Media Resources - Sanford Burnham Prebys

Welcome to Sanford Burnham Prebys’ Multimedia Library

On this page you will find photos of our researchers, technologies, buildings, leadership, as well as science images. The resources on this page can be used by third parties, but we ask that all images are credited to Sanford Burnham Prebys or other sources where noted.

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Discoveries Newsletter | January 2025

Discoveries Newsletter – Archive

Image Library

Scientific Images

Immune cells are defenders of our bodies. This micrograph shows the diversity of immune cells in the bone marrow, where they are born and mature. Each color represents a specialized immune cell type, captured by state-of-the-art highly multiplexed microscopy and methods developed at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Image courtesy of Beatrice Silvestri and Will Wang’s lab.

A spectrum of immune cells
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys | Beatrice Silvestri, Wang Lab

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Immune cells are defenders of our bodies. This micrograph shows the diversity of immune cells in the bone marrow, where they are born and mature. Each color represents a specialized immune cell type, captured by state-of-the-art highly multiplexed microscopy and methods developed at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Two embryos of the Drosophila fruit fly labeled with fluorescent dyes and overlapped in a composite image to form a heart shape. The interior cells labeled in green are destined to become myocytes—the muscle cells of the heart. Image courtesy of Susan Klinedinst and Rolf Bodmer.

Drosophila heart composite
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys | Susan Klined and Rolf Bodmer

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Two embryos of the Drosophila fruit fly labeled with fluorescent dyes and overlapped in a composite image to form a heart shape. The interior cells labeled in green are destined to become myocytes—the muscle cells of the heart.

The brain is composed of billions of connections. Pictured are a group of neurons (their nuclei in red), the complexity of axon projections (labeled in cyan), and supportive astrocytes (labeled in yellow) from the hippocampus region of a murine brain. Image courtesy of Sara Ancel, Annanya Sethiya and Will Wang’s lab.

Connections in the brain
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys | Sara Ancel and Annanya Sethiya, Wang Lab

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The brain is composed of billions of connections. Pictured are a group of neurons (their nuclei in red), the complexity of axon projections (labeled in cyan), and supportive astrocytes (labeled in yellow) from the hippocampus region of a murine brain.

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys used AlphaFold 2 software to simulate docking between a component of the hippo pathway and a cell membrane lipid. The hippo pathway is dysregulated in cancer, but scientists have found it very difficult to develop drugs that directly target it. Targeting the pathway indirectly through a specific cell membrane lipid may lead to new treatments for cancers with abnormal hippo signaling.

Hippo pathway – cell membrane lipid
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys | Brooke Emerling

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Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys used AlphaFold 2 software to simulate docking between a component of the hippo pathway and a cell membrane lipid. The hippo pathway is dysregulated in cancer, but scientists have found it very difficult to develop drugs that directly target it. Targeting the pathway indirectly through a specific cell membrane lipid may lead to new treatments for cancers with abnormal hippo signaling.

This image was included on the cover of Science Signaling in May 2024.

When there is too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, the fluid-filled ventricles depicted in black expand. This neurological disorder is known as hydrocephaly. The blood vessels that make cerebrospinal fluid are shown in blue, and they are lined with cells displayed in red that possess green fibers responsible for moving the fluid around the brain. Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys are studying how fats released in cerebrospinal fluid due to severe bleeding may lead to issues with brain development, including hydrocephaly. Image courtesy of Nicole Lummis and Jerold Chun’s lab.

Hydrocephaly – excess cerebrospinal fluid
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys | Nicole Lummis, Chun Lab

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When there is too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, the fluid-filled ventricles depicted in black expand. This neurological disorder is known as hydrocephaly. The blood vessels that make cerebrospinal fluid are shown in blue, and they are lined with cells displayed in red that possess green fibers responsible for moving the fluid around the brain. Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys are studying how fats released in cerebrospinal fluid due to severe bleeding may lead to issues with brain development, including hydrocephaly.

The brain sections of zebrafish embryos help scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys study disorders that cause the brain to deteriorate over time. Image courtesy of Keith Gates and Duc Dong’s lab.

Neurodegeneration – zebrafish embryo brain
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys | Keith Gates, Dong Lab

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The brain sections of zebrafish embryos help scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys study disorders that cause the brain to deteriorate over time.

