In Memoriam: Russell P. Tracy, PhD

The VCCBH honors the passing of Russell P. Tracy, PhD, a beloved member of the LCOM faculty a towering figure in the field of chronic disease molecular epidemiology. He was Emeritus University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and among many leadership roles at UVM and UVMMC was Emeritus Senior Associate Dean for Research of LCOM.

Forty years ago, he founded the Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research, which grew into a globally leading lab in the field, and an invaluable resource for our Center through its connection to our Molecular Epidemiology and Biostatistics Core.

Dr. Tracy’s research focused on the molecular, cellular, and genetic epidemiology of chronic diseases, studying the roles of inflammation, immunity, and the coagulation system. His research fundamentally advanced our understanding of the etiology of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, as well as other chronic diseases of aging. He was among the earliest to identify inflammatory and immune mechanisms in heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and aging, integrating biochemistry with large-scale epidemiologic and clinical studies in ways that transformed the field. He authored more than 840 manuscripts cited over 200,000 times.

He was a generous mentor, rigorous thinker, and collaborative leader who believed deeply in team science and the training of future investigators.  He was a “go-to” person for ideas among scientists across our field.

His loss is profound. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues here at UVM and nationally. A celebration of life on campus is being planned, with details to be shared when they are available.