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Institute News

Meet the 2019 Sanford Burnham Prebys graduate student class

AuthorMonica May
Date

September 23, 2019

2019 new Graduate Students; left to right: Benjamin Van Espen, Linda Chang, Jordan Friedlein, Zong Ming Chua, Michaela Lynott, Steven Sakuma

For nearly fifteen years, Sanford Burnham Prebys has been honored to educate the scientists of the future through our Graduate Program. Today, more than 40 alumni are advancing biomedical research at esteemed institutions around the world.

Who are the scientists who will join this illustrious group of alumni? Read on to learn about our new students and the bold projects they will undertake as part of our 2019 incoming class.

Linda Chang

  • Hometown: Tainan City, Taiwan
  • Joins us from: UC San Diego, where she studied skin innate immunity and the host defense mechanism in the Department of Dermatology.
  • As a PhD student: She will study brain immune cells and molecules that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, under the guidance of Huaxi Xu, PhD
Graduate Student Linda Chang

Zong Ming Chua

  • Hometown: Singapore
  • Joins us from: UC San Diego, where he worked on ENCODE, an ambitious project that aims to identify all functional elements in the human and mouse genomes.
  • As a PhD student: He will focus on better understanding the pathogenesis of the blood cancer acute myeloid leukemia (AML), under the guidance of Peter Adams, PhD
Graduate Student Zong Ming Chua

Jordan Friedlein

  • Hometown: Rockford, Minnesota
  • Joins us from: California State University, Fresno, where he completed his master’s degree in biology. While a student, he sought to understand how certain cancers become resistant to cell death signaling.
  • As a PhD student: He will search for vulnerabilities in how cancer cells proliferate and survive in order to develop new targeted therapies, under the guidance of Anindya Bagchi, Ph.D.
Graduate Student Jordan Friedlein

Michaela Lynott

  • Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
  • Joins us from: San Diego startup CB Therapeutics, where she produced plant compounds from genetically modified yeast cells.
  • As a PhD student: She will work to find medicines that boost the heart muscle by mapping novel cardiac pathways and leveraging an automated screening pipeline under the guidance of Alexandre Colas, PhD
     
Graduate Student Michaela Lynott

Steven Sakuma

  • Hometown: Shingletown, California
  • Joins us from: Sanford Burnham Prebys, where he studied the physiological importance of certain pieces of nuclear pore complexes—the gatekeepers to the cell’s nucleus, where DNA lives—in the lab of Maximiliano D’Angelo, PhD
  • As a PhD student: He will continue his research into the biology of nuclear pore complexes, including their role in aging and disease, under the guidance of D’Angelo.
Graduate Student Steven Sakuma

Benjamin Van Espen

  • Hometown: Charleroi, Belgium
  • Joins us from: UC San Diego, where he researched the underlying causes of autoimmune diseases.
  • As a PhD student: He will research signaling pathways that regulate cellular stress response, under the guidance of Ze’ev Ronai, PhD
Graduate Student Benjamin Van Espen

For more information about the Sanford Burnham Prebys’ Graduate Program, visit our website.

Institute News

Stepping into a scientist’s shoes at the Cancer Center Open House

AuthorMonica May
Date

June 20, 2019

Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer Center Open House poster presentation

Cancer research has led to new insights and novel medicines that have transformed the lives of parents, grandparents and children around the world. Yet cancer remains the number-one cause of death in San Diego (nationally, it is the second-leading cause of death). The quest for new and better treatments—and a world free of the disease—remains urgent. 

On June 13, 2019, the San Diego community—including many cancer survivors and their loved ones—had a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of a cancer researcher and see how cancer drugs are discovered at the open house of our NCI-designated Cancer Center. The facility is one of only seven National Cancer Institute (NCI)–designated basic research cancer centers in the nation. 

Following an introduction by Garth Powis, D. Phil., professor and director of the NCI-designated Cancer Center, guests embarked on guided lab tours. Attendees discovered how we’re working to find better ways to combat cancer, viewed highly specialized equipment—such as machines that model the low-oxygen environment surrounding a tumor—and donned lab coats to catch a glimpse of our ultra-high-throughput drug screening robot in action at our Prebys Center for Drug Discovery. The state-of-the-art technology at the Prebys Center can screen hundreds of thousands of potential drug candidates in one run, accelerating the time it takes to find new, promising compounds that may become tomorrow’s cancer treatments.

