Los Angeles, CA – December 22, 2025 -The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) concludes 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose and momentum. Following a year marked by scientific discoveries, community connections, and institutional resilience, the Institute continued to advance its mission of developing personalized, translational solutions that improve human health. Across cancer biology, regenerative medicine, immunoengineering, biosensing, and global collaboration, TIBI’s researchers, partners, and students demonstrated exceptional dedication to building a healthier future.
Amid this scientific progress, the TIBI community also united in remembrance. The passing of Dr. Keith Terasaki, Chair of the Board and a deeply respected leader, cast a solemn note over the year. His legacy, shaped by service, scientific advocacy, and an unwavering belief in the power of innovation, continued to guide the Institute and inspire the work carried out in his honor.
Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Keith Terasaki
Dr. Keith Terasaki’s passing had a profound impact on the Institute he helped shape for over a decade. His leadership extended far beyond administrative stewardship; it embodied a philosophy of compassion, scientific curiosity, and community service. Dr. Terasaki championed scientific discovery while remaining deeply committed to accessible, patient-centered innovation. He supported causes ranging from education and community health to environmental stewardship and cultural preservation, including his family’s transformative $3.5 million contribution to the Terasaki Budokan in Little Tokyo.
Throughout 2025, TIBI’s research achievements, institutional partnerships, and educational programs stood as living tributes to his vision. His legacy continues to be reflected in every effort that advances biomedical innovation with humanity at its core.
Advancing Biomedical Discovery Across Core Research Areas
“This year’s discoveries reflect the strength of our scientific teams. Across biomaterials, tissue engineering, cancer biology, immunoengineering, and AI, our researchers advanced platforms with real potential for patient impact. Their rigor, creativity, and collaboration continue to move translational science forward.” - Dr. Xiling Shen, Acting Director
Cancer Immunology and Vaccine Development
TIBI scientists advanced immunoengineering with new platforms designed to strengthen vaccine delivery and model immune behavior across age groups. A study led by Dr. Natashya Falcone introduced a lipopeptide hydrogel (LPH) system capable of providing both antigen depots and adjuvant-like stimulation, resulting in enhanced T cell activation for liver cancer vaccine candidates. Complementing this work, Dr. Vadim Jucaud’s team developed a lymph node-inspired organ-on-a-chip that captures age-specific immune responses. Unlike traditional 2D systems, this platform revealed measurable declines in antigen presentation and cytotoxicity in older immune cells, offering a more accurate tool for evaluating vaccine efficacy in aging populations.
Neuro-Oncology and Disease Modeling
Glioblastoma research also advanced significantly. Dr. Vadim Jucaud’s lab engineered a three-dimensional microphysiological system that integrates human tumor cells and primary pericytes within a biomaterial tuned to mimic brain stiffness and diffusivity. The model demonstrated pericyte-driven increases in temozolomide resistance, from 22% to over 32%, and uncovered a striking 160-fold rise in CCL5 expression, a chemokine linked to treatment resistance. Scalable, reproducible, and human-relevant, this system provides a promising alternative to animal models for therapeutic screening.
Neural Regulation and Cancer-Associated Cachexia
A study led by Dr. Aliesha O’Raw offered new insight into cancer-associated cachexia (CAC), a lethal metabolic syndrome responsible for more than one-third of cancer-related deaths. Published in Cell, her work revealed how vagal nerve dysfunction disrupts the brain-liver axis, amplifying systemic inflammation and accelerating tissue wasting. Restoring vagal tone via surgical, chemical, electrical, or non-invasive stimulation reduced cachexia symptoms and improved chemotherapy outcomes in preclinical models. This research positions neuromodulation as a compelling therapeutic avenue for patients experiencing CAC.
