Registration open for San Diego aging research meetings in March
AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date
March 12, 2025
There are two exciting opportunities in March for individuals interested in learning more about aging research conducted in San Diego and across the country.
San Diego Nathan Shock Center Symposium
On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the San Diego Nathan Shock Center will hold its annual symposium on “The Heterogeneity of Aging” at the Salk Institute in the Conrad T. Prebys Auditorium and on Zoom. Speakers and topics for the event include:
Hongkui Zeng, PhD, Allen Institute for Brain Science – “Dynamic changes of cell types in the aging brain”
Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD, Stanford University – “Young blood for old brains and the quest to slow aging”
Adam Salmon, PhD, Barshop Institute at UT Health San Antonio – “Understanding the translational potential of geroscience from cells to primates”
Lingyan Shi, PhD, University of California San Diego – “Optical Metabolic Nanoscopy for Studying Aging and Diseases”
The La Jolla Aging Meeting follows the next day on Thursday, March 27, 2025. It also will be held at the Salk Institute in the Conrad T. Prebys Auditorium. The event will include scientific presentations and networking with a focus on postdoctoral researchers and students.
Nathan Le Brasseur, PhD, director of the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging at the Mayo Clinic, will present the keynote address.
About the San Diego Nathan Shock Center The San Diego Nathan Shock Center (SD-NSC), led by Gerald Shadel, PhD, Audrey Geisel Chair in Biomedical Science and professor in the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory at the Salk Institute, was established in the fall of 2020 with the overall goal of understanding the heterogeneity of aging in order to allow development of personalized interventions to increase the number of years of healthy life.
To this end, the center provides three novel scientific Research Resource Cores to develop new human cell models of aging and enable the integrated analysis of molecular, cellular and tissue heterogeneity. The SD-NSC also supports and advocates basic biology of aging research in general through the development, training and mentoring activities of a Research Development Core and robust outreach efforts. All of these activities are accomplished via a consortium of three premier research institutions on the La Jolla Research Mesa: the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Sanford Burnham Prebys and the University of California San Diego.
Alessandra Sacco serves as director of the SD-NSC Research Development Core and Peter Adams serves as codirector of the SD-NSC Heterogeneity of Aging Core.
Institute News
A Conversation About Aging and Cancer at Sanford Burnham Prebys
AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date
October 24, 2024
Event recording now available for panel discussion with scientists held on October 9, 2024
David A. Brenner, MD, president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys, welcomed attendees to the launch of a new community engagement program called “A Conversation About” in the institute’s Victor E. LaFave III Memorial Auditorium on October 9, 2024.
The initial panel discussion in the A Conversation About series focused on the connection between aging and cancer and included information about a current breast cancer research collaboration. A recording of the event is available online.
Reena Horowitz, the founder of Group of 12 and Friends at Sanford Burnham Prebys, provided introductory remarks. Brooke Emerling, PhD, director of the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program, moderated the discussion among three featured panelists:
Peter Adams, PhD, director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys
Xiao Tian, PhD, assistant professor in the Degenerative Diseases Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys
Kay Yeung, MD, PhD, associate clinical professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego Health
By bringing together community collaborators and clinicians with Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers, A Conversation About offers a unique perspective on how clinical research and practice can be used to inform fundamental and translational science.
Watch Event Recording
Institute News
Treasuring science and fun at the 2024 Annual Biomedical Research Symposium
AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date
October 2, 2024
Annual event shines spotlight on research conducted by postdoctoral associates and graduate students at Sanford Burnham Prebys.
“When I reflect on the most fun I’ve had during my career as a scientist, it was during my postdoctoral fellowship,” said Ye Zheng, PhD, Becky and Ralph S. O’Connor Chair and professor in the NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis at the Salk Institute, during his keynote address at the 23rd Annual Biomedical Research Symposium at Sanford Burnham Prebys on September 19, 2024.
“As a postdoc, every time I woke up, I would think about my scientific projects and then go to lab to work with interesting people and do exciting experiments. I had few, if any, distractions. It’s a unique opportunity, and I hope you treasure it.”
Zheng’s words of encouragement helped set the stage for a day filled with a variety of presentation formats to showcase the work of postdoctoral associates and graduate students at the institute. Peter D. Adams, PhD, director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, underscored the event’s importance in his opening remarks.
“This is how science works. You all convening and discussing your work today provides a platform for building new and innovative collaborations.
“You are the next generation of biomedical researchers, and there is no greater pleasure for me as a scientist than to see postdocs and students partnering with one another and enjoying working together.”
