The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

🔬✨ Exploring Biomedical Frontiers this Summer! 🌞🧬 Meet Sydney and Julia, two passionate minds making waves in our High School Summer Fellows (HSSF) program at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center!   “The High School Summer Fellows Program has been a wonderful experience, providing an in-depth look into laboratory research! As I immersed myself in the study of neurotherapeutics for ataxia telangiectasia, I gained hands-on experience with various protein analysis techniques. With the help of Dr. Paul J. Mathews, May Abdallah, Andre Contreras, and my lab partner Julia, I’m excited to continue exploring neurodegenerative disorders and their potential treatments throughout the summer and beyond!” - Sydney (California Academy of Mathematics and Science) “I am having an incredible experience participating in the Summer Research Program in Dr. Mathews' Lab. I have been learning about a rare neurogenetic disorder called Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) and conducting experiments to better understand the origins of the disease and collaborate on finding a therapeutic. With guidance from the Mathew’s lab group, I've been improving my pipetting skills and discovering techniques to manage my shaking hands. I'm excited for the rest of the summer as I continue to delve into neuroscience, particularly neurodegenerative disorders, alongside Sydney.” - Julia (South High School)   Both are working with Dr. Paul Mathews' group on a project aimed at understanding the mechanisms behind motor coordination deficits in the rare neurogenetic disorder Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T).   #TheLundquistInstitute #HighSchoolSummerFellows #SummerFellows #BiomedicalResearch #SummerFellowship #STEMEducation #ScientificResearch #HighSchoolInternship #FutureScientists

🌟Our incredible Respiratory Research Center at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center team attends the prestigious American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Conference in Boston! 🌟 We're proud to highlight our team who presented their groundbreaking research in sports medicine and exercise physiology. 🏆 Dr. Harry Rossiter and Dr. Carrie Ferguson teamed up with experts from Switzerland, Florida, and Arkansas for a Highlighted Session on "Power and Endurance: Polar Opposites or Willing Partners?" 💪 Dr. William Stringer discussed exercise prescriptions for patients with chronic diseases, while PhD student Jeff Moore explored hot water immersion and blood glucose control. 📊 Dr. Michele Girardi and Dr. Asghar Abbasi participated in a thematic poster session on respiratory system function. Dr. Girardi focused on identifying expiratory flow limitations during exercise, and Dr. Abbasi investigated the impact of endurance exercise on small vesicle content in response to cigarette smoke. Our Respiratory Research Center team’s contributions showcase The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center's commitment to advancing medical science and improving health outcomes! 💙 #ACSM #SportsMedicine #Research #TheLundquistInstitute

🔬🌟 Halfway through our High School Summer Fellows program! 🌟🔬 The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is buzzing with excitement as our High School Summer Fellows (HSSF) dive deep into hands-on research alongside our renowned investigators. Meet Hailey, one of our 2024 HSSF rockstars: "My time as a Summer Fellow has been incredibly enriching and hands-on. Under the guidance of my amazing mentors, Dr. Desai, Guang, and Bridget, I have learned a great deal about various laboratory techniques, including micropipetting, cell culture, and western blotting. Working with milk fat globules and exploring the effects of metformin and insulin on cells has been particularly fascinating for me as someone who is passionate about genetics and whole-person care. This experience has not only deepened my understanding of these concepts but also sparked an even greater passion for scientific research. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work, and I'm excited to see what the rest of the summer holds!" Keep up the fantastic work Hailey! #TheLundquistInstitute #HighSchoolSummerFellows #SummerFellows #BiomedicalResearch #SummerFellowship #STEMEducation #ScientificResearch #HighSchoolInternship #FutureScientists

🌞 It’s National Stay Out of the Sun Day! 🌿 Today, let’s celebrate by taking extra care of our skin. Did you know that staying out of the sun, especially during peak hours, can significantly reduce your risk of skin damage and melanoma? Here’s a crucial tip from world-renowned dermatologist and Director of the Cancer and Immunotherapeutics Institute at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Dr. Delphine Lee: “UV rays can still be harmful, even on cloudy days and during winter months. Practice sun safety in the summer and year-round. Your skin will thank you for it!” Let’s take care of our skin today and every day. Share your favorite sun safety tips below! ☀️💙 #StayOutOfTheSunDay #SunSafety #SkinHealth #ProtectYourSkin #SkinCancerAwareness #StayShady To learn more about the groundbreaking work of Dr. Lee and all our institute’s critical projects, visit us at https://lundquist.org.