Organ-on-a-Chip and Microfluidic Cancer Platforms
Building on its strengths in microphysiological systems, TIBI introduced a vascularized embolization-on-a-chip platform that captures human liver tumor vasculature, enabling the direct testing of embolic therapies. Developed in Dr. Jucaud’s lab, the system replicates microvascular occlusion, allowing researchers to measure tumor cell death, vessel regression, cytokine release, and hypoxia under clinically relevant conditions. As regulatory agencies increasingly encourage non-animal testing alternatives, this technology positions TIBI at the forefront of evaluating liver cancer therapies.
AI-Enhanced Immunology and Precision Modeling
In computational immunology, researchers demonstrated how AlphaFold 3 can be adapted to predict T cell receptor-peptide-MHC interactions with growing specificity. Led by Dr. Chongming Jiang and TIBI’s computational biology team, the study showed that deep-learning structural modeling can distinguish between immunogenic and non-immunogenic epitopes. This finding lays the groundwork for designing safer and more precise T cell therapies, as well as identifying new vaccine targets through in silico screening.
Biomanufacturing and Advanced Diagnostics
Advancing therapeutic antibody production, Dr. Vadim Jucaud and collaborators developed a label-free, microfluidic biosensing platform capable of detecting monoclonal antibody secretion in real time. Reducing characterization workflows from several hours to one, the system enables rapid identification of high-producing hybridoma lines, a critical capability in a market exceeding $240 billion per year. The platform’s scalability and cost efficiency hold promise for both research laboratories and industrial biomanufacturing.
Biomaterials and 3D Tissue Engineering
Research led by Dr. Johnson V. John explored new frontiers in regenerative medicine through a light-based microfabrication technique that controls the internal architecture of microgels to organize the cell to make anisotropic tissues. Published in Small, the study demonstrated how engineered microgels can organize muscle cells to make mini muscle tissues. Moreover, by using this technology, the team engineered aligned photoreceptors to mimic outer retinal architectures.. These aligned architectures of biomaterials demonstrate strong potential for anisotropic tissue engineering.
Wearable Bioelectronics and Ultra-Durable Health Monitoring Systems
In wearable health technology, Dr. Yangzhi Zhu’s team introduced a self-healing electronic skin capable of restoring more than 80% of its function within ten seconds following mechanical damage. Withstanding over fifty cut-and-heal cycles and tens of thousands of bending cycles, the material demonstrated high resilience and accuracy in biosignal monitoring. When paired with machine learning, the system classified muscle fatigue states with notable precision, paving the way for durable, user-friendly health monitoring devices suited for athletic, rehabilitative, and everyday applications.
Terasaki Innovation Summit 2025
The 2025 Terasaki Innovation Summit marked a milestone as the Institute hosted the event at its Woodland Hills headquarters for the first time. Over three days, leaders in nanomedicine, regenerative engineering, diagnostics, and AI-driven healthcare convened to discuss emerging technologies and the future of translational science.
Keynotes from Dr. Natalie Artzi, Dr. Nicholas Peppas, and Dr. Mark Skylar-Scott highlighted advances in structural nanomedicine, biomaterials for disease treatment, and organ-scale tissue engineering. The Summit also honored excellence through the Paul Terasaki Innovation Award, the Keith Terasaki Mid-Career Innovation Award, and the Hisako Terasaki Young Innovator Award, recognizing innovators shaping the next generation of biomedical solutions.
National visibility of the event increased through a feature by Cell Biomaterials (Cell Press), which captured insights from speakers including Dr. Chad Mirkin, Dr. Stephen Quake, Dr. Dino Di Carlo, and Dr. Aydogan Ozcan. Their reflections underscored the Summit’s role as a nexus for breakthrough ideas linking engineering, biology, and AI.
The gathering strengthened TIBI’s position as a hub for collaborative discovery and laid the foundation for future scientific exchange.
