Lauren Moffatt, PhD

Lauren Moffatt, PhD, serves as scientific director of the ’Firefighters’ Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory located at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) and MedStar Health Research Institute (MHRI). Dr. Moffatt and the researchers she supports focus on the pathophysiology of burn injuries, as well as the molecular and cellular mechanisms of tissue injury and wound repair, among other aspects of the burn care continuum.

Dr. Moffatt is part of MedStar Health’s research team at The Burn Center. The team conducts studies on burns and other traumatic injuries, various types of wounds, dermatologic conditions, infections, shock, resuscitation, and related areas. These studies range in scope from multi-center clinical trials to pre-clinical laboratory modeling. The Burn Center at MWHC is one of the largest burn centers in the United States and is among the most active in research and treatment. As part of this center, Dr. Moffatt collaborates with numerous members of the burn team, including other PhD scientists, surgeons, physicians, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, and dietitians, who conduct research. This multidisciplinary approach supports comprehensive assessments and robust identification of therapeutic targets aimed at improving the lives of burn survivors. Research collaborations exist with numerous internal, private sector, and public sector groups. All of these activities leverage her experience in grant writing, publication preparation, program coordination, and study oversight.

Dr. Moffatt earned her PhD in Animal Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. Her dissertation focused on the molecular mechanisms of endocrine disruption after exposure to environmental contaminants. She is a member of several professional societies, including the American Burn Association, Shock Society, Wound Healing Society, and the Surgical Infection Society.

Research Interests

Dr. Moffatt's research interests include

• Burn and thermal injury
• Wound healing
• Cellular and molecular biology
• Novel model development

Selected Research

Examination of Local and Systemic In Vivo Responses to Electrical Injury Using an Electrical Burn Delivery System

Dr. Moffatt is co-investigator on a study (article published in the Journal of Burn Care & Research,2012;33:118-129) that seeks to create a more representative model for human injury and further elucidate the physics and pathophysiology of this unique form of tissue injury. This research may aid in designing stage-appropriate therapy and improving limb salvage.

View Dr. Moffatt's publications on PubMed