Hua Wang, PhD, TLI Investigator and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been awarded $2,311,031 from NIH/ National Cancer Institute to develop targeted therapies for cancer   Dr. Wang will research the ATR-METTL3-BRCA1 axis, which aims to understand how these molecular components interact and influence genome stability and cancer development. ATR (Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein) is known for its role in DNA damage response, METTL3 for RNA modifications, and BRCA1 (Breast Cancer Type 1 susceptibility protein) in DNA repair. By studying their interactions, Dr. Wang seeks to uncover mechanisms that could lead to genome instability if disrupted, providing insights into the molecular pathways that can lead to tumorigenesis (the formation of tumors).

Landmark Nature Medicine Study Reports Promising New Treatment Reduces Suffering in Sanfilippo syndrome The study found that the blood-brain barrier crossing anti-inflammatory anakinra was safe and associated with improved neurobehavioral and functional outcomes in Sanfilippo syndrome As a neurodegenerative disease characterized by childhood onset dementia, Sanfilippo syndrome causes immense suffering in many ways, including pain, loss of speech, extreme agitation and distress, gastrointestinal symptoms, and profound sleep disturbance. With no approved treatment, clinical specialists have had few options to help alleviate this suffering until now. A groundbreaking clinical trial collaboration between study lead and principal investigator Lynda Polgreen, MD, MS, Investigator at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA (TLI) and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Cure Sanfilippo Foundation’s Chief Science Officer and study co-investigator, Cara O’Neill, MD, FAAP, used an innovative approach to treat this disease by targeting neuroinflammation, as it is thought to be a key contributor to disease symptoms. Dr. Polgreen’s team used anakinra, a recombinant interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, in children and young adults with moderate to advanced stages of the condition, meaning they were all experiencing debilitating, life-limiting symptoms at the time of study enrollment. Dr. Polgreen expressed optimism about the results, "The changes we observed in our patients represent significant improvements in the day-to-day lives of individuals with Sanfilippo syndrome and their families. This trial highlights the potential of anakinra as an adjunctive treatment option and underscores the broader importance of targeting downstream effects, such as inflammation, in lysosomal diseases." "Anakinra for Sanfilippo syndrome: a phase 1/2 trial" - https://lnkd.in/g5Sd9vwt

TLI Employee Appreciation Event on June 18 Celebrating our amazing team at the Lundquist Institute! 🎉 Our employees' dedication and hard work make all the difference. #EmployeeAppreciation #TeamLundquist #Grateful

TLI Investigator and Interim CEO Dr. Marianne Gausche-Hill Co-authors New Study Revealing Cost-Effectiveness of Pediatric Readiness Becoming highly pediatric-ready could decrease child mortality rates by up to 76%. A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open demonstrates that adhering to national pediatric care guidelines in emergency departments (EDs) saves children’s lives and is cost-effective, ranging from $4 to $48 per patient. The study emphasizes past research showing that becoming highly pediatric-ready could decrease child mortality rates by up to 76%. Marianne Gausche-Hill, MD, FACEP, FAAP, co-first author and also an emergency physician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, emphasized the importance of these results: "This study confirms what we've observed over the years—enhancing pediatric readiness not only saves lives but is also an achievable goal for every ED, regardless of their size or resources. It's an investment worth making." Study is available here: https://lnkd.in/gg_QtMFA

A Trailblazer Returns: 94-Year-Old Mary Burns Revisits TLI for Groundbreaking COPD Study Marking a special milestone for medical research, Mary Burns, a 94-year-old trailblazer in the battle against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), made her return to The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (TLI). Fifteen years ago, Burns was the first to join the COPDGene study — a cutting-edge investigation seeking to unravel the complexities of COPD. As she walked through the doors of the Respiratory Research Center, it was more than just a routine check-up; it marked the inauguration of "Phase 4" of this pivotal study. At the heart of the study is a burning question: Why do some smokers succumb to COPD while others do not? This mystery has spurred researchers to delve into the genetic labyrinth, looking for clues hidden within our DNA. Dr. Richard Casaburi, a senior investigator in his 50th year at the Lundquist Institute, leads the team that recruited over 760 participants and followed them over the years. That Burns was the first study recruit was no accident.  Her remarkable career as the leader of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance made her an icon in respiratory research. The COPDGene study has shown strong productivity, marked by over 500 scientific papers and a wealth of ongoing sub-studies. As "Phase 4" commences, with Burns leading the way, the medical community awaits the next breakthrough in the quest to conquer COPD.