Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, PhD, Named Executive Director of UT Health Science Center Research Core Labs

The Office of Research has named Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, PhD, as executive director of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's research core laboratories, effective September 19, 2025.

A long-time leader in research infrastructure, Dr. Fitzpatrick is a professor in the College of Medicine's Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, associate director of the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL), and interim director of the Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting (FCCS) Core. She is also a co-investigator on an $11.9 million award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to expand and enhance the RBL.

Dr. Fitzpatrick earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her PhD in microbiology and immunology from the Ohio State University. Her research focuses on the immunopathogenesis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, investigating the role of the signaling proteins Interleukin-17 in disease development and progression to fibrosis. With more than 30 years of experience in cellular and molecular techniques, she brings deep technical expertise to her new role.

"I am honored to lead UT Health Science Center's core laboratories," Dr. Fitzpatrick said. "These shared facilities are more than just resources-they are engines of discovery. By providing researchers with access to cutting-edge technology and expert support, the cores enable studies that might not otherwise be possible. Our goal is to make sure every investigator, from early-career scientists to established faculty, has the tools they need to compete at the highest level."

Managed by the Office of Research, UT Health Science Center's nine core facilities are located on the Memphis campus and serve investigators across the university, at partner hospitals, and even nationally and internationally. They include the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, Molecular Resource Center, Molecular Bioinformatics Core, Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Core, Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, Research Histology Core, Medicinal Chemistry Core, Laboratory Animal Care Unit, and Advanced Imaging Core.

"Our cores are catalysts for collaboration," Dr. Fitzpatrick said. "They help generate the data that strengthens grant proposals, improves research methods, and drives high-impact publications. By supporting innovation, they play a critical role in attracting and retaining top-tier investigators and expanding UT Health Science Center's research enterprise."

With Dr. Fitzpatrick's leadership, UT Health Science Center aims to continue expanding the reach and impact of its research infrastructure, ensuring that faculty and collaborators have the resources to pursue bold scientific questions and transformative discoveries.