The Hastings Foundation has pledged $7.5 million over the next 5 years to the University of Southern California with the goal of enhancing lung disease research through the establishment of the Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research (HCPR) at Keck Medicine of USC.
The center brings together basic and translational clinicians and researchers in order to create a nationally recognized center of excellence for advanced lung disease supported by partnerships within and outside of Keck Medicine. Dr. Zea Borok will lead the project.
“We expect this generous gift from the Hastings Foundation will help us greatly enhance pulmonary research and clinical medicine at Keck Medicine of USC. 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,” explained Borok, who is also a professor of biochemistry, medicine and molecular biology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
The research conducted at the center will be focused on lung injury, regeneration and pulmonary repair efforts to find new cures and treatments to address pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis — all diseases that together affect millions of people around the world.
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The president of the foundation’s board of directors, David Tirrell, said: “This gift builds on the relationship between the Hastings Foundation and USC that has lasted more than 50 years. 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. 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,” concluded Keck School of Medicine of USC Dean Carmen A. Puliafito.