The symposium featured three scientific sessions with keynote presentations, podium lectures and brief “flash talks” in which speakers were limited to two minutes and a single slide to entice attendees to visit their posters. Participants voted in a science art competition and for best podium and flash talks.
Following the scientific sessions, Alicia Llorente Lope, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Brooke Emerling, PhD, presented the 2024 Mentor of the Year Award to Alexandre Colas, PhD, the associate dean of admissions in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and associate professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program.
Linda Bradley, PhD, a professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program and the faculty advisor for postdoctoral training, provided the symposium’s closing remarks. She reminded the audience that the symposium was planned for this week because it was National Postdoc Appreciation Week from September 16-20.
“I want to thank our postdocs for their incredible efforts driving the research forward in our labs,” she said. “I hope we can continue to enhance our environment and provide the best possible opportunities for training and mentorship here at the Institute.”
The 23rd Annual Biomedical Research Symposium concluded with a poster session and happy hour reception. Postdoctoral associate and graduate school alumni were invited to these events to meet with current graduate students and postdoctoral associates and reconnect with their colleagues.
Symposium planning is coordinated by the Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network, a group of postdoctoral associates and graduate students interested in professional development, networking and social events, and the institute’s Office of Education, Training and International Services.
The 23rd Annual Biomedical Research Symposium concluded with a poster session and happy hour reception. Postdoctoral associate and graduate school alumni were invited to these events to meet with current graduate students and postdoctoral associates and reconnect with their colleagues.
“It was a terrific experience working together to build this year’s program,” said Valeria Guglielmi, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Maximiliano D’Angelo, PhD, and member of the institute’s Science Network. “I’m especially grateful to our speakers, poster presenters and scientific artists for bringing excellent work that we could highlight.”
Additional awards given at the symposium included:
Best podium talk – Judges’ selection Valeria Guglielmi, PhD Postdoctoral associate in the D’Angelo lab
Best podium talk – Popular vote James Marchant, PhD Postdoctoral fellow in the Colas lab
Best flash talk – Popular vote Theophilos Tzaridis, MD Postdoctoral fellow in the Adams lab
Best poster – Judges’ selection Armin Aabish Gandhi, PhD Pstdoctoral associate in the Adams lab
Best science art – Popular vote Carolina Cano Macip Graduate student in the Tian lab
Speakers at the symposium included:
Scientific Session I—moderated by Michaela Romero and Armin Aabish Gandhi, PhD
Participants at the symposium were able to submit votes for a science art competition and the best podium and flash talks. Carolina Cano Macip, a graduate student in the lab of Xiao Tian, PhD, won the science art competition with her piece called “Love is in your gut <3” featuring a heart-shaped section of a mouse colon.
Cheng-Ju Kuo, PhD Postdoctoral associate in the Kumsta lab “Temporal and spatial regulation of the autophagy-regulating transcription factor TFEB/HLH-30 in hormesis and aging”
Ximena Diaz Olea Graduate student in the Ronai lab “Control of melanoma development by B. rodentium in germ free mice”
Huijie Huang, PhD Postdoctoral associate in the Huang lab “SORLA upregulation suppresses global pathological effects in aged taupathy mouse brain”
Scientific Session II—moderated by Katya Marchetti, Namratha Nadig and Chiara Nicoletti, PhD
Adarsh Rajesh Graduate student in the Adams lab, “A novel role of P21-CyclinD1-CDK6 complex in regulating interferon signaling in senescence and aging”
James Marchant, PhD Postdoctoral fellow in the Colas lab, “Single-construct cardiac programming gene therapy for heart failure”
Valeria Guglielmi, PhD Postdoctoral associate in the D’Angelo lab “The nuclear pore complex component Nup358 regulates intestinal epithelium homeostasis”
Theophilos Tzaridis, MD Postdoctoral fellow in the Adams lab, flash talk
Evodie Koutouan Graduate student in the Pasquale lab, flash talk
Sviatlana Zaretski Graduate student in the Adams lab, flash talk
Scientific Session III—moderated by Linda Chang and Theophilos Tzaridis, MD
Gabriele Guarnaccia Graduate student in the Sacco lab “Serum amyloid protein A1 (SAA1) impairs myogenesis and myotube size in pancreatic cancer cachexia”
Jessica Proulx, PhD Postdoctoral associate in the Adams lab “Investigating the role and therapeutic potential of HNF4α in loss of hepatocyte cell identity with age”
Michaela Romero Graduate student in the Colas lab, flash talk
Shanshan Yin, PhD Postdoctoral associate in the Adams lab, flash talk
Guillem Lambies Barjau, PhD Postdoctoral associate in the Commisso lab, flash talk
Institute News
Mammalian Genome Engineering Group holds 2024 symposium in San Diego
AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date
September 25, 2024
Participants at the 4th Mammalian Genome Engineering Symposium held at Sanford Burnham Prebys in La Jolla from September 12-15, 2024.
