People Archives - Sanford Burnham Prebys

Category: People

Institute News

Remembering Conrad Prebys

AuthorJessica Moore
Date

July 26, 2016

Conrad in Prebys center

Conrad Prebys, a longtime supporter of the Institute and namesake in honor of his landmark gift in 2015, died recently following treatment for cancer. Prebys strongly believed in giving back and sharing the fruits of his success with others. The staff, scientists, and leadership of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) are grateful for his confidence in our research and privileged to have been a recipient of his remarkable generosity.

At the renaming of the Institute, Prebys said, “I’ve been involved with the excellent researchers at the Institute for many, many years. They’re the best there is, and that excites me. If, through my support, I can shorten people’s suffering, or extend their quality of life, that would give me unlimited pleasure and joy.”

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.

Prebys gave freely to numerous institutions throughout San Diego, including San Diego State University, the San Diego Zoo, Scripps Mercy Hospital, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Old Globe Theatre, the UC San Diego Music Centre, the La Jolla Music Society, the Salk Institute, and the San Diego Museum of Art. Many buildings, research centers, and scholarships bear his name.

Recently named one of the 25 most generous people in the US, Prebys built his wealth through construction and property ownership after moving to San Diego from Indiana in 1965.

The Institute has lost a friend and supporter who will be missed, but his commitment to medical discoveries will have an impact on human health for generations to come.

 

Institute News

Suds and science: a night of thinking and drinking

AuthorJessica Moore
Date

July 13, 2016

Jessica Rusert

A brewery might seem like an odd place to be talking about science, but on a recent Monday evening, Jessica Rusert, PhD, a postdoc in the laboratory of Robert Wechsler-Reya, PhD, did exactly that. In front of an enthralled crowd at Stone Brewing in Liberty Station, she discussed how advances in genomics and bioinformatics are changing medicine. The evening was part of the Suds & Science series organized by the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, which aims to bring science to the masses and give people the opportunity to discuss a hot topic with a scientist doing related research.

Rusert’s topic was precision medicine, also called personalized medicine, which means treating patients as individuals instead of using what works for the majority. Rusert focused on cancer, where some personalized therapies, selected based on markers present in a patient’s tumor, are already available. She is an expert on this topic, as her research aims to find treatments for specific molecular subtypes of medulloblastoma, a devastating pediatric brain cancer.

There were a lot of questions about this future of medicine, including whether this more complex approach to healthcare would be affordable for everyone. But there was also an undercurrent of hope for the future—doctors are gaining the power to predict which treatment will work for each patient, and the recent presidential initiative will accelerate progress.

Rusert promoted the event earlier that day on the CW6 show San Diego Living, which you can watch here.

Suds & Science is held once a month at various establishments in San Diego.

 

Institute News

Former postdoc Suzanne Graham now leads business development at diagnostic company

AuthorJessica Moore
Date

July 8, 2016

Suzanne Graham

Suzanne Graham, PhD, did postdoctoral research at SBP from 2004-2012, during which time she worked in two labs. With Fred Levine, MD, PhD, professor and director of the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center, she studied cell cycle control in pancreatic beta cells, and with Rolf Bodmer, PhD, professor and director of the Development, Aging, and Regeneration Program, she explored how metabolic syndrome affects heart function. She has served as senior manager of business development at Genection, which develops and sells genetic tests, in San Diego since June 2012.

What’s your job like— what do you do every day?

I’m responsible for managing relationships with clients (generally pharmaceutical companies)—making sure we’re getting the right data to them, answering their questions, and trying to get more business.

What drew you to business development?

I’m more sociable than the average R&D scientist—I wanted to be involved in lots of conversations, interfacing with all parts of the company.

What do you enjoy most about it and why? 

It’s exciting to help our clients find tools that help them meet their goals. For example, if a company is running a trial of a drug and they can tell it’s working for some patients but not others, I can help them either find a diagnostic test or work with our company to make one that helps them identify the likely responders.

Plus, since I’m working in industry, everything moves quickly. It’s really rewarding to see things through to completion.

