Philanthropy - Past Events - Sanford Burnham Prebys

Philanthropy Events

David Brenner speaking at podium in LaFave auditorium

Discoveries Series

Inside the Science of Heart Disease

April 15, 2026

Our Discovery Series offers a behind-the-scenes look at cardiovascular research at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.

In this program, scientists share how they are advancing the understanding of heart disease and translating discoveries into potential therapies, offering insight into the science behind cardiovascular health and the promise it holds for addressing the leading cause of death in the United States.

0:00: Intro 50th anniversary video

Speakers

  • 2:23: Welcome
    David A. Brenner, MD
    President and CEO, Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair
    Sanford Burnham Prebys
  • 6:12: Creating a New Gene Therapy to Treat Heart Failure
    Alexandre Colas, PhD
    Associate Professor
    Sanford Burnham Prebys
  • 11:54: Born with a Broken Heart: Childhood Heart Defects and Lifespan Consequences
    Sanjeev S. Ranade, PhD
    Assistant Professor
    Sanford Burnham Prebys
  • 21:05: Aging, Left Sided Valve Disease and Interventional Therapies
    Ehtisham Mahmud, MD, FACC, FSCAI
    Professor and Division Chief, Cardiovascular Medicine
    UC San Diego Health

35:42: Panel Panel discussion with the speakers led by Kurt Marek, PhD, Chief Research Development Officer, Sanford Burnham Prebys


Scientific Summit

March 4, 2026

Held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, the Scientific Summit featured a panel of Institute scientists discussing advances in research on diseases including cancer, Alzheimer’s, aging and heart disease. The discussion was moderated by Donald Kearns, MD.

Alexandria logo

0:00: Intro 50th anniversary video

Speakers

  • 2:28: David A. Brenner, MD
    President and CEO
    Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair
  • 5:06: Caroline Kumsta, PhD
    Assistant Professor
  • 12:15: Sanjeev S. Ranade, PhD
    Assistant Professor
  • 17:55: Anne Bang, PhD
    Associate Professor
  • 24:21: Paul Boutros, PhD, MBA
    Director, NCI-designated Cancer Center

30:25: Summary

31:13: Panel Panel discussion with the speakers led by Donald Kearns, MD, chair of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Board of Trustees


Discovery Series: Inside the Science

Panel Discussion and Reception

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