Thomas Marwick, a cardiovascular expert, started work as director of the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania on 22 October.
Marwick was formerly the section head for cardiovascular imaging at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States.
The previous director, Simon Foote, resigned to become dean of the Australian School of Advanced Medicine at Macquarie University in Sydney.
Research at the institute includes cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, osteoporosis and cancer.