Robert L. Danner, Jr., M.D.

Septic shock and multiple organ failure are long-term research interests of Dr. Danner's section. Recent investigations have focused on nitric oxide and carbon monoxide as endogenous regulators of inflammation, nuclear receptor signaling as a means for targeting vascular inflammation in acute and chronic conditions, such as sepsis and pulmonary arterial hypertension, respectively, and the functional genomics of critical illness and injury. Dr. Danner directs the Functional Genomics Facility in the Critical Care Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center.

Dr. Danner heads the Infectious Diseases Section and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Service of the Critical Care Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center. He became a Senior Investigator at NIH in 1988 and holds the rank of Clinical Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. In addition to the Intensive Care Unit, Dr. Danner attends on the Infectious Diseases Consult Service of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He is a longstanding member of the NIH Clinical Center Ethic Committee.

Dr. Danner has served as a Special Consultant to the Food and Drug Administration and on their Anti-Infective Drug Products Advisory Committee. He has also served on the Editorial Board of Critical Care Medicine, the Editorial Advisory Board of Journal of Infectious Diseases and the Society of Critical Care Medicine's Continuing Education Committee. Dr. Danner is a past Chair of the Critical Care Medicine Test Committee and a former Director on the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a founding member of the U.S. Critical Illness and Injury Trials Group (USCIITG) and served on their Organizing and Steering Committees. Dr. Danner has advised the Brookings Council on Antibacterial Drug Development at the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform.

Dr. Danner received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Johns Hopkins University and his degree in Medicine from Cornell University. He then completed residency training in Internal Medicine at New York Hospital / Cornell University Medical Center. Fellowship training in Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Diseases was completed at the NIH and Children's National Medical Center.

Septic shock and vascular inflammation have been long-term research interests of Dr. Danner's section. Investigations have focused on endotoxin, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, stress kinase pathways and nuclear receptor signaling as targets for modulating the inflammatory response. His most recent work includes the use of large clinical data sets to study severe infections and antimicrobial resistance, and basic science research on the pathobiology of vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Dr. Danner also directs the Functional Genomics Facility in the Critical Care Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center.

Honors and Awards
NIH Director's Award, in recognition of the Clinical Center Ebola response, 2015; Director Challenge Award: "Engineering a Multivalent Bacteriophage Targeting KPC+ K. pneumonia," 2013; Bench-to-Bedside Award: "Role of Androgen and Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension," 2011; Society of Critical Care Medicine Presidential Citation for outstanding contributions, 2007-14; Consumer's Research Council of America, top physician; NIH Director's Award, 2006; U.S. Public Health Service crisis response service award, Gulf Coast hurricanes, 2005; USPHS Outstanding Unit Citation, 2003; USPHS Outstanding Service Medal (clinical medicine and research), 2000; American Federation for Clinical Research Henry Christian Award for abstract in immunology, 1999 and 1998; USPHS Achievement Medal, 1997; USPHS Commendation Medal, 1994 and 1990; Society of Critical Care Medicine Education Scholarship Award, 1993; The AFCR Henry Christian Award poster presentation, 1991; Alpha Omega Alpha, 1979; Phi Beta Kappa, 1975.