Dr. Russell Tracy serves as a University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Biochemistry at the Robert Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, where he has established himself as a preeminent leader in molecular epidemiology and clinical biochemistry. Following his appointment to the UVM faculty in 1984, he built a distinguished career marked by significant administrative leadership, including serving as Senior Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs from 2001 to 2009. As founding Director of the Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research (LCBR), he created a world-class facility that has advanced biomarker research for over three decades. His scholarly contributions have been recognized through his designation as a University Distinguished Professor in 2019, representing the highest academic honor at the institution.
Dr. Tracy's pioneering research has fundamentally reshaped understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking inflammation, coagulation, and chronic disease development, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and HIV-related complications. His development of techniques to measure C-reactive protein and demonstrate its predictive value for heart attack risk while working with the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) established critical biomarkers now routinely used in clinical practice. His collaborative work with Mary Cushman identifying blood markers that predict cardiovascular disease risk has informed clinical guidelines worldwide, while his leadership of the landmark study examining cardiovascular risk in over 80,000 veterans with and without HIV demonstrated the profound impact of inflammation on health outcomes. Continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1984, his work has provided essential insights connecting the innate and adaptive immune systems to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and related conditions.
Dr. Tracy has significantly influenced the field through his integral roles in major epidemiological studies including the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), the Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal study (RURAL), and the Exome Sequencing Program (ESP). As Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee for the $170 million Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity (MoTrPAC) initiative, he continues to shape cutting-edge research on how physical activity affects human biology at the molecular level. His mentorship of generations of researchers and leadership in national scientific consortia has cemented his legacy as a transformative figure in epidemiological science. Recognized with the American Heart Association's Distinguished Scientist award in 2015 for work that has importantly advanced understanding of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, Dr. Tracy's contributions continue to inform precision medicine approaches to complex chronic conditions.
