Samuel Bruce Lehrer, distinguished researcher dies at 82

SAMUEL BRUCE LEHER, Ph.D.,  a distinguished microbiologist and clinical immunology researcher whose work advanced understanding of food and environmental allergens, passed away on September 16, 2025. He was 82.

SAMUEL BRUCE LEHRER, Ph.D.

Born in New Britain, Connecticut,Lehrer pursued a career dedicated to allergy and immunology research and education. He served for many years at the Tulane School of Medicine, as Professor of Medicine in the Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy & Rheumatology, mentoring trainees and collaborating across disciplines.

Lehrer’s scholarship included influential studies on IgE-mediated responses to seafood allergens and other environmental triggers, contributing to improved diagnosis and risk assessment for patients with food hypersensitivity.

Across his four-decade long career, Lehrer authored and co-authored over 190 peer-reviewed publications, including work on genetic modification of food allergens and the utility of animal models in predicting human allergenicity. His research is widely cited in the fields of Immunology, Allergy, and Food Science, with over 8,000-plus citations.

Lehrer was active in professional societies, including the American Academy of Allergy, the American Association of Immunology, and the American Thoracic Society, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific rigor.

He was preceded in death by two children, Marc Barnet Lehrer and Sandra Grace Lehrer. He is survived by his wife Gila Lehrer, their children Rudy Lehrer, Marc Charles Lehrer, Nicole Lehrer; a brother Leon Lehrer (Jan); and nine grandchildren. .

Samuel Lehrer will be forever remembered by family for his generosity, his sharp humor, an insatiable intellectual curiosity, and above all his compassion and love for his family.

Graveside services were held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 1:00 p.m., at Tikvat Shalom Cemetery (in Jefferson Memorial Gardens) St. Rose, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to in Dr. Lehrer’s memory to your preferred charity.