Dr. Fitzgerald is Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine and Director of the Program in Innate Immunity at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is also and President of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society. Dr. Fitzgerald directs an internationally recognized laboratory focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling the inflammatory response in both health and disease. Her group is interested in determining how the immune system distinguishes friend from foe to protect the host from infection and avoid damaging inflammatory diseases. She has been continuously funded by the NIH since 2004 and is also funded by several foundations and pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Fitzgerald is a member of the Royal Irish Academy, a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and has received numerous awards. She also serves as a scientific advisor for several biotech companies.