Remembering Zena Werb, PhD

It with sadness that we share the news that Zena Werb, PhD, outstanding UCSF scientist, Vice Chair of the Department of Anatomy, and faculty member for almost 40 years, has passed away.

Dr. Werb was one of the world’s leading experts on extracellular matrix influences on cancer development, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, former President of the American Society of Cell Biology, and winner of numerous national and international awards.

She was also an incredible mentor to numerous students and postdocs in the Werb Lab, within the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and across the entire UCSF community. In recognition of that enormous contribution, Dr. Werb received the UCSF Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award. She also cared for her faculty colleagues, to whom she was an invaluable fountain of advice, not to mention latkes on Hanukkah.

Dr. Werb will be dearly missed by her many friends and colleagues at UCSF and throughout the world. On behalf of the School of Medicine, we would like to extend our condolences to her family, friends, and close colleagues.