Abstract
Prof. Júlio C. Voltarelli, of the Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo recently passed away. The editorial board of the journals Cell Transplantation and Cell Medicine wish to acknowledge his invaluable contribution as the section editor for “Stem Cells, Progenitors, and Bone Marrow,” as well as his contribution to the field of regenerative medicine. Below is a tribute to Prof. Voltarelli written by some of his colleagues.
On March 21, 2012, Brazil lost a great scientist. Júlio C. Voltarelli, a distinguished professor of the Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, had an innovative working philosophy and led clinical applications of stem cell research in the country. He was the head of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, where he conducted not only allogeneic transplants with conventional indications, but also audacious trials on autoimmune diseases. He dreamed of bringing the benefits of the newest findings in cellular therapy to disease conditions such as ALS or multiple sclerosis, projects he was deeply involved with. We are sure his name will be forever remembered and his dream will be fulfilled.
Dr. Voltarelli graduated at the Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, from where he would never leave, except for his postdoctoral fellowships. In 1992, having returned from the University of California in San Francisco, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, he begun the arduous task of implementing allogeneic bone marrow transplants in our center. The initial bad results did not discourage his eagerness to continue and to achieve better results. Before long, patients started to improve and Ribeirão Preto became an important transplant center in Brazil, attracting patients from all over the country. In 2002, the scenario had changed, and several other transplant centers were created in the country, some of which were led by Dr. Voltarelli's disciples. It was time to change. “We are a small transplant center and we cannot compete with the new, larger centers. We have to be innovative and have them copy whatever we begin,” he said once. Therefore, Ribeirão Preto started a successful journey of stem cell transplantation for autoimmune diseases. At first, worldwide tendencies were merely reproduced, treating diseases such as lupus, scleroderma, and multiple sclerosis. Soon, the trial on type 1 diabetes, in which 20 out of 25 patients became insulin free after transplantation, had international repercussion. Other trials followed, including use of mesenchymal cells for type 1 diabetes and graft versus host disease (GVHD), stem cell transplantation for sickle cell disease, and haplo-identical allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Ribeirão Preto has Dr. Voltarelli's imprint and is, today, the reference center for cell therapy with nonconventional indications. His legacy to the University of Sao Paulo is priceless.
As a teacher at the University of Sao Paulo he was responsible for several innovative learning strategies and responsible for the first Stem Cell Transplantation and Clinical Immunology books written in Portuguese language. Both books are nowadays reference books for medical students and medical doctors all over the country. He was one of the founders of the Brazilian Society of Stem Cell Transplantation and certainly our most assiduous member.
More than a scientist and a physician, Dr. Voltarelli was a great leader. He was able to be a respected boss without giving any orders, correct and always absolutely loyal to his colleagues. A whole team of physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, dentists, and social workers were led in concert with the single aim of treating each patient with maximum competence. In parallel with the clinical studies, numerous teams of immunologists were also mentored to conduct immunological posttransplant studies. Not enough, he supervised several graduate and undergraduate students and dealt with the insoluble problems of the academic environment.
The better side of Dr. Voltarelli, however, was kept away from work. A good husband, a great father, and a friend to be missed. All of us will remember him answering his cell phone in the middle of the most formal lectures, or his completely inadequate jokes or even his disconcerting sincerity. On his 60th birthday, he listed the 10 top loves of his life, which included family, friends, the university, and beer. “Beer is actually the first love of my life, but I can't say it out loud,” he said under the ferocious eyes of his wife.
We will miss this unique man, great scientist, wise boss, and unforgettable friend. May God help us to be able to continue his work and proceed with his scientific journey.