On 25 March 2016 academics, physicians, scientists, particularly endocrinologists, received the very sad news that our beloved Editor-in-Chief of Acta Endocrinologica (Buc) had passed away prematurely. The aim of my obituary is to pay tribute to an outstanding Romanian physician, academic, scientist, mentor, a man of great character and an unforgettable friend, especially on behalf of the Section of Biomedical Research of the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) of Romania.
Professor Mihail Coculescu was born on 5 September 1943 in Bucharest, the son of Grigore Coculescu (agricultural engineer, Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences, who worked as a soil scientist researcher) and Elena Coculescu (MD, gynecologist). In addition to providing Mihail with good genes, his parents also provided an environment that fostered and developed his great qualities: sharp intelligence, determination for learning and studies, qualities for leadership and mentoring. Mihail’s parents had a positive influence during his formative years and guided well his career decision.
Mihail Coculescu received a solid education in Romania. He graduated in 1960 at the top of his year from a very good high school in Bucharest (“Aurel Vlaicu” Licée), then in 1966 he obtained the title of MD (graduating as valedictorian) from the Faculty of Medicine of “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest (“Carol Davila” UMP), the oldest, greatest and most prestigious of the medical schools in Romania.
Mihail Coculescu started his research career as an undergraduate medical student, being attracted from the beginning to the field of endocrinology. In 1964 I happened to attend the “Session of scientific circles of medical students” from “Carol Davila” UMP, where Mihai gave a splendid oral communication in the beautiful Great Lecture Theater of his university. I was impressed by the originality of his research, as well as the style of presentation, proving not only his intelligence, but also his passion for scientific research. I was very pleased that Mihai was awarded a prize for his paper from a very prestigious jury of University Professors (of course, I was also pleased to be honored with a prize by the same commission for my communication of the research I performed at the Biochemistry Department of “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca).
In 1973 Mihail Coculescu started his academic career as University Lecturer in the Endocrinology Department of “Carol Davila” UMP, while also undertaking his PhD (1972-1976, when he obtained his PhD in Medicine, specialty of endocrinology). In 1979 Mihail Coculescu obtained the highest medical qualification in clinical endocrinology (“medic primar”). He continued his academic career becoming Senior Lecturer (1981), Reader (1991), Professor (1994) and Chairman of the Endocrinology Department of “Carol Davila” UMP (1997-2011). It should be noted that, as for many academics in Romania, the promotion from Senior Lecturer to Reader was blocked between 1981-1990 by the former dictatorial regime that was overthrown in December 1989. It is worth mentioning that under these circumstances Mihail Coculescu founded and coordinated the section of neuroendocrine pathology and hypophysis pathology at the Institute of Endocrinology, as well as the research group of neuroendocrinology and endocrine molecular genetics from the “Carol Davila” UMP. He was Vice-General Director of the “C.I. Parhon” Institute of Endocrinology (1997-2004). Mihail Coculescu remained Professor of Endocrinology at the Doctoral School of “Carol Davila” UMP until his death.
The change of political regime provided the chance for universities to hold democratic elections for their leadership. In this respect it is important to note that Mihail Coculescu was elected as Vice-Rector for international cooperation and European integration of “Carol Davila” UMP (two 4 year terms, 2000-2008); in the election process participated representatives of University staff and students. In addition, the scientific societies have also gained the ability in position to freely elect members and their leadership after 1990.
I had the opportunity to learn more about Mihail’s achievements in these positions on the occasion of a Jubilee Symposium organized by the AMS on September 5, 2013, to which I had the honor to be invited. The Symposium celebrated Mihail on the occasion of 70 years of life and 50 years of research. Some statements of the speakers on this occasion are worth mentioning.
Professor Irinel Popescu, President of the AMS, in his opening address, presented the whole activity of Mihail, emphasizing his merits as academic, researcher, founder of a school of endocrinology in Romania, mentor and tutor of dozens of undergraduate, graduate students, and of many disciples who are now in prestigious places in Romania or abroad.
