During Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association's (CSHEMA's) Lab Safety Awareness Week, UAB Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) recognizes the importance of maintaining safe, compliant, and responsible laboratory environments in support of the University’s research mission. This observance—held annually in February—reinforces the role of safety as a foundational element of research excellence and emphasizes shared responsibility among faculty, staff, and trainees.
EH&S is pleased to recognize Rakesh Patel, Ph.D., as the 2025 EH&S Lab Safety Award Champion. Patel is professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Pathology and director of the UAB Center for Free Radical Biology. His leadership reflects a sustained commitment to integrating safety, compliance, and risk management into daily laboratory operations.
Through active engagement with EH&S programs, consistent support of training requirements, and a strong emphasis on accountability and mentorship, Patel has demonstrated exemplary leadership in promoting a positive laboratory safety culture. He credits much of the lab’s success to his lab manager, Karina Ricart, and the dedication of his laboratory members. His leadership and collaborative approach contribute significantly to maintaining safe research environments and ensuring regulatory compliance across UAB.
EH&S congratulates Patel on this recognition and thanks the UAB research community for its continued partnership in advancing laboratory safety during Lab Safety Awareness Week and throughout the year.
To learn more about the EH&S Lab Safety Award click here!
