BY: GRIFFIN JONES
In Memoriam: Joshua Abram (August 20, 1962 – August 5, 2025)
Joshua Abram, a pioneering entrepreneur whose ventures reshaped technology, hospitality, and reproductive medicine, passed away on August 5, 2025, at the age of 62, following a hard-fought, nearly 20-year battle with multiple myeloma.
Joshua’s treatment in his fight against cancer unfolded largely at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he was cared for by a team he found fascinating and endearing.
Born on August 20, 1962, Joshua grew up in New York City, one of five children of Jane Isabella Abram (née Maguire) and Morris B. Abram, a lawyer and civil-rights activist who argued the landmark Gray v. Sanders case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Alongside his siblings—Ruth, Ann, Morris, and Adam—Joshua was immersed in a home where spirited debate was encouraged. “The only way to get into trouble,” he once recalled, “was not having something to say.”
Joshua is survived by his wife, designer and entrepreneur Cristina Azario; their two sons, Harrison (“Harry”) Abram and Max Abram; and his siblings. When not advancing his vision, Conceivable Life Sciences, in Mexico City and Guadalajara, Joshua split his time between New York City and a historic Connecticut estate, embracing spaces—whether urban or rural—that reflected his love of design, history, and hospitality.
Architect of Ideas and Movements
Joshua’s sensibilities extended far beyond boardrooms and laboratories. He had a discerning eye for design and a deep appreciation for spaces that inspired connection. With Cristina, he created a home in East Harlem that blended industrial materials with Old World craftsmanship, as profiled in Veranda in 2014. They furnished the space with vintage textiles, global art, and pieces from Cristina’s own couture linen line, creating a setting that was both elegant and welcoming.
In more recent years, Joshua and Cristina shared their time between the city and a historic 18th-century Connecticut estate. The multi-building property, restored with meticulous attention to architectural detail, reflected his appreciation for history, craftsmanship, and the interplay of indoor and outdoor spaces. It was a place for gathering family, entertaining friends, and enjoying the serenity of nature—a counterpoint to his fast-paced professional life.
Joshua’s personal qualities were as remarkable as his professional accomplishments. Friends and colleagues remember his fierce intelligence, insatiable curiosity, and extraordinary gift for making others feel seen and valued. Whether speaking with a billionaire investor or an unproven up and comer, Joshua listened intently, asked incisive questions, and drew connections others might miss.
His nearly two decades of living with multiple myeloma were marked not by retreat, but by engagement. Each remission was treated as a “bonus” chapter—a chance to learn more, build more, and deepen relationships.
A “Productive Rage”
But Joshua’s biggest dream was yet to come. In December 2022, Abram, Murray and Dr. Alejandro Chavez-Badiola, launched Conceivable Life Sciences to pioneer the world’s first automated IVF laboratory—aimed at multiplying by ten the number of families able to access fertility treatment. Joshua’s goal was to take the Nobel Prize winning IVF therapy, often accessible only to a select few, and turn it into a population health solution.
Joshua saw Conceivable not simply as a company, but as a movement to democratize reproductive medicine, improve success rates, and reduce costs. In the weeks before his passing, his final request to Murray was to ensure that Conceivable achieved “excellence at scale,” fulfilling its mission to bring IVF within reach for millions worldwide.
Joshua’s relentless drive came from what he called a “productive rage”. Rage at what he viewed as collective hypocrisy and rage at inequitable access to IVF.
“If we had a cure for cancer, but as a society, decided it’s only available to cash paying, wealthy patients, there would rightfully be protests in the streets,” Joshua would say. “When it comes to the trauma of infertility, we have a cure for this disease that strikes people in the prime of their lives. Yet, we’ve built an entire industry that is mostly utilized as concierge medicine for the rich. Meanwhile, the streets and our industry remain silent.”
As Jacques Cohen, Chief Scientific Officer at Conceivable, wrote to him: “You can see connections others miss—between past and present, between ideas and people, between what is and what might be. I have watched you build bridges out of thin air and speak with such generosity that one feels slightly stunned to be on the receiving end. You have been unshakably loyal, and endlessly generous, to people, to values, to ideas that matter.”