The four-day event included talks from experts from across North America and opportunities to discuss improving experimental methods and approaches to analyzing the resulting data.
Researchers convened at Sanford Burnham Prebys in La Jolla from September 12-15 to hear presentations from their peers and confer about the latest developments in modifying the genomes of mammalian animal models to advance biomedical research.
Anindya Bagchi, PhD, associate professor in the Institute’s Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, planned the 4th Mammalian Genome Engineering Symposium, which included 26 presentations from experts across the United States and Canada. Attendees asked many questions throughout, and numerous speakers commented on how valuable the conversation at the meeting was for refining planned experiments and considering new ideas and approaches.
“It was a truly enjoyable and thought-provoking meeting,” said Angela Liou, MD, an instructor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys and pediatric oncologist and hematologist at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. “It also was incredibly helpful in informing the next steps of my research project.”
“I’m so grateful for the invitation to attend this symposium,” said Praveen Raju, MD, PhD, the Nathan Gordon Chair in Neuro-Oncology and medical director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.
Anindya Bagchi, PhD, is an associate professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program.
“The presenters and attendees were welcoming and collaborative, and I certainly learned a lot.”
The symposium brings together the Mammalian Genome Engineering Group, which was formed by a small group of genome engineering enthusiasts including Bagchi, Nada Jabado, MD, PhD, professor of Pediatrics and Human Genetics at McGill University and a hematologist and oncologist at Montreal Children’s Hospital; David Largaespada, PhD, a professor of Pediatrics, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development at the University of Minnesota Medical School and the associate director for Basic Research in the Masonic Cancer Center; and Michael Taylor, MD, PhD, The Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Chair of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center and professor of Pediatrics (Hematology-Oncology) at Baylor College of Medicine.
The group is interested in developing functional models of genomic and epigenetic mutations associated with human diseases—especially cancers—that are difficult to recreate in animal models. The group’s first symposium was coordinated by Taylor in Napa, Calif., in 2014, followed by the 2nd symposium that was organized by Jabado in Montreal in 2015. After a hiatus, the group was revived in 2023 with the 3rd symposium hosted again by Taylor in Houston.
“We believe this symposium will, in the coming years, become a leading forum for discussing cutting-edge genomic and epigenomic approaches to tackle challenging genetic and epigenetic mutations,” said Bagchi. “These approaches are likely to become standard practice in the near future.”
The Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists that presented at the 4th Mammalian Genome Engineering Symposium were:
Liou, “Investigating the deposition of H3.3K27M oncohistone and its effect on retrotransposon reactivation in H3K27M pediatric diffuse midline glioma”
Ani Deshpande, PhD, associate professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program and associate director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the NCI-Designated Cancer Center, “Functional genomic approaches to identify selective dependencies in synovial sarcoma”
Peter D. Adams, PhD, the director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, “The role of aging in cancer”
Lukas Chavez, PhD, associate professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, “Circular extrachromosomal DNA promotes tumor heterogeneity and enhancer rewiring”
Jerold Chun, MD, PhD, professor in the Degenerative Diseases Program, “Genetic mosaicism and somatic gene recombination in the brain”
Adarsh Rajesh, graduate student, Sanford Burnham Prebys, “CCND1-CDK6 complex inhibits DNA damage repair and promotes inflammation in senescence and the aged liver”
Additional speakers included:
Taylor, “Why does medulloblastoma love to be tetraploid and other nonsense”
Jabado, “Co-opting 3D structures to fuel tumorigenesis”
Tannishtha Reya, PhD, Herbert and Florence Irving Professor of Basic Science Research in Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University, “New genetically engineered models to understand cancer heterogeneity and therapy resistance in pancreatic cancer”
Simona Dalin, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, “Contributions of perfect and imperfect homology to rearrangement formation in human and cancer genomes”
Alison M. Taylor, PhD, assistant professor of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, “Functional and computational approaches to uncover the consequences of chromosome arm aneuploidy in cancer”
