Ming Lei
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with our faculty, students and staff to continue advancing high-impact research and the mission of the University”
Ming Lei serves as senior associate vice president in the WVU Health Sciences Center Office of Research and Graduate Education, vice dean of research in the WVU School of Medicine, and interim vice president of the WVU Research Office.
Dr. Lei is a seasoned scientist with a doctorate from Cornell University. He has taught genetics and microbiology and conducted DNA replication research as an R01-funded investigator. His career also includes years of experience managing federal programs that strengthen research capacity at academic and scientific institutions.
At the National Science Foundation, he oversaw research grant portfolios in genetics, genomics, and molecular biology. At the National Cancer Institute, he led training and education programs for graduate students, postdoctoral and clinical fellows, and early-career faculty. In 2023, a national search brought him to WVU from the National Institute for General Medical Sciences, where he directed programs supporting more than 10,000 investigators and students.
Since joining WVU Health Sciences, Lei has focused on expanding research efforts and creating innovative training initiatives that advance the University’s land-grant mission to improve the lives of all West Virginians.
He will lead Research Office units responsible for conflicts of interest, animal welfare, human research protections, innovation and commercialization, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and the Responsible Conduct of Research, among other areas.