Joshua’s colleague, Ann Watson, put into words a feeling expressed by nearly all of his friends after his passing. “He was the most intellectually generous person I’ve ever known.”
Murray honored his comrade’s legacy with a commitment:
“Onward we must all go without his physical presence, but Joshua will live on forever in my thoughts and in my actions.”
What They’re Saying
Joshua’s friends and colleagues in the fertility space took to social media and Inside Reproductive Health to share their thoughts on the man many of them described as a legend. These are only some of them.
“The gesture of Joshua having the 1982 Life Magazine cover I graced printed on silk, which then lined one of his suit jackets was not just a fashion statement… Joshua wanted to keep the mission of improving IVF close to his heart. That's who he was.”
—Elizabeth Carr, first IVF baby born in USA, former colleague at TMRW
“Joshua had the vision to look at the very complacent fertility field that has often been defined by limitations, and saw possibility. He didn’t just build businesses—he built movements, and his work will continue to shape lives far beyond his own. Asking how we can meet the demands of all infertility patients and increase the number of babies born to millions rather than hundreds of thousands is one of his enduring legacies.”
—David Stern, CEO, Kindbody
“Joshua had a rare gift: no matter who you were, when you spoke with him, you felt like the most important person in the world. He listened with genuine curiosity and always found something remarkable in every conversation. Joshua—thank you for showing me what authentic leadership looks like. Five years was far too short, but your lessons will last a lifetime.”
—Alejandro Chavez-Badiola, co-founder, Conceivable Life Sciences
“I miss him so much, so inspired to continue to build his legacy with his incredible partners Alan and Alejandro.”
—Stephanie Kuku, Chief Knowledge Officer, Conceivable Life Sciences
“It hit me hard. It feels like a loss to the industry that's going to be hard to replace.”
—Daniel Madero, CEO, Fertilidad Integral
“From the time I met Joshua, there was a gravitational pull towards exchanging ideas with him, looking with him into the future, and, above all, feeling privileged to have him as a friend.”
—Dr. David Sable
“I miss him so much, (it has left) an empty space in my chest.”
—Veronica Camacho, Joshua’s executive assistant
“Joshua lent me his confidence whenever I needed his to borrow. He encouraged me relentlessly.”
—Griffin Jones, founder, Inside Reproductive Health
“[Joshua was] fiercely intelligent, endlessly curious, and deeply committed to building things that matter. He was never content with the status quo.”
—Louis Villalba, CEO of TMRW
“Joshua was not only a great human being but also a visionary leader that put his passion and hard work to take a giant step with Conceivable to support more patients suffering from infertility. I have no doubts his legacy will become a reality and that he will still be guiding it from heaven.”
—Dr. Diego Ezcurra, EMD Serono
“For nearly a decade, Joshua was a force in my life—pushing me to elevate my thinking, listen closer, connect dots others miss, and always, always ask better questions. He was the most intellectually generous person I’ve ever known.”
—Ann Watson, Chief Marketing Officer, Conceivable Life Sciences
“I am feeling very full of love and gratitude towards this beautiful man for what he brought to my life. And feeling the loss. Much love to his sons and family and of course his closest ally—Alan Murray.”
—Fred Destin, Founder, Stride VC
“Joshua was a brilliant, visionary man with a curious mind and a heart of gold. Every word he spoke was careful and thoughtful, and he was larger than life, taking command of every room he entered. He will be missed.”
—Abby Mercado, CEO, Rescripted
“Joshua was the very first person who took me seriously in this space. Even though I had no relevant background or credentials, he made time for me, listened to my ideas, introduced me to colleagues, and encouraged me to think bigger. I’m not even really sure why he did that, other than the fact that he was a dreamer and open to new ideas no matter where they came from.”
—Van Spina, health tech investor
“Joshua Abram was a friend, a guide, and an inspired strategic and creative partner. He believed in me when I was struggling to believe in myself, and his love of life and doing meaningful work was infectious The In Vitro Possible Forever. ”
—Mark Borden, Editorial Director, Conceivable Life Sciences
The content and themes expressed within the article are that of the news. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Inside Reproductive Health.
