02/23/2024
Dr. Michaela Gack elected to the American Academy of Microbiology
Michaela Gack, PhD, Scientific Director of the Florida Research and Innovation Center, has been elected to the American Academy of Microbiology's Class of 2024.
Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology, an honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, are elected annually through a highly selective peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. The Academy of Microbiology received 156 nominations this year and elected 65 members into the 2024 Fellowship Class.
Dr. Gack's research program focuses on key interactions between viruses and our immune system, especially the different ways viruses dysregulate or antagonize immunity for their own survival. Her research has provided important insights into how pathogens and the immune system work, both separately and together. Dr. Gack seeks to leverage this knowledge to develop therapeutics that boost our immune systems in ways that are broadly applicable to many different viruses.
In 2021, Dr. Gack received a National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award to support her research toward the development of broadly acting antiviral drugs. The prestigious grant, providing $5.6 million over five years, is part of NIH's High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program, which funds highly innovative research with the potential for broad impact.
"I am profoundly honored by my election to the ASM, a testament to the collective efforts of my research team and the impact of our work," says Dr. Gack. "As an ASM Fellow, I am committed to advancing our investigations into viruses and immunity, with the ultimate goal of developing enhanced therapeutics, preventive measures, and cures for viral threats."
Among the Class of 2024 fellows, 25% are women. The Class of 2024 represents fellows from Hong Kong (Greater China), France, Germany, South Africa, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S.
The full 2024 Fellowship Class and details about the award are available on the American Academy of Microbiology website.
