The Lundquist Institute

11/14/2025

The Lundquist Institute’s Medical-Financial Partnership (MFP) has been awarded a $3.44 million grant from Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to expand its innovative model that integrates financial and health care services for families.

By embedding financial coaching and benefit navigation directly into pediatric and prenatal clinics, MFP addresses the economic root causes of health disparities—helping families achieve stability and better health outcomes.

“With the Hilton Foundation’s support, we can reach more families, strengthen partnerships, and continue to build a model of care that responds to families’ real needs,” says Monique Holguin, LCSW, PhD, MFP Co-Director.

“Families shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and making a doctor’s appointment,” added Adam Schickedanz, MD, PhD, MFP Co-Director. “This grant allows us to expand a proven model that improves child health outcomes while helping parents achieve financial stability.”

Learn how this milestone will strengthen family well-being across LA County: bit.ly/49jN4iW

11/13/2025

The Lundquist Institute, together with its start-up company Vitalex Biosciences, is proud to announce a significant advancement in fungal vaccine research supported by a highly competitive $40 million contract from the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

"It is the culmination of years of work on our TLI technology platform and reflects our commitment to tackling high-impact infectious disease challenges," said Ashraf Ibrahim, PhD, TLI Investigator, VXV-01 Program Lead, and CEO of Vitalex Biosciences.

Learn more about this breakthrough: bit.ly/48cBJA4

11/11/2025

This Veterans Day, we honor those who have served, and continue to serve, in ways that advance healing and hope. 🇺🇸

For Jeff Chen, that mission didn’t end when he hung up his Navy uniform—it simply took a new form.

After eight years as a Hospital Corpsman saving lives on the battlefield, Jeff found a new purpose in science. Now a research intern at The Lundquist Institute’s Division of Infectious Diseases and an undergraduate at UCLA, he’s channeling the same courage, compassion, and discipline that defined his military service into biomedical discovery.

From battlefield medicine to the lab bench, we’re proud to share Jeff's story of resilience, growth, and the science of service. Read more: bit.ly/47yAM4W

11/09/2025

The Lundquist Institute’s D**g Chang, MD has been awarded a $3.16 million NIH grant to improve ICU care and shared decision-making for patients with advanced illnesses.

Through a large-scale clinical trial across Los Angeles County’s public hospitals and Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Chang’s team will test an innovative communication model designed to help families and care teams make more informed, compassionate choices in critical care.

Read more below to find out how this research could transform ICU treatment nationwide.

The Lundquist Institute is proud to announce that D**g Chang, MD, MS has been awarded a prestigious R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Aging, totaling $3,163,459, for his groundbreaking project entitled: “A Type 2 Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation St...

11/07/2025

Marisela Montoya, EdD leads The Lundquist Institute’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program — one of the largest in the nation — but her path to leadership has been anything but conventional. Her story is one of resilience, compassion, and purpose. 💜

Through her leadership, The Lundquist Institute WIC South Los Angeles Program has become a model of innovation and impact, and building a culture centered on empathy, education, and empowerment.

Marisela's path is a testament to what’s possible when lived experience meets visionary leadership — transforming personal struggle into community strength. Read her full story below.

For Marisela Montoya, EdD, Executive Director of the Lundquist Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, her path to leadership has been anything but conventional.

11/06/2025

We recently hosted our annual Legends celebration — an evening recognizing the exceptional scientists, leaders, and community partners driving biomedical innovation and improving lives through discovery.

TLI President and CEO Joe W Ramos, PhD opened the program by reaffirming TLI’s mission: to turn science into real-world impact. “Together, we celebrate the people and partnerships that make bold science possible,” said Dr. Ramos. “Our goal is to turn discovery into impact, from the clinic to the community and the rest of the world.”

This year’s honorees — Dr. Lynne M. Smith, Dr. Shalender Bhasin, and Dr. Viktor Eysselein — were celebrated for their pioneering work in neonatology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology. Additional awards recognized TLI Investigators Dr. Ashraf Ibrahim and Dr. Lynda Polgreen, as well as Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán, along with staff honorees for their remarkable leadership and commitment to TLI’s mission.

Relive the highlights and meet the remarkable honorees shaping tomorrow’s breakthroughs: bit.ly/4ormlFS

11/06/2025

We were thrilled to welcome the bright and curious students from the Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science earlier this week to The Lundquist Institute!