A 3D rendering of a proteasome. An estimated 80% of proteins within the cell are degraded by proteasomes to maintain a healthy balance as new proteins replace those that have fulfilled their function or became misfolded and potentially harmful. Issues with proteasomes can contribute to certain cancers and are associated with age-related diseases, so a better understanding of how these prodigious protein degraders are made may lead to new treatments for many conditions. Image courtesy of Jianhua Zhao.

Proteasome
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys | Jianhua Zhao

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A 3D rendering of a proteasome. An estimated 80% of proteins within the cell are degraded by proteasomes to maintain a healthy balance as new proteins replace those that have fulfilled their function or became misfolded and potentially harmful. Issues with proteasomes can contribute to certain cancers and are associated with age-related diseases, so a better understanding of how these prodigious protein degraders are made may lead to new treatments for many conditions.

A view of the differentiation of neural rosette cells into more mature cell types. Neural rosette cells can become any type of neural cell: neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. The cell nuclei are labeled in blue. Image courtesy of Brandon Nelson.

Starburst of neural rosette cells
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys | Brandon Nelson

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A view of the differentiation of neural rosette cells into more mature cell types. Neural rosette cells can become any type of neural cell: neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. The cell nuclei are labeled in blue.

Laboratory Photos

A scientist works at a laboratory bench in Building 12 on the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus.

Scientist works at a laboratory bench
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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A scientist works at a laboratory bench in Building 12 on the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus.

A scientist conducts neuroscience research in the lab of Jerold Chun, MD, PhD, a professor in the Degenerative Diseases Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Scientist conducts neuroscience research
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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A scientist conducts neuroscience research in the lab of Jerold Chun, MD, PhD, a professor in the Degenerative Diseases Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Graduate student Caitlin Lange removes samples from storage in a liquid nitrogen tank. Lange conducts aging research in the lab of Caroline Kumsta, PhD, an assistant professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Graduate student removes samples from storage in a liquid nitrogen tank
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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A graduate student removes samples from storage in a liquid nitrogen tank. She conducts aging research in the lab of Caroline Kumsta, PhD, an assistant professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Scientists at work at the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics at Sanford Burnham Prebys. The center’s team applies extensive pharmaceutical drug discovery experience toward the goal of finding and testing new drugs and therapies that benefit patients.

Scientists at work at the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Scientists at work at the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics at Sanford Burnham Prebys. The center’s team applies extensive pharmaceutical drug discovery experience toward the goal of finding and testing new drugs and therapies that benefit patients.

Scientists at work at the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics at Sanford Burnham Prebys. To screen up to 750,000 chemicals to find new drug candidates, highly miniaturized arrays are used in which 1536 tests are conducted in parallel. Experiments are miniaturized to such an extent that hand pipetting is not possible and acoustic dispensing (i.e. sound waves) is used to precisely move the tiny amounts of liquid in a touchless, tipless automated process.

Scientists at work at the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Scientists at work at the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics at Sanford Burnham Prebys. To screen up to 750,000 chemicals to find new drug candidates, highly miniaturized arrays are used in which 1536 tests are conducted in parallel. Experiments are miniaturized to such an extent that hand pipetting is not possible and acoustic dispensing (i.e. sound waves) is used to precisely move the tiny amounts of liquid in a touchless, tipless automated process.

Researchers collaborate in the lab of Sanju Sinha, PhD, an assistant professor in the Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Sinha (second from right) and his lab work to develop computational tools that can analyze data from thousands of people to find out why healthy cells become cancerous. Their goal is to guide the development of new treatments.

Researchers collaborate in the lab of Sanju Sinha, PhD
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Researchers collaborate in the lab of Sanju Sinha, PhD, an assistant professor in the Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Sinha (second from right) and his lab work to develop computational tools that can analyze data from thousands of people to find out why healthy cells become cancerous. Their goal is to guide the development of new treatments.

A scientist draws chemical structural diagrams on a fume hood that captures and removes vapors to ensure safety during experiments conducted at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Scientist draws chemical structural diagrams on a fume hood
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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A scientist draws chemical structural diagrams on a fume hood that captures and removes vapors to ensure safety during experiments conducted at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

A scientist drawing samples from the aquatic housing of zebrafish. Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys use zebrafish to study diseases such as the liver condition called Alagille syndrome because these fish are vertebrates with similar organ development to humans. Zebrafish enable scientists to use experimental approaches that aren’t possible with other disease models.

