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In a significant loss to the medical community, renowned biomedical and bioinformatics pioneer Dr. Atul Butte passed away on June 13 at the age of 55. His sudden death has left his students, colleagues, and admirers mourning the loss of a brilliant mind who changed how we understand and use medicine and data together.
A Unique Leader in Medicine and Data Science
Dr. Butte was a unique figure in medicine—part physician, part computer scientist, and part innovator. At the time of his death, he was a professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he served as the first director of the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute and chief data scientist for the broader University of California Health System.
He was also a trained pediatrician who completed his residency and fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. Before joining UCSF, Dr. Butte spent several years at Stanford University School of Medicine as a professor and head of its Division of Systems Medicine.
Transforming Healthcare with Big Data and AI
His research focused on translating biomedical data and AI models into practical healthcare tools that help doctors predict disease risks, identify patients with urgent needs, and explore new uses for existing drugs. Through his leadership, initiatives from his labs supported healthcare professionals in improving patient outcomes.
Startups That Brought Science to Life
Dr. Atul Butte co-founded three biotech companies that turned data-driven ideas into real-world healthcare tools:
Personalis: A cancer genomics and personalized testing company that went public in 2019.
Carmenta: A company focused on preeclampsia diagnostics; acquired by Progenity in 2015.
NuMedii: A company that applies big data to discover new drug candidates and predictive biomarkers; led by Butte’s co-founder and wife, Tarangini Deshpande.
He was also listed as an author on nearly 300 research papers, contributing extensively to biomedical science.
Achievements and Honors
Dr. Butte’s work earned him several top recognitions:
Morris F. Collen Award of Excellence (2024)
Award for Excellence from the Association for Molecular Pathology
National Academy of Medicine (elected in 2015)
American Academy of Arts and Sciences (elected in 2025)
Named a “Champion of Change” by the Obama administration in 2013
He was also a fellow of the International Society for Computational Biology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Remembering a Visionary Leader
UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood and other leaders said in a joint statement:
“Under his leadership, UCSF became a global hub for artificial intelligence, informatics, and translational science—advancing healthcare for patients and discovery alike.”
Marina Sirota, acting director of the Bakar Institute, remembered him as a fierce advocate for women in science and someone who inspired and supported many throughout his career.
He was a true innovator and a champion. He was very supportive of getting students excited about science early in their career and had numerous high school interns in his lab throughout the years. He was a fierce advocate of women in science. He had a unique ability to elevate people around him, making them feel good about themselves and the work that they did which in turn inspired them to grow.
Marina Sirota, Acting director of BCHSI
Legacy and Personal Life
Dr. Atul Butte was married to Tarangini Deshpande, and they had one daughter together. Despite battling cancer for two and a half years, he remained dedicated to his work and mentorship until the end.
A memorial and celebration of his life are planned in the coming months.
"Atul’s loss is deeply felt, but his influence endures—in the lives he touched, the data he unlocked and the future he helped shape. We celebrate his memory with gratitude and resolve to carry forward his vision of 'scalable privilege': a more data-driven, humane, and equitable world," Sirota wrote.
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Pooja Bansal/MSM)