Professor Brian Pickering (University of Bristoll, UK) emphasized the unique scientific and humane qualities of Mihail, whom he met first in 1973 on the occasion of a congress of endocrinology abroad. Impressed by the scientific discussion with Mihail, Professor Pickering extended repeated invitations for Mihail to perform a research visit to his laboratory. Only after 1990 Mihail received the approval of the Romanian authorities to accomplish the visits, starting with the first when Mihail took his student Radu Mihai with him. 40 years of friendship (scientific and humane) between Mihail and Brian contributed enormously to great scientific collaborations between “Carol Davila” UMP and the University of Bristol, with visits of students in both directions. Brian concluded: “I am delighted to pay tribute to Mihail as a scientist, clinician and great friend, as he begins his eight decade”. On the same line Professor Harald Lange (Univ. of Marburg, Germany) presented Mihail as a “catalyzer of interuniversity collaboration”, between University of Marburg and “Carol Davila” UMP, collaboration started in the 1990’s (when Mihail was Vice-Rector for international cooperation and European integration of “Carol Davila” UMP). Mihail contributed to the success of a Tempus program, initiated in 1990 for visits of post-graduates, enlarged in 1995 to undergraduates, which in 1999 was replaced by the Erasmus program. Harald praised the role of Mihail in these programs as he always negotiated (friendly however, determined and successfully) the visits on both directions. Mihail invited Brian, Harald and other foreign professors to congresses organized in Romania, contributed to the awards of DhC titles by “Carol Davila” UMP to these Professors and also ensured that foreigners visit some beautiful places in Romania in addition to monuments in Bucharest: painted monasteries in Bucovina, the Danube Delta, the Sculptural Ensemble of C.Brancusi at Targu Jiu.
Professor John Morris (Oxford University, UK) sent a recorded presentation in which he praised Mihail’s role in the development of an Erasmus program, his merit in selecting to benefit of this program very able Romanian people, deeply dedicated to their work, such as Corin Badiu, who achieved two visits (in 1999 and 2002). Mihail and John started a long term collaboration, in both teaching (anatomy in Bucharest and clinical anatomy in Oxford) and research on patients with endocrine pituitary tumours from Romania.
Several of the former Mihail’s undergraduate, graduate students and residents in endocrinology praised Mihail for his unique qualities as mentor and group leader. They benefited a lot from working under the guidance of Mihail, who played the crucial role not only during the years spent in Romania, but even after they were able to find important positions abroad or in Romania, such as Valentin Matulevicius (Associate Professor in Kaunas, Lithuania), Florin Grigorescu (Associate Professor in Montpellier, France), Adriana Ioachimescu (Associate Professor at Emory University, USA), Radu Mihai (Endocrine Surgeon and Honorary Lecturer in Oxford, UK), Sergiu-Bogdan Catrina (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden).
Romanian Professors wanted to pay a tribute to Mihail for his great achievements. Ioana Zosin, a colleague of Mihail, who became Professor of Endocrinology at the “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Timişoara, Romania sent a message.
Professor Cătălina Poiană recalled gratefully of her first research project as an undergraduate medical student under the guidance of Mihail, leading to obtaining her MD degree and co-authorship of some articles published in international journals; she became the Chief of the Endocrinology Department of “Carol Davila” UMP. Professor Ileana Constantinescu has also started her brilliant career as a student of Mihail, then became a clinical endocrinologist and she is now heading a very important laboratory of Biology of Transplantation at the Fundeni Institute in Bucharest). Professor Leon Zăgrean gave a very warm address, mentioning how he started to work as an undergraduate medical student with Mihail (who was famous for his deep dedication to research and education of students not only at “Carol Davila” UMP, but also at “C.I. Parhon” Institute of the Romanian Academy), how Mihail helped him to become a Lecturer at the Department of Physiology, “Carol Davila” UMP, where later he became the Head of Department and founded the Neurosciences Group.
Professor Constantin Bălăceanu-Stolnici (Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy) presented the message of the most prestigious Academy of Romania (also on behalf of Acad. Victor Voicu, member of the Romanian Academy, the General Secretary and President of the Medical Sciences Section of the Romanian Academy). In this message the merit of Mihail was emphasized in developing and strengthening the discipline of neuropsychoendocrinology in Romania.
