Ernest McCulloch born in Toronto on April 26, 1926. He and his research partner James Till proved the existence of stem cells to the world after doing their research on mice. They published their findings before fifty years. He died this week at his age of 84.
Both the researchers developed the method to find out the stem cells in the mice. Their work in the stem cells did revolution in the field of cell biology and thereby they showed the way to find out the treatment for several diseases through stem cell therapy.
The pair of researchers were expected to win the noel prize, but they did not receive it though they were nominated in the year 2009.
McCulloch died on Wednesday, and this is the time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his discovery, said the Canadian stem cell foundation. They told that the cause of his death was not-known to them.
His research partner Till told that McCulloch was very supportive to him in his work and he was a steadfast friend. He added that he feels a strong sense of his loss.
McCulloch was given with a nickname ‘bun’ by his friends and they felt that he was the pioneer in the field of stem cell biology.
“Both McCulloch and Till established the concept of stem cells and set the frame work in which stem cells are studied today” said the Canadian medical hall of fame, into which McCulloch was inducted in 2004.
The research pair received the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in the year 2005.
McCulloch was a fellow of the Royal Society of London and formerly he served as president of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada.