Davies Named LCID Director

Bryan Davies, Lorene Morrow Kelley Professor of Microbiology in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and a longstanding researcher with the John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease (LCID), has been named the Center's new director following Shelley Payne's decision to step down from the role.

An internationally recognized researcher, Davies studies bacterial infections with the goal of developing new therapeutics to fight antibiotic-resistant pathogens. At UT Austin, he and his lab have made important discoveries, including identifying the role of microcins in targeting bacteria and engineering antibodies that can more effectively kill harmful bacteria. His lab also helped develop Surface Localized Antimicrobial Display (SLAY), a platform that can screen more than a million diverse peptides at once to identify promising candidates against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Together, these discoveries could help advance treatments for difficult-to-treat infections. Since 2022, Davies has also served on the executive committee of Texas Biologics at UT.

In announcing the appointment, College of Natural Sciences Dean David A. Vanden Bout highlighted Davies' commitment to advancing infectious disease research through collaboration.

"Bryan is committed to ensuring the LaMontagne Center is well positioned to foster research advances for years to come by strengthening collaborations across campus and connecting investigators from diverse disciplines and disease areas," said Vanden Bout. He added that Davies will also focus on engaging faculty and trainees while expanding the Center’s outreach to the broader community.

Vanden Bout also expressed his gratitude to outgoing director Shelley Payne and outgoing associate director Jacqueline Dudley for their years of leadership and service to LCID.

"At a time when infectious disease research at UT experienced significant growth and rapid change, the LaMontagne Center served as a trusted hub for collaboration, mentorship, and scientific engagement," Vanden Bout said. "The Center's success is a testament to Shelley’s leadership and to the strong partnership she shared with Jackie. I am grateful to both of them for their many contributions."