Melissa Byrn is the Assistant Dean for Clinical Research at the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division. In this role she leads the development and implementation of strategic initiatives to support faculty research goals and grow the clinical research enterprise. She partners with the Dean for Clinical Research and stakeholders including the UChicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute for Translational Medicine, UChicago Medicine, and University Research Administration to identify opportunities for enhancing integration between clinical research and patient care across our health care system. Melissa oversees the Office of Clinical Research, a divisional office established in 2004 to support research infrastructure focusing on human subject protection, data integrity and site performance to help faculty and research staff advance medical discovery and innovation.

Prior to joining the BSD, Melissa served as Director of Innovation Programs at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago where she developed the science and technology entrepreneurship strategy and managed a broad portfolio of programs designed to spinout deep technology startups from research labs across the University. Melissa has held leadership roles in clinical trial operations and regulatory compliance at the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania and has expertise in FDA regulations, operations, and informatics. Melissa is passionate about mentoring and training the next generation of STEM innovators. Melissa holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics from the University of Chicago and a Master of Biomedical Ethics from the University of Pennsylvania.