معرفی
Dr. Marcus Horwitz is a distinguished Professor of Medicine and Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine. With a career spanning over four decades, Dr. Horwitz has established himself as a leading researcher in infectious diseases, particularly focusing on tuberculosis and Francisella tularensis pathogenesis.
Dr. Horwitz received his A.B. in Physics from Cornell University in 1968, followed by an M.D. from Columbia University in 1972. His clinical training continued with an internship and residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1974), an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer position at the Centers for Disease Control (1976), a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1977), and a Fellowship in Cellular Physiology & Immunology at The Rockefeller University (1980).
Dr. Horwitz's research focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of intracellular bacterial pathogens, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Francisella tularensis. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how these pathogens manipulate host cell processes to establish infection. His work spans from fundamental molecular mechanisms of pathogen-host interactions to translational research developing novel vaccines and therapeutic strategies against these challenging infections. Key research areas include the Type VI Secretion System of Francisella, tuberculosis vaccine development, and novel treatment regimens for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis.
Analysis of Dr. Horwitz's recent publications reveals a strong focus on vaccine development against multiple bacterial pathogens including tuberculosis, tularemia, melioidosis, and plague, often utilizing innovative vector platforms. His work increasingly incorporates structural biology approaches to understand pathogen virulence mechanisms at the molecular level, while maintaining a strong translational focus on developing practical interventions against these serious infectious diseases.
- Election to the American Society of Clinical Investigation (1985)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (1999)
- Multiple James C. Feeley Awards for Legionella Research
- Oswald Avery Award for Outstanding Research in Infectious Diseases
- Presidential Lecture at Elmira College (2014)
- Farness Lecturer at University of Arizona (2017)
As a principal investigator, Dr. Horwitz has secured continuous NIH funding since 1985, currently leading multiple R01 grants and a U01 project focused on tuberculosis treatment and vaccine development. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding phagosome biology, pathogen evasion mechanisms, and the development of novel therapeutic approaches against intracellular pathogens. Dr. Horwitz's research program bridges basic science and clinical application, with several vaccine candidates progressing toward clinical evaluation.
Dr. Horwitz leads an active research laboratory focused on bacterial pathogenesis and vaccine development, with particular expertise in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Francisella tularensis. His team employs a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular microbiology, structural biology, immunology, and nanotechnology to address fundamental questions about pathogen-host interactions and to develop novel interventions against these challenging infections.