Sean Eagan, PhD, senior scientist in the Cell Biology program at The Hospital for Sick Children, professor of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, “An update on Genetic analysis of 16q-syntenic block deletion in the mouse mammary gland – a tumor suppressor arm”
Claudia Kleinman, PhD, associate professor of Human Genetics, McGill University, investigator at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, “Lineage programs and the 3D genome in pediatric brain tumors”
Branden Moriarity, PhD, associate professor of Pediatrics (Hematology and Oncology), University of Minnesota Medical School, “Next generation engineered immune effector cells for immunotherapy”
Beau Webber, PhD, associate professor of Pediatrics (Hematology and Oncology), University of Minnesota Medical School, “Building cancer in a dish: Sarcoma modeling using human pluripotent stem cells”
Sameer Agnihotri, PhD, associate professor of Neurological Surgery and director of the Brain Tumor Biology and Therapy Lab, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, “Identifying genetic vulnerabilities by modeling Chromosome 9p loss”
Largaespada, “Loss of the polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2) alters the super-enhancer landscape, genome/epigenome stability, and therapeutic sensitivities of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors”
Teresa Davoli, PhD, assistant professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone Health, “Engineering chromosome specific aneuploidy by targeting human centromeres”
Rameen Beroukhim, MD, PhD, associate professor of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, associate member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, “Detecting rearrangement signatures—naturally”
Quang Trinh, PhD, scientist, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, “Perspectives and Challenges in PFA Integrative Analysis”
Taylor Gatesman, graduate student, University of Pittsburgh, “Genome Engineering: DREaming of and vCREating new models”
Joseph Skeate, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, University of Minnesota Medical School, “Targeted CAR integration and multiplex base editing in a single-step manufacturing process for enhanced cancer immunotherapies”
Institute News
San Diego hosts the 2024 Molecular and Cellular Aging Meeting
AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date
September 19, 2024
Alex Cagan, PhD, a scientist and illustrator at the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, created live illustrated summaries of talks at the 2024 Molecular and Cellular Aging Meeting.
Sanford Burnham Prebys scientist Peter Adams planned the symposium in partnership with colleagues at the University of California San Diego and Altos Labs.
Researchers gathered in San Diego from September 10-11 to discuss their research findings on the causes and complications of aging at the level of the trillions of cells in our bodies—and the vast array of molecules within each cell.
Peter D. Adams, PhD, the director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, was one of the planners of the meeting, which was held at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa. Adams’ co-planners were Bing Ren, PhD, professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of California San Diego, and Morgan Levine, PhD, founding principal investigator at the Altos Labs’ San Diego Institute of Science.
Before the 2024 Molecular and Cellular Aging Meeting kicked off, attendees were welcomed to join the final proceedings of a related meeting of the Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet) Consortium, a large network of U.S. labs and research institutions supported by the National Institutes of Health’s Common Fund.
Adams introduced Ashley Webb, PhD, associate professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, Calif., to give the SenNet meeting’s Judy Campisi Lecture Series keynote address. This series of lectures honors Campisi’s legacy as a leader in the field of cellular senescence, a phenomenon closely tied with aging in which certain cells stop growing and dividing yet persist in a zombie-like state.
Following Webb’s lecture, Adams formally opened the 2024 Molecular and Cellular Aging Meeting. The event featured more than a dozen presentations and several poster sessions.
Artistic interpretation of the presentation delivered by Nancy R. Zhang, PhD, Ge Li and Ning Zhao Professor, a professor of Statistics and Data Science and the vice dean of Wharton Doctoral Programs at the University of Pennsylvania. Image courtesy of Alex Cagan.
“I was excited to see the room so full in anticipation of the great talks and all the fantastic questions and discussion that followed,” said Adams.
“I am happy that we achieved our goal of bringing together SenNet reseachers and other leaders in the molecular and cellular biology of aging. I expect that this catalyzed many new ideas and collaborations.”