What do you hope to accomplish in your career? 

Since I’m familiar with how genomics fits into pharmaceutical development, I’d love to move to a pharma company in a strategy role to help them expand into that area.

What did you gain from your postdoc experience at Sanford Burnham? 

My scientific training is instrumental in my work—it really helps me understand and define the questions our clients have, which is crucial for finding the right solution.

How did you find your first job after your postdoc? Was it challenging? 

I used a job placement company because it is VERY hard for postdocs to get into industry. They helped make my resume convey my skills in a way that speaks to biotech companies, understand what kind of jobs to look for, and create a strategy to connect with potential hirers.

What advice do you have for current postdocs looking for a job?

PhD scientists can fulfill a lot more roles than they might think. Almost any job related to biotech benefits from a deep understanding of science—even designing websites or doing social media for executives.

Institute News

Aspiring scientists tackle big data at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

AuthorGuest Blogger
Date

June 24, 2016

Molony Astore

Growing up, Courtney Astore was inquisitive about science and technology. So when she had the opportunity to participate in middle school science fairs, she jumped at the chance. In high school, Astore’s research in behavioral and social science, medicine and elaborate statistical algorithms led to her being a finalist at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair three times.

Today, as an incoming sophomore at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Astore is majoring in Biotechnology with a focus on Bioinformatics. Together, with her lifelong friend Rebecca Elsishans at the University of Florida, she plans to launch a start-up company called Enasci-x that will use genetic analysis to aid in vaccine development.

Executives at UCF’s business incubator contacted Leslie Molony, PhD, senior director of Business Development for Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute’s (SBP)  Lake Nona campus to inquire about providing  training to aspiring scientists enrolled in the National Science Foundation- iCorps™ funded  LaunchPad program.

The LaunchPad program fosters entrepreneurial research designed to help the commercialization of technology. Molony guided Astore and Elsishans in the biological science and business aspects of forming a start-up for their first product-in-development called Genes4Vaccines.

Her students received guidance on a top-level list of ‘how-to’s’

  • how to understand protein structures
  • how to generate data that can lead to new drug discovery
  • how to define new products and commercialize them
  • how to develop business plans and ‘pitching’ strategies

 

“Courtney and Rebecca are phenomenal young women who are very eager to understand how the medical research process—vaccine discovery–can lead to commercial products,” said Molony.  “They have great potential to become software service providers, or to use their talents to discover new vaccine targets that may lead to partnerships with pharmaceutical companies.”

“In terms of where we are today and how we’ve been able to map out what we need to do, we couldn’t have done any of this without Dr. Molony,” said Astore. “Her drug discovery background and business development expertise have opened our eyes to the potential of what we can accomplish, and what we need to do to get there. We know our next big steps are to finalize our minimum value product, get data validation in the lab and then attract investors.”

Big data for medical research, adds Molony, is a growing niche in the field of infectious disease where vaccine and therapy needs arise quickly and unexpectedly.

To augment her student’s training, she connected Astore with Fraydoon Rastinejad, PhD, professor in SBP’s Center for Metabolic Origins of Disease at Lake Nona who offered her a summer internship where she’ll be collecting data and analyzing human disease databases.

“Dr. Rastinejad is one of the most renowned researchers in the field, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to work with him.  My internship will give me a deeper base of scientific knowledge to advance my research,” said Astore. “To work hands-on in his lab, analyzing data that recognizes patterns and clues to disease development is a dream come true.”

This post was written by Jackie Kelvington

Related:
Genes4Vaccines – UCF I-Corps

 

Institute News

Krissa Smith, former postdoc, now research program manager at Susan G. Komen

AuthorJessica Moore
Date

June 24, 2016

Krissa Smith

Krissa Smith, PhD, was a postdoc in the laboratory of William Stallcup, PhD, professor in our NCI-designated Cancer Center, from early 2010 to late 2011, where she studied the impact of blocking blood vessel growth on breast cancer development. She now manages the scientific review of grant applications for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

What’s your job like— what do you do every day?

