image: Jerome I. Rotter, MD, is honored as a 2011 LA BioMed Legend for his contributions to science. view more
Credit: LA BioMed
LOS ANGELES—(April 26, 2011)—Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) will honor Alan H. Jobe, MD, PhD, and Jerome I. Rotter, MD, for their contributions to science at the eighth annual "Legends" dinner at 6:30 p.m. on May 12 at Trump National Golf Club.
The late County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn also will receive a memorial tribute for his four decades of public service, and Patricia Dickson, MD, a principal researcher at LA BioMed, will receive the LA BioMed Young Investigator Award and the Richard B. Weitzman Memorial Award for Meritorious Research in the Biomedical Sciences.
"We are so proud to honor such distinguished scientists as Dr. Jobe and Dr. Rotter and to pay tribute to one of Los Angeles County's most remarkable public servants, Supervisor Kenneth Hahn," said David I. Meyer, PhD, LA BioMed president and CEO. "All three of these outstanding gentlemen contributed greatly to LA BioMed's mission of serving the underserved. We look forward to celebrating their many accomplishments and recognizing the achievements of an up-and-coming leader among the current generation of LA BioMed investigators, Dr. Dickson."
Drs. Jobe and Rotter started their illustrious careers at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, with Dr. Rotter developing a specialty in medical genetics and Dr. Jobe leading the LA BioMed team of researchers who developed lung surfactants that have saved the lives of thousands of premature infants. Supervisor Hahn contributed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center's success, and Dr. Dickson is leading LA BioMed's research into treatments for a devastating genetic disorder, mucopolysaccharidosis. Following is additional information about each of the honorees.
Dr. Jobe: Leader in Saving the Lives of Premature Infants
Dr. Jobe joined Harbor-UCLA Medical Center's Department of Pediatrics in 1977 and became director of the Perinatal Research Laboratories in 1995. He was also was named the 1st Joseph W. St. Geme, Jr., professor of pediatrics at UCLA in 1995.
He moved to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital at the University of Cincinnati in 1997 to expand his research opportunities and collaborations. He presently is professor of pediatrics in the divisions of neonatology and pulmonary biology.
At LA BioMed, he performed many of the metabolic and physiologic studies that resulted in Food and Drug Administration approval of a surfactant for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome. He has published more than 290 peer-reviewed articles and more than 165 editorials, chapters and other publications.
Dr. Rotter: Legend in the Field of Medical Genetics
Dr. Rotter came to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for his medical student rotations in 1971 and joined the hospital's medical genetics faculty in 1978, where he became the director of the Genetic Epidemiology and Population Genetics.
Dr. Rotter joined the staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 1986, where he serves as director of research and co-director of the Medical Genetics Institute, director of the Division of Medical Genetics in the Department of Medicine and director of the Common Diseases Genetics Program. He holds the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Chair in Medical Genetics.
During his distinguished career, he has pioneered the genetics of common diseases. He holds 20 patents, has published more than 320 peer-reviewed articles, delivered more than 270 presentations and authored or co-authored more than 300 books, chapters, abstracts and other publications.
Supervisor Hahn: Legendary Public Servant
Supervisor Hahn, who served as a Los Angeles County supervisor from 1952 to 1992, was integral to the success of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and, ultimately, LA BioMed.
Dr. John Michael Criley, an LA BioMed principal investigator who will lead the memorial tribute for Supervisor Hahn, said the supervisor helped secure funding for the hospital and its new coronary care unit after the current medical center opened in 1962.
"He was involved at everything at Harbor," Dr. Criley said. "He was very attentive to our needs."
Supervisor Hahn, who died in 1997, is the father of two of Los Angeles' leading politicians. His son, James K. Hahn, served as Los Angeles City Attorney from 1985 to 2001 and as mayor from 2001 to 2005. His daughter, Janice Hahn, is a member of the Los Angeles City Council.
Dr. Dickson: Outstanding Young Researcher
Dr. Dickson's research at LA BioMed focuses on enzyme replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis, a group of metabolic disorders caused by the absence or malfunctioning of enzymes needed to break down molecules, called glycosaminoglycans, which help build bone, cartilage, connective tissue and other essential parts of the body. She is the principal investigator of ongoing clinical trials for replacing the missing enzyme through the spinal cord to ensure the enzymes reach the brain.
Dr. Dickson has published 15 research papers. She also serves as assistant professor of pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine in the Division of Medical Genetics at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Dickson is a faculty member in the UCLA Intercampus Medical Genetics Training Program
To attend Legends, please contact Lisa Bosnich, lbosnich@labiomed.org, 310.222.4240.
About LA BioMed
Founded in 1952, LA BioMed is one of the country's leading nonprofit independent biomedical research institutes. It has more than 150 principal researchers conducting studies into improved treatments and cures for cancer, inherited diseases, infectious diseases, illnesses caused by environmental factors and more. It also educates young scientists and provides community services, including immunization and childhood nutrition programs. LA BioMed is academically affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and located on the campus of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.LABioMed.org