President Kupchella issues statement on Vice President for Research search Because the search for a Vice President for Research failed to produce a consensus of acceptable candidates, the search committee, chaired by Dr. H David Wilson, Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, recommended that the search be discontinued this year and reactivated in the fall of 2008. In the meantime, Dr. Gary Johnson continues to do a fine job serving as Interim Vice President for Research. -- President Charles Kupchella.