It is with great sadness that I share the news that our beloved colleague, Dr. Michael Cancro, passed away on February 7, 2025. This is an immense loss, and we will all mourn and honor Dr. Cancro in the days ahead.

After completing his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Maryland, Mike joined the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 as a postdoctoral fellow in Norman Klinman’s lab. There, he contributed to the development of the influenza hemagglutinin model antigen system. He was soon recruited as a tenure-track faculty member in 1978 and established his lab in the John Morgan Building, where it remained throughout his career.

Over his 49 years at Penn, Mike made an indelible impact. First and foremost, for Mike, was his science. Mike was a scientist’s scientist; he did science because he loved it and because it helped him communicate its power to others. A recognized expert in B cell biology, his lab made several groundbreaking discoveries, including defining the transitional B cell subset, a developmental stage between immature B cell formation in the bone marrow and final maturation in the periphery, elucidating the role of the cytokine BLyS (also known as BAFF) and its receptors in controlling peripheral B cell selection and numbers, and discovering and characterizing Age-Associated B Cells (ABCs), a novel B cell subset that increases with age.

Mike’s research remains highly relevant, as evidenced by his participation in a recent University of Pittsburgh symposium on "ABC B Cells and Autoimmunity." His numerous research accomplishments were honored with multiple awards, including being named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Immunologists and receiving the Lady Barbara Colyton Award for Autoimmune Research from PSOM.

Mike was a brilliant teacher. As a result, Mike received numerous distinguished teaching and mentoring awards throughout his career. He had a unique way of inspiring students and other trainees to realize their goals while also teaching them to have fun with their science along the way. Mike was a central force in the Immunology Graduate Group for decades inspiring hundreds of trainees. Indeed, Mike was known for asking the tough questions at prelim exams, and when the students received a pass, they knew that they had hit the mark. He continued to play a similarly impactful role in the I3H. His dedication to mentoring and teaching is also evidenced by his long-standing role as a course director for an evening lecture course taken mainly by post-baccalaureate level students. Mike ran this course for some 25 years and showed no interest in ever letting it go.

Many of the trainees from Mike’s lab have gone on to become leaders in the B cell field, including Mark Shlomchik, who fondly recalls Mike’s comment on his Med School Immunology exam: ‘Great exam. Contact me if you ever want to go into the lab.’ This simple note inspired Mark to pursue a PhD in Immunology, which has since shaped his successful career. Another trainee, our own Dave Allman, not only continues to push the boundaries of B cell biology but also took over the Med School Immunology Course, continuing Mike's legacy by inspiring students.

Most recently, Mike served as the Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Academic Affairs in PLM. In this role, he was developing a curriculum for new faculty, helping them navigate the Penn research landscape with ease. His contributions to this curriculum will remain a lasting legacy. To the many faculty and trainees at Penn who had the privilege of knowing Mike, we have lost a cherished colleague, mentor, and friend. It is truly a profound loss.  

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