As I am sure everyone knows by now, the world has been shook by a tragic loss. The man was brilliant, dedicated and his work will most likely affect many generations to come.

I am, of course, talking about immunologist and cell biologist Ralph Steinman, whose unorthodox work earned him the Nobel Prize in Medicine. The Nobel Prize was announced just days after he passed.

Ralph Steinman had devoted his life and work to development of cures based on a class of cells he had discovered with his mentor, Zanvil Cohn, called dendritic cells. Steinman believed he could use these cells to identify and attack cancer cells.

Four years ago, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the most ruthless and harmful forms. It is often called the “silent killer” because it has already spread by the time it reveals symptoms.

Steinman decided to put his life work to the ultimate test and attempt the cure on himself. A piece of the tumor was removed and cells were “trained” to attack the remaining cells of the tumor.

It was a dangerous method but one that is believed to extend his life significantly and allow him to continue his research.