Dear colleagues, 

 

The John Sealy School of Medicine is pleased to announce that Volker Neugebauer, MD, PhD, has accepted the position of Chair of the Department of Neurobiology and will join The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) this fall.

Dr. Neugebauer will come to UTMB from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where he serves as the Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, the Director of the Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, and the Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the Garrison Institute on Aging. Dr. Neugebauer is an internationally recognized physician-scientist whose career reflects outstanding leadership in research, education, and academic service. He brings extensive experience in understanding neuroplasticity and brain health by studying the mechanisms underlying pain and neurological and psychiatric diseases, while integrating emerging concepts such as neuroimmune signaling and gut–brain connection.

Dr. Neugebauer earned his medical degree and PhD in physiology from the University of Würzburg in Germany followed by postdoctoral training at UTMB. Over the course of his career, he has held numerous academic and leadership roles, including professor and department chair positions. He has led large, multidisciplinary research and educational programs. His work has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than two decades and has resulted in more than 180 peer-reviewed publications, reflecting his sustained impact on the field of neuroscience.

In addition to his research accomplishments, Dr. Neugebauer is deeply committed to education and mentorship. He has an extensive track record of training and mentoring faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and medical students, and he is widely respected for fostering collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing academic environments. His leadership experience includes directing graduate programs, interdisciplinary translational research centers, forming clinical research and service teams, and leading institutional initiatives focused on scientific excellence and faculty development.

As Chair of the Department of Neurobiology, Dr. Neugebauer will provide strategic leadership across the department’s research, educational, and academic missions. His vision aligns closely with the John Sealy School of Medicine’s commitment to scientific discovery, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the training of the next generation of neuroscientists and physician-scientists. 

We also would like to extend sincere gratitude to Ping Wu, MD, PhD, for her strong and steady interim leadership of the department. As we welcome Dr. Neugebauer back to UTMB, we look forward to the continued growth and impact of the Department of Neurobiology under his leadership.