J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, Ph.D., professor and chair, Charles H. McCauley Endowed Chair, delivered the UAB Department of Microbiology’s inaugural State of the Department address on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. See more photos from the event.
Garcia-Martinez, who joined the department as chair in August 2023, covered several aspects of the department’s research-driven and educational missions while highlighting the department’s recent accomplishments and forward-facing goals.
“This address is an opportunity to reflect on where we are, where we are headed, and how we will get there together,” Garcia-Martinez said. “It’s about celebrating achievements, confronting our challenges with transparency, and reaffirming our shared commitment to excellence in research, education, and service.”
Garcia-Martinez highlighted the department’s mission to “be innovative leaders in the study of microbiology, infectious diseases, and immunology,” leading by example via service, education, research, and professional growth.
He also noted the UAB Department of Microbiology’s vision: “to maintain and further enhance its premier status in the fields of microbiology, immunology, structural biology, virology, and cancer” through innovative training, state-of-the-art research, commitment to teaching, facilitating the growth and diversification of extramural funding, and more.
“We strive to lead with integrity, foster meaningful collaboration, and create opportunities for growth at every level,” Garcia-Martinez said.
Furthermore, Garcia-Martinez noted that despite budgetary challenges facing the department due to reduced state allocation and Indirect Cost revenues, the Department of Microbiology is navigating the obstacles. To date, the department has had zero grants terminated, has secured $9.1 million in active grants, and has $6.6 million in pending awards, reflecting its robust research activity.
“Despite the unfolding challenges, the department is in an enviable upwards trajectory with great meaningful momentum,” Garcia-Martinez said.
Part of that momentum is due to strong partnerships with the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, the UAB Immunology Institute, the Division of Infectious Diseases, and Center for AIDS Research, and more.
In terms of education, the Department of Microbiology supports unique offerings such as the Undergraduate Immunology Program – the only one of its kind in the country – supported jointly with the UAB Department of Biology. In addition, the department hosts approximately 30 graduate students representing five themes in its faculty labs and 15 postdoctoral fellows.
“In the Department of Microbiology, postdoctoral training is conducted in the research laboratories of independently funded investigators,” Garcia-Martinez said. “Faculty members in the department are deeply involved in the mentoring of postdoctoral fellows.”
Also underscoring the department’s educational mission is its dynamic Seminar Series featuring top scientists from institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Northwestern, along with special lectures such as the Bertram M. Marx Endowed Lecture, the David E. Wells Memorial Symposium, and the Susan Roberts Dubay Lecture.
Shifting to research, Garcia-Martinez highlighted several recent publications in high-level journals from Department of Microbiology faculty members that have advanced understanding in areas such as immunology, bacteriology, virology, and cancer immunotherapy. Journals include Immunity, Nature, Nature Microbiology, Nature Communications, the Journal of Virology, Structure, etc.
“Transformative science published in premier high-impact journals leads to meaningful discoveries, extramural funding, and national and international recognition,” Garcia-Martinez said. “Our faculty members are driving innovation that resonates far beyond our labs –these discoveries are testament to the talent, collaboration, and resilience of our community of investigators.”
Looking ahead toward the next year in the Department of Microbiology, Garcia-Martinez said supporting and advocating for faculty, reigniting recruitment efforts, and hosting quality seminar series and distinguished lecture events are among his top priorities.
“I will foster an environment that encourages synergy among faculty members, bridges clinical and basic research, and recognizes the valuable contributions of teaching faculty to the department,” he concluded.