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[INTRO]

The Power of Philanthropy

While grants from government agencies like the NIH are often the first thing that comes to mind when we think about how our missions are funded, the power of philanthropy is apparent throughout our department. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that about $34 million per year in gifts that support various initiatives throughout the department. This is more support than we receive from the state of California.

Take the COVID-19 pandemic as an example: When revenue from operations became uncertain, the department used donor funds to purchase the personal protective equipment necessary to continue our clinical work. Today, when government grant funding is less stable than ever before, philanthropy is making it possible for us to continue the work of labs that risk or have already lost their grants.

Where do these funds come from? Some major gifts come from generous donors who support endowed chairs, programs, centers who are advancing cutting edge research and clinical care in their areas of interest.. Other gifts do not come with as much publicity but are no less essential to our work, such as smaller donations from patients and their families.

“We have a healthy mix of big gifts, most of which come from donors in the Los Angeles area, and ones from grateful patients on the clinician side,” Albert said. “Sometimes a clinician will treat someone and them, their family or a friend will want to repay them for the excellent care they received.” Those gifts often go towards certain faculty, programs or the department.

This week’s message illuminates the way philanthropy is shaping the present and future of the DoM. You will also learn some valuable lessons from two of our division’s fundraising LEADERS, who have sage wisdom to offer those of you who are interested in raising money for your own research efforts.

Researchers Shine at Second Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Research Center Annual Symposium 

The impact of philanthropy on our ability to lead in innovation cannot be understated. In 2023, UCLA Health announced a $20 million grant from creation of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center (GLMC), a hub for basic, translational and clinical research on gut health. Since then the center has shared one exciting development after the next — a $9.5 million grant to study the effects of microbiota metabolites on cognitive health, a Nature Mental Health study on the relationship between stress resilience and microbiome function, an investigation on the impact of discrimination on inflammatory bacteria and much more. 

“We’re the only microbiome center — not only nationally, but internationally — that looks at brain, gut and microbiome interactions,” Arpana Church, PhD, the center’s co-director, said. “We are also housed in the department of medicine, which gives us unprecedented access to patient populations across various disorders and diseases. I think that really puts us at an advantage.”

In an overview of the state of the center, Director Elaine Hsaio, PhD shared that the GLMC has invested in bolstering microbiome research not only in medicine but across campus more broadly. To date, there are 30 different departments and divisions at UCLA that are part of the center, from chemistry and computer science to dentistry and ecology. 

“We all really share a dedication to advancing microbiome research that’s mechanistic, interdisciplinary and advances new technology,” Dr. Hsaio said. The GLMC has invested in supporting these goals by launching technical core facilities and one administrative core “to really facilitate discovery across campus,” she added.

The success of this year’s symposium reflects its reach. 230 physicians, scientists, residents and fellows turned out for the event, which featured seven researcher lecturesand 31 poster presentations. 

“Compared to last year, we're had almost double the number of registrants,” Dr. Church said. “This shows the amount of enthusiasm related to microbiome research on campus.”

Dr. Farahi moved from Iran to Los Angeles to take part in the center’s fellowship. She feels grateful for both the funding for her research and for the support of her colleagues at the GLMC.

“The GLMC has been very warm and welcoming,” Dr. Farahi said. “It’s a really great opportunity for me to be here.” 

Dr. Kulkarni joined the GLMC from Washington University in St. Louis last fall. The center was one of the key features that attracted her to UCLA. As a mucosal immunologist, her discipline adds yet another unique perspective to the center’s growing research roster.

“The center has exceptional expertise in studying the microbiome, and I truly believe the teams here can work together to advance our understanding of how the microbiome influences not just the gut, but also tissue science,” Dr. Kulkarni said.

Thank you to Dr. Hsaio, Dr. Church and all of those who helped organize this year’s symposium for their outstanding work!

New Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health To Offer Holistic Care 

In more exciting news involving our division of digestive diseases, UCLA Health has received a $25 million donation from Walter and Shirley Wang to establish a new center for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health will be one of the few centers in the country to provide holistic care for patients with digestive diseases, where pharmaceuticals and procedures meet wellness-based tactics like mindfulness, diaphragmic breathing and relaxation training.

