MIMG’s Dr. Donald Kohn Elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Congratulations to Donald B. Kohn, M.D., on his election to the National Academy of Medicine Class of 2026. Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in medicine, recognizing outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
Dr. Kohn is a physician-scientist and pioneer in blood stem cell gene therapy whose work has opened new possibilities for treating children with life-threatening immune and blood disorders. Over nearly four decades, his research has focused on developing treatments using patients’ own genetically modified stem cells to address the underlying causes of disease.
Among his major contributions is the development of gene therapy for adenosine deaminase-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID). Dr. Kohn also led UCLA’s participation in a multicenter clinical trial of gene therapy for severe leukocyte adhesion deficiency-I. The treatment, Kresladi, received FDA approval in March 2026, becoming the first FDA-approved therapy for the disorder.
Dr. Kohn joins two fellow UCLA faculty members elected to the academy this year: Susan Ettner, Ph.D., a health economist whose research has advanced understanding of the relationship between socioeconomic status, insurance coverage, and health; and Dennis J. Slamon, M.D., Ph.D., a pioneering cancer researcher whose discoveries have transformed breast cancer treatment and helped establish targeted therapies as a cornerstone of modern cancer care.
Together, the three UCLA faculty members join 97 other researchers and health professionals from the United States and around the world in the academy’s Class of 2026.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kohn, Dr. Ettner, and Dr. Slamon on this outstanding recognition!