Over the five years I’ve been with the Komen Foundation, I’ve moved up from assigning grant applications to review committees to overseeing the whole grant review team. We awarded an incredible amount— over $40 million in funding last year. Since our review committees include patient advocates, I help train them in how to effectively understand and evaluate which proposals are the most promising.

Another important role of my job is finding effective ways to communicate the great work our scientists are doing. Every step forward is a combined effort, so it’s a priority for us to help the community understand how each step leads to the next and the progress that has been made. There are so many ways to communicate in today’s world that the opportunities are endless!

What drew you to this job?

I actually would never have thought of grants management as a career goal, but someone I knew from graduate school worked for Komen and encouraged me to apply. Since then I’ve realized how working with a non-profit gives me opportunities that are more than I hoped for. Not only do I keep up with the cutting edge of research, but I also feel like I’m making a difference—the science can’t get done without funding.

What else do you enjoy about your work?

I have never been bored! I wasn’t sure what administration would be like on a day-to-day basis, but I’ve worked through a lot of rewarding challenges. Plus, it’s nice to be the one giving out the money instead of working so hard to apply for grants!

What advice do you have for current postdocs looking for a job?

Keep up your connections. People have a way of ending up in surprising and sometimes influential places. You might be surprised at how the diverse careers of your friends from grad school and your postdoc may increase your job options and perspective.

How has your work at Komen changed you?

I’ve come to embrace pink more than I ever thought I would! I’ve also gained a deeper appreciation for including patients as part of the funding process—their perspective is really valuable.

How has your scientific training impacted your life outside your career?

Some time ago I felt lumps on my dog’s chest—and given my background I suspected tumors. It turns out I was right. The good news is that they were surgically removed and she didn’t need further treatment. Breast cancer really does affect everyone in some way – I was just surprised to have it impact my dog!

 

Institute News

Why the “Biggest Losers” don’t win

AuthorJessica Moore
Date

May 12, 2016

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Following a recent publication on the long-term effects of participation in TV’s “Biggest Loser” competition, Steven Smith, MD, professor in SBP’s Integrative Metabolism Program and director of the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes at Florida Hospital, was interviewed by NBC WESH TV Orlando reporter Amanda Ober. Smith explained why nearly all of the “Biggest Losers” regained large proportions of the weight they had lost, and sometimes even more. Continue reading “Why the “Biggest Losers” don’t win”

Institute News

Doug Lewandowski, PhD, elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

AuthorJessica Moore
Date

April 28, 2016

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The director of Translational Cardiovascular Research at SBP’s Lake Nona campus was recently named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). E. Douglas Lewandowski, PhD, was one of 33 scientists selected to become a AAAS fellow in the Section on Medical Sciences, recognizing his “distinguished contributions to fundamental aspects of cardiac metabolism and their implications for heart disease.” Continue reading “Doug Lewandowski, PhD, elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science”

Institute News

Monika Schneider, former SBP postdoc, now a health policy analyst in DC

Authorjmoore
Date

April 26, 2016

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This is part of a series on what past SBP postdocs are doing now.

Monika Schneider, PhD, was a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Sumit Chanda, PhD, professor and director of the Immunity and Pathogenesis Program, from 2012-2014, where she studied how the immune system recognizes and clears HIV. After serving as a science policy advocate at the American Association of Immunologists, she recently took a position with the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy.

What’s your job like— what do you do every day?

In my current position, I develop policy solutions to issues that affect drug development and health care. My duties include research to identify the main players, current policy, and gaps in knowledge or process; convening meetings with relevant stakeholders; and writing up reports on recommended policies and pathways for implementation.

What do you enjoy most about it and why?

I really enjoy learning new things, and here I get to learn about what has to happen after discovery of a drug at a research institution before it can be marketed. I also get to make an impact on how drug development is prioritized and paid for.

What do you hope to accomplish in your career?

It’s the same as what initially drew me to science in general and immunology in particular: helping to reduce the suffering caused by disease. I hope to develop policies that will result in smarter, faster, and less costly drug development.

