CEO's Corner

This year has been full of uncertainty, disruption to our daily lives, and scrambling for organizations and companies to pivot and rethink how they serve their clientele or deliver their programs. But it has also been a year of optimism, creativity, and relationship building. We have had the opportunity to spend more time with loved ones at home and to use Zoom to connect with family and friends around the world. Technology has enhanced collaborations and supported remote office environments to ensure work continues. We are optimistic for progress in our country to support science and research and changes to our systems to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

For the Institute, it has also been a year of transformation and growth.  We are building upon the work and legacy of Dr. Paul I. Terasaki’s vision to improve the health of individuals.  This past spring, the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation was introduced, and expanded to an interdisciplinary approach to solving problems and personalizing patient care through the development of cutting-edge technology platforms.  

We are working diligently on pressing matters to address infectious diseases, like COVID-19, through the development of PPE and improved diagnostics and treatments. Our work within the area of microneedles has proved to be an effective method for measuring biomarkers and creating a minimally invasive way for gene delivery to treat patients for certain types of cancers, genetic defects, or wounds.   

Efforts on multiple fronts to alleviate the shortage of organs in transplantation have been made at the Institute. We continue to raise awareness about the need for living organ donations through the TREC Living Donation Storytelling Project.  And our researchers have also developed an oxygen-releasing bioink for 3D bioprinting for tissue engineering that will extend the life of organs for transplants. Not only will this bioink save lives and help with the shortage of organs, but it can also serve as a physiological model for drug discovery applications. 

We remain committed to working on research that will drive big impacts and be translated for real world application for patients. We look forward to 2021 with renewed energy and remain dedicated to pursuing innovative, personalized solutions to enhance health and wellness. 

Ali Khademhosseini