The University of Southern California and Larry Ellison announced Thursday a new home for the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine at the Expo Station, a contemporary building being developed by The Luzzatto Company in the heart of West L.A.
Led by Founding Director and CEO David B. Agus, MD, Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the Ellison Institute aims to change the status quo in research and medical care through patient-centered innovation, technology, and convergent science, according to a USC statement.
The Ellison Institute’s new 79,000-square-foot building will house a cancer clinic, interdisciplinary research laboratories focused on scientific discovery and innovation, a think tank, community education and outreach, and a wellness program. It is slated to open in May 2019.
“When a patient sees scientists working on solutions for his disease– that is hope personified,” Agus said. “Larry’s faith in our work is both humbling and inspiring. With his support, we are creating a new paradigm for research.”
Two years ago, Ellison announced a generous $200 million donation to USC to establish his namesake Institute. Ellison, the founder and chairman of Oracle Corp., is intimately involved in the Institute.
The Luzzatto Company, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm, is leading the development of this ambitious project. Founded by Marc Luzzatto, a pioneer in the creative office world, The Luzzatto Company has developed a portfolio of properties which housed and helped inspire innovative companies such as Red Bull, Yahoo!, NPR, The Honest Company and Jakks Pacific.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to build for the Ellison Institute what we have been building for creative companies for many years: healthy, inspiring, and deeply transformative space,” said Marc Luzzatto and the company’s President, Asher Luzzatto in a joint statement. “It is in this kind of space where great minds produce great ideas.”
Conveniently located adjacent to the Santa Monica bike path, the Ellison Institute will be within walking distance to the new Metro Bundy Station, which is a 10-minute ride to the ocean or a 30-minute ride to Downtown L.A. This will also make the Institute easily accessible for USC undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students who work and volunteer at the Institute.