Professor Dan Joseph Stein, internationally eminent psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and cherished academic leader, passed away on 6 December 2025 at the age of 63 after a brief illness, leaving an indelible legacy in mental health research and education at the University of Cape Town (UCT). 

Born on 17 September 1962, Dan Stein’s journey in medicine and science began with medical training at UCT, where he deepened his understanding of biochemistry and psychology before specialising in psychiatry. He went on to undertake prestigious postdoctoral research in psychopharmacology in the United States. He earned doctorates in Clinical Neuroscience and Philosophy — a rare combination that shaped his distinctively integrative approach to mental health. 

An extraordinary blend of rigorous science, clinical excellence, and ethical insight defined Stein’s career. As Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, and Director of the South African Medical Research Council’s Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, he pushed the frontiers of understanding in anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, stress-related and social anxiety disorders. His work spanned fundamental neuroscience, clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and public health — always with a steadfast commitment to reducing stigma and improving care for people living with mental illness. 

Professor Stein was one of the most highly cited researchers globally, with more than 1 600 peer-reviewed publications, over 328 000 citations, and an h-index exceeding 220 — a testament to his profound scientific impact. He was an elected Fellow of UCT and numerous international academies, reflecting his stature in South African and global science. 

Beyond scholarship, Dan Stein was celebrated as a mentor and institution builder. He played a central role in establishing UCT’s Brain-Behaviour Initiative and Neuroscience Institute, nurturing generations of scientists and clinicians whose work will continue to shape the future. His humility, humanity, and intellectual breadth touched countless lives. 

He leaves behind his wife, Professor Heather Zar, their three children, and a grandson. UCT mourns a visionary whose life’s work elevated both science and compassion.