Elliott Haim Schiffmann

Elliott Schiffmann, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) biochemist who made pioneering discoveries in cancer immunotherapy, died on December 31, 2022 at his home in Chevy Chase, MD. He was 95.

The cause of death was congestive heart failure.

During his long tenure at the NIH, Dr. Schiffmann worked in the National Heart Institute 1955-62, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) 1962-85, and the National Cancer Institute 1985-90. During his NIH career he showed how hemin (the “heme” in hemoglobin that gives red meat its flavor) is synthesized in the body. He identified small naturally occurring protein fragments (attractants) that drew antibacterial inflammatory cells to attack invading bacteria, killing the bacteria, and ending the infection. He showed that attaching an antibiotic to the attractant hastened the ending of the infection. For this discovery, he received the Director’s award from NIDCR.

At the National Cancer Institute, Dr Schiffmann applied his background in cell motility to study factors that might cause cancer cells to migrate from the primary tumor and spread throughout the body. His published work is a basis for much of today’s immunotherapy of cancers and for future treatments of antibiotic resistant infections.

Throughout his career, Dr Schiffman mentored young scientists and provided a biochemical framework for scientific studies conducted throughout the NIH. He was a sought-after speaker who could mix gentle humor with science as he clarified difficult concepts.

Elliott Haim Schiffmann was born on April 23, 1927, in Newark, NJ to Dr. Samuel and Anna Abelson Schiffmann. He was still young when his parents divorced, and he lived with his mother and members of her extended family. Elliott attended Cheshire Academy in Connecticut, received a Bachelor of Science from Yale University in 1948 and a PhD from Columbia University in 1955. He and Genevieve Nih, an NIH librarian, were married on June 3, 1960. Before joining NIH, he served with the Public Health Service.

Elliott and Genni were known for speaking out against racism in Montgomery County, MD. He was active on Board of the Montgomery County, MD ACLU Chapter, where he served for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Genevieve. Inquiries may be directed to his cousin Judith Rabinowitz ([email protected]) and her husband Joel Fischman ([email protected]).

At Elliott’s request, there will be no formal service. Contributions may be made in his memory to Doctors without Borders (Médecins sans Frontières), The American Civil Liberties Union

or Amnesty International.