Guests also learned how San Diego, with a multitude of world-class research institutes, universities and biotech companies, is shaping the future of cancer diagnosis and treatment. And our Community Advisory Board, comprised of cancer research advocates and cancer survivors, were on hand to share the importance of factoring in patients’ perspectives as breakthrough science moves from “bed to bedside.”

See the science in action in these event photos.

Missed the event? We hope you can join us at our next open house in November. The event is free and open to the public. Check for more details at sbpdiscovery.org/calendar.

Many thanks to our Community Advisory Board (CAB), the host of the open house. Comprised of nine cancer research advocates, including many cancer survivors, this committee strives to create a dialogue between our scientists and the community. We are grateful for CAB’s efforts surrounding the event, which included helping our scientists prepare lay-friendly presentations and posters that were critical to the event’s success.

Interested in keeping up with our latest discoveries, upcoming events and more? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Discoveries.

Institute News

Getting groovy for a good cause at Bring It!

AuthorMonica May
Date

May 9, 2019

David & Sarah Szekeres, Juli Oh, Matt Browne-SBP BringIt!

From the moment guests stepped into the disco-lit room, it was clear Bring It! was not your typical fundraiser. 

Donned in bell bottoms, sequined bodysuits and platformed heels, this year’s guests sampled hors d’oeuvre’s supplied by roller-blading servers and grooved to classics such as “Stayin’ Alive” and “Dancing Queen.” 

The 70’s-themed event, held on May 2, 2019, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, drew a crowd of more than 400 attendees—the largest yet—a testament to the hard work and dedication of co-chairs Juli Oh and Matt Browne, and Sarah and David Szekeres. John Weisbarth, host of Tiny House Nation and San Diego native, emceed the event for the third year in a row.

While fun was had by all, the night’s mission was never far from anyone’s mind: fundraising for our Institute’s work to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and more. 

Co-chair Sarah Szekeres shared her personal story about why research is important to her: “Learning I have the BRCA2 gene mutation, which puts me at a greater risk of breast and ovarian cancer, has been an overwhelming and frightening experience for me and my family. It’s through basic research that we will develop effective medicines or tests that prevent, diagnose or treat disease—and create a future where my daughter, and her children and grandchildren, aren’t afraid of cancer or Alzheimer’s or the many serious diseases our society faces today.”

Guests vied for an opportunity to participate in onstage competitions—a spot so coveted it was raffled to the highest bidder. Top-scoring teams partook in absurdly hilarious games, such as “Hungry Hungry Human,” where guests attempted to collect plastic balls from an inflated pool while wheeled on a dolly; and “Rocky,” where participants furiously boxed and ran in place to reach the most steps on a pedometer. Despite wearing wigs and hats, contestants even braved a bobbing-for-apples style competition involving candy encased in a Jello Mold.

Altogether, Bring It! certainly puts the “fun” in “fundraising needs.” We hope to see you next year—stay tuned for more details about the date and theme of the event.  

We are extremely grateful to the event’s generous sponsors, including Alexandria Realty, Heron Therapeutics, Marleigh and Alan Gleicher, Cooley, Marilena and Greg Lucier, Retrophin, Domain Associates, Robin and Hank Nordhoff, Jeanne Herberger, PhD, Moon Valley Nurseries, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Luke and Elizabeth Bonacci, Sarah and David Szekeres, Jonell and Gregory Tibbitts, Court and Julie Turner, Dulcy and Mason Matthies, Josie and Jim Myers, Marie Simmons, Arena Pharmaceuticals, BDO, CBRE, Creative Fusion, Cushman & Wakefield, IDT, Deloittte & Touche, Farrell Family Foundation, iProtean, KPMG, Johnson & Johnson, Marsh & McLennan Agency, Neurocrine Biosciences, Oxford Finance, Pegasus Building Services, UnionBank, Cabrillo Advisors, Square1bank and USI Insurance Services. 

Watch a fun-filled KUSI segment about the event. 

Head to our Facebook page to view event photos; search #BringIt19 to find more content. 

Interested in keeping up with our latest discoveries, upcoming events and more? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Discoveries.

Institute News

Inspiring future scientists at the STEM EXPO

AuthorMonica May
Date

March 25, 2019

STEM EXPO 2019-Sanford Burnham Prebys

Armed with wiggly worms and striped zebrafish, on Saturday, March 2, more than 20 volunteers from Sanford Burnham Prebys helped kids and their families learn about the power of DNA at the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering’s EXPO Day. 

One of the largest STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) festivals in the U.S., this year’s event featured more than 130 interactive exhibits designed to ignite a passion for science in K–12 students. Despite an uncharacteristically rainy morning, an estimated 17,000 people attended. 

