$120 Million Supports Innovative Immunology and Immunotherapy Research

UCLA Health recently announced it had received a $120 million commitment from surgeon, inventor, and philanthropist Dr. Gary Michelson and his wife, Alya, to kick-start the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, an innovative public-private partnership aimed at spurring breakthrough discoveries that prevent and cure diseases and catalyze economic growth and innovation in Los Angeles. 

Announced on August 27, 2024, the gift will be distributed via the Michelson Medical Research Foundation, designates $100 million to establish two research entities within the institute, each funded by $50 million,

One entity will focus on rapid vaccine development and the other on harnessing the microbiome to advance human health. The microbiome research will be conducted with the new UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center.

In addition, the foundation, a part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations, is funding a $20 million endowment to provide research grants to young scientists using novel processes to advance immunotherapy research, human immunology, and vaccine discovery.

“Immunology is the mediator of nearly all human diseases, whether we’re talking about cancer, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Michelson said in a press release.

“The vision for this institute is to become a ‘field of dreams’ — the world’s leading center for the study of the immune system to develop advanced immunotherapies to prevent, treat, and cure all of the diseases that afflict people today and to end these diseases in our lifetime.

“Scientific research is the key to making possible longer and healthier lives,” Michelson added.