Doctors Daar, Niihara honored by The Lundquist Institute
by Elka Worner When two Lundquist Institute doctors began their research into HIV and sickle cell disease, getting an HIV diagnosis was a death sentence and patients who suffered from sickle cell endured painful episodes requiring lengthy hospitalizations. “I went from a time where I would tell people who were diagnosed with HIV that I’ll do the best that I can to help them die comfortably, but they are going to die; to now telling them that as long as you take care of themselves and come in for regular visits, you’ll typically take one pill once a day with no side effects and you’ll live a normal healthy life,” said Dr. Eric Daar, who has been conducting HIV research since the 1980s when thousands were dying from the virus. Dr. Yutaka Niihara spent his career conducting groundbreaking research into sickle cell, a disease that disproportionately affects African Americans. As an Investigator at The Lundquist Institute, he developed L-Glutamine, a therapy to combat the debilitating effects of the disease. The drug was approved by the FDA in 2017. Both doctors were recognized for “distinguished service to the Lundquist Institute, Harbor UCLA Medical Center and beyond” at a 2023…
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