Speakers at the event included:
Vittorio Sebastiano, PhD, associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Reproductive and Stem Cell Biology), Stanford University School of Medicine, “Looking at aging and rejuvenation through the lens of development and reproductive biology”
Zhijian “James” Chen, PhD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science and professor of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, “Igniting the flame—the role of cGAS in senescence and inflammaging”
Vera Gorbunova, PhD, Doris Johns Cherry Professor and professor of Biology, University of Rochester, “Epigenome maintenance and longevity”
Jan Karlseder, PhD, senior vice president, chief science officer, professor in the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory and Donald and Darlene Shiley Chair, Salk Institute, “How telomeres synergize with mitochondria to prevent age associated cancer initiation”
Shelley L. Berger, PhD, Daniel S. Och University Professor, University of Pennsylvania, “Epigenetic-metabolic crosstalk in senescence and aging”
Levine, “Origins of Life and Death: Aging as an Out-of-Distribution Problem”
Kun Zhang, PhD, principal investigator, Altos Labs’ San Diego Institute of Science, “An aging and injury cell atlas of human kidneys”
Nancy R. Zhang, PhD, Ge Li and Ning Zhao Professor, professor of Statistics and Data Science and vice dean of Wharton Doctoral Programs, University of Pennsylvania, “Transcriptomic signatures of senescence and aging”
Alex Cagan, PhD, assistant professor of Genetics, Pathology and Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, “Somatic evolution and ageing across the tree of life”
Congcong He, PhD, associate professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, “Exercise-induced autophagic protection against age-related metabolic diseases”
Gerald Shadel, PhD, professor in the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Audrey Geisel Chair in Biomedical Science and director of the San Diego-Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, Salk Institute, “Mitochondrial stress signaling in aging, disease and immunity”
Peter Adams, PhD
Bing Ren, PhD
Morgan Levine, PhD
Institute News
Ceremony celebrates recipients of 2024 Fishman Fund awards honoring exceptional postdoctoral scholars
AuthorScott LaFee
Date
September 18, 2024
2024 Fishman Award winners. From left: Huijie Huang, Kelly Yichen Li, Chiara Nicoletti, James Marchant, Jessica Proulx, Zinia D’Souza
Six young scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys, whose research spans genetic disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, heart failure and aging, were honored September 17 at the 23rd annual Fishman Fund awards ceremony.
The Fishman Fund was created in 2001 by Sanford Burnham Prebys supporters Mary Bradley and Reena Horowitz to honor Dr. William and Mrs. Lillian Fishman, who founded the institute in 1976. In 2010, Jeanne Jones became a co-founder designee.
The awards are intended to support and promote early career scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Four career development awards provide $10,000 stipends that can be used to attend workshops, network and travel to national and international conferences to learn about the latest developments in their research fields. In addition, the prizes include a two-year fellowship award, and an honor focused on rewarding research excellence. The fund is made possible through the generosity of many donors.
The ceremony, which included poster presentations, was held at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. The 2024 recipients are:
Reena Horowitz and Mary Bradley Fishman Fund Award
Zinia D’Souza, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the laboratory of Hudson Freeze, PhD, director of the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center and the director of the Human Genetics Program.Her research is focused on identifying new congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs), rare disorders caused by mutations that impair glycosylation—the complex process by which cells build long sugar chains that are attached to proteins called glycoproteins. D’Souza also works to uncover how these rare genetic mutations cause the observed symptoms.
Don Barach Memorial Fishman Fund Award
Huijie Huang, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Timothy Huang, PhD, an assistant professor in the Degenerative Diseases Program. Her research focuses on uncovering the fundamental causes of Alzheimer’s disease AD), a pressing public health concern as the U.S. population ages and faces an increased risk of this leading cause of dementia. Specifically, she studies the SORL1 (SORLA) gene, a known risk factor for sporadic early- and late-onset AD. Huang believes that developing treatments to boost SORLA’s beneficial effects may prove to be an innovative treatment approach.
Fishman Fund Fellowship Award
James Marchant, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Alexandre Colas, PhD, an associate professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program. His research focuses on developing a gene therapy to treat heart failure. Heart attacks reduce blood and oxygen flow to heart muscle, leading to scar tissue that can increase the risk of future attacks. Marchant aims to convert cells within this scar tissue back into healthy muscle cells.
Cynthia Schwartz Shenkman Fishman Fund Research Excellence Award
Chiara Nicoletti, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the laboratory of Pier Lorenzo Puri, MD, co-director of the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program. She studies epigenetic patterns, which are genetic changes that don’t alter DNA itself yet modify how genes are expressed to make proteins or other products. She studies epigenetic patterns in skeletal muscle development and disease. Nicoletti hopes to help develop personalized medicine tools for patients suffering from muscular dystrophy.
Jeanne Jones and Kathryn Fishback Fishman Fund Award
Jessica Proulx, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate working in the lab of Peter D. Adams, PhD, director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program. Proulx investigates how aging alters our bodies at the cellular and molecular levels, a key factor in the increased risk for diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease and metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes. She uses biological techniques that study the entire landscape of a sample’s genes, proteins or other features. Her work seeks to identify underlying changes that predispose an aged liver to liver disease and liver cancer.