During their visit, students learned more about TLI and our impact on global health from President and CEO Joe W. Ramos, PhD, and were inspired by presentations from TLI Investigators Michelina Iacovino, PhD, Priya Uppuluri, PhD, and Mina Desai, PhD who shared what it’s like to pursue a pathway in biomedical research—from exploring new scientific frontiers in gene expression to improving patient health through discovery.

The day wrapped up with a behind-the-scenes tour of our research labs with our postdoc fellows, where students experienced firsthand the energy and collaboration that drive innovation at the Institute.

Together, we’re sparking curiosity and empowering the next generation of scientists!🔬

11/06/2025

At The Lundquist Institute, your generosity drives the science that saves lives. Every gift powers research, innovation, and training that bring new cures within reach.💡Because of your generosity this year:

- Our scientists have made advances in pneumonia, diabetes, and infectious disease, earning national recognition and securing competitive NIH funding to carry this work forward.🧪

- 66,000+ families in South LA received essential breastfeeding education, nutrition counseling, and care through our Lundquist WIC program.🍎

- We've invested in the next generation of biomedical scientists, training postdoc fellows, PhD students, and high school students through hands-on research at the forefront of biomedical discovery.🔬

Right now, every donation is being matched 1:1 by Melanie and Richard Lundquist through year-end. Support tomorrow's cures and double your impact this year-end: bit.ly/fueldiscovery

10/30/2025

The Lundquist Institute is proud to partner with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in advancing equitable access to clinical research and regenerative medicine across California.

Through the newly announced Community Care Centers of Excellence (CCCEs), this initiative will expand opportunities for patients to participate in cutting-edge stem cell and gene therapy clinical trials.

By bringing research closer to home and training the next generation of regenerative medicine professionals, the CCCEs mark a powerful step toward ensuring that life-changing treatments reach every community.

Read more: bit.ly/4nzn7PI

Access to clinical trials shouldn’t depend on where you live.

That’s why CIRM has approved $27 million to establish three Community Care Centers of Excellence (CCCEs) across California—in South Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and Desert Region, and in the Central Valley.

These centers will expand access to cutting-edge stem cell and gene therapy clinical trials for conditions such as cancer, Parkinson’s, and sickle cell disease, while also training the next generation of regenerative medicine professionals.

Together, the CCCEs mark a major step toward ensuring Californians have access to life-changing treatments close to home.

Read the full press release here: https://bit.ly/3Wwl4Rq

10/27/2025

Shaped by his experiences in rural India, TLI Investigator Rajesh Garg, MD has built a career defined by empathy, excellence, and purpose. Now at The Lundquist Institute, he’s dedicated to mentoring the next generation of physicians—teaching not just medicine, but meaning.

For Dr. Garg, every patient and student interaction reflects a lifelong belief that medicine is more than science—it’s a human connection. His journey from modest beginnings to a prestigious medical institute is a testament to resilience, compassion, and the power of purpose-driven care.

Read how Dr. Garg continues to bridge cultures, inspire future doctors, and redefine what it means to heal: bit.ly/4ngrkrz

10/25/2025

Researchers at The Lundquist Institute have discovered a potential biomarker that could shed light on why some people continue to experience symptoms long after their initial infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a condition commonly referred to as “long COVID.” 🧬

By detecting fragments of COVID-19 in tiny particles called extracellular vesicles, TLI Investigators Asghar Abbasi, PhD and William Stringer, MD are uncovering clues that may redefine how long COVID is diagnosed and understood.

A new study from The Lundquist Institute, led by TLI Investigators Asghar Abbasi, PhD, and William Stringer, MD, links lingering SARS-CoV-2 fragments in blood vesicles to ongoing long COVID symptoms.

10/24/2025

Did you know that genetics accounts for approximately 10–15 percent of breast cancers — and that early detection and lifestyle play a much greater role in reducing risk?

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the importance of bridging research and care through the work of Christine Dauphine, MD, TLI Investigator and Director of the Breast Clinic at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

In our latest feature, Dr. Dauphine shares key insights on modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, the value of proactive screening, and the future of breast cancer research: bit.ly/4qw5DXi

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time to educate, empower, and encourage proactive screening.