Scientist working with zebrafish
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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A scientist working with zebrafish housed in tanks at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Researchers at the Institute use zebrafish to study diseases such as the liver condition called Alagille syndrome because these fish are vertebrates with similar organ development to humans. Zebrafish enable scientists to use experimental approaches that aren’t possible with other disease models.

People Photos

Leaders and Namesakes
T. Denny Sanford is Chairman and CEO of United National Corp. as well as owner and founder of First Premier Bank. He is an honorary trustee of Sanford Burnham Prebys with a long-standing relationship with the institute. In 2023, Sanford provided support for the Institute to recruit up to 20 new faculty positions in research areas including cancer, neurodegeneration and computational biology.

T. Denny Sanford
Honorary Trustee, Institute Namesake
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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T. Denny Sanford is Chairman and CEO of United National Corp. as well as owner and founder of First Premier Bank. He is an honorary trustee of Sanford Burnham Prebys with a long-standing relationship with the institute. In 2023, Sanford provided support for the Institute to recruit up to 20 new faculty positions in research areas including cancer, neurodegeneration and computational biology.

Malin Burnham is an honorary trustee of Sanford Burnham Prebys and has served on the institute’s board since 1982. In 1996, Sanford Burnham Prebys’ predecessor, the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, was renamed The Burnham Institute after he and an anonymous donor contributed $10 million.

Malin Burnham
Honorary Trustee, Institute Namesake
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Malin Burnham is an honorary trustee of Sanford Burnham Prebys and has served on the institute’s board since 1982. In 1996, Sanford Burnham Prebys’ predecessor, the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, was renamed The Burnham Institute after he and an anonymous donor contributed $10 million.

Conrad Prebys is a longtime supporter of Sanford Burnham Prebys and namesake in honor of his landmark $100 million gift in 2015. In addition to the 2015 donation, Prebys gave a substantial sum to establish the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics in 2009, as well as regular gifts supporting the Institute’s research in the intervening years.

Conrad Prebys
Institute Namesake
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Conrad Prebys (August 20, 1933 – July 24, 2016) was a longtime supporter of Sanford Burnham Prebys and namesake in honor of his landmark $100 million gift in 2015. In addition to the 2015 donation, Prebys gave a substantial sum to establish the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics in 2009, as well as regular gifts supporting the Institute’s research in the intervening years.

T. Denny Sanford, Malin Burnham and Conrad Prebys are the institute’s namesakes. They have generously invested in the Sanford Burnham Prebys mission of translating science into health.

T. Denny Sanford, Malin Burnham and Conrad Prebys
Institute Namesakes
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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T. Denny Sanford, Malin Burnham and Conrad Prebys are the institute’s namesakes. They have generously invested in the Sanford Burnham Prebys mission of translating science into health.

David Brenner, MD, was named president and chief executive officer of Sanford Burnham Prebys in September 2022 after serving as vice chancellor for health sciences at UC San Diego and dean of its school of medicine for an unprecedented 15 years, during which he oversaw the launch and expansion of numerous multidisciplinary efforts, including the Institute for Engineering in Medicine, the Institute for Genomic Medicine, the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, the UC San Diego Sanford Clinical Stem Cell Program, and the C3 Cancer Center Consortium (comprising UC San Diego, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Sanford Burnham Prebys)

David Brenner, MD
President and CEO
Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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David Brenner, MD, was named president and chief executive officer of Sanford Burnham Prebys in September 2022 after serving as vice chancellor for health sciences at UC San Diego and dean of its school of medicine for an unprecedented 15 years, during which he oversaw the launch and expansion of numerous multidisciplinary efforts, including the Institute for Engineering in Medicine, the Institute for Genomic Medicine, the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, the UC San Diego Sanford Clinical Stem Cell Program, and the C3 Cancer Center Consortium (comprising UC San Diego, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Sanford Burnham Prebys).

Donald Kearns, MD, serves as chair of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Board of Trustees, and has served on the board since 2020. He is president emeritus of Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, having previously served as president and CEO from 2013 to 2018.

Donald Kearns, MD
Chair, Board of Trustees
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Donald Kearns, MD, serves as chair of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Board of Trustees, and has served on the board since 2020. He is president emeritus of Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, having previously served as president and CEO from 2013 to 2018.

Center Directors
Cosimo Commisso, PhD, is the deputy director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys. He currently serves as the interim director while a national search is conducted for a new center director.

