Authored by President and CEO Joe W. Ramos, PhD
Last Wednesday, I was honored to address our incredible community during my welcome event at The Lundquist Institute (TLI). As I stood among colleagues, community leaders, and longtime supporters, I was struck by the sense of possibility in the room. It was a powerful evening of shared reflection and bold vision, and the perfect moment to start a conversation I plan to carry forward daily in this role: where we’ve been, what we’re facing, and most importantly, where we can go, together.
A Complex Landscape and an Urgent Call to Lead
My first 90 days as President and CEO have been anything but quiet. Just days in, we were met with the news of a federal reduction in indirect cost rates, one of several signals of a shifting landscape in health and biomedical research. Federal funding is tightening, national priorities are evolving, policy instability is growing, and the economic climate is adding pressure across the board. These challenges are real, but they’re not insurmountable. In fact, they’re a call to lead with focus and urgency.
The Strength of “One TLI”
What’s inspired me most as I’ve gotten to know TLI is the strength of its people. I’ve felt a shared drive for transformation from our faculty and staff to our Board and community partners. I call this spirit “One TLI.” It’s more than internal unity. It’s about unlocking our potential. I’ve already seen incredible energy around shaping a strategic plan, reimagining our research priorities, and deepening collaboration across disciplines. We’re not just ready for change. We’re prepared to lead it, together, with purpose and clarity.
Built for Impact
TLI isn’t starting from scratch. We’re starting from a position of strength. We have world-class scientists with international reputations and decades of meaningful contributions. Our 70-year legacy is defined by discovery, grounded in excellence, and driven by real-world impact.
What makes us unique is how we pair academic rigor with a clear path to application. Through our partnerships – including with Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine – we work side-by-side with others to move science from the lab into patients’ lives. We also provide our researchers with the resources to translate innovation into action, from commercialization support to state-of-the-art facilities. Because of our size and culture, we’re agile. We can adapt quickly, foster bold ideas, and act decisively. These rare qualities in our field position us to make a lasting difference.
A Mission That Begins and Ends with People
As powerful as our science is, our commitment to our community truly sets TLI apart. Our Women, Infants and Children program, high school summer initiative, and graduate training programs reflect this. We’re not only working on the next breakthrough, we’re also feeding our community and growing the next generation of leaders in biomedical innovation. TLI is a place where service and science go hand in hand.
The Vision Forward
Here’s the vision I shared that night, and the one I carry with me every day: To be the leading biomedical research institution translating patient and community-inspired innovation into real-world solutions. It’s bold but already within reach because it’s rooted in who we are. We aim to align our strategy, partnerships, and priorities around this shared purpose. We need to unlock everything we already are.
I’m deeply grateful to those who attended the event and to everyone who’s welcomed me so warmly. This is more than a new chapter for me. It’s the beginning of a shared journey, one that I believe will help shape not just the future of TLI but the future of biomedical science.
Together, as One TLI, we’re not just responding to change but leading it. If you believe in the power of science to change lives, I invite you to join us. Your support fuels innovation, amplifies our impact, and helps bring life-changing health solutions to the people who need them most. Whether through a gift, a partnership, or simply by sharing our story, you can be part of something extraordinary.