Rep. Pete Aguilar and Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) announced that LLUH has received $433,430 in federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support a new medical research project. The grant funding comes from the NIH Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation Research Award and will support research into the potential use of vitamin D to enhance intestinal wall repair for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

“Loma Linda is a national leader in medical research, a major provider of good-paying jobs in our region, and a world-renowned medical center. I’m proud to announce this grant funding, which will allow Loma Linda University Health to conduct groundbreaking new research and continue growing its legacy of innovation,” said Rep. Aguilar.

“I am very excited that our idea is supported by the experts in our field,” said Xiaolei Tang, MD, PhD, an associate research professor at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and lead researcher for the grant. “I hope that this study will eventually benefit patients at Loma Linda University Health and around the world.”

A Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Aguilar has been a consistent advocate for NIH funding to make these types of grants possible.