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Dr. P. Srirama Rao is the Vice President for Research and Innovation and a professor of microbiology and immunology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He earned his Ph.D. in allergy and immunology in 1989 from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, after which he conducted postdoctoral studies at Pharmacia-Experimental Medicine in La Jolla, California. Subsequently, he worked at the La Jolla Institute for Molecular Medicine as a professor and vice president for research until 2007. He then served as a professor and associate dean for research at the University of Minnesota from 2007 to 2018.
Dr. Rao’s research has focused on the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation; he has published over 90 peer-reviewed manuscripts, reviews, and book chapters. Prior to his current role at VCU, over the course of his 30-year research career, Dr. Rao was continuously funded by the NIH, multiple federal and state agencies, foundations, and corporations, securing nearly $20 million in grant support.
In his current role at VCU, Dr. Rao is responsible for the overall strategy, compliance, growth, and expansion of the research enterprise. As the institutional official, he leads the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) in its efforts to ensure the optimal operational efficiency of several divisions: Finance and Operations, Strategy and Regulatory Affairs, Research Administration, Clinical Research, Research Development, Innovation, Research Computing, Strategic Communications, and Animal Resources. Dr. Rao oversees VCU’s research institutes and centers, core laboratories, and institutional committees, including the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Institutional Review Board.
In collaboration with researchers across the arts, humanities, social sciences, health, and STEM disciplines, he is committed to fostering collaborative and cross-cutting basic, applied, clinical, and translational research at VCU. Under Dr. Rao’s leadership, VCU’s sponsored funding has more than doubled, from $271M in FY2018 to $568M in FY2025. An additional focus for Dr. Rao is the translation of VCU discoveries and innovations from the bench to the community via public and private partnerships, as well as contributions to the region’s overall growth and economic development.
Dr. Rao holds U.S. and international patents and is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He serves as an advisor, board member, and trustee for various local and national organizations.