Charles Surh

Charles D. Surh (; 1961 – 7 October 2017) was a leading scientist in the field of immunology. He was a professor at both The Scripps Research Institute and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), director of the Academy of Immunology and Microbiology in Pohang, and associate editor of the journal Pleura and Peritoneum. He died from cancer in 2017.

Early life and education Charles majored in biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego for his undergrad graduating in 1983. He then went to the University of California, Davis, where he obtained his Ph.D. in immunology in 1989. He research topic was on target antigens for autoantibody formation associated with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Career Working as a postdoc at The Scripps Research Institute in the Department of Immunology, he researched T cells focusing on the function and structure thymus and the physiology and lifespan of mature T cells. The Academy researched chronic diseases of the immune system with the "belief that a significant proportion of the chronic diseases arise from aberrant interactions between the host's immune systems with the components of the diet as well as with the commensal microbes that co-exist with the host." After failing to find a suitable replacement, AIM closed in October 2019.

Death Diagnosed with cancer in early 2015, he continued his research while receiving treatment. He succumbed to the disease on October 7, 2017 in San Diego, U.S. 2010: 100 Leaders in Korea , The Dong-A Ilbo 2007: Ho-Am Prize in Medicine, Ho-Am Foundation 1988–1989: Member, Biological Science Council, University of California, Davis 1988: Student Research Prize, 39th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease

Selected publications