By: DoM Communications
Kate Fitzgerald, PhD, developed a passion for science long before joining UMass Chan. Focusing on biochemistry as an undergraduate, Dr. Fitzgerald later shifted her attention to innate immunity during her PhD studies.
“It was towards the very end of my PhD that I got into innate immunity, which is the area that I focus on in my research. The field of innate immunity was undergoing a revolution—the sequencing of the human genome had unlocked a wealth of new insights, and the discovery of innate immune receptors and pathways was transforming our understanding of host defense. It was an electrifying moment in science, filled with groundbreaking discoveries and limitless potential,” said Dr. Fitzgerald. After years of study in Ireland, Dr. Fitzgerald took a leap of faith and came to UMass Chan in the United States to further pursue her scientific interests.
Dr. Fitzgerald is the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair III, professor of medicine, vice provost for basic science research, executive vice chair in the Department of Medicine, and chief of the Division of Innate Immunity at UMass Chan Medical School, where she has been a faculty member since 2001. She received her BSc in Biochemistry in 1995 from University College Cork, Ireland, and her PhD in Biochemistry in 1999 from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. After pursuing a post-doctoral fellowship at Trinity College Dublin, she joined the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at UMass Chan as a Welcome Trust Fellow in 2001. 
As lead of the Fitzgerald Lab, established in 2004, Dr. Fitzgerald’s work focuses on the innate immune system and aims to understand the molecular basis of the inflammatory response in both normal responses (e.g., Infection) and disease. The long-term goal of her work is to determine how innate immune sensing and signaling contribute to infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases in humans.  
After several years as a professor, Dr. Fitzgerald sought to make an impact beyond the lab and explore additional opportunities at UMass Chan. In 2018, she was appointed vice chair of Research in the Department of Medicine, and in 2024, she was appointed to executive vice chair of the department.
“Stepping into a larger role within the department has been an incredibly enriching experience. While my primary focus remains on research, I’ve gained valuable insight into the clinical, translational, educational, and financial dimensions of our work. It’s been deeply rewarding to contribute more broadly and grow as a leader across these interconnected areas,” said Dr. Fitzgerald.
As executive vice chair, one of Dr. Fitzgerald’s goals is to expand innate immunity as an area of focus within the department. “It was building on the strengths of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology and the Program in Innate Immunity, which was something that Dr. Doug Golenbock and I started back in 2014, so the opportunity to expand the basic and foundational science in the department was a great opportunity,” explained Dr. Fitzgerald. “For example, with the recruitment of wonderful faculty such as Fiachra Humphries, PhD, Siva Karthik Varanasi, PhD, Stefania Gallucci, MD, Wenqing Zhou, PhD, and Elanie Lim, PhD, we have added critical mass and strength in innate immunity. In addition, with Mass Biologics colleagues Lisa Cavacini, PhD, Kathleen Engelman, PhD, and Diogo Magnani, PhD, moving to the medical school, we have added a new dimension to our research focused on the development of novel biologics for the treatment of diseases of public health importance.”
Another area of focus for Dr. Fitzgerald as executive vice chair is helping the department expand and improve systems for clinical research. In collaboration with colleagues, she is working to streamline clinical research processes for faculty, including the launch of clinical trials. “There have been a lot of challenges to get trials set up and off the ground, and we are trying to work to improve that,” said Dr. Fitzgerald.
In addition to her role as executive vice chair of the Department of Medicine, Dr. Fitzgerald also serves as Vice Provost for Basic Science Research at UMass Chan Medical School. In this institution-wide leadership position, she plays a critical role in shaping the strategic vision for basic science research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the development of new research initiatives and infrastructure. Dr. Fitzgerald is deeply committed to advancing scientific excellence across the institution, with a particular emphasis on strengthening the foundational sciences that drive innovation in medicine. Importantly, she continues to serve as a strong advocate for the Department of Medicine, ensuring that its mission and contributions remain central to the broader research enterprise at UMass Chan.
Dr. Fitzgerald is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academies of Science and Medicine. She has received several awards including the Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Scholarship at UMass Chan (2019), a MERIT award from the NIH, the Saint Patrick’s Day Medal, from the Irish Government and Science Foundation Ireland, the Milstein Award for Excellence in Interferon and Cytokine research (from the International Cytokine and Interferon Society), the Eli Lilly and Company Elanco Research Award (from the American Society of Microbiology) and the BD-Biosciences Investigator Award (from the American Association of Immunologists). She is ranked amongst the top 1% most cited researchers for Immunology for the last three years (Thompson Reuters, 2014-2019) and is a Past President of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society (2019-2021).
We thank Dr. Fitzgerald for her continued dedication and leadership in the Department of Medicine and UMass Chan!
Learn more about Dr. Fitzgerald and check out her lab website.