The Last Gift: Jim's Courage Our Hope

Director: Ryan Neisz

"The Last Gift: Jim's Courage, Our Hope reminds us that science and humanity are forever intertwined - and that one person's choice can change the future."

The Last Gift: Jim’s Courage, Our Hope is a moving short documentary exploring the intersection of science, altruism, and human dignity at the end of life. The film follows Jim Dunn, a man living with HIV who chooses to participate in UC San Diego’s Last Gift Study, a pioneering research effort enabling people nearing death to donate their bodies to science immediately after passing, helping researchers uncover where HIV persists despite treatment. Through intimate conversations, reflections on mortality, and moments shared with his wife Susan, clinicians, advocates, and scientists, the film reveals Jim’s profound desire to contribute to a future free of HIV. With honesty and grace, it captures the emotional complexity of end-of-life decisions and the extraordinary courage behind them. Jim’s legacy reminds us that scientific progress is built not only on data, but on human generosity, relationships, and hope.