Marcus Maurer: A legacy of innovation, collaboration and mentorship in urticaria research

Abstract

One year has passed since Professor Marcus Maurer set out to hike Monte Giove on July 31, 2024, unaware that this journey would mark the end of a life dedicated to advancing our understanding of dermatoallergology, particularly mast cell-mediated diseases. His tragic passing remains profoundly saddening, and he is deeply missed, yet his pioneering research and invaluable contributions continue to shape and inspire the field, guiding clinicians and researchers in their efforts to improve patient care and scientific knowledge.

Marcus Maurer was a revolutionary physician and scientist whose relentless pursuit of the question, “Why do we have mast cells?”—the focus of his habilitation—defined his lifelong dedication to uncovering their role in health and disease. Naturally, his clinical focus centered on mast cell-mediated conditions such as urticaria, angioedema, mastocytosis and pruritus; however, urticaria stands out as the area where his impact was truly transformative.

In addition to being a good clinician, Marcus Maurer has attempted to address all aspects of urticaria, including its pathogenesis, public health implications, healthcare costs, diagnostic challenges and treatment strategies.^1-10 Furthermore, prioritizing the understanding and facilitation of patients' journeys was central to his approach, significantly impacting both his clinical practice and publications.⁴ Maurer's multifaceted perspective has empowered numerous scientists and physicians—dermatologists, immunologists, allergists, as well as basic and translational scientists worldwide—to identify key research questions in urticaria and foster meaningful collaboration in this important area of investigation.

Professor Maurer has made efforts as a leader or part of many organizations that provided an environment for scientific partnership, collaboration and joint data production. He has actively promoted collaboration with his European colleagues in his role as head of the Urticaria Network e.V. (UNEV), active roles in EADV Urticaria and Angioedema Taskforce, The European Network for IgE-Mediated Autoimmunity and Autoallergy (ENIGMA) initiative,² the EU COST program Mast Cells and Basophils and the UCARE and ACARE programmes—a GA²LEN initiative; centers of reference and excellence in the field of urticaria and angioedema-.^{6, 7} Under Maurer's leadership, these programmes have established a global network, bringing physicians and scientists together to collaborate and advance knowledge in urticaria and angioedema. Through this spirit of collaboration, numerous high-impact projects have emerged, addressing unmet needs in urticaria and leading to influential publications that continue to shape the field⁸ and have facilitated the development and continual updating of guidelines for diagnosing and treating urticaria.⁷

His generosity and patience in sharing his knowledge, combined with his endless energy, made him a perfect mentor. His compassionate nature shone through as he warmly welcomed anyone who came to his door, eager to learn and grow. He inspired many researchers from different countries and ages with his ‘magnetic personality’ and his field of study became a passion for them as well. He served as a role model, demonstrating how to seamlessly bridge the gap between scientific inquiry and clinical application. His mentorship extended far beyond the confines of traditional academia—he taught dermatologists and researchers how to think critically, formulate meaningful research questions, and translate scientific discoveries into real-world clinical solutions such as the discovery of new treatments for urticaria, defining endotypes of urticaria and definition of disease modification in CSU^{8, 9} (Figure 1) (Table 1). Through his leadership and visionary thinking, he also drew the attention of numerous pharmaceutical companies to the field, accelerating the development of innovative therapies for urticaria and other mast cell-mediated diseases, and consistently leading the way toward future treatment paradigms in “urticarialogy”. With his unwavering passion, he inspired young physicians in the art of scientific writing, the rigor of evidence-based research, and the pursuit of excellence in both publishing and patient care. Through his example, he shaped a new generation of clinician-scientists, empowering them to explore, question and innovate with the same tireless curiosity that defined his career.¹⁰

As authors who have improved our writing and research skills under his guidance, it is challenging to craft a memoir for Marcus Maurer. The reality of life is that it is not easy to become accustomed to the absence of a mentor who motivated everyone he worked with. We must carry on his legacy by ‘Never giving up’ as he said and continuing to pursue unmet needs for urticaria as he always told us to do….

Not required.

Dr. Emek Kocatürk was recently a speaker/consultant for Menarini and Novartis and received research funding from Almirall. Dr. Bakay has no conflicts of interest.

Not required.

Not required.