In Memoriam: Stuart Arthur Kornfeld, MD

October 4, 1936 – August 17, 2025

It is with deep sadness that I share the news that Dr. Stuart Arthur Kornfeld, Professor Emeritus, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 88.

Dr. Kornfeld was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 4, 1936, to Max and Ruth Kornfeld. His father was a prominent dentist in St. Louis and taught at Washington University School of Dentistry. Stuart attended University City, Clayton and Ladue public schools where he was a noted athlete, captaining his high school basketball and baseball teams. He graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in 1954 and went on to earn a B.S. from Dartmouth College in 1958 and an M.D. from WashU Medicine in 1962. He did his internal medicine residency at Barnes hospital and research training at the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Dr. Kornfeld was an internationally recognized physician scientist who recently retired from his position as the David C. and Betty Farrell Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine in the Department of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at WashU Medicine.

Dr. Kornfeld pioneered our understanding of glycoprotein structure, function and biosynthesis. His fundamental discoveries of N linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis transformed cell biology and remain in all foundational texts. He identified the oligosaccharide modifications that generate Mannose 6 Phosphate recognition signals that target lysosomal enzymes to their destination. His research in glycobiology, protein trafficking and organelle biogenesis led to key discoveries about the folding and transport of proteins and influenced multiple fields of science and medicine including metabolism, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, immunology and hematology/oncology. His translational work led to key findings improving the diagnosis and treatment of lysosomal storage diseases. Dr. Kornfeld was a prolific author with more than 250 peer reviewed publications and book chapters. He was funded by the NIH for his research for more than 50 years.

Dr. Kornfeld held numerous leadership positions at WashU Medicine. He was the Co-Director of the Division of Hematology-Oncology from 1976-1992 and the Co-Director of the Division of Hematology from 1993-2009. He directed the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) from 1991-1997 and he was the Co-Director of the Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) in the Department of Medicine from 2000-2019. In 2018, he co-founded M6P Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing next generation enzyme replacement for lysosomal storage diseases including Tay-Sachs, Mucopolysaccharidosis, Gaucher, Pompe and Sanfilippo B diseases.

Dr. Kornfeld received numerous honors and awards throughout his career including being elected to the Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received multiple scientific awards, most notably the Passano Award, the Kober Medal from the Association of American Physicians, the E. Donnel Thomas Prize from the American Society of Enzymology, and the EB Wilson Medal from the American Society for Cell Biology. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Alpha-Mannosidosis and Related Diseases and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the St. Louis Academy of Science.

At WashU he was recognized with the Alumni Award, Gerty and Carl Cori Faculty Recognition Award, the Second Century Award, the Distinguished Faculty Award and an Honorary Doctor of Science Award.

Dr. Kornfeld was a consultant and scientific advisor to many organizations. He served as member of the NIDDK Board of Scientific Counselors, President of the Association of American Physicians and Member of the Board of Directors of the Edward Mallinckrodt Jr Foundation. He also served on the Medical Advisory Board and the Scientific Review Board of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Albert Lasker Medical Research Awards Jury. He served on the editorial board for most of the major biomedical journals in his field including the Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Cell Biology and Editor for the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

In addition to his stellar research productivity, Dr. Kornfeld was an incredible teacher and mentor. He was an outstanding role model and leader, fostering research training, mentorship and scientific success for generations of trainees. He trained countless physician scientists, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows throughout his career. His trainees are leaders at institutions across the country and the world. He was intimately involved in all aspects of development of MD, PhD and physician scientist training, from recruitment, to career development, and mentorship. He was known for providing lifelong support to his trainees. Dr. Kornfeld was widely recognized for giving selflessly of his time and energy to ensure the success of the PSTP program and all the trainees benefitted from his careful mentoring, career advice and support.

Stuart was married to Rosalind Hauk Kornfeld, PhD, his close scientific collaborator and also a Professor at WashU Medicine, for 48 years. She predeceased him. His youngest daughter, Carolyn Kornfeld Lesorogol, PhD, a professor in the Brown School at WashU, also predeceased him. He is survived by his oldest daughter Katherine Kornfeld, his son Kerry Kornfeld, MD, PhD, a Professor in Developmental Biology at WashU Medicine, his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as his beloved friend of many years, Elizabeth Loeb.

Dr. Kornfeld was a life-long avid St. Louis Cardinals fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of the team extending from the 1930’s to the present. A natural athlete, he played tennis and golf for decades. He was an enthusiastic booster of St. Louis and of WashU Medicine, extolling their virtues to everyone he met. He was a generous benefactor and patron of St. Louis cultural institutions including the St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Muny Opera and many more. Dr. Kornfeld was universally admired by all who knew him and his loss will be felt for generations to come.