For many Californians, “immunology” may sound like a highly specialized area of science. But its potential impact is deeply personal. Immunology is the field of medical science focused on understanding the immune system and its role in treating, curing and preventing disease. Immunotherapies harness the immune system to recognize and fight diseases, and these treatments are already being used for cancers including melanoma, lung cancer and certain leukemias and lymphomas.
Proposition 38 on California’s November 2026 ballot will provide $8.4 billion in vitally needed funding to advance breakthrough medical research to develop life-saving treatments and cures for the most persistent and debilitating diseases like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. impacting nearly every California family.
To explore what advances in immunology can mean for patients and families, Laura Braden of California Proposition 38 – Immunology Medical Research & Cures spoke with Adam Zarrin of Blood Cancer United about immunology research, clinical trials, CAR-T cell therapy and what continued medical research can mean for patients.
Blood Cancer United, formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is a national nonprofit focused on curing blood cancers and improving quality of life for patients and their families. Blood Cancer United is also part of the coalition supporting YES on Prop 38.
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Highlights from the Conversation
What can medical research mean for patients who have exhausted other options?
For patients whose cancer has not responded to existing treatments, clinical trials can provide access to investigational treatments while helping researchers study potential new approaches to treating disease.
“This might be their only chance. And sometimes these drugs, they work, sometimes they don’t. The treatments, they work, sometimes they don’t. But it’s what’s giving them hope. It gives them the opportunity at new life.”
What is CAR-T cell therapy, and how is it used to treat blood cancers?
CAR-T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy in which a patient’s T cells are collected and modified in a laboratory to better recognize and attack cancer cells. CAR-T cell therapies are currently used to treat certain blood cancers.
“It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, honestly, thinking that you could use your blood as a way to fight cancer, but that is what is possible today. And it would not have happened without a clinical trial.”
Why are medical research and treatment options important in California?
According to Zarrin, California’s research institutions, hospitals and medical workforce provide an important foundation for advancing research and connecting patients with treatment.
“We want to make sure they can keep doing the work and ultimately serve the patients, that they’re all devoted to doing their work for. Like we know that research will end up saving lives. And that’s what this is all about. It feels like almost California kind of has the perfect groundwork for something like this.”
Why should medical research matter to people who are healthy today?
Zarrin argues that the need for new treatments can become personal unexpectedly, affecting individuals, family members or friends.
“Maybe today you are living totally chronic illness free. Great. I hope that continues. But tomorrow it could be you. It could be a family member. It could be a friend. And wouldn’t you want them to have the best treatment available to them?”
Why does stable medical research funding matter for California patients?
Medical research and clinical trials can take years, making continuity of funding an important consideration for researchers and participating patients. Zarrin says disruptions can have consequences for both the research and the people enrolled in studies.
“I think this is especially important right now because with some of the cuts that we’ve seen at the federal level, we’ve had patients and researchers in the middle of a clinical trial say, ‘We have to stop because we no longer have funding from the federal government.’ That’s bad for the science, and it’s also bad for the patient. The ideal situation is that a California patient can go to a California doctor at a California hospital and get treatment in California.”
What should California voters understand about Proposition 38?
The case for Proposition 38 comes down to the potential for medical research to contribute to new treatments and technologies.
“Bottom line. I mean, it’s going to save lives, right? We know that research will lead to new treatments, to new technologies, and that is worthwhile.”
Looking Ahead
Prop 38 will support breakthrough immunology medical research in California, including research focused on cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. For Zarrin and organizations like Blood Cancer United, the case for that research is rooted in the experiences of patients and families: clinical trials can offer another option when existing treatments fail, and continued research can lead to treatments that once seemed impossible.
His message to Californians is ultimately about what medical research can make possible: new treatments, new technologies and new hope for patients and the people who love them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Immunology Research and Proposition 38
What is immunology?
Immunology is the field of medical science focused on understanding the immune system and its role in preventing and treating diseases.
What is immunotherapy?
Immunotherapies use the body’s own immune system to detect and stop diseases. They are already saving and extending lives for patients dealing with cancers like melanoma, lung cancer and leukemia. Leading doctors and research scientists are developing immunotherapies that have the potential to prevent and cure a whole range of diseases in our lifetime, including cancer, heart disease, neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and other diseases such as diabetes, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), HIV/AIDS, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis.
What is CAR-T cell therapy?
CAR-T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy in which a patient’s T cells are modified in a laboratory so they can better recognize and attack cancer cells. CAR-T therapies are currently used to treat certain blood cancers.
What is California Proposition 38?
Prop 38 will provide $8.4 billion in vitally needed funding to advance life-saving cures for the most persistent and debilitating diseases impacting all California families, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease. This initiative represents real hope and promising cures to help save your life and the life of someone you love.
What diseases would Proposition 38 research funding address?
Proposition 38 requires at least half of its research funding to support research concerning cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Who is Adam Zarrin?
Adam Zarrin is the Director of State Government Affairs – West at Blood Cancer United, formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In this interview, he discusses blood cancer research, clinical trials, CAR-T cell therapy and Blood Cancer United’s support for Proposition 38.
Titles and affiliations are for identification purposes only.