For Joseph Lancman, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at our Institute who was the first in his family to graduate from college, the festival was an opportunity to provide children with the experience he wishes he’d had as a kid.

“Growing up, I knew I was interested in human health, but I had no idea that research was an option,” Lancman says. “Like many kids, I thought I wanted to be a doctor. But in college, I quickly learned that I wanted to know more. I wanted to know what causes disease and how scientists go about finding cures.” 

STEM EXPO 2019 Joseph Lancman and son

Dr. Lancman and his son

At our booth, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and staff helped children don paper lab coats and explore DNA-themed activities. 

Children were able to see live worms with DNA mutations that affect their movement, courtesy of the lab of Malene Hansen, PhD, professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program. Compared to normal worms, some mutant worms moved mindlessly in circles, and others remained relatively immobile—illustrating how changes in a DNA sequence can dramatically affect life.

At the adjacent station, provided by the lab of Duc Dong, PhD, assistant professor in the Human Genetics Program, children squinted through microscopes and peered into fish tanks to observe how DNA changes can dramatically affect the heartbeat of zebra fish—one of the most powerful model organisms used to study vertebrate biology. 

Lancman, who works in Dong’s lab, took care to explain the exhibit in child-friendly language (he credits his four-year-old son for helping him develop this skill). 

“I want kids to know that science is like a puzzle,” he explains. “It takes time to put all the pieces together, but when you’re done, you can see the big picture—and that big picture can lead to improving human health.”

Institute News

5 takeaways from Insights: Heart Disease

AuthorMonica May
Date

February 15, 2019

SBP Insights:Heart Disease

It’s easy to forget about the fist-sized organ in our chest. But the heart is arguably the most important muscle in the body. We can’t live without it, after all. 

To help educate the public about heart health and share the latest scientific advances, this month Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) invited the San Diego community to a free panel discussion focused on the heart. 

More than 70 community members attended the event, whose speakers included cardiologist Anthony N. DeMaria, MD; Jack White, chair in Cardiology, professor of Medicine, founding director, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center at UC San Diego Health; Donna Marie Robinson, an individual living with heart failure; and heart researcher Karen Ocorr, PhD, assistant professor, Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at SBP. Jennifer Sobotka, executive director at the American Heart Association San Diego, moderated the discussion.

In a special introduction provided by Rolf Bodmer, PhD, director and professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at SBP, he explained that his heart research uses model organisms such as the fruit fly. He quipped, “Which some of you didn’t even know had a heart.” 

The ensuing discussion was robust and insightful. Below are five important takeaways: 

  1. Heart disease is the number-one killer of Americans. Nearly half of American adults have some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
  2. Obesity is an epidemic in America. In the 1960s, approximately 13 percent of American adults were obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Today, that number has tripled to nearly 40 percent. DeMaria illustrated this point with a colored map showing obesity’s prevalence during each decade, which drew gasps from the crowd. 
  3. Know your numbers. Donna Marie was healthy and fit, so she didn’t think that a fainting episode could have been heart disease. “My cardiologist saved my life,” she said. Now, she encourages everyone to “know your numbers, including your cholesterol level and your blood pressure.” 
  4. Rethink swatting that pesky fruit fly. We share 80 percent of disease-causing genes with the tiny insect, including ion channels that keep the heart pumping. For this reason scientists are studying fruit-fly hearts in an effort to learn about the many mysteries of the heart, such as how the rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation (AFib) arises. 
  5. Consider moving to Italy. Just about everyone wants to know which science-backed diet to follow for optimal health. DeMaria explained that the most robust data supports eating a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables and olive oil.

Read the La Jolla Light’s coverage of the event. 

Institute News

Padres Pedal the Cause presents record-breaking check for nearly $3 million to fund local cancer research

AuthorMonica May
Date

January 29, 2019

Padres Pedal the Cause-Check presentation-SBP

Local cancer research just got a big boost. 

On Thursday, January 24, SBP president Kristiina Vuori, MD, PhD, joined leaders from Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego to help Padres Pedal the Cause (PPTC) reveal that this year’s event raised a record-breaking $2.9 million for local cancer research. The leaders joined executive director Anne Marbarger onstage to receive the official check. 

This year’s event—which invited participates to cycle, spin, run or walk—had more than 2,500 participants, an increase of 35 percent. Total fundraising grew by 22 percent. SBP has participated in the event since its inception; and this year our team of more than 60 scientists, staff and SBP supporters raised more than $30,000 for the cause. Since the inaugural ride six years ago, PPTC has raised more than $10 million.