The center will offer treatment for many different types of digestive diseases, including GERD, Crohn’s disease, colorectal cancer and more. Its emphasis on holistic therapies is both unique and highly valuable to people with these conditions, which are characterized by an array of secondary symptoms like depression, migraines, chronic body pain and insomnia that contribute to the estimated $136 billion spent annually on treating digestive and liver diseases.

To carry out its mission, the center will hire integrative health practitioners in addition to physicians, GI psychologists and specialized dieticians. Care coordinators will help patients navigate appointments with specialists in gastroenterology, psychology, nutrition and integrative health.

Many of our faculty will be actively involved with launching the new center, and I look forward to sharing updates on its progress in the coming months. 

In Conversation With…Fundraising LEADER Eric Esrailian, MD, MPH 

Some of the most significant philanthropic donations to our department’s missions can be traced back to the fundraising efforts of Dr. Eric Esrailian. But while he makes fundraising look effortless, he has also spent a lot of time absorbing lessons from the masters.

“I have been truly fortunate over the years to have been mentored and supported by remarkable people, both personally and professionally,” he recalled. “They took an interest in me from an early age, I am grateful for that every day, and I will never forget it. I am now trying to do the same for others. I try to learn from everyone around me, and this effort pushes me to develop knowledge in diverse domains.” 

That learning has paid off, most recently in the form of the GLMC and the forthcoming UCLA Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health. In this special Q&A, he shared his perspective on fundraising and its impact on our missions.

What inspired you to become involved in philanthropy, particularly for the university and for medical research?

During and after school, while I learned more about business and investing and was fortunate to have success that over the years, I became more active in giving to different organizations and institutions – including UCLA. I also realized the critical importance of philanthropy in supporting academic institutions. As a trainee, student, faculty member, administrator, volunteer, and now as one of the donors and fundraisers for the university, I know that I have lived a unique experience as a Bruin. I also see the benefits of education from a world-class public university system, I see how the trajectory of a family is changed when someone receives this education, I see the life-saving care provided by my colleagues every day, and I see the tangible results of the cutting-edge research conducted by our scientists — including therapeutics and other innovations that were developed at UCLA! Many of my investment partners and friends are also generous philanthropists, and given what I see at UCLA every day, I also try to advocate to donor peers to explain the merits and impact of supporting clinical care, education, scientific research, and higher education in general.

How has philanthropic support transformed the research capabilities of our university/health system?

Philanthropic support is essential to the day-to-day operations of our health system and critical for the groundbreaking work of our research scientists. Of course our health system relies on billing and collections from payors, and we hope for continued funding from extramural agencies. However, to operate at the highest level and to continue to be the best, we need philanthropic support. UCLA Health provides numerous essential and humanistic services that are not covered by payors. Some of the most innovative science in the world would never be funded by a governmental agency, and there is obviously a complicated and uncertain process involved in federal grant funding. However, thanks to the generosity of the philanthropic community, patient lives are transformed every day, scientists break new ground every day, and universities are able to be the engines for innovation that can also make its way into the marketplace.

 Can you provide examples of specific projects or initiatives that have benefited from philanthropic contributions?

I can name many! At UCLA alone, I think about The Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology to help provider services to cancer patients and their families for free, the STAR Program to educate and train the next generation of physician-scientists, endowed chairs to recruit and retain the best faculty, scholarships to support the best students to achieve success without unnecessary debt, support to purchase the necessary clinical and scientific equipment for patient care and research, the UCLA Health Homeless Healthcare Collaborative and its heroic efforts to help the most vulnerable patients in the community, and the list goes on and on. I am also honored to be one of the co-founders for the recently-announced California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy (CIII) which helped UCLA acquire the UCLA Research Park. While we were fortunate to receive support from the state, this support was contingent on our own philanthropic support, and many others are now interested in joining us to take things to a new level. Nothing like the CIII has ever happened in Los Angeles.

What are some of the challenges you have faced in fundraising for research, and how have you overcome them?

Economic uncertainty can clearly have an impact on everyone's investment portfolios, and these realities do end up negatively impacting philanthropic giving. Global issues like the pandemic, geopolitical conflicts and financial crises will all affect how people feel about what they give to and how much they can give. I truly believe that we have an incredible story at UCLA! UCLA is the top public university in the country for many reasons, and by introducing people to all of the great elements of our institution, we have a chance to overcome some of these challenges. UCLA is like a city, and from science to athletics to the arts, we have something appealing for everyone. When it comes to science, we need to articulate the stories — creatively — to make the work accessible to people in the community. Not everyone will understand the benefits of support supporting some types of basic research, but it is up to all of us to tell that story in a compelling way.