Lenka Finci and Erna Viterbi Fishman Fund Award
Kelly Yichen Li, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Kevin Yip, PhD, a professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program and the director of the Bioinformatics Shared Resource. She studies a phenomenon called cellular senescence that is associated with aging. Senescent cells no longer grow and divide, which can reduce the growth of cancer, but the condition is also associated with chronic inflammation and age-related diseases. Yichen LI is working to find molecular signatures of senescence to advance aging research, treatments and diagnostics.
Institute News
Renovated auditorium and generous gift to strengthen community engagement at Sanford Burnham Prebys
AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date
August 21, 2024
A ribbon-cutting event on August 7 celebrated the philanthropic gift and state-of-the-art auditorium that will enable new community engagement events at the Institute.
Sanford Burnham Prebys unveiled its newly renovated auditorium in Building 12 during a special Happy Town Hall and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. The improved meeting space was renamed as the Victor E. LaFave III Memorial Auditorium, or “the Vic,” in recognition of the generous support of the LaFave family.
Racheal McCabe, senior director of Philanthropy at Sanford Burnham Prebys, opened the festivities by welcoming members of the LaFave family, board members, faculty, staff and friends of the Institute. She provided details about the auditorium’s namesake, including his service in the U.S. Air Force and appreciation of sports, traveling, music, photography and gardening.
“Most of all, Vic showed a deep love for his beloved wife, Sue, and his family and friends,” said McCabe. “We included a hidden, golden turtle above the auditorium’s entrance as a special tribute to Sue’s love for the animal, and we think Vic would be pleased by that.”
“The tortoise and the turtle are universally seen as symbols of wisdom and knowledge, so it is quite fitting for representing the scientific discovery, education and learning that will take place in the Victor E. LaFave III Memorial Auditorium.”
McCabe introduced David A. Brenner, MD, president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys, who said, “Thank you on behalf of the entire institute. This is going to be a transformational gift for our community engagement strategies and a pivotal place for collaboration and exchanging ideas.”
Brenner and Sue LaFave ceremonially cut a ribbon to formally announce the grand opening of the Vic. Guests entered the new auditorium to learn about the renovations and other updates at the institute.
Brenner discussed plans for the enhanced auditorium to be a prominent space for community engagement through new and ongoing events. The meeting space will help the institute connect with community members, alumni and research collaborators throughout the region and state.
A new community engagement program called “A Conversation About” will launch in the Vic on October 9, 2024. Taking inspiration from the Group of 12 educational discussions and the Insights streaming program, A Conversation About will feature expert panelists from the scientific and medical communities in dynamic discussions about the future of research and health care.
The A Conversation About series will focus on the four disease-focused, broadly collaborative research centers at Sanford Burnham Prebys: Cancer, Neurodegeneration and Aging, Metabolic and Liver, and Cardiovascular and Muscular.
By bringing together community collaborators and clinicians with Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers, A Conversation About will offer a unique perspective on how clinical research and practice can be used to inform fundamental and translational science.
Institute News
Women in Science event at Sanford Burnham Prebys examines how female faculty members navigate research careers
AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date
August 19, 2024
The Women in Science event at Sanford Burnham Prebys on Monday, August 12, 2024, focused on how female faculty members at different career stages have navigated their professional journeys in academia and the life sciences.
Four panelists at different career stages shared insights and answered audience questions
Sanford Burnham Prebys held a Women in Science event on Monday, August 12, 2024. The session was in Fishman Auditorium on the Institute’s campus and focused on how female faculty members at different career stages have navigated their professional journeys in academia and the life sciences.
Eric Wang, PhD, an assistant professor in the Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys and co-chair of the Education and Training Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, opened the event and introduced the moderator, Shanshan Yin, PhD, a postdoctoral associate working in the lab of Peter D. Adams, PhD, and four panelists from Sanford Burnham Prebys:
Linda Bradley, PhD, a professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program
Caroline Kumsta, PhD, an assistant professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program and associate dean of Student Affairs of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Alessandra Sacco, PhD, the director of the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program and dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Shanshan Yin, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate working in the lab of Peter D. Adams, PhD. She was the panel discussion moderator.
Work and life balance
Yin asked the panelists to discuss how they balance their work and personal lives, and what strategies they use to restore their energy levels and maintain a positive mindset.
“I had to learn to manage my schedule, rather than letting it manage me,” said Kumsta. “I’ve gained a greater appreciation for stepping away from problems, and I often find that I come up with new solutions during or after hiking or working out, instead of by just working more and more.”
