Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center

In May 2025, after more than 30 years at The University of Iowa, John Engelhardt, Ph.D., packed up his laboratory and traveled 881 miles to Birmingham to begin a new chapter in advancing cystic fibrosis (CF) and drug development research at UAB. For Engelhardt, the move wasn’t just about his personal success—it was about building something transformative for translational medicine while creating new opportunities for the team he has mentored and worked alongside for decades.

After a national search, Brian R. Davis, Ph.D., has been named the director of the UAB Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center (CFRC), effective July 1.