What opportunities do you see for future philanthropic support in advancing our research goals?

I see an opportunity to build on a scientific machine that has already had outstanding success at UCLA. We have a track record with scientists who have won every award, received every grant, and published every paper. We also have younger scientists who are in the prime of their careers. Finally, we have early-stage scientists and trainees who are going to be a part of the next generation. Philanthropic support enables us to provide funding for this next generation, and this generosity will allow us to recruit and retain the best talent. 

What advice would you give to our faculty who may be interested in pursuing philanthropic support?

I suggest working closely with development professionals at UCLA to become aware of opportunities, to share the benefits of the work to the public, and to develop materials to be used in discussions with donors. It is never too early to start.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your involvement in philanthropy? 

It is truly humbling and an honor to see the impact of our giving, and because of this impact, I feel comfortable asking others to join me. When Chancellor Block asked me to co-chair the next UCLA campaign for the whole campus, I told him that I did not want to just be the top public university — I want us to be the top university in every way.

In Conversation With...All-Star Fundraiser Janet P. Pregler, MD 

Philanthropy makes it possible to answer many questions that would otherwise remain mysteries. Just ask Janet P. Pregler, MD, a physician-scientist and director of the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women’s Health Center: She has witnessed firsthand the bias that funding agencies have when it comes to issuing grants for research on women’s health — and the power of philanthropy to overcome it. Back in the 1990s, she and center Research Director Gail Greendale, MD secured a donation from the foundation of the center’s namesake philanthropist, Iris Cantor, that ultimately started its research engine. 

“Dr. Greendale knew that we would need to fund pilot research projects to show proof of concept to the NIH, and that strategy was enormously successful,” Dr. Pregler recalled. “That funding, called ‘incubating research’, gave us data that has since helped us obtain more than $50 million in funding from the NIH.”

Dr. Pregler has used what she learned since to help secure donations that have grown the center into a global leader in women’s health research. In this special Q&A, she shares her experience in the field and some excellent advice for those who are interested in becoming fundraisers themselves.

How did you become involved in philanthropy for the university and for medical research? 

Back in the 1990s, Iris Cantor — who was a well-known philanthropist in both the arts and medicine — learned from some of her contacts in Congress, who were women, that there was a gap in funding for women’s health research. She came to UCLA in the 1990s and said, “Women are not body parts. I want to found a center that will provide comprehensive care to women, that will help close this research gap, and that will reach out to the community.” Our chair at the time, Alan M. Fogelman, MD, knew that there were several of us with this research interest, including myself and Dr. Greendale. He came to us and asked if we would work with Iris Cantor to found this center. Then-Director Mitzi Krockover, MD worked closely with Ms. Cantor on the initial donation, but when she left for a job at Humana, it fell to figure out how to find my way in this world of philanthropy. Given that Ms. Cantor gravitated towards initial, start-up donations rather than ongoing support, I quickly realized that we would need philanthropy to develop her vision, particularly her vision of closing the research gap and for working in the community. That was when I started to try to develop my skills to communicate with people who would have capacity to support our mission and to build a structure so we could do that. 

From what you’ve learned, what skills are required to be successful at fundraising?

I’ve had many mentors over the years to help me with these skills. What I have learned from them is that, one, it's very important to be clear about what your goal is for the funds that you're trying to raise. In talking about that goal, you have to have a clear message about what the problem in health is that you're trying to solve. Many of us in medicine sort of assume that everyone in the world knows certain things — like that everyone would know that there's a research gap in women's health, or that everyone would know that lung cancer is one of the top cancer killers. But what I found is that many people who've been very successful in life and who have the capacity to really support major initiatives don’t know about medicine. So you must be able to communicate what your goal is and why it’s important. 

The second key thing I’ve learned is best embodied by a quote from a mentor who worked in philanthropy for a women’s health center at another leading institution. She said, “People don't give to wants and needs. People give to success.” Now, when you first think about that quote, you think, “Wait, people give to wants and needs all the time, right?” After all, people give to help refugees, or to help people who are unhoused. But I came to understand that her point was, that people who have the capacity to really make major donations want some assurance that that you have a chance of success. They want to see what your successes have been so far. And as they become involved, they want continued communication about what their funding has achieved.

