Robert Miller, the vice president for the Office of Research and Technology Management, will be leaving Case Western Reserve University at the end of this academic year to become the senior associate dean for research at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at George Washington University.

“He’ll be missed,” said Provost William “Bud” Baeslack. “He did a wonderful job in all the roles he’s played here.”

Before taking over the position of Vice President in 2011, Miller served five years as the medical school’s vice dean for research. Prior to that, he served as the director for the Center for Translational Neurosciences, a professor in the Department of Neurosciences and the Allen C. Holmes professor of Neurological Diseases.

“He is very much a university citizen,” said Baeslack. “He’s a collaborator, and he really respects cross disciplinary work.”

As vice president, Miller’s achievements have included creating the Distinguished Research Award for faculty, bringing back the annual Research Showcase event and increasing undergraduate research opportunities.

Miller has also made a number of research breakthroughs during his time here, particularly in multiple sclerosis treatment. Through his work with the Myelin Repair Foundation, Miller made a 2012 discovery which led to a Phase I clinic trial involving mesenchymal stem cells. He plans to continue his research at GWU.

The university is currently looking for a replacement to fill the vice president position.

“We’re moving forward with some plans that will be announced shortly,” said Baeslack. “It’s a very important position, and it’s very important to the university.”

Miller’s move to the East Coast comes after his wife, Alison Hall, also a former faculty member here in the Department of Neurosciences, accepted a leadership position at the National Institute of Health in 2012, which is headquartered in Maryland.

“I am excited about this opportunity to enhance and expand existing research and also work across the university to grow interdisciplinary collaborations,” said Miller in a statement. “I am grateful to all of the mentors and colleagues who made my time on this campus so intellectually rewarding. Many of them became dear friends, and I will miss them, and this place, very much.”

Miller was unavailable for further comment as of press time.