By The Daily Progress

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Dean Steven T. DeKosky will remain on the faculty, according to a news release from U.Va.

An expert on Alzheimer's disease, DeKosky most recently made the news when members of the university's board of visitors expressed concerns at their last meeting about the university's ability to attract research funding. Medical research makes up a large part of the overall research funding total.

DeKosky told the board that part of the reason the school doesn't receive more money from the National Institutes of Health is that it has developed a strong program in basic research, but that the NIH has recently pushed funding for later-stage research.

Administration officials told the board at that meeting that they're trying to boost their clinical research efforts, but such things take time.

DeKosky did not reply Wednesday to an email seeking comment, but in a news release thanked people for their contributions.

"I hope we continue to move forward as an academic medical center across our mission of education, research and clinical care over the next nine months and beyond," he said.

In the release, U.Va. President Teresa A. Sullivan praised DeKosky's actions during his five-year term.

"Steve oversaw significant growth in our medical student class and transformation of our curriculum," she said in the release. "He maintained research funding during a time of significant decreases in funding nationally, and increased the clinical capacity and access."

Executive Vice President and Provost John Simon will kickoff the search for the next dean.

"The University has benefitted from Steve DeKosky's leadership in creating new educational models and collaboration in setting the course for our health system clinical enterprise," he said in the release.