Travis Byrd, PhD
Junior Associate Editor, ISCT Telegraft
Wexner Medical Center – James Cancer Hospital
The Ohio State University
United States
Dr. Allen C. Eaves is widely recognized as a foundational figure in the fields of hematology, oncology, and biotechnology, having made transformative contributions to both stem cell research and the global scientific community. His entrepreneurial success, coupled with his pioneering research in hematology, places him among the most influential scientists and business leaders in today’s biotherapeutic landscape. Dr. Eaves’ deep scientific expertise, leadership in advancing tools for stem cell research, and contributions to the broader scientific community, has helped shape modern biomedical research.
Trained as both a physician and scientist, Dr. Eaves developed a strong foundation for his future contributions to hematology and stem cell science, for a career that would bridge clinical practice and research. Alongside his wife, Dr. Connie Eaves (an acclaimed researcher in her own right), he co-founded the Terry Fox Laboratory for Hematology/Oncology Research at the British Columbia Cancer Agency. Under his leadership, spanning over two decades, the laboratory would be established as a cutting-edge research institute with the goal of developing new treatments and diagnostic methods for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. Their research significantly advanced the understanding of normal hematopoiesis and how disruption leads to cancer.
During his tenure at the Terry Fox Laboratory, Dr. Eaves identified the need for standardized protocols and reagents for use in hematopoietic stem cell research. He began producing specialized stem cell culture media to meet this demand. Other researchers saw the importance of Eaves’ stem cell media and began purchasing it for their own research use. Initially, the revenue from the media sales helped to sustain research within the lab and contributed to early funding for ISCT. Over time, this evolved and in 1993, Dr. Eaves founded STEMCELL Technologies, which has now grown into one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies.
Beyond his entrepreneurial and scientific achievements, Eaves has been an active and influential figure within ISCT. The history of ISCT is deeply interwoven with pioneers within the field of cellular therapy, none more so than Dr. Allen C. Eaves. Dr. Eaves was instrumental in ISCT’s evolution from a small educational meeting focused on hematotherapy and graft engineering to a global organization advancing the entire field of cell and gene therapy. Recognizing the need to better serve technicians, scientists and clinicians, Dr. Eaves helped transform the original meeting into what would become The International Society of Hematotherapy and Graft Engineering (ISHAGE), later renamed The International Society of Cell & Gene Therapy.
The first expanded meeting, held in Vancouver, included Dr. Donnall Thomas, Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine (1990) as the keynote speaker. The expanded meeting was highly successful, and the day after the meeting concluded, Dr. Eaves wrote down everything learnt from running the larger meeting, laying the groundwork for future annual ISCT meetings. With the support of collaborators such as Bob Preti, Nancy Collins, among many others, he helped to draft the original constitution for the ISCT.
Dr. Eaves’ goal for this annual meeting was to provide a way for the people in the field to get together, to build relationships, so that ideas could be shared and collaborations could occur. These goals lead Dr. Eaves to accept a leadership position within ISCT, serving as the second president. His work within ISCT helped bridge the gap between fundamental research and clinical application, ensuring that discoveries made in the laboratory can be translated into real-world therapies that benefit patients.
Dr. Eaves continues to be an influential figure in the biotech world, overseeing the ongoing growth of STEMCELL Technologies, where he can be found working on product improvement processes and optimization. When ask what his one piece of advice would be for the next generation of leaders in the field of cellular therapy, Dr. Eaves offered “Don’t lose your idealism, we want to cure cancer and other diseases, because we are here to help patients.” Dr. Eaves’ legacy is one of relentless curiosity, bold innovation, and a deep enduring commitment to advancing science for the benefit of patient care… after all, he is a passionate cancer researcher at heart.
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