ASCO and the oncology community mourn the loss of Donald S. Coffey, PhD, FAACR, who passed away on November 9, 2017, at age 85. Dr. Coffey was the Catherine Iola and J. Smith Michael Distinguished Professor of Urology at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Coffey is perhaps best known for his discovery of the nuclear matrix and the fact that DNA synthesis occurs on this matrix. Cell biology was a major focus of his research, and he developed the first Dunning animal models, which are used to isolate tumor metastasis genes and design chemotherapy regimens in prostate cancer. He was also the first to develop methods for identifying androgen insensitivity in prostate tumors, conducted pioneering research on telomerase in prostate cancer, and contributed to the first-ever prostate cancer gene therapy trial.

He will also be remembered for the unconventional career journey that led to his groundbreaking discoveries. In 1957, Dr. Coffey received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from East Tennessee State University. Upon graduating, he worked as a chemical engineer at Westinghouse Electronic Corporation; at the same time, he attended night classes and worked evenings in the Brady Urological Research Laboratory at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In 1959, he was named acting director of the lab, and proceeded to devote his 50-plus-year career to numerous positions at Johns Hopkins.

In 1964, at age 33, Dr. Coffey earned his doctorate degree in physiological chemistry from Johns Hopkins. He was appointed assistant professor in the department of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics in 1966 and was promoted to associate professor in 1970. He was appointed associate professor of oncology in 1973 and he was promoted to full professor in the department of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics in 1974. He helped found the Johns Hopkins University Cancer Center in 1973 with the first director Dr. Albert Owens, and took over as director in 1987. In 1975, he was appointed professor in urology. From 1969 to 1974, he directed the Brady Laboratory. From 1974 to 2004, he was director of research at Johns Hopkins.

In addition to his role as the Catherine Iola and J. Smith Michael Distinguished Professor of Urology and professor of oncology, pharmacology and molecular sciences, and pathology, Dr. Coffey was a member of the professional staff of the Applied Physics Laboratory.

He served as 1997-1998 president of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), where he was an active volunteer, and on the National Cancer Advisory Board from 2006-2012, among other leadership positions.

Dr. Coffey was the recipient of numerous awards for his innovative research as well as for his dedication to teaching and mentoring. Among his many honors, he received the Dean's Distinguished Mentoring Award from Johns Hopkins, the 2015 Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research from AACR, and the 2005 St. Paul’s Medal from the British Association of Urological Surgeons.

Dr. Coffey is survived by his wife, Eula, two daughters, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.