Nearly 300 of the event’s participants, including Tony Gwynn Jr., Pedal founders Bill and Amy Koman, San Diego business leaders, and top donors and fundraisers, gathered at the Del Mar racetrack to witness the funding reveal and check presentation in person. 

Gwynn shared a moving story about his father’s battle with salivary cancer, a journey he still finds difficult to recount. “If he saw this progress, he would be smiling today,” he said. 

A full 100 percent of the proceeds fund collaborative research taking place at the four San Diego research institutes. Past PPTC grants have accelerated SBP’s research into cancers of the breast, skin, brain, colon, pancreas and more. This year’s grant announcement will be revealed in the spring. 

In the meantime, make sure to mark your calendars for the 2019 event, which will take place on Saturday, November 16. Registration will open in mid-April.

Interested in keeping up with SBP’s latest discoveries, upcoming events and more? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Discoveries. 

Institute News

Reena Horowitz honored at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

AuthorHelen I. Hwang
Date

December 13, 2016

Kristiina Vuori, Ph.D, and Reena Horowitz

During a special end-of-the-year gathering, Reena Horowitz was honored for her hard work and dedication to Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP). Held in the Fishman Auditorium at SBP, friends and staff thanked Horowitz with a bouquet of flowers, applause and a speech from Kristiina Vuori, PhD, president of SBP. Vuori thanked Horowitz for being a “leading ambassador for the Institute.”

In Vuori’s speech, she explained how Horowitz became involved with the Institute through her friendship with her neighbor Lillian Fishman. Dr. William T. Fishman and his wife, Lillian Fishman, founded SBP forty years ago. “Reena’s friendship with Lillian provided the Institute with a champion in the community, as well as the development of two of SBP’s institutional programs, the Fishman Fund Awards and the Group of 12 & Friends. Reena co-founded and has managed both of these extraordinary programs for over a decade,” said Vuori.

To nurture the careers of future scientific trailblazers at SBP, the Fishman Fund was established by SBP supporters Mary Bradley and Reena Horowitz to honor the founders of the Institute, Dr. William and Lillian Fishman. Over 55 postdoctoral students have been supported by the Fishman Fund, which awards postdoctoral fellowships and career development grants.

Horowitz co-founded G12 & Friends, a lecture and get-together with friends hosted monthly at SBP. What started out as Horowitz, Lillian Fishman and a few friends has ballooned into a group that usually draws over 100 guests, curious about a wide range of topics from science, medicine and the arts.

The celebration was an occasion to thank Horowitz for being a passionate supporter of SBP’s scientific programs within the community.

To find out more about the Fishman Fund and how to support it, click here.

Institute News

At Pedal the Cause, Team SBP rode 787 miles for cancer research in San Diego

AuthorJessica Moore
Date

November 16, 2016

Part of Team SBP at Petco Park. From left: James Short, Lix Schwarzbach, Marco Maruggi

Over a blisteringly hot November weekend, scientists, staff, and supporters of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute came together to support the fight against cancer. They participated in the fourth annual Pedal the Cause bike ride and fundraising event that raised over $1.6 million. The money will be used to fund joint collaborative cancer research projects among scientists from SBP, the Salk, Rady Children’s Hospital and Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego.

Our team’s nine riders biked a collective 787 miles over hilly terrain, raising almost $17,000. Some, like graduate student Marisa Sanchez, were inspired to ride by their personal experience with cancer. “I ride to honor my sister, Alessandra, who we lost to cancer four years ago,” said Sanchez in a video interview. “Research is crucial to advance cancer care—the treatments that are being developed now might have saved her life.”

Team SBP also ran a refueling station, where our volunteers helped the event’s 1,500 riders take a much needed break Sunday morning. In addition to water, snacks, and shade, the SBP station provided a fun disco-themed photo booth, complete with 70s-era tunes, in honor of the Institute’s 40th anniversary.

Local news station CW6 was on site to interview riders and scientists, including SBP’s Cosimo Commisso, PhD, assistant professor in the NCI-designated Cancer Center, who emphasized the importance of adequate funding to accelerate progress towards cures.

Commisso was part of a team that was awarded a grant from Pedal the Cause in 2014. That collaboration with Geoffrey Wahl, PhD, at the Salk and Andrew Lowy, MD, at Moores Cancer Center focused on pancreatic cancer, the most deadly common cancer in the U.S., and yielded breakthrough findings that could lead to a new treatment approach. The money raised this year will support similarly innovative, high-impact research that can be rapidly translated into new hope for cancer patients.