BioUtah Mourns Loss of Soft Cell Founder and CEO, John “Brent” Hunt

May 21, 2020

BioUtah and Utah’s life sciences community mourns the death of one our own, John “Brent” Hunt, age 59.  He was founder and CEO of Soft Cell Biological Research (Soft Cell). Soft Cell issued a press release following his passing.  According to a report by KSL, he was reported missing on Friday, May 4 after failing to return from a fishing expedition in southern Utah. His remains were discovered Sunday May 6, on a trail not far from his vehicle. The cause of death has yet to be determined.

“Brent was an entrepreneur, innovator, and visionary,” said Kelvyn Cullimore, president and CEO of BioUtah. “We’re incredibly saddened to learn of his passing. Brent’s intensive research into the nature of L-form bacteria within his own body resulted in Soft Cell’s founding. We’ve not only lost an industry leader, but a friend. Our hearts go out to his family, colleagues, and loved ones.”

Soft Cell has developed a patent-pending protocol to culture and examine hidden bacteria in the circulatory system —seeking to reveal a link between these bacteria, autoimmune disorders, and recurrent infection. Preliminary testing reveals that patients suffering from chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and anemia carry high concentrations of L-form bacteria in their blood. In March of this year, Mr. Hunt was issued a U.S. Patent for his groundbreaking diagnostic discoveries.

Although initially focused on bacteria, Soft Cell recently pivoted in response to COVID-19. Its new diagnostic laboratory is now a CLIA-certified, regional COVID-19  testing center. Soft Cell will continue to focus on COVD-19 during the pandemic including being one of the only labs in the state certified to process saliva samples for molecular testing of COVID-19.