Cosimo Commisso, PhD
Deputy Director, NCI-designated Cancer Center
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Cosimo Commisso, PhD, is the deputy director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys. He currently serves as the interim director while a national search is conducted for a new center director.

Rolf Bodmer, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Center for Genetic Disorders and Aging Research. He also is a professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program.

Rolf Bodmer, PhD
Director, Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Rolf Bodmer, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Center for Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases. He also is a professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program.

Su-Chun Zhang, MD, PhD, was appointed director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Center for Neurologic Diseases in November 2024. Prior to joining the institute, he was the Steenbock Professor of Behavioral and Neural Sciences, Neuroscience and Neurology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Waisman Center.

Su-Chun Zhang, MD, PhD
Director, Center for Neurologic Diseases
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Su-Chun Zhang, MD, PhD, was appointed director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Center for Neurologic Diseases in November 2024. Prior to joining the institute, he was the Steenbock Professor of Behavioral and Neural Sciences, Neuroscience and Neurology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Waisman Center.

Michael Jackson, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Center for Therapeutics Discovery. He also is the senior vice president of drug discovery and development for the institute’s Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics.

Michael Jackson, PhD
Director, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Michael Jackson, PhD, is the director of the Conrad Prebys Center for Therapeutics Discovery at Sanford Burnham Prebys. He also is the Senior Vice President of Drug Discovery and Development for the Institute’s Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics.

Program Leaders
Peter D. Adams, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program.

Peter D. Adams, PhD
Director, Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Peter D. Adams, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program.

Brooke Emerling, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program.

Brooke Emerling, PhD
Director, Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Brooke Emerling, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program.

Nicholas Cosford, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program.

Nicholas Cosford, PhD
Director, Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Nicholas Cosford, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program.

Randal J. Kaufman, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Degenerative Diseases Program.

Randal J. Kaufman, PhD
Director, Degenerative Diseases Program
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Randal J. Kaufman, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Degenerative Diseases Program.

Pier Lorenzo Puri, MD, is a co-director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Development, Aging and Regeneration Program.

Pier Lorenzo Puri, MD
Director, Development, Aging and Regeneration Program
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Pier Lorenzo Puri, MD, is a co-director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Development, Aging and Regeneration Program.

Alessandra Sacco, PhD, is a co-director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Development, Aging and Regeneration Program. She also is dean of the institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Alessandra Sacco, PhD
Director, Development, Aging and Regeneration Program
Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Alessandra Sacco, PhD, is a co-director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Development, Aging and Regeneration Program. She also is dean of the Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Hudson Freeze, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Human Genetics Program and the William W. Ruch Distinguished Endowed Chair.

Hudson Freeze, PhD
Director, Human Genetics Program
William W. Ruch Distinguished Endowed Chair
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Hudson Freeze, PhD, is the director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Human Genetics Program and the William W. Ruch Distinguished Endowed Chair.

Campus Photos

The monument sign at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Sanford Burnham Prebys monument sign
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

Bradley Innovation Plaza at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Bradley Innovation Plaza
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

The Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

The Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

The Chairmen’s Hall courtyard outside Building 5 at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Chairmen’s Hall courtyard outside Building 5
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

Chairmen’s Hall in Building 5 at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Chairmen’s Hall in Building 5
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

Chairmen’s Hall in Building 5 at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Chairmen’s Hall in Building 5
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

Exterior view of Building 12 at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Exterior view of Building 12
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

Aerial view of Building 12 at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Aerial view of Building 12
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

Ruoslahti Way near Buildings 6 and 7 at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Ruoslahti Way
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Ruoslahti Way near Buildings 6 and 7 at Sanford Burnham Prebys. This location honors former director Erkki Ruoslahti, MD, PhD, whose accolades include the 2022 Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, sometimes called “America’s Nobel.”

Aerial view from north of the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus in La Jolla.

Campus aerial view from north
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Aerial view from north of the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus in La Jolla.

Aerial view from north and east of the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus in La Jolla.

Campus aerial view from northeast
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Aerial view from north and east of the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus in La Jolla.

Aerial view from east of the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus in La Jolla.

Campus aerial view from east
Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

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Aerial view from east of the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus in La Jolla.

T. Denny Sanford – Conrad Prebys – Malin Burnham

Sanford Burnham Prebys monument sign

Bradley Innovation Plaza

Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics

Chairmen’s Hall

Chairmen’s Hall courtyard

Scientists at work in lab

Aerial of campus looking west

Aerial of campus looking southwest

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