Dr. Sonia Skarlatos-leader, colleague, and friend: from vascular biology to gene therapy and the Cardiovascular Cell Therapy research network

Abstract

It is indeed a daunting task to write a memorial essay, to be able to relate to others the essence of a life with great impact. I write in remembrance of Sonia Skarlatos, PhD, who died after a short and valiant fight with cancer, following a life lived as a unique leader in a long and ongoing fight against cardiovascular disease. I write both as a member of the Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research network, which Sonia pioneered, and also as an individual scientist who has shared with Sonia a parallel evolution of professional interests. Perhaps the best light I can shine on her professional and personal excellence is through my own stories about Sonia and our interactions over the past 20 years. I hope and believe that these anecdotes will evoke special memories and will resonate with many scientists and colleagues of Dr. Skarlatos. I am sure that each will have their own memory of her distinctive warmth and thoughtfulness. She artfully mixed these traits with her deep scientific understanding and profound desire to help advance our present knowledge of science into a future realization of clinical improvements.