Professor Corin Badiu (Professor of Endocrinology at “Carol Davila” UMP) recalled of his years of research work as an undergraduate MD student under the guidance of Mihail, who was his mentor in the MD diploma work, as well as in his Ph.D. with important successes in publication of valuable articles with Mihail. Corin followed Mihail in coordinating the Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology (and he is now the President). Corin is also continuing the great achievement of Mihail as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Acta Endocrinologica – Bucharest. Mihail has the great merit in editing the new series of this journal that was originally founded by C. I. Parhon. Under Michael’s the journal was included in the ISI Thomson Reuters Master Journal List and its impact factor marked a significant increase over the years.
In the final speech of the Jubilee Symposium Mihail Coculescu expressed his gratitude to the Professors who contributed to his education, training and achievements in his career: the first was his father, Grigore Coculescu, a researcher in agrobiology, who advised him to perform research on useful topics and using the local possibilities, then the biologist Pavel, Professor Valeriu Neştianu (with whom he worked as an undergraduate MD student learning experimental neurophysiology), Professor Ştefan Milcu (former Director of the “C.I. Parhon” Institute), who encouraged him in the research on pineal gland and hypophysis, research that contributed to making neuroendocrinology a respected discipline. Academician Ioan Haulică generously offered to Mihail the possibility of collaboration in research on the renin-angiotensin system. Mihail also thanked all Romanian and foreign scientists, great Professors and able disciples, friends, his united family. The Symposium was closed by Professor Irinel Popescu, President of ASM.
Mihail Coculescu was supervisor of an impressive number of Ph.D. Theses at “Carol Davila” UMP (23 theses) on modern topics of clinical and molecular neuroendocrinology.
Mihail Coculescu performed many other complementary academic and managerial roles: member of National Commissions of Endocrinology, President of the Commission of Endocrinology and President of the Commission of Neuroendocrinology and Mental Health of the Ministry of Health in Romania, Founding President and Honorary President of the Romanian Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology, Honorary President of the Romanian Society of Endocrinology (since 2008), General Director of the Healthcare Training Center (“Centrul de perfectionare in domeniul sanitar”, 2005-2006). He was a member of the European Board of Endocrinology as representative of Romania (since 2008, the latest reunion of the Board took place in Bucharest in April 2014), Member of the International Endocrine Scholarship Program of the European Society of Endocrinology (since 2008), Member in the International Committee of the American Society of Clinical Endocrinologists (since 2008).
Mihail Coculescu was also a member of many other academic societies in Romania and other countries: Founding Member of the International Association for the Therapy of Obesity, Vice-President of the Romanian Association for Obesity, Romanian Society of Neurosciences (member of the European Neurosciences Society), Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (London), Member of the Advisory Board for Central and Eastern Europe of the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology, Member in the Council of the International Neuroendocrine Federation, International Brain Organization, British Society of Endocrinology, Deutsche Geselschaft für Endokrinologie, Endocrine Society (USA), American Association for Diabetes, European Society for Pineal and Biorhythms, European Society of Endocrinology, European Society for Menopause, European Society for Obesity, Union Medicale Balkanique.
Mihail Coculescu undertook highly valuable research and scientific activities, making an essential contribution in the development of the domain of neuroendocrinology (clinical and experimental) in Romania. His most notable international contributions are also from this field. The main directions of research were the pineal peptides, the hormones from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and hypophysis pathology. In the domain of pineal peptides Mihail Coculescu described the specific effects of the ancestral nonapeptide vasotocin in mammals and humans, providing solid evidence for the theory of presence in the pineal gland, an old phylogenetic organ of these ancestral peptides of the type argininvasotocin (AVT). Mihail Coculescu and his colleagues were the first to identify the pineal angiotensin, the messenger RNA of AVT, other active compounds from the pineal gland with apoptotic role; hypothalamic neurons, exclusively responsive to AVT have been identified in mammals, the effects of AVT on the visual evoked potentials in mammals and on the REM sleep in humans. Mihail’s contribution to the identification of the pineal angiotensin was mentioned in “Gray’s Anatomy” (published by Churchill Livingstone, 37th edition in 1995, p. 1975 and 38th edition in 1981, p. 1981), as well as by A.B. Lerner (the discoverer of melatonin) in “The Pineal”, Nir I, Reiter R.J., editors, (Springer, Wien, New York, 1978, p. 132).
