Former Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute Renamed After Historic $70 Million Gift
Investigator(s):
The Lundquist Institute
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) has been renamed the Lundquist Institute, after receiving the necessary approvals from its Board of Directors, the State of California, and other regulatory bodies. The institute’s new name is in honor of California philanthropists Melanie and Richard Lundquist, who pledged an unrestricted gift of $70 million in conjunction with their 70th birthdays earlier this year.
Dr. Richard Murphy is studying a new approach that shows promise for two deadly diseases
Investigator(s):
Richard Murphy, MD, MPH
LOS ANGELES — Patients infected with both HIV and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) have historically had an uphill battle with low success rates and high mortality. Making things worse, until recently, the therapy for MDR-TB has been difficult, involving months of painful injections. But there’s a promising new oral treatment regimen for MDR-TB that could make a huge difference to patients in resource-limited settings.
Groundbreaking experiments have immunized mice against the infection caused by Candida auris.
Investigator(s):
Ashraf Ibrahim, PhD, Jack Edwards Jr., MD
LOS ANGELES — Researchers from the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) have taken a major step toward the creation of vaccine that could neutralize the culprit behind a growing public health crisis. Candida auris, a “superbug” that has caused hundreds of often fatal hospital-acquired infections in the United States in recent years, is resistant to common antifungal drugs. Almost half of those who contract C. auris die within the first three months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Antibiotic stewardship programs with behavioral nudges significantly reduced prescriptions
Investigator(s):
Kabir Yadav, MDCM, MS, MSHS, FACEP
LOS ANGELES— Every year, about 10 million antibiotic prescriptions are written in emergency departments—and about half of them are inappropriate. Similar problems exist in urgent care centers. Antibiotic overuse leads to a host of issues, including adverse drug effects on patients and accelerating the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which kill more than 20,000 Americans a year.
Team of scientists developed antibody-based treatment that prevented infection in mice
Investigator(s):
Ashraf Ibrahim, PhD
LOS ANGELES — Researchers from the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) and Vitalex Biosciences (a spinoff company of LA BioMed) helped lead an experiment that successfully immunized mice against mucormycosis, a fungal infection that is often fatal, potentially paving the way for the development of an immunotherapy for humans.
New study underway to explore disease risk factors
Investigator(s):
Jerome I Rotter, MD
Researchers from the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) are participating in a novel study to understand why people born in rural communities in the South live shorter and less healthy lives than their counterparts elsewhere in the country.
Post-menopausal women on low-fat diets had materially better outcomes
Investigator(s):
Rowan T Chlebowski, MD, PhD
A team of scientists led by Dr. Rowan Chlebowski of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) have discovered that post-menopausal women suffering from breast cancer who eat a low-fat diet have a materially greater rate of survival, according to a new study released today.
Basepaws, a DNA-testing startup for cats, received investments from 2 "sharks"
Investigator(s):
Keith Hoffman, PhD
The cat is out of the bag — Basepaws, a startup sometimes referred to as "23 and Me for cats," picked up two investments totaling $250,000 on an episode of ABC’s "Shark Tank" that aired Sunday, April 28.
Sharks Kevin O’Leary, a software entrepreneur, and Robert Herjavec, who founded a cybersecurity firm, each acquired 5% of the company for $125,000.
Investigator(s):
Ashraf Ibrahim, PhD, Jack Edwards Jr., MD
Researchers at LA BioMed in Torrance, CA have been working to create a therapeutic vaccine for 2 years to fight infections caused by Candida auris. The lab studies have been most encouraging. With its resistance to anti-fungal drugs, a vaccine is likely the best way to combat the antibiotic-resistant nature of this emerging and deadly pathogen.
Institute recently opened new 78,000 square-foot medical research facility to house award-winning doctors
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) announced today that 11 of its investigators are included in America’s Top Doctors. The honor is presented annually, and they are based on recommendations from other physicians and health care professions.