Gail Cassell, Ph.D.A newly announced gift from a distinguished alumnus of the UAB Department of Microbiology will help establish a lecture series in recognition of another of the department’s longtime faculty members and leaders.
Gail Cassell, Ph.D., former chair of the Department of Microbiology (1987-1997), has pledged an annual gift to support the Peter Burrows, Ph.D., Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series. The series will be a standing feature at the department’s annual faculty retreat and will feature a distinguished alumnus, who will be awarded the honor of Peter Burrows, Ph.D., Distinguished Alumnus.
Cassell announced the gift at the department’s 31st Gail Cassell Research Retreat, which was held Nov. 21-23, 2025, at Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, Alabama. Cassell originally established the retreat in 1988 during her first year as department chair.
“This lecture series is more than a gift—it’s a promise to our future,” said J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, Ph.D., professor and chair, Charles H. McCauley Endowed Chair in the Department of Microbiology. “It reflects the values that define our department and creates a space where ideas can flourish. Most importantly, it will inspire the next generation of trainees to dream bigger, challenge boundaries, and carry forward a tradition of excellence initiated by Dr. Cassell and preserved over decades by Dr. Burrows that will shape the field for years to come.”
Peter Burrows, Ph.D.Cassell elaborated on why she chose to establish the lecture series in honor of Burrows.
“I am delighted to be able to help recognize Pete’s contributions to the department," Cassell said. "I cannot summarize the reasons better than Pete’s colleagues. As Max Cooper could not join us in the celebration of this announcement, Max said to Pete: 'In your characteristic soft-spoken manner, you’ve represented UAB with impeccable personal integrity and enviable scientific performance for many years. Your pivotal studies on the process of B cell development and travels across the globe to collaborate with and advise other research programs have left indelible contributions to the field of immunology.'"
Cassell continued: "David Briles said, 'In addition to your research contributions, you found the time to become a Microbiology Departmental Institution For Good over the past 50 years. In addition to your continuing research, you have sat on most of the Microbiology internal committees over the years.' In my decade as departmental chair, regardless of the responsibilities I gave to Pete, he always happily responded positively and did an outstanding job. I am particularly indebted to the faculty and to Eli Lilly and Company that initially established partial funding to continue the retreat upon my departure and especially for Pete and the department for maintaining the tradition of the Research Retreat.”
Burrows, who currently serves as professor emeritus in the Department of Microbiology, joined the UAB faculty in 1983. He has since served both the department and UAB in several capacities, including his current appointment as Senior Scientist in the UAB School of Dentistry. His research focuses on B-cell biology and development, with a recent emphasis on B cells in relation to bone health.
“This is an incredible honor, and I am extremely grateful to Dr. Cassell for her support and for the tremendous efforts by Megann Cain, Assistant Vice President of the Heersink School of Medicine Development Office, and J. Victor Garcia-Martinez and the Microbiology Chair’s Office for their efforts to get the endowment approved in record time,” Burrows said. “The announcement at the retreat was a complete surprise, leaving me speechless, and the letters of support from former and current UAB colleagues, Max Cooper, David Briles, and John Kearney, were quite moving.”