In the field of hormones from CSF the presence of an antidiuretic peptide has been found in CSF under the conditions of the deficit of blood antidiuretic peptide in humans with diabetes insipidus; in mammals with diabetes insipidus he proved the presence of a peptide with hydroosmotic activity in the pineal gland. He also identified the relationships between the hormones from CSF with hypophysis tumors and with the blood brain barrier. His clinical researches focused particularly on the hypophysis and the genetics of the polycystic ovary. He has also validated therapies of antitumoral and hormonal substitution in hormonal therapy.
Mihail was a prolific author, publishing several monographs based on these experimental and clinical researches. He was a sole author of a monograph “Neuroendocrinologie clinică” (1986) and has contributed chapters in several treatises. In total Mihail published 24 books and 438 scientific papers (articles), out of which 91 were full papers published between 1972-2014 in journals indexed by ISI Thomson Reuters and 79 papers published in journals indexed on Medline Pubmed. He has 669 citations and Hirsch index of 13.
Mihail Coculescu was very successful in obtaining grants, being Coordinator (Member in the steering Committee) of several European projects: - on the Theme of Healthy Aging: FP6 ERA AGE 1 (2004-2008), FP7 ERA AGE 2 (2009-2012), FP7: Futurage (2009-2011); Innovage (2013-2015); - FP7 on the theme of Genetic and environmental factors of insulin resistance syndrome and its long-term complications in immigrant Mediterranean populations: Medigene (2013-2015), general coordinator F. Grigorescu IURC (Montpellier), Mihai Coculescu being coordinator of the Romanian group from “Carol Davila” UMP; - participation in the Steering Committee on behalf of Romania for the Study of Adrenal Tumors in Europe, European Science Foundation ENSAT (2009-2014).
Mihail Coculescu was Director of several research grants of the Romanian Academy, AMS (Viasan grant), CNCSIS (National Council for Higher Education Scientific Research) and ANCS (National Authority for Scientific Research) grants. He was also Coordinator or Principal Investigator of 12 multicentric international clinical researches, including those on the use of a growth hormone product with slow release (weekly administration) for adults with somatotrop-insufficiency. In 2012 the Endocrine Society (USA) awarded a Prize for excellence in publication to each of the authors of an article in the journal Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism which described the results of the study.
Mihail Coculescu was a member of the Editorial Board of several important medical journals from Romania and abroad. His work as Editor-in-Chief of Acta Endocrinologica - Bucharest (2005 - 2016) is of particular note, as mentioned before. He was also member in the Editorial Board of other journals: Thyroid Research (Poland), Journal of Breast Health (Turkey), Maedica (Journal of Clinical Medicine), Journal of Biochemistry and Medicine (1997-1999), International Journal for Cellular and Molecular Medicine (2000-2003), Romanian Journal of Endocrinology (until 2004), Revista Română de Endocrinologie şi Metabolism, Physiology (Timişoara). In addition, he was a reviewer to endocrinology journals with high values of impact factor: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (USA), Clinical Endocrinology (UK), European Journal of Endocrinology.
Unsurprisingly, the achievements of Mihail Coculescu were recognized by many academies and scientific societies. The highest honour in his country was his election as Associate Fellow of the Romanian Academy (2014), after he had been elected Member of the AMS (Associate Fellow in 1992, Full Member in 1993), President of Section of Biomedical Research on AMS (since 2011) and Vice-President of AMS (since 2015).
Mihail Coculescu received a high distinction from the President of Romania: “Ordinul Naţional Meritul Sanitar în rang de cavaler” in 2004.
