Scientists and health care professionals involved in pulmonary research at University of Southern California are getting a breath of fresh air, and a new building, thanks to a recent grant from The Hastings Foundation.
It was recently announced that the foundation would give a five-year, $7.5 million gift to USC to develop the Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research at Keck Medicine of USC.
Scientists will use the newly funded center to conduct studies on pulmonary injury and repair, and to research regeneration and therapy for a host of pulmonary conditions, and to discover new treatments and cures for pulmonary diseases. The main purpose of the funding, according to the announcement, is to further important research to treat lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Zea Borok is the chief of the division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Keck Medicine as well as a professor of medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology at USC, and will direct the new Hastings Center.
“We expect this generous gift from the Hastings Foundation will help us greatly enhance pulmonary research and clinical medicine at Keck Medicine of USC,” said Borok. “This gift will support our efforts to recruit renowned scientists and promising young researchers in basic lung biology, epigenetics, regenerative medicine and stem cell research, complementing our current research efforts with their knowledge and expertise.”
“This gift builds on the relationship between the Hastings Foundation and USC that has lasted more than 50 years,” said David Tirrell, president of the foundation’s board of directors. “We are pleased with the pulmonary research we’ve seen at the Keck School of Medicine and felt we could expand on that history by establishing the center to provide a focal point for research and recruitment of faculty.”
“The HCPR will attract the best and brightest scientists and students studying advanced lung disease, adding to our medical school’s strength in research,” said Keck School of Medicine of USC Dean Carmen A. Puliafito. “The Keck School is dedicated to finding new treatments and cures for everything from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease to restoring hearing and eyesight. We’re grateful to the Hastings Foundation for their support of our work to cure lung disease.”
The new Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research will also be a hub for collaboration for scientists from several departments and institutes at USC. With an inaugural symposium scheduled for March 2016, the center is now actively recruiting additional researchers and gearing up to spend millions on research supplies and lab equipment.
USC is already home to some of the health care industry’s leading researchers and clinicians, and this expansion is likely to present a substantial boon to an already lucrative marketplace for life science product suppliers.
Recent funding statistics from University of Southern California:
- USC received 387 awards worth $183,514,714 from the National Institutes of Health in FY 2014
- Researchers at the University of Southern California recently received $10.3 million in life science funding to help support the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
- USC reported 2012 Life Science R & D Expenditures of $361,149,000
Hundreds of active researchers from the University of Southern California, including from the Keck School of Medicine and the newly created Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research will be looking for new lab supplies in 2015.
Lab products suppliers interested in promoting new biotechnology directly to active USC researchers will be meeting at the 13th Semiannual Bioresearch Product Faire™ Event at University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus on November 4, 2015 (date pending).
Last year, Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. events at USC hosted over 400 active researchers from 23 different research buildings and 29 on-campus departments to learn about the latest in biotech and lab products.
There is no charge for researchers to attend this event, which features merchandise giveaways, complimentary food and a host of other premium features. To learn more about attending this industry-leading event at a top-funded research university, click below:
