Glen Laine, PhD

Biography

Dr. Glen Laine is Regent’s Professor, Vice President for Research Emeritus, and Director of the Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Comparative Cardiovascular Science and Biomedical Devices at Texas A&M University. He is holder of the Wiseman-Lewie-Worth Endowed Chair in Cardiology. Dr. Laine served in the United States Army from 1967 through 1969. He began his academic career as a microbiologist working with various infectious agents. He expanded his graduate education into biophysics and biomedical engineering, applying first principles to human and animal medicine.

Dr. Laine spent a decade in a clinical department of anesthesiology and critical care medicine in the Texas Medical Center before returning to Texas A&M, where he assumed the role of Department Head of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology for approximately twenty years. He spent the past four years as the Vice President for Research at Texas A&M, leading unprecedented growth in research expenditures to just under one billion dollars per year. As Vice President, he initiated the design and construction of the Biosafety Level-3 AG biocontainment facility. This facility will accommodate the chronic study of high consequence zoonotic diseases in large animals along with the vectors responsible for transmission of disease to animals and humans. As Director of the DeBakey Institute for the past eighteen years, he has published extensively in the medical and biomedical engineering literature on fluid resuscitation and edema formation in trauma patients. Dr. Laine’s diverse background led him to a significant interest in potential pandemics resulting from either intentional (bioterrorism) or accidental release of microorganisms genetically modified, utilizing techniques common to synthetic biology, including the policies needed to ensure appropriate preparation, response, and recovery in a resilient society.