Hugo Wolfgang Moser, MD, director of the Neurogenetics Research Center at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and University Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, died on January 20th of complications after recent vascular surgery to remove arterial blood clots following a successful October surgery for pancreatic cancer. He was 82.

Born in Bern, Switzerland he spent his early childhood in Berlin, Germany where his father was an art dealer and his mother an actress. His family, including his brother Henry, fled Nazi Germany in 1933 and lived in Heemstede, Holland. In February of 1940 they crossed France, Italy, and Spain and finally embarked to Cuba before obtaining visas to immigrate to New York City.

He attended Harvard College 1942-1943 and left to enter military service. He received his medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University in 1948 and served as a medical intern at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York. In 1950, he moved to Boston and was an assistant in Medicine at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. He served in Korea as a Medical Officer in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954 and returned to study at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University where he received an M.A. in 1955. During the years 1955 to 1957 he was a research fellow in the Department of Biological Chemistry, Harvard University and in 1957 to 1960 was in the residency program in Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He continued at the Massachusetts General Hospital from 1972 to 1976 where he served as Professor of Neurology. In 1976 he was appointed Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

His institutional administrative appointments include Assistant Superintendent from 1968-1974 and Superintendent from 1974-1976 at The Walter Fernald State School, Waltham, MA.; Co-director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center for Mental Retardation, Inc, Waltham MA. from 1974-1976; President of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD from 1976 to 1988, Director for the Center on Research on Mental Retardation and Related Aspects of Human Development at the Kennedy Krieger Institute from 1988 to 1995, Director of the Neurogenetics Research Center at Kennedy Krieger Institute from 1995 – 2007. During his years at the Fernald State School, and continuing at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, he was an internationally known advocate for persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

His main research focus from 1955 to the present time has been on inherited disorders that affect the nervous system in children, particularly the disorder X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. Together with his research team he identified the characteristic biochemical abnormalities and established diagnostic tests, counseling, and programs to evaluate methods of therapy, including the Lorenzo’s oil diet, pharmacological agents and bone marrow transplantation. His publications include over 350 referred journal articles and 100 book chapters on his research in metabolic disorders and the care and treatment programs for persons with developmental disabilities.

Dr. Moser has participated in many professional societies and editorial boards and was currently serving on the Board of Directors of the International Child Neurology Society, the Medical Advisory Committee of the National Organization for Rare Disorders, the Scientific Advisory Committee for Hunters Hope, the Professional Advisory Board for the International Rett Syndrome Association and the Medical Advisory Board, the United Leukodystrophy Foundation.

His research accomplishments were recognized by numerous awards, honors and named or honorary lectures including his October 2006 election to the rank of fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, honoring his pioneering work leading to the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of neurologic disease associated with abnormalities of lipid metabolism, particularly X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

Dr. Moser is survived by his partner in science and life, Ann Boody Moser, and three daughters, Tracey Schecht of Austin TX, Karen Levin of West Chester, PA and Lauren Moser of Bethesda, MD , and four grandsons. He is preceded in death by his brother, Henry Mason of New Orleans, his first wife, Monti Lou Brigham, and his son, Peter Brigham Moser.

A memorial service is planned for February 3rd at 11AM at the First Baptist Church, Wakefield, MA. A separate memorial service is being planned by Kennedy Krieger Institute for a future date.

In accordance with Dr. Moser’s lifelong commitment to the advancement of research for childhood neurological disorders, especially X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Peroxisomal Research, Neurogenetics Unit at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, or to the United Leukodystrophy Foundation through the website www.ulf.org.