In Memoriam: Richard A. Gatti, MD (1937–2025)

Dr. Richard A. Gatti, Professor Emeritus of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UCLA, was a visionary in immunology and genetics whose work reshaped the understanding and treatment of inherited immune diseases. Early in his career, he co-authored a landmark 1968 Lancet paper describing the first successful bone marrow transplant for severe combined immunodeficiency, marking the birth of curative transplantation for primary immunodeficiencies. After joining UCLA in 1974, he dedicated his research to ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), mapping its gene to chromosome 11q23 and contributing to the discovery of genes responsible for DNA repair defects and cancer susceptibility. He co-founded the UCLA Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory and mentored generations of scientists. Beyond science, Dr. Gatti was admired for his warmth, humor, and musicianship. He will be remembered as a pioneering researcher, compassionate clinician, and devoted advocate for patients and families.