Dr. Michael Longaker Selected as the 2026 Moreton Research Award Recipient
The Southern Medical Association is pleased to announce that Michael Longaker, MD, MBA, DSc(hon), has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dr. Robert D. and Alma W. Moreton Research Award to be presented at this year’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Longaker is the Deane P. and Louise Mitchell Professor of Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. His research focuses on wound repair and fibrosis, particularly the biological differences between fetal and postnatal wound healing. Over more than three decades, his work has helped advance understanding of scar formation, tissue regeneration, and the role mechanical forces play in the healing process.
His research has also contributed significantly to the fields of fibroblast biology and skeletal stem cells. His laboratory identified both mouse and human skeletal stem cells and has explored their roles in fracture repair, cartilage regeneration, bone healing, and disease. Dr. Longaker's work in fibrosis extends across multiple tissues and organ systems, with the broader goal of better understanding the mechanisms of healing and regeneration.
With more than 1,400 scientific papers to his credit, Dr. Longaker is also an inventor on more than 100 issued or pending patents and patent applications. His numerous honors include the Medallion for Scientific Achievement from the American Surgical Association and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of University Surgeons. He is a member of both the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Longaker will present the Moreton Lecture on Friday, November 6, 2026 during SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly. His lecture, is titled “Toward a Unifying Hypothesis for Fibrosis”.
