News

The Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS) is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Daniel L. Kastner—one of the true giants of modern medicine and a founding figure of the field of autoinflammatory diseases.

Dan transformed the way we understand systemic inflammation. Through his pioneering work he helped establish autoinflammation as a distinct field of medicine. His discoveries revealed the molecular basis of diseases that had remained unexplained for generations and opened the way to precise diagnoses and targeted treatments that have changed the lives of countless patients and families.

For paediatric rheumatology, his contribution was truly transformative. He taught us that even the rarest diseases can illuminate fundamental mechanisms of human immunity—and that careful observation at the bedside, combined with scientific curiosity and perseverance, can lead to discoveries of global importance.

Dan was also a longstanding friend and generous supporter of PReS. He worked closely with our community, encouraged international collaboration and helped place autoinflammatory diseases at the heart of paediatric rheumatology. He shared his knowledge and ideas with extraordinary openness and was always willing to guide, challenge and inspire. His support helped open doors for our community and shaped the paths of many clinicians and scientists within PReS.

Beyond his remarkable scientific achievements, Dan will be remembered for his humanity. He combined intellectual brilliance with humility, kindness, humour and a genuine interest in others. He treated patients and families with compassion and gave young investigators the confidence to believe that their questions and ideas mattered. For many colleagues, a conversation with Dan became a defining moment in their professional lives.

His legacy lives on in every child who now receives a diagnosis, every family offered an effective treatment, and every young clinician or scientist inspired to ask bold questions about diseases that are not yet understood. The field he helped create will continue to advance, guided by the curiosity, generosity and commitment to patients that he embodied throughout his life.

On behalf of the entire PReS community, we extend our deepest condolences to Dan’s family, friends, colleagues and the many people around the world whose lives he touched.

We have lost an extraordinary physician-scientist, mentor and friend. His influence on paediatric rheumatology and human immunology will endure for generations.

Prof. Seza Ozen
President, Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS)
On behalf of the PReS community