Cornhusker State News

Tom Rosenquist, PhD, the driving force behind UNMC’s explosive growth in research development in the first decade of the 2000s, died Jan. 7. Dr. Rosenquist was 80.

The trajectory kicked off by Dr. Rosenquist’s efforts as UNMC’s research leader continues today.

“It keeps growing,” said Ken Bayles, PhD, vice chancellor for research.

Dr. Rosenquist was tapped as UNMC’s director of research development in 1999. He then took a newly created position as the medical center’s first vice chancellor for research in 2002. The results were astounding.

Memorial serviceThe memorial service for Tom Rosenquist, PhD, will be Friday, Feb. 3, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of All Souls’ Episcopal Church, 6400 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in his name to The University of Nebraska Foundation, 1010 Lincoln Mall, Suite 300, Lincoln, Neb. 68508.  Read his obituary at this link.

Jennifer Larsen, MD, who succeeded Dr. Rosenquist as vice chancellor for research in 2011, called him the “engine” behind UNMC’s tremendous growth in research funding. Dr. Bayles preferred the word “trailblazer.”

UNMC’s research funding tripled in the decade under Dr. Rosenquist’s leadership, from $30.9 million in 1999 to more than $115 million in 2010.

“Tom has elevated our research from minor league status to the big leagues,” Chancellor Emeritus Harold M. Maurer, MD, said in 2010.

Read how Dr. Rosenquist helped colleagues in a time of crisis.

The growth was even more impressive in context. These dollars were tough to get during a time of declining funds and cutbacks at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

But Dr. Rosenquist deftly centralized UNMC’s research resources. He utilized tobacco settlement funds to recruit established researchers. He built up core facilities and contributed to the emphasis on infrastructure, working with Nebraska’s legislature and philanthropic community. He helped plan the layout of the Durham Research Center towers.

Dr. Rosenquist developed one of the first collaborative large grant research programs at UNMC and encouraged and supported others in doing the same. He oversaw the reorganization of comparative medicine under Robert Dixon, DVM, as one cohesive unit. He helped grow UNMC’s international research program.

He envisioned, then implemented, the Scientist Laureate and Distinguished Scientist awards, to recognize and encourage UNMC’s researchers.

“During his tenure as department chair and as the first vice chancellor for research, Tom oversaw efforts to expand research facilities, the recruitment of new research faculty and expansion of graduate programs across UNMC,” said Kenneth Cowan, MD, PhD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. “Under his leadership, extramural research funding at UNMC was set on a new trajectory, which has continued in subsequent years. He was a great colleague and a strong mentor to so many faculty and students.” 

Dr. Rosenquist previously served as chair of the UNMC Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy for nearly a decade, after a long stint at the Medical College of Georgia. His 43 years of research were largely devoted to congenital heart defects. He was principal investigator of NIH-funded projects for more than 30 years.

“He was passionate about science and understood the importance of talking to the community about the value of science and research, whether in churches or to other community groups,” Dr. Larsen said. “He was serious but also had quite a sense of humor and modeled the importance of balancing work with home life. He had many friends across the campus and will be sorely missed.”

Said Dr. Bayles, “He had a presence about him, an authoritative presence that could be intimidating. But I was so honored I got to know him personally and I could call him my friend.”

Original source can be found here.