Dr. John A. Clements, an eminent figure in lung science who deciphered critical lung functions in the 1950s and later developed a breakthrough drug to treat lung failure in newborns, has died at his home in Tiburon, California . He was 101 years old.
His passing was confirmed by his daughter, Carol Clements.
Dr. Clements' pioneering work began shortly after his graduation from Cornell University Medical College (now Weill Cornell Medical College) while serving as an Army physiologist. He was fascinated by the mechanics of human breathing, particularly how the tiny alveoli of the lungs managed to stay open during exhalation.
Determined to solve this mystery, Dr. Clements discovered a crucial substance, which he identified as a surfactant, similar to detergents, that helps reduce surface tension in air pockets, allowing them to stay inflated. This discovery was first documented in a 1956 publication in which he outlined the presence and function of surfactants in the lungs using a rudimentary device he built.
His fundamental research advanced significantly in 1959 when he advised two Harvard researchers. Their collaborative efforts revealed that this surfactant was missing in premature infants suffering from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which was then a leading cause of neonatal death in the United States, claiming approximately 10,000 lives per year during the 1960s .
This epidemic of infant deaths included notable cases such as Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, son of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy, who was born prematurely and died of RDS shortly after birth in 1963.
Spurred by these findings, a global initiative has emerged to develop a treatment for RDS. While some researchers explored animal-based surfactants, Dr. Clements directed his efforts toward creating a synthetic alternative. His dedication led to the development of the first synthetic surfactant, which was later licensed to Burroughs Wellcome & Company and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1990 under the name Exosurf.
Although subsequent research demonstrated that animal-based surfactants were more effective, Dr. Clements' pioneering synthetic surfactant marked a significant advance in neonatal care, dramatically reducing infant mortality rates from RDS to fewer than 500 deaths per year in United States.
In recognition of his monumental contributions, Dr. Clements was awarded the prestigious 1994 Albert Lasker Prize for Clinical Medical Research, which he humbly donated to UNICEF.
Born March 16, 1923, in Auburn, New York, Dr. Clements was the youngest of four children. His parents nurtured his passion for science, which saw him construct various experiments from a young age, including a home-made Tesla coil. After completing an Army-funded accelerated program at Cornell, he dedicated his career to medical research and education.
Dr. Clements continued his influential work well into his 90s, maintaining an active presence at the University of California, San Francisco, where he mentored countless medical professionals and researchers.
His legacy is survived by his two daughters, Carol and Christine Clements, and remembered by the many lives he saved through his medical innovations.
