Photo provided by Dr. Gerwitz
Andrew T. Gewirtz, PhD, the Regents’ Professor in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, will present the keynote address at the Fredric Fay Memorial Symposium at UMass Chan Medical School on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
The symposium, hosted by the Department of Microbiology, will feature Dr. Gewirtz’s lecture “Gut Microbiota, Innate Immunity and Viral Infection” and presentations from UMass Chan faculty and trainees. The theme of the symposium is “Microbial Matters: Exploring the Invisible Forces Shaping Health and Disease.”
Gewirtz is internationally recognized for his pioneering work revealing how the innate immune system detects and responds to the microbiota to maintain homeostasis, and how these responses can become dysregulated in chronic inflammatory diseases. His research has defined fundamental mechanisms by which microbial and dietary factors shape intestinal inflammation and metabolic health. Through cross-disciplinary studies, his lab has explained the complex interplay between the microbiome, epithelial signaling and host immunity—providing key insights into the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and insulin resistance.
Gewirtz’s groundbreaking contributions have earned him numerous honors and he is widely regarded as a thought leader whose work bridges microbiology, immunology and metabolism. A dedicated mentor and communicator, he has trained a generation of scientists advancing the understanding of host–microbe interactions in health and disease.
The annual Fredric Fay Memorial Lecture was established in 1999 in remembrance of the late UMass Chan professor of physiology and his scientific contributions, particularly to the field of biomedical live imaging. The purpose of the lecture is to host a world-renowned scientist in physiological research who is also a great communicator and role model for the next generation of scientists.
For the first time, the event’s format is a symposium rather than a lecture.
The symposium is being held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Albert Sherman Center auditorium and virtually on Zoom. A reception will take place following the event in the Cube on the third floor of the Sherman Center.
