January 20, 2016
“Human Glycosylation Disorders” is the theme of this year’s Rare Disease Day at SBP. On February 26-27, 2016, Hudson Freeze, PhD, director of the Human Genetics Program at SBP, is hosting the 7th Annual Rare Disease Day Symposium in La Jolla, Calif.
Continue reading “You’re invited to SBP’s Rare Disease Day in La Jolla”
January 8, 2016
Sanford Burnham Prebys riders help raise much needed funds.
Continue reading “Pedal the Cause donates $1.3 million for cancer research in San Diego”
December 28, 2015
$2 billion dollars for 10 years. That’s what democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has proposed infusing into research to end Alzheimer’s by 2025.
With more than 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, including 60,000 in San Diego, the additional funds would propel many important research projects forward.
SBP’s Senior Vice President of Drug Discovery and Development, Michael Jackson, PhD, and Alzheimer’s San Diego CEO Mary Ball appeared on the KUSI news in San Diego on December 22nd to talk about the Clinton proposal and the status of Alzheimer’s research here in San Diego.
Watch the video here
December 21, 2015
“Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Over 60 percent of the population can be classified as overweight or obese, placing them at risk for a large number of chronic diseases, including insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes,” says Sheila Collins, PhD, professor at SBP’s Lake Nona campus.
“There is a critical need for novel approaches to treating obesity—in particular, agents acting to increase energy expenditure would be valuable.”
Read the article in the Orlando Sentinel by Naseem S. Miller about how Collins is studying hormones produced by the heart to prevent obesity and possibly the myriad of disorders that come with it.
December 15, 2015
Come join us at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) to learn about the latest research in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis taking place in your community. The Psoriasis Research Update and Reception is jointly sponsored by SBP and the National Psoriasis Foundation. The event will take place on:
Tuesday, February 2, 2016 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute Building 12 Auditorium 10905 Road to the Cure San Diego, CA 92121
Take a tour of the SBP Psoriasis Research Lab and come to the reception where we will provide hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
Our guest speakers will include:
RSVP to hbuthmann@sbpdiscovery.org by January 29, 2015 to reserve your spot.
We look forward to seeing you there!
December 15, 2015
Hello everyone!
I am so pleased to be joining the Sanford Burnham Prebys (SBP) team.
I have been in television news at stations all over the country for more than 20 years, most recently at KUSI TV in San Diego. Finding and telling stories is my specialty, and I’d love to hear what you think is unique about SBP and the people who work here. One of my passions is educating about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, in that my Mother passed away at the age of 65 from the mind-robbing disease. I am happy to be working at a place where medical discoveries of all kinds are improving and saving lives.
I believe in what happens here, and will do everything I can to make sure SBP, the scientists who do research and the people who make this place run, get the recognition in the media and elsewhere they so richly deserve.
December 14, 2015
On Tuesday, December 2, SBP held “The Future of Neuroscience Workshop,” an event where SBP faculty shared their findings on what causes neurological disorders and presented their ideas on new directions and approaches to treat brain diseases.
It’s estimated that more than 50 million Americans are affected by neurological disorders. However, many disorders do not have an approved treatment or are in need of newer, more effective treatments. SBP is discovering the underlying mechanisms of neurological disorders, and identifying new disease targets that will lead to innovative treatments to prevent, slow, or even reverse these complex conditions.
The broad list of diseases under investigation included Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, schizophrenia, depression, multiple sclerosis, as well as neurocognitive disorders caused by infection and inflammation. Many faculty presented data describing the basic biological processes that have gone awry and contribute to dysfunction, revealing “druggable” targets in the brain that may be modulated to improve the health of patients.
A special session on the technology and platforms available for research covered homing mechanisms that enhance the delivery of drugs to the brain, the application of stem cells to discover drugs, using stem cells to potentially restore damaged cells and tissue, and new lab tools to create small-molecules that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to treat central nervous system disorders.
As SBP moves into 2016, we have a clear picture of the challenges and opportunities to advance our research to create new, better treatments to improve the lives of individuals and their families affected by neurological disorders.
November 10, 2015
“Creative Intervention Unleashed,” the 2015 Gala of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP), was a joyous salute to the scientists who are moving toward cures and the donors who are with them every step of the way.
