Spirit of Innovation Gala 2018

Honoree Dr. Yutaka Niihara

Physicians and patients have long awaited a new treatment for sickle cell disease. Over 100,000 people in the United States suffer with this debilitating and life-shortening inherited condition. Worldwide, that number skyrockets to some 25 million. Dr. Yutaka Niihara and his team at LA BioMed have worked tirelessly for 25 years to come up with a viable treatment. By his raising $100 million for its development, and through the creation a new startup, Emmaus Life Sciences, the long journey ended in July of 2017 with FDA approval of Endari. Endari, the first new treatment for sickle cell disease to come along in 20 years, and the first ever for pediatric patients, became available in January of this year, with the ability to treat even the poorest of patients through its adoption for reimbursement by Medicaid.

This year's LA BioMed Spirit of Innovation Award cannot be given to anyone more deserving than Yutaka Niihara. Through incredible perseverance and determination, his innovation, Endari, will now bring relief to patients, mostly children, who have come to endure pain crises, infections, transfusions and frequent and often protracted hospital stays. Please join LA BioMed in saluting this life-saving innovation and its producer, Yutaka Niihara.

Honorary Gala Committee

County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Committee Chair
United States Senator Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator Kamala D. Harris
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger
County Supervisor Janice Hahn
County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl
County Supervisor Hilda Solis
Mayor Eric Garcetti (Los Angeles)
Mayor Robert Garcia (Long Beach)
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon
President and CEO Mary Brown, Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California
Executive Director Kiki Shepard, KIS Foundation
Sr. Vice President Steve Nissen, NBCUniversal

ATTIRE

Dressy Casual

COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING

Frankenstein Parking Garage
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

Enter the Frankenstein Parking Garage at the lower level. Once valet parked, take the elevator or escalator to the 8th floor. The Globe Theatre Private Entrance (Black Iron Gates) is located on your immediate left.

COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLE

Two free round trip motor coaches are available, departing at 3:30 PM sharp from:

Palos Verdes Peninsula: Rolling Hills Covenant Church, 2222 Palos Verdes Drive North, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

Redondo Beach: City of Redondo Beach Vincent Annex, 200 North Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Please contact Juan Aceves at (310) 222-6830 or at [email protected].