Philip Askenase (1939–2026)

As past presidents of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV), we join the broader scientific and medical community in mourning the passing of Dr. Philip Askenase, who died peacefully on March 12, 2026, at the age of 86. Born June 7, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Askenase was a pioneering physician-scientist whose work helped shape modern immunology and whose career exemplified a lifelong commitment to discovery, mentorship, and patient care. For more than five decades at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Askenase was a central figure in immunology, both as a clinician, scientist, and mentor. He contributed to both the immunology and allergy fields, as well as to extracellular biology, with more than 200 scientific publications published over a 55-year career. Phil was one of almost 500 delegates at the first ISEV meeting in Gothenburg in 2012. His work made enduring contributions to the extracellular vesicle (EV) field and its integration into mainstream immune biology. This included his work on demonstrating that regulatory T cell–derived EVs transport defined microRNA cargo, including miRNA-150, to suppress effector immune responses. Later, he advanced influential conceptual models describing primary and secondary EV signalling pathways, providing mechanistic insight relevant to EV-based therapeutics, including how EVs from Mesenchymal Stem Cells could support the treatment of COVID-19. Dr Askenase continued to participate in multiple ISEV events over the years, and he contributed to our field with energy, passion and curiosity, beyond what is natural. After earning his medical degree from Yale in 1965, Dr. Askenase trained at Harvard Medical School, the National Institutes of Health, and the London Hospital Medical College. In 1971, he chose to return to Yale, where he became a tenured Professor in Medicine and would remain for the next 55 years, building an extraordinary career defined not only by scientific excellence but also by intellectual curiosity and joy in discovery. Dr. Askenase's leadership extended beyond the laboratory. In 1985, during the height of the AIDS epidemic, he founded Yale's Adult AIDS and HIV Clinic, demonstrating a deep commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care in a time of widespread uncertainty and stigma, just as he did later during the COVID-pandemic. That same year, he was appointed Chief of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, a role he held until 2011. Even in his later years, Dr. Askenase remained actively engaged in research and mentorship, continuing to publish and contribute to scientific dialogue well into his eighties. His achievements were recognized with numerous honours, including the Lifetime Achievement Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in 2018. Colleagues remember Dr. Askenase as an engaging and dynamic presence, being an animated storyteller with a wide-ranging intellect and an abiding interest in people. His conversations, often spanning science, history, and current events, reflected both his intellectual depth and his genuine curiosity about others. On behalf of the ISEV community, we extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Askenase's family, colleagues, and trainees. His legacy, as a scientist, physician, mentor, and humanist will continue to inspire generations to come.