More than 200 supporters gathered at the Grand Del Mar on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 to celebrate a pivotal year for the Institute. The festivities were led by honorary gala co-chairs Susan and Jim Blair, Phyllis and Dan Epstein, and Robin and Hank Nordhoff, and the guests were surrounded by vibrant images of fluorescent cells and molecular structures.
The setting was sumptuous, and the mood was euphoric. But the evening’s dominant emotions were passion for SBP’s translational research achievements and excitement about the Institute’s future impact.
Hank Nordhoff, who spoke on behalf of the honorary chairs, told the audience that the Institute “wouldn’t have a chance of fulfilling its mission without your support.” Noting that he, Jim, and Dan all serve on the Institute’s Board of Trustees, Nordhoff said, “We invest in SBP because of the quality and the productivity of the research and the ability to turn that superb research into safe and effective breakthrough products to treat patients.”
Nordhoff was followed to the podium by Perry Nisen, MD, PhD, who was just starting his second year as Institute CEO and Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair. Nisen gave the audience an overview of what he described as “an amazing year” topped by a landmark $100 million gift from honorary trustee Conrad Prebys. “All I can say,” Nisen told Prebys, “is that we’re going to make you proud!” Other 2014-2015 highlights were accreditation of the SBP Graduate School, licensing of a drug candidate for renal cardiovascular disease (“the first of many to come”), and a new five-year partnership with Eli Lilly to develop immunological drugs.
“Most importantly, the science has been incredible this past year,” Nisen reported, “and that speaks to the vital impact of the contributions you make. The success of this Institute has been phenomenal because of your support, and I hope all of you will stay on this train with us.”
Nisen then introduced a special Gala video that gave the back story of a new collaboration with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The alliance came out of a discovery by Carl Ware, PhD, of a molecular target that may help block inflammation in autoimmune diseases. The video showed how families struggle to cope with pediatric Crohn’s disease and how Ware is determined to relieve their plight and raise their hopes.
“Autoimmune disease afflicts people of all ages, but it’s perhaps most intense in young kids,” said Ware, who is professor and director of SBP’s Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center. “We’re developing a clinical trial to help these patients, and we hope to start in early 2016.”
The evening culminated with the Gala’s annual “Fund-a-Need” tradition when guests raise their bidding paddles to pledge specified amounts for Institute support. With leadership bids from Nancy and Matt Browar, Geniya and Papa Doug Manchester, Debra Turner and Conrad Prebys, Jeanne and Gary Herberger, and Denny Sanford the event raised a total of $1.1 million.
All in all, the 2015 SBP Gala was, in the words of CEO Nisen, “a brilliant, clever, elegant evening.”
November 3, 2015
On Friday, October 30, more 350 people came to SBP’s 37th Annual Symposium to hear leading scientists present their latest research on aging and regeneration. The presenters, listed here, provided valuable insight into the latest studies on what causes aging, and strategies to repair injuries, prolong life, and prevent diseases. The event was hosted by (from left to right): Rolf Bodmer, PhD, Malene Hansen, PhD, (in bee costume for Halloween) Alexey Terskikh, PhD
Many congratulations to Esther Minotti for successfully organizing the event!
And many thanks to the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research for their support.
October 14, 2015
“San Diego’s non-profit research institutions are the backbone of scientific innovation. They are the birthplace of groundbreaking advances in biosciences and translational research that yield life-changing discoveries and therapies.”
2015 Economic Impact of San Diego’s Research Institutions Report San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
On Tuesday, October 13, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation released their annual report on the contribution that non-profit research institutions make to the local economy. And what it revealed is what many of us already knew—that San Diego is the most concentrated scientific R&D market in the United States and a global leader in innovation.
The report was generated with the guidance of numerous research institutions, including SBP, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Scripps Research Institute, J. Craig Venter Institute, and West Health Institute, and is the most comprehensive analysis on San Diego’s research institutions to date.
Here are some of the highlights from the report’s findings that reinforce San Diego as an epicenter of life science research and innovation:
The information in the report will be used to build supporting coalitions with industry leaders, attract investment in the life science sector, and increase funding to make sure that science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students stay in the area to address the workforce issues that this dynamic sector requires.
To read the report click here