What did you gain from your postdoc experience at SBP? 

I really appreciated the translational aspect of much of the research at SBP. I also feel that during my time as a postdoc, I learned how to do team science. Having multiple projects, and collaborators that were on the other side of the country, really strengthened my organizational and project management skills. 

How did you find your first job after your postdoc? Was it challenging?

I found my first job through a job posting site. It was not challenging for me mostly due to good timing and fit—the organization’s leadership knew my references. However, I believe that my involvement in student government and the SBP Science Network (SBP-SN) gave me a leg up.

Were you looking specifically for jobs in science policy?

No, I was also considering scientific program management and medical writing. I really enjoy discussing science (I always liked lab meetings) and technical writing, so I was looking for positions where I could serve as a liaison between scientists and government, business interests, or the public.

What do you miss most and least about San Diego?

I miss the plethora of breweries, Mexican food, and, of course, the friends I made while living there. I do not miss sitting in traffic to get to work (I take the metro now) or the lack of leafy trees and grass.

Institute News

Peter Crawford, MD, PhD, elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation

Authorjmoore
Date

April 19, 2016

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The director of SBP’s Cardiovascular Metabolism Program was recently elected into a pre-eminent honor society for physician-scientists. Peter Crawford, MD, PhD, was one of 74 medical researchers whose nominations to the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) were accepted in 2016. This distinction is conferred only on investigators who have made significant scientific advances prior to the age of 50. Continue reading “Peter Crawford, MD, PhD, elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation”

Institute News

Former SBP postdoc Louis Lapierre now assistant professor at Brown University

Authorjmoore
Date

April 15, 2016

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This is the first post in a series that will share what past SBP postdocs are doing now. 

Louis Lapierre, PhD, was a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Malene Hansen, PhD, associate professor in the Development, Aging, and Regeneration Program from 2008 to 2014, where he studied the molecular mechanisms of aging using the microscopic roundworm C. elegans. Since January 2015, he has been an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry at Brown University. His lab researches the role of lipophagy in aging, the process by which cells recycle fats to enhance longevity.

What did you gain from your postdoc experience at Sanford-Burnham? What was the best thing about doing science here?

Conducting research at Sanford-Burnham was a great stepping-stone in my career development. After my first publication there, because I was in a lab led by an emerging scientist, I had the flexibility to carry out research that I personally cared about, which led to interesting and unexpected findings. Eventually, I obtained independent financial support that was critical for my transition to independence. Importantly, SBP’s location in La Jolla means that it is surrounded by highly skilled researchers and state-of-the-art infrastructure, which makes for a cutting-edge, competitive environment.

How did you find your first job after your postdoc? Was it challenging?

I interviewed for several positions during the first half of 2014. The faculty job search is grueling, but I feel privileged to have gone through it. The main challenge is the outstanding level of competition not only at research-intensive institutions, but also at lower tier schools.

Why do you say participating in the faculty selection process was a privilege?

I think it’s easy to forget that our accomplishments were possible because, at some point, someone believed in us. Receiving support from colleagues and mentors and then being selected for interview by a search committee is a privilege that only a few postdocs get to experience.

What advice do you have for postdocs who hope to find a faculty position?

During your postdoc, plan meticulously to position yourself in line with funding opportunities and aggressively pursue emerging topics. During the job search, understand your value on the market, develop an interesting research program with long-term potential and strategically market yourself at conferences. 

What do you enjoy most about your work and why?

I think the most fascinating part of basic research is the possibility of making new and exciting discoveries, and being at the forefront of knowledge. I also find mentoring highly rewarding because I get to make a difference in someone else’s life by building their confidence. This is especially gratifying when I get to work with students who have a passion for science, which is so important to thrive in this competitive environment.

What do you miss most about San Diego and why?

You only realize what you have when you lose it. Leaving San Diego was difficult because I knew nowhere else would be as good. I miss San Diego, not only for its incredible weather and beautiful beaches, but most importantly for the great friends I made there.