The University of Florida Sepsis & Critical Illness Research Center (SCIRC), Department of Surgery is pleased to announce the transition of Dr. Lyle Moldawer to Emeritus Professor, effective January 1, 2025. With an illustrious career spanning 31 years at the University of Florida, Dr. Moldawer has been a cornerstone in advancing the field of immunological medicine. In collaboration with Dr. Frederick A. Moore, Dr. Moldawer co-founded the UF Sepsis & Critical Illness Research Center in 2014, and later codified the Center in 2016.
He has been on the UF College of Medicine faculty since 1993. Prior to that, he was on the faculty of Weill Cornell Medicine – Cornell University where he joined the faculty in 1987, rising to the rank of Associate Professor of Surgery, and Cell Biology. He completed his Ph.D. degree from the Medical Faculty of Gȍtesborgs Universitet, Gȍtesborg, Sweden in 1986 (academic year 1987).
Dr. Moldawer’s pioneering research on the host immunological response to sepsis and critical illness has earned him national and international acclaim. His continuous NIH funding for 36 years underscores the sustained impact and importance of his work. As a tenured professor of surgery and NIH principal investigator/program director, Dr. Moldawer has significantly advanced our understanding of sepsis and critical illness, making groundbreaking discoveries that have shaped modern medical approaches.
In addition to his research, Dr. Moldawer has been a dedicated educator, training the next generation of surgeon-scientists and preparing them for leadership roles in American surgery. His mentorship has guided numerous surgical trainees to successful careers in academic surgery, reflecting his unwavering commitment to education and excellence.
Pioneering Research and Continuous Funding
Dr. Moldawer’s illustrious career has been marked by groundbreaking research on the host immunological response to sepsis and critical illness. Between 2001 and 2011, Dr. Moldawer served as an executive committee member and core director of the NIGMS-funded ‘Glue Grant,’ where he was one of the first to describe the human host response to severe trauma and burns as a ‘genomic storm’, demonstrating that 70% of the leukocyte transcriptome changed in response to trauma. His pioneering work includes the earlier description of the “cytokine storm” and the identification of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in severe sepsis.
Leadership and Educational Contributions
Throughout his career, Dr. Moldawer has held several prestigious positions, including Director of the Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center (2019-2024), Vice Chair for Research (2004-2018), and the Robert H. and Kathleen M. Axline Endowed Research Professor of Surgery (2014-2019). His primary educational goal has been to train the next generation of surgeon-scientists and prepare them for leadership roles in American surgery. Over the past 36 years, he has mentored over 50 surgical trainees, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academic surgery, as chairpersons and division chiefs.
Significant Achievements and Recognitions
- Publications and Citations: Dr. Moldawer has over 500 peer-reviewed publications and is the 5thmost influential active medicine faculty at the University of Florida with over 18,000 citations since 2019 (61,117 total). He is recognized as the second most influential immunologist at UF by com
- Grant Funding: His efforts in the last five years have resulted in approximately $17.9 million in grant funding, significantly advancing the research mission of the University of Florida. Notably, in 2022, Dr. Moldawer achieved the rank of 12th most highly NIH-funded investigator nationally in surgery from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.
- Innovative Research Programs:
- In 2007, Dr. Moldawer’s laboratory was the first to demonstrate the expansion of an immature myeloid population, designated myeloid-derived suppressor cells, in severe sepsis, postulating their contribution to post-sepsis and post-trauma immune suppression. These findings were confirmed in humans by Dr. Moldawer and Dr. Efron in 2016.
- In 2012, in collaboration with Dr. Frederick A. Moore, Dr. Moldawer described a new syndrome, Persistent Inflammatory/Immune-Suppressive Catabolic Syndrome (PICS), in severe sepsis and trauma. This syndrome has become the predominant phenotype of severely traumatized and sepsis patients who survive their initial event.
- In 2021, Dr. Moldawer was awarded a five-year RM1 Program award to study the pathological activation of myelopoiesis in severe trauma and sepsis. This research focuses on understanding the immunological endotype that drives the phenotype of chronic critical illness in survivors of severe blunt trauma and sepsis
Mentorship and Training
As Program Director for the NIGMS T32 between 1990 and 2023, Dr. Moldawer has sponsored numerous surgical trainees in mentored research. Over 90% of the graduates of this program have remained in academic surgery, and many have obtained peer-reviewed funding. Many of Dr. Moldawer’s trainees have obtained faculty positions with extramural research support, leading innovative projects and securing funding for groundbreaking studies. Additionally, several graduates hold faculty positions at prestigious academic medical centers, where they continue to advance medical knowledge and mentor the next generation of researchers. His mentorship has also prepared trainees for administrative roles that support the research mission, ensuring they can effectively manage and facilitate research activities. Leadership positions in academic institutions are another common career path for Dr. Moldawer’s trainees, reflecting their ability to influence and shape the future of biomedical research.
Legacy and Future Directions
Dr. Moldawer’s transition to Emeritus Professor marks the culmination of a remarkable career dedicated to advancing immunological medicine, mentoring future researchers, and enhancing the research mission of the University of Florida. His legacy remains profound, with his work continuing to shape the field of critical care medicine, resonating in advancements such as personalized medicine approaches to treating sepsis and trauma patients, and employing AI to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics.
“I feel fortunate to have collaborated with a number of brilliant and innovative clinicians and scientists who provided the framework for my contributions. I have had the continuous and uninterrupted support of chairs and deans who understood the importance of research and training the next generation of surgeon-scientists. I must acknowledge the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and its Directors for their commitment to sepsis, trauma, and burn research over the past four decades,” Professor Moldawer reflected.
As we celebrate Dr. Moldawer’s transition to Emeritus Professor, we honor his remarkable contributions to the University of Florida and the broader medical community. His legacy will continue to inspire and influence future generations of researchers and clinicians. We celebrate his achievements and wish him all the best in his retirement. Please join us in honoring Dr. Moldawer and celebrating his extraordinary career and contributions.