“Because I am setting up a new lab, it feels like I am working even more than I did as a postdoctoral fellow,” said Sun. “My persistence, curiosity and interest in the scientific process are the key drivers that are helping me as the lab gets up to speed.”
Caregiving
Yin followed this conversation by requesting that the panelists comment on the factors of childcare and family obligations throughout the careers of female faculty members.
“The childcare system for working parents in the U.S. leaves a lot of room for improvement,” said Bradley. “This has not improved through the course of my career, and it is something we think about a lot within the Postdoctoral Training Advisory Group as we discuss ways to improve the experience of postdoctoral fellows at the institute.”
Panelist Xueqin (Sherine) Sun, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program.
“It can be hard to feel less productive as a scientist after having kids,” said Sun. “This is something we each have to navigate and there are no easy answers.”
Audience questions
Yin welcomed audience members to ask the panelists additional questions.
Sacco fielded a question about the balancing act of working long hours for short-term gain versus the increased risk of burnout. She said, “For me, this has really happened in phases. Some parts of certain experiments or application cycles require extra effort, and you have to learn when you can pull back and have a more balanced schedule.”
Kumsta answered a question about unrealistic expectations for postdoctoral fellows. She said, “I encourage every postdoc and principal investigator to have open and honest conversations about expectations for working hours, vacation time and weekend emails, among other topics. That won’t fix everything, but it will prevent a lot of uncertainty and build a foundation for addressing issues.”
The panelists had noted the strong representation of male scientists and staff members in the audience. Sacco responded to a question about what male scientists could do better to improve the environment for women in the field. She said, “We should all recognize our own biases, minimize their impact when making decisions, and be good listeners to other scientists’ needs.”
Gender and academic rank
The event closed with a conversation about gender disparities in academic ranks at research and higher education institutions. The panelists focused on the attrition than can occur after the end of postdoctoral fellowships as a major challenge for retaining women in academic science.
Kumsta explored some potential solutions that funders and institutions could consider. She said, “An extra year of funding for early-career female scientists and an extra year on the tenure clock may help us retain women and support their promotion from junior faculty positions. We also need to find ways to reward the extra administrative service that many female faculty members are asked to give on faculty committees.”
Panelist Caroline Kumsta, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program and associate dean of Student Affairs of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
“I think certain things are getting better, but we need to do even more to retain women in the field,” said Sun. “The National Institutes of Health allowing time and budget for childcare costs in training grants was an important step.”
“Today’s event reminds us of the importance of speaking up,” said Sacco. “We can articulate and share our vision for a better tomorrow and work together to achieve it.”
The Women in Science event was hosted by the Education and Training DEI Committee at Sanford Burnham Prebys and supported by the Institute’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Council and DEIB program manager, Lauren Mitchell.
Institute News
Sanford Burnham Prebys celebrates first graduate school Commencement ceremony
AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date
June 7, 2024
Pictured from left to right are Rachael McVicar, PhD ’23; James Kent, PhD ’22; Monica Gonzalez Ramirez, PhD ’18; and Stephen Sakuma, PhD ’24.
The Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences held its first-ever Commencement ceremony to celebrate nearly 20 years of educating future scientists
On Friday, May 31, 2024, the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences hosted four graduates, their family members and friends as well as current students, faculty members and staff at the Institute’s campus in La Jolla for the school’s first-ever Commencement ceremony.
In addition to honoring the four graduates in attendance, the event also recognized the 62 other alumni who graduated from the Institute’s graduate school in the nearly 20 years since its founding in 2006.
“The graduate school is a direct extension of our commitment to training the next generation of scientists,” said David Brenner, MD, president, CEO and Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair at Sanford Burnham Prebys, during his welcoming remarks. “We focus on cultivating a collaborative culture where students are full participants. Thank you for your dedication to learning and creating new knowledge, and for your contributions to our mission of translating science to improve health.”
Brenner added, “We’re incredibly proud of you!”
Alessandra Sacco, PhD, director of, and professor in, the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, and dean of the Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, delivered the Commencement address.
“Hold onto perseverance and trust in yourself as you move forward,” said Sacco. “Never forget the sacrifices you have made, the hours in the lab and the failed experiments that have shaped you into better researchers.”
Sacco also remarked, “You are the next generation of scientists. You can make a difference by pushing on scientific boundaries while also having a positive influence on your communities.”
Alessandra Sacco, PhD, director of, and professor in, the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, and dean of the Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, delivered the Commencement address.
