Sanford Burnham Prebys’ 25th annual Biomedical Research Symposium took on special significance this year as scientists and alumni gathered during the Institute’s 50th anniversary to celebrate the discoveries, collaborations and people that have shaped its scientific community.
The symposium showcased research from across the Institute, giving graduate students and postdocs opportunities to present their work, exchange ideas with faculty and colleagues and build new collaborations.
The program opened with a keynote address from Sanford Burnham Prebys alumna Fiona Scott, PhD, who traced a career that has taken her from fundamental research at Sanford Burnham Prebys to biotechnology and drug development.
“It’s really been built on this idea of maintaining scientific curiosity, maintaining flexibility and open-mindedness,” Scott said of her career.
Scott shared examples from her work translating basic discoveries into potential medicines and reflected on how her experiences at Sanford Burnham Prebys influenced her approach to science. She encouraged trainees to seek out expertise beyond their own areas of study, stay open to unexpected directions and make the most of the people and resources around them.
Fiona Scott, PhD.
The anniversary celebration continued with a special alumni panel moderated by alumna Caroline Kumsta, PhD. Kumsta is associate dean of student affairs in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and an assistant professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases.
Five alumni representing careers in academia and industry discussed how their graduate education or postdoctoral training at the Institute prepared them for what came next. They talked about the value of mentorship and collaboration, learning to communicate science effectively and developing skills and relationships beyond the laboratory.
Graduate student and postdoctoral alumni. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys.
Panelists also offered advice to current trainees, encouraging them to build networks, explore different career paths, develop a broad range of skills and remain adaptable as science and technology continue to change.
The conversation took on added meaning during Sanford Burnham Prebys’ 50th anniversary. Asked what it meant to return to the Institute for the milestone, alumni repeatedly described it as a scientific family and a place that continues to feel like home. They recalled the friendships, mentorship and sense of community that defined their time at the Institute and have stayed with them throughout their careers.
The day concluded with a special alumni reception, bringing together current and former members of the Sanford Burnham Prebys community to reconnect, celebrate the Institute’s first 50 years and look ahead.