Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. James Till

May 23, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we honour the passing of Dr. James Till, a pioneering Canadian scientist whose work, alongside Dr. Ernest McCulloch, laid the very foundation of stem cell research.

As a quiet visionary, it was Dr. Till’s landmark research that proved the existence of stem cells in the early 1960s and fundamentally changed the future of medical science, opening the door to a new era of regenerative medicine. His groundbreaking work has had far-reaching implications across cancer treatment, transplantation, and beyond — and ultimately led to the creation of the Stem Cell Network itself.

Choosing a career in science, he received scholarships from the University of Saskatchewan (B.Sc., 1952; M.Sc., 1954) and a Ph.D. from Yale University (1957). He was recruited to the Ontario Cancer Institute at Princess Margaret Hospital, where he worked with Dr. Ernest McCulloch. Throughout his remarkable career, Dr. Till remained deeply committed to science and education. In addition to his groundbreaking scientific contributions, he was a thoughtful leader in bioethics and an early advocate for the use of the Internet in advancing research. He held numerous leadership and academic roles and received many prestigious honours, including the Gairdner Foundation International Award, appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and election to the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Dr. Till was admired not only for his scientific brilliance but for his humility, generosity, and enduring sense of curiosity. Canada and the global research community are forever indebted to him.

At the Stem Cell Network, we extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Till’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched. He will be deeply missed and forever celebrated. We also recognize that our very existence is built upon the foundational work of Dr. Till. His legacy lives on in every discovery, every trainee, and every patient who has benefitted from stem cell research.

If you are a researcher within the Stem Cell Network and would like to share a fond memory, reflection, or story about how Dr. Till impacted your career — or even a favourite photo — we encourage you to upload your video, written message, or image here. The Stem Cell Network will compile these contributions into a memorial video to be shared with Dr. Till’s family and the Network at our annual conference later this year, the Till & McCulloch Meetings.