Michael Gold appointed head, UBC Microbiology and Immunology

UBC Professor Michael Gold has been appointed head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, effective July 1, 2009. Gold's lab has focused on understanding the immune response to viral and bacterial infections, and his immunology research on B-lymphocytes has garnered international recognition.

"Mike has made many valuable contributions to the department, to the Faculty and to UBC, including as co-leader of the Life Science Institute's Infection, Inflammation and Immunity research group," notes Simon Peacock, Dean of Science.

"He'll be a great addition, and I look forward to working with Mike to advance the department at UBC."

In 2007, Gold earned a Faculty of Science Killam Teaching Award, which recognizes outstanding undergraduate and graduate teaching. He joined UBC in 1991.

Much of Gold's recent work has investigated the role of Rap GTPase in cancer metastisis and macrophage-monocyte development, trafficking and function.

"I'd also like to express my sincere thanks to Charles Thompson for his outstanding leadership of the department over the past five years," adds Peacock. "I have enjoyed—and will continue to enjoy—working with Charles. His dedication to Microbiology and Immunology has been tremendous."

The Microbiology and Immunology Head Search Committee consisted of Stuart Gray, Marc Horwitz, Bill Milsom, Michael Murphy, Christian Naus, Susan Palichuk, Kristen Schurek and Karen Smith.