Louis J. Muglia

Louis J. Muglia, MD, PhD, is the President and CEO of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund located in Research Triangle Park, NC.. Prior to joining the Fund, he was the Vice Chair for Research, A. Graeme Mitchell Chair of the Division of Human Genetics, Co-Director of the Perinatal Institute and Director of the Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Previously, Dr. Muglia was Edward Claiborne Stahlman Professor and Vice Chair for Research Affairs in Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Alumni Endowed Professor of Pediatrics at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Muglia has pioneered advances in analyzing genetic and environmental factors as they relate to the birth process and the risk for preterm birth. By identifying these maternal and fetal genetic factors, as well as environmental contributors such as dietary micronutrients, it may help determine whether or not a mother is at risk to deliver a preterm infant, that is, one born before 37 weeks of completed gestation. Preterm birth is a major health and social challenge since preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality and may lead to long-term health problems and developmental difficulties.  His group has identified genetic regions in the mother’s genome that affect risk for preterm birth and provide new targets for prevention. Dr. Muglia’s recent efforts include fostering greater collaboration between science, arts and humanities, and promoting advances in climate change and human health.

Among Dr. Muglia’s achievements are more than 300 publications and many awards, including a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Development Award in the Biomedical Sciences, the Society of Pediatric Research Young Investigator Award, and election to the American Society for Clinical Investigation and Association of American Physicians. Dr. Muglia was also elected as a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and to membership in the National Academy of Medicine. He is an active member of the Society for Pediatric Research, American Pediatric Society and the Pediatric Endocrine Society. Dr. Muglia served as chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023.