Remembering researcher and mentor Ge Jin
At Case Western Reserve University, the pursuit of knowledge motivates faculty, staff and students alike. This couldn’t have been truer for Ge Jin, PhD (GRS ’00, cell biology), who was inspired by his desire to learn something new every day, and passed that aspiration on to the students and colleagues whose paths he crossed during his nearly 20 years as a researcher and educator at the university.
Now, the Case Western Reserve community and beyond are mourning Jin, who passed away on Dec. 6 at age 68.
Born in Nanjing, China, Jin was fascinated by the world around him from a young age. He studied molecular biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, and his love for science ultimately led him to another love: his wife, Rui Chen, who also studied biology. While research was always important to Jin, it still came second to his wife, son and grandchildren, who reflected on how there was not a single family dinner or school event he missed.
Jin was deeply entwined with Case Western Reserve University for more than two decades, earning a doctorate in cell biology from the School of Medicine in 2000 and serving as a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the School of Dental Medicine from 2006 to 2022. He was then appointed professor at the School of Medicine, and also as faculty research staff at MetroHealth Medical Center’s Division of Cancer Biology and Center for Cancer Research. He also fostered his connection to the university through the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he was a longstanding member of the Molecular Oncology program.
Curiosity and compassion shaped every project Jin touched, demonstrated by a successful career in cancer and virology research. He sought to better the lives of patients everywhere by developing therapeutic approaches to combat disease, studying the progression of cancer in relation to viral infections.
"Dr. Jin built a distinguished career in cancer and virology research, advancing our understanding of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck cancer, with a focus on immune response,” said Case CCC Director Gary Schwartz, MD. “His paradigm-shifting contribution that exosomes released from HIV-infected T cells promote the growth of oral/oropharyngeal and lung cancer cells provided profound insights into the biology of HIV and its relationship to cancer.”
Jin’s work not only advanced understanding within his field—it inspired others to pursue research with integrity and purpose.
“Ge’s influence was broad and significant in many ways, including the high level of research that is matched by his natural warmth and ease in connecting with his colleagues, collaborators, trainees, and everyone else around him,” shared Bing C. Wang, PhD, the John A. and Josephine B. Wootton Professor of Research. “It is such a rare combination. He will be sorely missed by all.”
Jin’s legacy endures in the discoveries he made, the students he impacted, and the lives of patients his work has and will continue to touch.
Services will be held on Friday, Dec. 12, at DeJohn Funeral Home and Celebrations Center located at 12811 Chillicothe Road in Chesterland, Ohio. Visiting hours will be held between 10 a.m. and noon, immediately followed by a Celebration of Life Service.
Students who would like support during this time are encouraged to contact University Health and Counseling Services at 216.368.5872. This line is staffed by a counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Faculty and staff can access counseling at any time by calling AllOne Health (formerly IMPACT Solutions) at 1.800.227.6007.
