A medical breakthrough born in Los Angeles is being hailed as a global lifesaver. It caught the attention of Bill Gates, who called it “kind of a miracle.”
Frans Walther, MD, PhD, a physician-scientist at The Lundquist Institute (TLI) at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and his research group have developed a low-cost, aerosolized synthetic lung surfactant therapy to treat infant respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), a leading cause of breathing difficulties and death among premature babies worldwide.
Supported by a half-million-dollar Gates Foundation grant, Walther’s research builds on work started in the 1980s by Alan H. Jobe, MD, PhD, who conducted research at TLI for 20 years and is recognized as one of TLI’s 2011 Legends. Jobe’s studies on animal-derived surfactant therapy transformed neonatal care in high-income countries, but the treatment remained too costly and complex for widespread use in low-resource settings. Walther’s solution combines a synthetic lung surfactant with a non-invasive, easy-to-use delivery device. The system is designed to be affordable, stable at room temperature, and simple to administer in any clinical setting.
In a May 2025 blog post titled “What It Takes to Take a Breath,” Gates praised the project and emphasized its potential to save countless newborn lives. “This is the kind of research that gives every baby a chance to breathe,” he stated. Walther’s work is one of more than 600 ongoing studies at The Lundquist Institute, a nonprofit biomedical research organization that has served the Los Angeles community since 1952. With 150 principal investigators and a 19-building, 11.4-acre campus, TLI improves health outcomes through innovative translational research, dynamic education, and meaningful community engagement.
“This work not only benefits children and families in our community,” said Joe W. Ramos, PhD, TLI’s President and CEO. “It ensures that this life-saving treatment reaches the children and families who need it, wherever they are around the world.”
This remarkable breakthrough is a powerful reminder of how donor support fuels innovation with far-reaching impact. By investing in bold ideas and visionary researchers like Dr. Walther, donors help turn scientific promise into life-saving solutions that transcend borders and save lives. Every contribution to The Lundquist Institute accelerates discoveries that give more children a chance to thrive, making hope and healing possible for future generations.