Allen P Miller passed away peacefully on August 25, 2025, in the hospital, at the age of 87. We, his colleagues and partners in photobiology, are deeply saddened by his loss.

Allen was a lifelong learner with a sharp and curious mind. He earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from Cornell and went on to graduate in the top of his class from Cornell Law School, and became a highly successful lawyer in Texas, USA.

After retiring, Allen developed a passionate interest in photobiology—specifically, the relationship between the sun and human health. Allen worried that his grandchildren spent too much time indoors and had a fear of sun exposure. With characteristic dedication, he built an extensive library of scientific publications, attended countless lectures and symposia. Modest but sharp-minded, he engaged in deep discussions with leading researchers from around the world finding a disbalance in the research with an overall neglect of potential beneficial health effects of sun exposure. Over time, Allen himself became widely recognized as an expert in the field.

Allen leaves behind not only our memories of his warmth and dedication but also an extraordinary legacy. Behind the scenes, he built a strong scientific foundation showing that the benefits of safe, non-burning UV exposure can outweigh the manageable risks of sunburn. This passion led him to establish the Sunshine Health Foundation in 2015, a platform devoted to advancing understanding of this vital topic.

His studies led him to challenge long-standing paradigms regarding the effects of sun exposure. Determined to foster a better understanding, Allen organized international conferences in Washington, D.C. in 2019 and 2024, bringing together world-renowned scientists. These meetings, grounded in the latest research, offered a transformative perspective on the essential role of solar exposure in human health. For over a decade, Allen and the Sunshine Health Foundation supported the expenses of photobiologists speaking in the Photoimmunology and Photomedicine sessions at European Society for Photobiology conferences.

Allen’s mission was clear: to help the public benefit from sunlight safely—avoiding risks while countering and preventing diseases linked to insufficient exposure. He was deeply committed to improving public health by urging U.S. health authorities to update their guidance in light of emerging science.

Photobiologists worldwide will be working closely with Allen’s family and the board of the Sunshine Health Foundation to find meaningful ways to carry forward his mission and support those who continue this important work. There will be a themed issue in Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences dedicated to the leadership of Allen P Miller. The issue will be titled The Health Benefits of Moderate Sun Exposure: A tribute to Allen P Miller.

Allen’s mission was clear: He was deeply committed to improving public health and to urging U.S. health authorities to update their guidance on sun exposure in light of emerging science.

Ad Brand (Netherlands), Frank de Gruijl (Netherlands), Prue Hart (Australia), John MacMahon (United States), Richard Weller (Scotland).