The Lundquist Institute launches four Innovation Hubs and a strengthened Scientific Leadership team to accelerate translational research and community impact.
At this year’s State of the Institute address, President and CEO Joe W. Ramos, PhD, laid out a bold path forward for The Lundquist Institute and the steps that will turn vision into impact. His message centered on sharpening scientific priorities, strengthening collaboration, and building the structure needed to move discovery into meaningful health impact for the patients and communities we serve.
“Scientific excellence must be matched by organizational clarity and translational momentum,” Dr. Ramos shared. “We are building the structure that allows transformational science to move faster and improve the lives of more patients.” His remarks reflected months of planning and engagement across the Institute.
The structure unveiled by Dr. Ramos includes the launch of four Innovation Hubs and the introduction of a strengthened Scientific Leadership team designed to better support investigators and accelerate progress across the Institute.
Organizing for Impact: The Innovation Hub Model
The newly-unveiled Innovation Hubs bring investigators together around shared scientific priorities and the health challenges that matter most to our community. By organizing into focused scientific neighborhoods, TLI is creating space for deeper collaboration, stronger mentorship, and more intentional team science. Simply put, we want to give entrepreneurial investigators the support they need to move promising ideas from the lab to the patients who need them. The Hubs include:
- Advanced Therapeutics & Biomedical Technologies
Led by Executive Directors Paul Mathews, PhD, and Lynda Polgreen, MD, MS, this Hub focuses on turning scientific discovery into real treatments that change patients’ lives. Investigators are developing next-generation therapies, advanced diagnostics, and breakthrough medical technologies designed to address complex diseases. From regenerative medicine and stem cell science to innovative devices and precision therapeutics, the Hub is dedicated to moving promising ideas from the laboratory into the clinic, bringing new hope to patients and families.
- Systems Medicine & Precision Prevention
Executive Directors Rajesh Garg, MD, and Harry Rossiter, PhD, lead this Hub, which focuses on preventing disease before it takes hold. By combining insights from biology, physiology, and clinical medicine, investigators work to better understand the complex systems that drive chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and lung disorders. Their goal is simple but powerful: identify risk earlier, personalize care, and help people stay healthier for longer.
- Translation Science & Population Health
Led by Executive Directors Jessica A. Keeley, MD, and Mohsen Saidinejad, MD, this Hub ensures that scientific discovery leads to better health in the real world. Investigators partner closely with clinicians and communities to translate research into improved care, expand access to proven treatments, and strengthen health outcomes across diverse populations. By connecting discovery with everyday healthcare, the Hub helps ensure that innovation reaches the patients and communities who need it most.
- Infectious Diseases & Immunology
Executive Directors Ashraf Ibrahim, PhD, and Delphine Lee, MD, PhD, lead this Hub, which addresses some of the world’s most urgent health challenges. Researchers study how infections and the immune system shape diseases ranging from emerging pathogens to cancer and autoimmune conditions. Their work includes developing vaccines, new antimicrobial therapies, and immune-based treatments designed to protect vulnerable populations and strengthen global health.
Strengthening Scientific Leadership: Executive Officers
The Innovation Hub model is supported by a strengthened Scientific Leadership framework designed to provide alignment, clarity, and operational momentum across the Institute.
To ensure that investigators have the infrastructure and guidance needed to succeed, Dr. Ramos introduced a team of Executive Officers with institute-wide leadership responsibilities:
- Denise Al Alam, PhD, MS, Executive Officer for Research Infrastructure, will oversee shared scientific cores and infrastructure, advising on equipment strategy and emerging technologies that strengthen investigator productivity.
- Eric Daar, MD, Executive Medical Officer, will align clinical research strategy with discovery science, reinforcing the integration of human studies and accelerating translational efforts.
- Scott Filler, MD, Executive Career Training Officer, will coordinate training, mentorship, and career development initiatives that build the investigator pipeline and support the next generation of scientific leaders.
- Loren Miller, MD, MPH, Executive Community Engagement Officer, will guide community-centered efforts to support the research needs of our community, working with community members, to make a meaningful difference in the community.
- Jerome Rotter, MD, Executive Data Science Officer, will advance data science, artificial intelligence, and computational research infrastructure, promoting the integration of computational approaches across the Institute.
- Michael Yeaman, PhD, MSc, Executive Science Officer, will guide catalytic funding, research synergy, and technology development strategies that strengthen discovery, pre-clinical research, and entrepreneurial pipelines.
Together with the Hub Executive Directors, this leadership team forms a coordinated structure designed to support investigators, align priorities, and maintain momentum.
Building the Engine for the Next Era
The Innovation Hubs and Scientific Leadership framework represent more than an organizational update. They reflect a deliberate shift in how the Institute will work moving forward.
By organizing around clear scientific priorities and reinforcing translational pathways, TLI is positioning itself for its next chapter – one defined by focus, collaboration, and measurable impact.
Institutions that combine scientific excellence with translational discipline and deep community connection will shape the future of biomedical innovation in Los Angeles. Through its Innovation Hubs and Scientific Leadership team, The Lundquist Institute is preparing to lead in that future.
Join us as we build the next era of biomedical innovation in Los Angeles.