Dr. Martin Matzuk named chair of pathology & immunology

Dr. Martin Matzuk has been named chair of the Department of Pathology & Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine. He has been serving as interim chair since March 2019.

Matzuk is professor of pathology & immunology, molecular and human genetics, molecular and cellular biology, and pharmacology and chemical biology at Baylor. He also is the director of the Center for Drug Discovery and member of the NCI-designated Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor. He holds the Stuart A. Wallace Chair and Robert L. Moody, Sr. Chair in the Department of Pathology & Immunology.

“Dr. Matzuk is a valuable member of our scientific team, and he has already been doing an outstanding job leading the Department of Pathology & Immunology in an interim capacity,” said Dr. Paul Klotman, Baylor president, CEO and executive dean. “He has a tremendous vision for the Department that will assure continued excellence in research, education and clinical care.”
 
Matzuk is acknowledged for his interrogation of TGFβ superfamily, germ cell and hormonal signaling pathways using functional genomics and chemical biology approaches.

He joined the faculty in 1993 after completing residency training at the University of Pennsylvania and postdoctoral work at Baylor. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago followed by his M.D. and Ph.D. from Washington University School of Medicine. As a faculty member at Baylor, Matzuk has mentored more than 50 students and postdoctoral fellows and was co-director of the Medical Scientist Training Program for 20 years.

Matzuk is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, elected in 2014, and currently the animal genetics and physiology discipline chair in section 61. He also was elected as a Fellow in the National Academy of Inventors in 2016. He is a member of the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council. Matzuk has received numerous other honors and awards, including the Trainee Mentoring Award from the Society for the Study of Reproduction, the Richard Weitzman Award from the Endocrine Society, the Pfizer Outstanding Investigator Award from the American Society for Investigative Pathology, and a Merit Award from the National Institutes of Health, among others.

“I look forward to collaborating with our outstanding administration, faculty and trainees to progress the clinical, educational and research missions of the department and to promote our national and international reputation,” Matzuk said.