Melissa and Timothy M. Pennington III have made a $1 million gift to the Lung Health Innovation Fund of the UCLA Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, Clinical Immunology and Allergy. The fund bolsters the work of Dr. John Belperio, the Guitiara Pierpoint Endowed Chair in Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis, interim chief of the division and professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Belperio is a trailblazer in clinical and translational research to discover, treat and prevent pulmonary disorders.
“This donation reflects our sincere admiration and desire to support Dr. John Belperio,” the Penningtons said. “His research in advanced lung disease and post-transplant treatment has the potential to offer hope to those with severe pulmonary conditions, something that we have become acquainted with.” The Penningtons chose to show their appreciation for Dr. Belperio and his team by helping to foster his investigations to improve the lives of more patients and their families.
“I am tremendously grateful to Melissa and Tim for their transformational support,” Dr. Belperio said. “Philanthropy plays a crucial role in enabling the lab to accelerate lifesaving research. A gift like this means we can hire additional researchers and perform costly yet vital tests on samples. The more tests we run, the faster we know what directions to go in, and the closer we get to the next breakthrough.”
Long-time champions of their alma mater, the Penningtons have been deeply committed to various schools and programs within UCLA, including the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), where Tim Pennington served on the board for nearly 20 years. In 2018, they were recognized for their meaningful investment in the leading-edge research of Dr. Noah Federman (RES ’05, FEL ’08) in pediatric sarcoma and his efforts to advance patient care within JCCC. The Penningtons also invested in the UCLA Department of Pediatrics to establish the Pennington Family Foundation Endowed Term Chair in Pediatrics, and the Pennington Conference Room at UCLA Health Children’s Hospital was named in their honor. Additionally, Tim Pennington serves on the Board of Visitors of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Fink Center for Finance at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
The Penningtons said their contribution to the Lung Health Innovation Fund reflects their appreciation not only for Dr. Belperio’s investigations, but also for the compassionate care they experienced. “We are honoring an exceptional man and physician,” they said. “He is always accessible and gives his full attention to a patient, making them feel as if they are his only responsibility. His manner of patient care is a model that should be taught in medical school and emulated by all physicians.”
In conjunction with research, Dr. Belperio’s lab also trains students, fellows and junior faculty. These future innovators of science and medicine work alongside Dr. Belperio and his team to better understand the underlying causes of lung conditions and develop potential life-saving therapies. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UCLA pulmonology and lung surgery among the top five in the nation.
“It is a privilege to serve patients in the clinic, conduct research on the very conditions I treat and bring findings back to patients,” Dr. Belperio said. “Patients inspire this work every day. The power of philanthropy allows for high-risk, high-reward studies that may translate quickly to the bedside and in addition, it helps train the next generation of physician-scientists.”
For more information, contact Larissa Harrison at:
Jacqueline Mazarella is a writer for UCLA Health Sciences Development.
