December 5, 2025

Dear All,

It is with great sadness that I write to share the news of the passing of Dr. Ethan Neumann, a student in the Graduate Training Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Hopkins and a beloved member of our laboratory and scientific community. Ethan died at the age of 27 after a prolonged battle with fibrolamellar carcinoma. In the face of a terrible situation, he approached both his cancer diagnosis and his research with extraordinary courage and purpose.

Ethan’s research at Hopkins focused on the very cancer that would ultimately claim his life, making him a remarkable patient-scientist. Co-mentored by Dr. Chi Dang and me, he embraced this unusual role with sincerity, humility, and quiet determination. He welcomed every opportunity to participate in clinical trials for his own disease, fully aware that these efforts could help others who will face this same rare and difficult cancer. All of us who had the privilege of working with him witnessed how he transformed personal hardship into a commitment to improve the lives of future patients.

During his time at Hopkins, Ethan made important scientific contributions that will continue to influence the field. In the past month alone, he coauthored two manuscripts, including work that advanced our understanding of fibrolamellar carcinoma metabolism and contributed to the discovery of a promising new biomarker for this disease. I will never forget the wide grin on his face when he returned from the hospital holding a slip for a laboratory test that he helped to validate for his own type of cancer. These accomplishments represent only a part of what he achieved, and they stand as a testament to his talent, his curiosity, and his resolve.

Ethan will also be remembered for his remarkable humanistic qualities. He brought kindness and an easy going, quiet strength into the laboratory every day. He was deeply loved by his lab mates. Ethan taught me a great deal not only about science, but about what it means to live with clarity and intention. In his final days, he shared a perspective that captures his spirit. He reminded me that what matters is not the length of our lives, but how we choose to live the days we have. He told me that he felt fulfilled by the life he had built here and by the relationships he cherished.

It has been determined that the body of work he completed fulfills all of the requirements for a PhD degree. On the last day of his life he officially became Dr. Ethan Neumann, achieving his final wish. Ethan’s presence will be felt at Hopkins long after his passing. His example will continue to guide our work, quietly illuminating the path ahead.

We are presently organizing a celebration of Ethan’s life and will share the details with the community as soon as they are finalized.

With deepest sympathy,
Mark