 2003 and was named chief of both the Extramural Science Policy and the Extramural Science Operations Sections in 2012. A longtime member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Santora has received three NIH Director’s Awards. He serves on many broader-scale NIH and HHS committees and working groups, including being the co-chair of the NIH Single Institutional Review Board Exceptions Committee, a member of the Office of Extramural Research Clinical Trials Operations Workgroup and the Chairman of the Interagency Select Agent Review Group.
“There has been tremendous growth at NIA over the past few years, and I look forward to leading its DEA to meet any future challenges,” Santora said. “I have been so impressed with the staff’s dedication to the Institute mission and I’m excited to join the team!”
Members of the NIA National Advisory Council on Aging welcomed Dr. Santora at the January 2020 meeting.