Can you provide examples of specific projects or initiatives that have benefited from philanthropic contributions? 

The first year that we were able to raise some pilot funds for the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women’s Health Center, a very senior and distinguished researcher here named Jake Lusis, PhD came to speak with me. Dr. Lucius had been doing some work funded by the pharmaceutical industry to understand the blueprints of the cell and how DNA is interpreted in different organs. Very unusually for the time, he on his own decided to conduct mouse studies to see if there were any differences between males and females. He found substantial differences, and being a good scientist, he wanted to pursue this further. But the pharmaceutical industry wasn’t interested, so he asked the center to fund a graduate student to take his findings further. We did, and the student’s research supported the hypothesis that the interpretation of the DNA was very different in males compared to females. This work received worldwide attention, and Dr. Lusis has continued as a leader in sex is differences research and is now a leading member for one of the centers of excellence in research here at UCLA.

The success of Dr. Lusis’ project was the impetus for our partnership with the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute, which at the time was under the leadership of Steven M. Dubinett, MD, now the dean of DGSOM. When Dr. Greendale and I showed him the publication that came out of Dr. Lusis’ work, Dr. Dubinett immediately agreed that the CTSI and the center should work together. This gave us access to CTSI’s NIH funding, which accelerated our work. As you can see, money from a philanthropist helped us identify really talented people to work with, which then brought in other resources. That’s the cycle we want to use with philanthropy to further our work. 

What are some of the challenges you have faced in fundraising for research, and how have you overcome them? 

For many faculty, the first challenge is figuring out how in the world to find people with the capacity to support their research. It’s very unusual that a philanthropist like Iris Cantor just walks in and says, “I want to give money for this.” So how do you meet these people? Certainly, there are instances where we may meet someone in the context of providing clinical care who is really grateful for the care you gave them or a family member and wants to support our research through philanthropy. However, that's not how most of the philanthropy that I've been a part of has happened.

In my case, I started out by trying to find the places I could go to describe the work I was doing, where it would be heard about by people who were philanthropic and really wanted to become involved in projects like ours. I started by going to a breakfast that UCLA held for some donors. One major philanthropist in Los Angeles, Julia Gao, was at that breakfast, and she came to me after my talk and said, “I'm really interested in this, and I want to help you.” That was also how many other people who have provided us major support heard about our program as well.

Additionally, once you develop a base of people who know about your program, they also network for you and identify friends or colleagues who might share that interest. It’s crucial to really put your program out there, be able to explain it in a way that's simple and understandable, and really talk to people about why it's important.

Are there other obstacles you have seen among faculty who would like to be involved in fundraising?

The challenge that I think a lot of people have is that it’s intimidating for most people to do fundraising. There are a few people who just love it, and they jump right in. But I think physicians in particular often can find this kind of uncomfortable. What I would say to that is that feeling like I had to fundraise to reach the goals for the center has really enriched my life. One of the things that I have learned is that people who want to be generous, who want to support work like the kind of work we do, are just a group of amazing people that have been really enriching for me to know and to work with. They're a really supportive group, and they've provided me mentorship. They've helped me learn how to do this better. I really encourage faculty to not feel intimidated to do this work. People who are asking you about what you're doing really do want to make a difference, and they know that you have the skills and abilities to do that. 

What opportunities do you see for future philanthropic support in advancing our research goals? 

I think one of the major things for us to remember is that we are the leading public institution in the United States, and as a public institution, we are doing work that that is not being done anywhere else. There is an incredible diversity of research that we have here at UCLA and we have one of the largest academic health centers in the United States, with outstanding clinicians working with the researchers. The Los Angeles County Health System is enormous, and we collaborate with them through our connections with all of you — UCLA Medical Center, Harbor UCLA, federally qualified health centers. All those things together really offer a unique opportunity for philanthropists who want to make an impact. I think that the future for us in terms of philanthropy is really bright, and it's mainly getting across to those people who are say, “I see the need, but show me the success. Show me my investment will be well used.” We have that — we can show those successes. So I think that we are going to really move forward in the future.

Do you have additional advice for faculty who want to be involved in fundraising?

The one additional thing that I would say is that if you're interested in doing this, make that known to leadership, whether it’s your division chief or other leadership in our department. Often there are opportunities, for example, to receive training on how to do this, or to participate as I did in forums where you would meet people with capacity. But if the department doesn't know you're interested, you know you may not find out about those opportunities.

