Leadership
Gene "Lee" Bidwell, PhD
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Gene “Lee” Bidwell was appointed associate vice chancellor for research on July 1, 2023. In this role, he supports oversight of the Medical Center’s research mission and is responsible for enhancing basic, clinical and population research. He also serves as professor and chief of the Neurology Basic Science Research Division and interim associate director of basic science research for the Cancer Center and Research Institute.
His funded research projects focus on developing new treatments for stroke, diseases of the eye, chronic kidney disease and pregnancy disorders without risking harm to the developing fetus.
An inventor on 11 patents, Bidwell has published nearly 60 research papers, and has received over $10 million in extramural research funding, for which he has been awarded platinum (2023), gold (2017), silver (2014) and bronze (2009) medals during UMMC’s annual Excellence in Research Awards ceremonies.
Dr. Bidwell has been at UMMC since 2002. Since earning a PhD in biochemistry and completing a postdoctoral fellowship in biochemistry, he has held roles at every level, providing him a broad perspective of the research conducted at the Medical Center while fostering a deep appreciation for the research mission and a desire to see it grow.
A leader in science research, he currently chairs the American Physiological Society Central Nervous System Steering Committee and the UMMC Neurology Translational Research Committee.
A native of Greenwood, Bidwell lives in Brandon with wife Josie, associate professor of preventive medicine, and their two sons.