These “top level” honours followed an impressive number of prizes and distinctions that Mihail received throughout his career: The “Gheorghe Marinescu” prize of the Romanian Academy for the monograph “Neuroendocrinologie Clinică” (1986); International Clinician Award in recognition of exemplifying the highest levels of excellence in the practice of clinical endocrinology and educating the public on endocrine problems outside of United States (awarded in 2002 by American College of Endocrinology, Chicago, Illinois); International Award for Publishing Excellence in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism - for paper “Effects of Once-Weekly Sustained Release Growth Hormone: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study in Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency” (2012); “Ştefan Milcu” Prize for the whole activity in the domain of endocrinology (awarded in 2012 by the Romanian Society of Endocrinology), Prize for programs in the domain of health with European Impact (awarded in 2013 by Medica Academica, under the auspices of AMS); Prizes of Excellence Medic.ro 2004 and Medic.ro 2005, for special contributions in medicine, specialty of endocrinology, awarded under the auspices of Ministry of Health and College of Physicians of Romania; Prize of the journal “Flacăra” for the first complete treatise of neuroendocrinology (1988); Diploma for a Romanian scientific medical journal, awarded in 2011 by the Romanian Medical Association to the journal Acta Endocrinologica; Diploma and the Medal “for special merits in the whole activity” awarded by the College of Physicians of the Bucharest Municipium (CPBM) at the Conference of CPBM (2014); Certificate of Recognition by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) “for the contribution for fostering collegiality and interaction internationally in the endocrine community, enhancement of endocrine practice and the improvement of care to those with endocrine disorders around the world” (2014); Diploma of Excellence awarded for the activity in ASM on the occasion of the Jubilee Symposium Professor Dr. Mihail Coculescu celebrating 50 years of research activity (awarded by ASM, 2013); Certificate of Recognition by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) “for service and dedication as the Chair of the Romania Chapter of AACE (2011); Diploma of Honor Guest of the city of Cartagena (awarded by the Mayor on the occasion of the 4th International Course of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism organized by the Columbian Association of Endocrinology, 2012); Diplomas of Excellence at the 65th Anniversary of the “C.I. Parhon” National Institute of Endocrinology and the 60th Anniversary of the National Institute of Endocrinology “C.I. Parhon”; Diploma of Excellence and the Medal the 150th Anniversary of the foundation of “Carol Davila” UMP (2007); Diploma of Honor conferred by the Scientific Organization of Medical Students from the “Carol Davila” UMP (1999); Anniversary Diploma on the occasion of 25 years since the foundation of the Faculty of Medicine in Craiova (1995); Anniversary Diploma on the occasion of 120 years of existence of the Medico-Military Institute (2004); Anniversary Diploma on the occasion of 300 years of existence of the Colţea Clinical Hospital (2004); Anniversary Diploma on the occasion of 60 years from the foundation of “Ana Aslan” National Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics (2012); Diploma of Honor “Man of the Day” (Project “Contemporary Biographical Dictionary of Personalities from Romania (Eco-Europa, 2009); Diploma of Honor (Faculty of Medicine, 1993 Alumni, June 2013); Diploma of Promoter of the OUTNOBEL Laureate Gheorghe Benga (awarded by the OUTNOBEL Foundation, Cluj-Napoca, 2010); Certificate to Dr. Mihail Coculescu, thesis supervisor for Ileana Botusan (thesis “Pathogenic mechanisms behind dysregulated angiogenesis with focus on HIF and IGF-I”), Karolinska Institutet, 2013.
Mihail died prematurely on 25 March 2016 in Bucharest, of an acute respiratory infection, after years of a heroic battle with a very severe disease of which very few people knew. He is survived by his wife Lucia Coculescu (electronics engineer, Ph.D. in Technical Sciences, specialty of electronic calculators), who provided great support for Mihail’s career, and also played an important role in bringing up and educating their two daughters: Ilinca Gussi and Ana Coculescu.
Ilinca Gussi (nee Coculescu), MD, PhD (“Carol Davila” UMP), specialized in gynecology, is mother of 3 children. Ana Coculescu graduated the Faculties of Law from Sorbonne (France) and Sydney (Australia), where she is working as an environmental lawyer.
Professor Mihail Coculescu will be greatly missed not only by his family, but by a lot of many academics, scientists, former students, friends, and by all who had the pleasure of matching wits with him over the years.