My other piece of advice is to remember that if you're passionate about something, philanthropic support could really make a difference. I feel one of the biggest things that I've seen among people in our department is that they will work very, very hard to get a research grant or write a paper that’s rejected over and over again, but they keep at it. Yet when they go to a meeting with a potential philanthropist, and it doesn't work out, they say, “Oh, I'm no good at that, or that doesn't work.” I think continuing to try is really important. I always point out to people there was a seven-year gap between when Ms. Cantor made her donation and when I was first able to start raising money. It takes time. It takes investment. It takes getting your message out to find the right philanthropist to work with you. But if you're persistent, we are at such an outstanding institution that you will succeed.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your involvement in philanthropy? 

In addition to getting to know some of the most generous people in our communities, and finding out all the other amazing work that they're doing, it's that philanthropy gives me the ability to say “yes” to students and young investigators. It's so amazing to hear people say, “Without this funding, I would not have been able to do my work, and my work has accomplished these amazing things.” Being able to expand what we're doing in medicine, which is so important to all of us as faculty, is just an incredible feeling. It makes me really happy that I was able to do this as part of my career.

Brandman Foundation Establishes Lung Health Center

As the GLMC flourishes, another division is gearing up for an exciting new center also made possible by philanthropy. On March 12, UCLA Health announced the creation of the UCLA Saul and Joyce Brandman Foundation Center for Lung Health, funded by longtime UCLA and UCLA Health supporters Saul and Joyce Brandman. Their $20 million donation will be used for research, education, therapy development and more at the center, as well as the establishment of three chairs and two dedicated funds. 

““I am grateful to Joyce and the Brandman Foundation for their continued support of research that will reshape lung health, Division Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine John A. Belperio, MD said. He and Dr. Dubinett worked closely with the foundation on the donation process, as did Larissa Harrison, senior director of development for the divisions of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine and clinical immunology and allergy. The concept grew out of the foundation’s longtime support of the pulmonary division.

“Scale is a challenge. UCLA Health includes 900,000 unique patients and 3,600 faculty,” Larissa said. “And it can take years from the first gift to the kind of transformative investment from the Brandman Foundation.”

While she believes strongly that philanthropy is a critical avenue for funding scientific research, Larissa noted that grants from government agencies are still critical to our work — including during unstable times like the ones we are witnessing now.

“We have an opportunity to educate donors and philanthropists on how their support helps regardless of the federal funding environment,” she said. “While charitable gifts can help during this uncertainty, it would be nearly impossible for philanthropists to completely replace federal awards any time soon for a variety of factors.” 

That said, faculty who are interested in securing funding for their work or want to be part of our broader fundraising efforts can do so by building relationships and polishing the way they communicate their successes.

“If a patient thanks you, accept it. If they ask to help, tell them about your vision,” Larissa said. “Donors are drawn to making things better, especially things that generate new knowledge and/or improve patient outcomes and experiences. Think about why your work is important and practice telling that story to friends and family.”

Thank you, Larissa, for your great insights and your critical work advancing our missions to advance health for all!

Wildfire Funds Uplift DoM After Loss 

While large-scale philanthropy unquestionably drives progress in the DoM, we have recently witnessed the enormous impact that smaller donations can have as well. As members of our faculty and staff waited anxiously to learn the fate of their homes during the wildfires earlier this year, many of you donated to funds set up by the DoM and UCLA Health which provided critical support to those in need. This money had a significant impact on the quality of life of those impacted by the wildfires. It was used to block off rooms in the Luskin Center if members of our department were not able to immediately return home, and to purchase toiletries and other essential items. We continue to take inventory of the needs of our faculty and staff who remain displaced and will use remaining funds for supplies and housing.

To those who donated, thank you for your generosity. Our incredible community is at heart of what we do, and we deeply appreciate your contribution to its well-being during our time of need!

DMPG Retreat Starts Today! 

A friendly reminder to those of you who are part of the Department of Medicine Professional Group: The annual DMPG retreat begins today! Join us virtually at 12:10 PM for a session on community engagement and inclusive excellence led by Keith Norris, MD, PhD and other LEADERS from the CEIE office, and find the rest of the schedule here.

Dale

P.S. 

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