Dr. John A. Clements, Pioneer in Lung Research, Passes Away at 101
Dr. John A. Clements, a leading figure in pulmonary research who significantly reduced infant mortality rates from a severe respiratory condition, passed away on September 3 at his home in Tiburon, California. He was 101 years old, and his death was confirmed by his daughter, Carol.
In the late 1940s, Dr. Clements, fresh from Cornell University Medical College, began investigating the mechanics of human breathing while serving as a physiologist for the Army. He hypothesized that a chemical was responsible for preventing the millions of tiny air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. His research led to the identification of this substance as a surfactant—a class of lubricants similar to household detergents.
In a pivotal 1956 paper, Dr. Clements demonstrated the presence of surfactant in the lungs. His findings paved the way for critical research by two Harvard scientists, who revealed in 1959 that premature infants suffering from respiratory distress syndrome (R.D.S.) lacked this vital surfactant. R.D.S. was the leading cause of neonatal mortality in the U.S. at the time, claiming around 10,000 lives annually, including that of Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, son of President John F. Kennedy.
Dr. Clements recalled, “Back in the 1950s and early ’60s, if they had full-blown respiratory distress syndrome, more than 90 percent would die.” The absence of surfactant in premature babies prompted a global effort to find effective treatments. While some researchers experimented with animal-derived surfactants, Dr. Clements advocated for a synthetic alternative, which he successfully developed in response to a request from the neonatal unit at the University of California, San Francisco.
His work culminated in the creation of Exosurf, the first synthetic lung surfactant approved by the FDA in 1990. Though further studies showed that animal-derived surfactants performed better, the impact of Dr. Clements’ research was profound, contributing to a drastic decline in R.D.S. fatalities to fewer than 500 annually in the U.S.
In recognition of his groundbreaking contributions, Dr. Clements was awarded the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award in 1994, hailed as one of the most important discoveries in pulmonary physiology in the past 50 years. Notably, he donated the $25,000 prize to UNICEF.
Born on March 16, 1923, in Auburn, New York, Dr. Clements was the youngest of four children. His parents fostered his early interest in science, encouraging his experiments and creativity. After completing his medical degree in an accelerated program through the Army, he began a career that would profoundly impact neonatal care.
In 1949, he married Margot S. Power, a talented classical singer who performed with various orchestras until her passing in 2022. He is survived by his daughters, Carol and Christine.
Dr. Clements dedicated his career to education and research at UCSF, where he trained countless physicians and researchers. Even after retiring in 2004, he remained actively involved in his work, continuing to drive to the university several times a week into his 90s, exemplifying his lifelong commitment to advancing medical knowledge and saving lives.