Los Angeles, CA – November 11, 2025 -The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation recently hosted a special Fireside Chat titled “Remembering Dr. Paul I. Terasaki”, honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of Dr. Paul I. Terasaki. The discussion brought together distinguished leaders who spoke about Dr. Terasaki’s impactful work across academia, medicine, and entrepreneurship.
Moderated by Dr. Vadim Jucaud, Assistant Professor at the Terasaki Institute, the session featured Dr. Jerzy Kupiec-Weglinski, Paul I. Terasaki Endowed Chair of Surgery at UCLA; Dr. Jon Kobashigawa, Associate Director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute; and Mr. George Ayoub, former CEO and President of One Lambda, Inc. Together, they reflected on Dr. Terasaki’s pioneering role in advancing transplantation science and fostering innovation that continues to shape modern biomedical research.
Dr. Jerzy Kupiec Weglinski
Reflecting on Dr. Paul I. Terasaki’s legacy, Dr. Kupiec, emphasized his visionary impact on modern transplantation and pioneering development of the tissue-typing test. He also shared a personal memory from 1997, when he arrived at UCLA with his newborn daughter after leaving Harvard. Dr. Terasaki was the first to welcome him, inviting him for coffee in Westwood a gesture Dr. Kupiec says he will never forget.
Mr. George Ayoub
Building upon those reflections, Mr. Ayoub highlighted Dr. Paul I. Terasaki’s enduring vision to advance solid organ transplantation and improve patient survival. He credited Dr. Terasaki’s patient-centered mission and innovative spirit for shaping One Lambda’s culture; prioritizing collaboration, quality, and global education over profit. Through automation, antibody testing, and international workshops, Dr. Terasaki’s pioneering work transformed transplant diagnostics and continues to guide the field today.
Dr. Jon Kobashigawa
Continuing on the discussion, Dr. Jon Kobashigawa honored Dr. Paul I. Terasaki as a pioneering force whose breakthroughs in HLA typing, crossmatching, and antibody detection transformed organ transplantation. His innovations helped prevent rejection and save countless lives while laying the foundation for the UNOS registry and modern allocation systems. Dr. Kobashigawa also credited Dr. Terasaki’s mentorship and collaboration for inspiring generations of clinicians and advancing transplant medicine worldwide.
Dr. Vadim Jucaud
Bringing the discussion full circle, moderator Dr. Vadim Jucaud reflected: “Dr. Terasaki’s vision went beyond any single field. He believed in a future where science, compassion, and collaboration would work hand-in-hand to improve lives. His influence reminds us that innovation is not just about discovery, it’s about humanity.”
The Fireside Chat served both as a remembrance and a call to continue advancing the values that defined Dr. Terasaki’s life: curiosity, collaboration, and care for the global community. His pioneering spirit continues to inspire researchers and innovators to pursue science that benefits humanity, connecting discovery with compassion. Dr. Terasaki’s legacy is carried forward through ongoing research and innovations at the Terasaki Institute, honoring his enduring contributions that continue to shape the future of biomedical science.