Katherine A. Fitzgerald

Katherine A. Fitzgerald, PhD, is Professor and Vice Chair of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, where she also serves as Chief of the Division of Innate Immunity and holds the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair III. She is cross-appointed in multiple graduate programs at the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, including Immunology and Microbiology, Translational Science, MD/PhD, and Post-baccalaureate Research Education.

Education

• B.Sc. in Biochemistry, University College Cork, Ireland (1995)
• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland (1999)

Research Focus
Dr. Fitzgerald’s work is centered on the molecular basis of innate immunity, dissecting how nucleic-acid sensors, inflammasomes, and long non-coding RNAs orchestrate inflammatory responses during infection and in chronic inflammatory diseases. Her laboratory aims to translate these insights into therapeutic strategies for infectious, autoimmune, and autoinflammatory disorders.

Scientific Honors

• Member, National Academy of Sciences (USA)
• Member, National Academy of Medicine (USA)
• Member, Royal Irish Academy
• Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology
• Thermo-Fisher Meritorious Career Award (2022)
• Saint Patrick’s Day Medal (2015)
• Milstein Award for Excellence in Interferon and Cytokine Research (2014)

Leadership & Service
Past President of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society, she serves on national advisory boards including NIAID’s Board of Scientific Councillors and the Massachusetts Center for Pathogen Readiness.

Laboratory & Training
Her Fitzgerald Lab (Program in Innate Immunity) welcomes graduate rotation students; interested applicants should contact Kate.Fitzgerald@umassmed.edu.