It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of our dear colleague, Dr. Douglas B. Cines, on December 7, 2025.

Cines was a Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and a Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine. He has held multiple faculty positions within the Department, including director of the Hematology and Coagulation Laboratory, co-vice chair of the Division of Laboratory Medicine, and vice chair for academics and director of faculty development. Dr. Cines exemplified the academic physician scientist role, excelling at all 3 missions: research, patient care, and teaching.

Dr. Cines was a prolific scientist and a central figure in the field of immune thrombocytopenic disorders. His more than 40 years of research findings have been instrumental in expanding the understanding and treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura, heparin induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis, antiphospholipid syndrome, and thrombocytopenia in pregnancy. Over the course of his career, Dr. Cines published more than 340 peer-reviewed scientific articles in prestigious journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, and Journal of Clinical investigation. These efforts have garnered international recognition: In 2017 he was bestowed a BACH Award (Biennial Award for Contributions to Research in Hemostasis) from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) and then, in 2024, he was the recipient of the Henry M. Stratton Medal for basic science from the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

Dr. Cines brought his research expertise to the bedside and was a significant driving force in the growth of coagulation diagnostics. His tenure as Faculty in the Coagulation Laboratory began in 1982, and in 1995 he assumed the role of Director of the Coagulation Laboratory. He served in this role for more than 20 years and was instrumental in developing the laboratory into a nationally recognized center for coagulation diagnostics, providing comprehensive diagnostic testing and consultative services for physicians caring for patients with coagulation disorders. Dr. Cines was dedicated and passionate about patient care. To quote his own words, “Those of us who are involved in academic medicine for long enough receive honors from time to time and occasionally are asked which honor we value the most. The first of these for me is that physicians show their confidence by referring their patients, and the patients show their confidence by involving me in their subsequent clinical care.” To honor his dedication to clinical service and leadership of the coagulation laboratory, the Special Coagulation Laboratory in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Penn was recently named the “Douglas B. Cines MD Coagulation Laboratory”.

Dr. Cines served as an educator, mentor, and constant source of wisdom. He enjoyed teaching and mentoring trainees and was not only eager to share his knowledge, but he was interested in learning from others. To quote the words of staff that he worked with, “He was an advocate for the laboratory and always willing to take a moment out of his day for training and teaching, and it was a pleasure to learn from his wealth of knowledge. Dr. Cines had an engaging instructional style that incorporated his kindness and sense of humor - especially when recalling unique cases from his long career.” Dr. Cines was kind, witty, and dearly revered by his colleagues and staff who had the privilege of working with him. He will be greatly missed.

Dr. Cines’ wife, Adele, his four daughters, Val, Pammi, Sarah, and Courtney, and his grandchildren were the center of his life, greatest joy, and source of immense love and support.

George J. Netto MD  
Simon Flexner Professor and Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania