A Message from the Dean, John Sealy School of Medicine; Senior Vice President of Health Affairs; and Chief Research Officer

I am pleased to announce the appointment of a new leader within the Chief Research Office as part of our ongoing efforts to align with institutional priorities and support our research mission.

Kenneth Plante, PhD, will serve as the Research Security Officer for the newly created Office of Research Security effective April 1, 2026. Dr. Plante is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology as well as the Curator and Associate Director for the World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses. He is an expert in mosquito-borne and zoonotic viruses, medical countermeasure research and development, and host-pathogen interactions. Additionally, Dr. Plante has over 18 years of experience in biocontainment and a strong background in the legal and compliance framework required to execute research, including select agent regulations, export control, interactions with regulatory agencies, and collaboration with domestic and international scientists.  

In this new role as Research Security Officer, Dr. Plante will work closely with me to engage with faculty, trainees, and staff to promote awareness of research security obligations and evolving federal and state requirements. Dr. Plante will work with the Conflict of Interest and Research Security Committee as well as the Research Integrity Committee. 

The Office of Research Security will partner with the Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and other senior leaders to ensure a secure, compliant, and efficient research environment that protects institutional data, intellectual property, research integrity, and academic freedom, while enabling innovation and collaboration. 

Research Security has been recognized by federal and state agencies as being critically important in safeguarding an increasingly complex global research environment. This office will provide centralized expertise and oversight to ensure our compliance with federal and sponsor requirements (e.g., NSPM-33, Texas S.B. 1565), mitigate risks related to foreign influence and data protection, and promote responsible international collaboration without compromising academic pursuits.

I am confident that this program will thrive under Dr. Plante’s guidance.