After concluding her remarks by wishing the graduates great success throughout their professional journeys, Sacco introduced Stephen Sakuma, PhD ’24, to speak on behalf of the Institute’s 66 alumni.
Stephen Sakuma, PhD ’24, spoke on behalf of the Institute’s
66 alumni.
“The faculty and community at Sanford Burnham Prebys have been tremendous and afforded me the most meaningful opportunities to learn and grow,” said Sakuma. “The journey has been long and, at times, arduous, but it also has been exceedingly rewarding.”
Diane Klotz, PhD, chief learning officer at Sanford Burnham Prebys, then discussed the meaning of the hoods and symbols that are used in Commencement ceremonies. She recognized the Institute’s alumni, both present and across the globe, and explained that all graduates are conferred degrees following the completion of all educational requirements and successful defense of their theses.
The Commencement ceremony, then, represents an opportunity to welcome back and celebrate with our alumni and their friends and family, and to pay tribute to alumni unable to attend who entrusted Sanford Burnham Prebys with their graduate education and preparation to enter the field of biomedical research.
Klotz invited the graduates forward and instructed faculty members to adorn them with the doctoral academic hoods signifying completion of a PhD program.
The graduates who attended the Commencement ceremony were:
Monica Gonzalez Ramirez, PhD ’18, who trained in the Salvesen lab and was hooded by Guy Salvesen, PhD, emeritus professor
James Kent, PhD ’22, who trained in the Marassi lab and was hooded by Dr. Guy Salvesen
Rachael McVicar, PhD ’23, who trained in the Snyder/Leibel lab and was hooded by Evan Snyder, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine and professor in the Human Genetics Program
Stephen Sakuma, PhD ’24, who trained in the D’Angelo lab and was hooded by Maximiliano D’Angelo, PhD, associate professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program
As the inaugural dean of the Institute’s graduate school, Salvesen provided the ceremony’s closing remarks. He wished the alumni well and supported Sacco’s assertion that their perseverance would be rewarded, which he reinforced with a quote from author and Arches National Park enthusiast Edward Abbey.
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.”
Pancreatic cancer symposium celebrates 10th anniversary in San Diego
AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date
May 22, 2024
From left to right, co-hosts Pamela Itkin-Ansari, Ph.D., adjunct professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program; and Cosimo Commisso, Ph.D., director of, and associate professor in, the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program.
The 2024 PancWest Symposium brought more than 120 scientists to the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus in San Diego to discuss the latest advances in pancreatic cancer research.
More than 120 pancreatic cancer researchers from the West Coast traveled to San Diego from as far as Vancouver to attend the 2024 PancWest Symposium on May 17. The PancWest Symposium was founded in 2014 to regularly bring the scientific community studying pancreatic cancer together to discuss advances in the field and foster new collaborations.
The PancWest Symposium is held every two years in a different city to showcase expert scientists who are making important contributions to the field of pancreatic cancer research, including tumorigenesis, tumor progression and the discovery of novel therapeutic paradigms, such as immunomodulation and metabolic targeting.
The 2024 event was held on the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus in the Fishman Auditorium and was hosted by Cosimo Commisso, Ph.D., director of, and associate professor in, the Institute’s Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program; and Pamela Itkin-Ansari, Ph.D., adjunct professor in the Institute’s Development, Aging and Regeneration Program.
“While pancreatic cancer accounts for only three percent of cancer cases, it has the highest mortality rate among major cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S.,” says Commisso.
The symposium’s events included a keynote address, 12 featured speakers, a poster session and a series of “power talks” providing attendees a chance to hear two-minute oral presentations from selected poster presenters.
“Unless we find ways to better diagnose and treat this disease, it is projected to become the second most deadly cancer in less than 20 years,” adds Itkin-Ansari. “That is why events such as PancWest are so important to enhance innovation and foster collaboration.”
Rosalie C. Sears, Ph.D., professor of Molecular and Medical Genetics, co-director of the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care and Krista L. Lake Chair in Cancer Research at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, gave the symposium’s keynote address.
Additional events at the symposium included 12 featured speakers, a poster session and a series of “power talks” providing attendees a chance to hear two-minute oral presentations from selected poster presenters.
“Being a part of PancWest has been a transformative experience,” shares Itkin-Ansari. “The exchange of groundbreaking research and innovative ideas among leading experts advanced our scientific understanding.”
“It also paved the way for new therapeutic strategies, ultimately offering hope and improved outcomes for patients battling pancreatic cancer,” adds Commisso.