Cultivating Scientific Dialogue Online
In 2025, TIBI resumed its web series, including Terasaki Talks and Fireside Chats, continuing our commitment to broadening scientific access and exchange. These digital programs brought together leading voices across academia, industry, and clinical innovation to discuss emerging directions in regenerative medicine, diagnostics, AI-enabled healthcare, and translational science. By sustaining accessible, research-driven conversations, TIBI strengthened its role as a hub for scientific learning and collaboration, ensuring that insights generated within our Institute contribute meaningfully to the broader biomedical community.
Education and Workforce Development
TIBI continued investing in the next generation of biomedical innovators through its 2025 Summer Internship Program. Welcoming 27 interns across research, innovation, and marketing pathways, the program offered hands-on laboratory experience, mentoring, professional development workshops, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Midpoint presentations and community events, including the annual Summer Picnic, highlighted the interns’ growth and creativity. The program’s success reflects TIBI’s commitment to equitable access to scientific training and career pathways.
Global Collaboration and Institutional Partnerships
Ghent University Partnership & Belgian Royal Mission
TIBI’s international reach was strengthened through its expanded partnership with Ghent University and participation in the Royal Belgian Economic Mission, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid. A formal Memorandum of Understanding between the Terasaki Institute and Ghent University Hospital marked a milestone in advancing joint research in plastic surgery, regenerative medicine, and translational innovation. The week also featured “Biotech Without Borders,” a panel exploring cross-continental collaboration curated by President Stewart Han and Dr. Arne Peirsman, a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Vadim Jucaud’s lab.
TIBI-CSUN Research Education Collaboration
A new partnership with California State University, Northridge (CSUN) introduced a hands-on research immersion for master’s students in biology. Co-developed by faculty from both institutions, the initiative integrates TIBI’s laboratory environment into graduate training, further strengthening the regional talent pipeline in biomedical research. A standout example is Everardo Jauregui, a first-year Master’s student conducting his thesis work under Dr. Vadim Jucaud’s supervision. This collaboration gives students access to cutting-edge facilities and mentorship, strengthening the regional talent pipeline and preparing future leaders in translational science.
Prestigious Appointments, , and Scientific Honors
These honors underscore the Institute’s expanding presence in regenerative medicine, biosensing, developmental biology, and translational engineering.
2025 brought significant recognition to TIBI’s faculty:
Dr. Johnson V. John was appointed a standing member of the NIH MTE Study Section, a prestigious four-year role shaping national research priorities in musculoskeletal tissue engineering.
Dr. Vadim Jucaud and his team secured a $41,700 pilot study award with Mayo Clinic develop a point-of-care diagnostic test designed to measure immunosuppression in transplant patients, with a particular focus on individuals living in remote or underserved regions.
Dr. Yangzhi Zhu received the 2024 Biosensors Young Investigator Award and a $70,000 BBRF Young Investigator Grant supporting clinical translation of smart contact lens biosensing technologies.
Dr. Zhaohui Wang secured a $600,000 CIRM DISC0 award for high-throughput discovery of embryo formation factors, complementing a $2.8 million CIRM collaborative grant shared with Caltech.
Looking Forward
As President Stewart Han reflects:
“This year demonstrated the power of collaboration, resilience, and scientific ambition. The work happening at TIBI continues to move biomedical innovation toward real-world impact, and we look forward to building on this momentum as we enter the coming year.”
Building on the significant milestones achieved throughout 2025, the Terasaki Institute now turns its focus toward 2026 with renewed purpose. Carrying forward the legacies of Paul and Keith Terasaki, the Institute remains committed to advancing biomedical science with integrity, compassion, and rigor, translating discovery into meaningful solutions that improve patient lives. As TIBI looks ahead, it will continue to expand interdisciplinary collaboration, accelerate translational research, and strengthen partnerships that ensure innovation reaches the communities and patients who need it most.
We also secure a pilot study with Mayo (SOW3) for the development of a point of care test to measure immunosuppression in transplant patients living in remote areas. I am not too sure about the exact amount (maybe ask shari or angela) but it is around $45,000 i beleive. Anyway not sure if the amout is needed.
Confirmed that paragraph has been added. Thank You!