Sanford receives first Erkki Ruoslahti Award for Transformational Leadership
AuthorScott LaFee
Date
December 13, 2024
At a special event December 11, attended by trustees from Sanford Burnham Prebys and featuring brief talks by many of the Institute’s newest faculty, the inaugural Erkki Ruoslahti Award for Transformational Leadership was presented to T. Denny Sanford.
The new award honors recipients whose visionary leadership drives positive change, inspires groundbreaking solutions and contributes to the transformation of industries and society.
It is named after one of the institute’s earliest faculty and its president from 1989 to 2002. Ruoslahti made seminal contributions to the discovery of cell adhesion receptors known as integrins, helped developed a novel class of tumor-homing peptides and advanced the science of nanomedicine.
His past honors include elected membership to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the European Molecular Biology Organization, the Japan Prize, Gairdner Foundation International Award, G.H.A. Clowes Award, Robert J. and Claire Pasarow Foundation Award and Jacobaeus International Prize.
In 2022, Ruoslahti was announced as one of three winners of the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, sometimes called “America’s Nobel.”
Sanford is, of course, one of the institute’s three namesakes, a distinguished businessman and philanthropist who has long supported its work and vision.
“Denny Sanford has been a friend, supporter and mentor for many, many years. He believes in the importance and value of both basic and translational science, of helping patients and the world become better and healthier,” said Brenner.
“His past, present and future support of Sanford Burnham Prebys is critical to our vision and mission. No one has done more. This award is a heart-felt, tangible symbol of our gratitude.”
Watch Award Presentation
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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
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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.
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Hudson Freeze appointed to Distinguished Endowed Chair, thanks to gift from grateful supporter
AuthorSusan Gammon
Date
January 3, 2024
An endowed chair is among the highest forms of recognition for a faculty member’s research, teaching and service.
Thanks to a generous gift from Dinah C. Ruch, Professor Hudson Freeze, PhD, director of the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys, has received the William W. Ruch Distinguished Endowed Chair. The newly created chair will support Freeze’s research on congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) and rare children’s diseases.
Freeze is a world-renowned expert on CDGs, a severe group of diseases that affect fewer than 2,000 children worldwide. He has been working on CDGs for more than 25 years and has worked with hundreds of patients from around the world. The condition occurs when sugar molecules on many of our proteins are absent or incomplete, leading to serious, often fatal, malfunctions in various organ systems throughout the body.
In 2007, Ruch established “The Rocket Fund” to support the heroic battle against heartbreaking rare and neglected children’s diseases. Ruch’s interest in CDG research was a result of her own family’s experience.
“My grandson John, whom we called ‘Rocket,’ was born with a CDG,” says Ruch. “Our doctors were able to quickly diagnose the disease, thanks to Dr. Freeze, who has now become a lifelong friend. Though we weren’t able to save Rocket, we are keeping his legacy alive by establishing this endowed chair to support Dr. Freeze and his commitment to finding a cure.”
Freeze’s impact on the lives of families living with CDG extends well beyond the walls of his lab. Since 2010, he has organized an annual Rare Disease Symposium, where scientists, doctors and families gather from around the world to discuss the latest research and meet other families coping with rare diseases.
“Patients are often diagnosed with rare genetic diseases at birth or in childhood, and families are usually overwhelmed by dealing with the diagnosis and complicated care regimens,” says Freeze. “I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to provide support to help these families through our work at the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center.
“I’m so very grateful to receive this honor from Dinah Ruch—and will continue my life’s work to provide education and resources so that people may live with the highest quality of life possible, and may one day, in fact, thrive.”
Institute News
With a little help from my friends
AuthorScott LaFee
Date
October 23, 2023
Sanford Burnham Prebys’ latest gala celebrated an old, dear friend, a brand-new vision and a crowd in fab form.
The event began with an evening filled with gratitude, recognition and, well, a look to the future.
On Saturday night, more than 280 friends, faculty and supporters of Sanford Burnham Prebys gathered at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa to celebrate the event’s theme: “A Future Filled with Discoveries and Cures.”
But more specifically, attendees paid homage to two men: philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, whose long and enduring support has helped shape and sustain Sanford Burnham Prebys; and David Brenner, MD, the institute’s (newish) president and CEO, who is using Sanford’s most recent gift to implement a bold, new strategic plan.
“Denny has always been a friend, guide and mentor,” said Brenner. “He has made much of what I do—what we will do together—possible.”
It was an evocative evening, with sartorially splendid guests arriving to a scene best described as a 1960s-era “lavish London lounge,” featuring vibrant colors and rich materials, roaming magicians; and a strolling trio of trumpet, trombone and tambourine players.
The festivities formally opened with welcoming remarks from Honorary Trustee Malin Burnham, who noted that “the Institute is at a dramatic time and place—with new faces, a new vision and an old friend.”
Burnham, who has served on the Board since 1982, noted that Sanford, who could not attend the event, was watching a live stream of the event from his home in South Dakota. “He can see and hear us,” Burnham said, waving.
Following dinner, Bill Gerhart, the current chair of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Board of Trustees, stepped up to acknowledge Sanford’s long history of support to the Institute and all of the donors, supporters and staff in the room who “make things happen”; and to introduce Brenner as “a guy who really can make things happen.”
Brenner, who also holds the Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair, spoke eloquently about Sanford before briefly detailing strategic plans for the Institute, one intended to put Sanford Burnham Prebys at the forefront of the current biomedical research revolution.
“Here’s my elevator speech,” Brenner said, inviting attendees to follow along by reading a program insert.
Our Mission
We translate science into health.
Biomedical research is undergoing a revolution, driven by big data, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
We are uniquely positioned to lead because…
We study the toughest diseases: cancer, heart, mind and metabolic. We are forward-looking, unafraid of change or challenge. We are collaborative, flexible, multi-disciplinary and team-focused. We embrace data science. We promote entrepreneurship. We are central to a vibrant, local biomedical community.
A key part of the strategic plan, Brenner said, is embodied in the new cadre of young scientists recently recruited to Sanford Burnham Prebys from “some of the best labs at some of the best institutions in the country.”
Their recruitment (and new hires to follow) are the benefit of a $70 million gift from Sanford to create up to 20 new faculty positions in the next few years in diverse research areas including cancer, neurodegeneration and computational biology.
Four of the six new scientists were in attendance: Sanju Sinha, PhD, from the National Cancer Institute; Sanjeev Ranade, PhD, from Gladstone Institutes; Kelly Kersten, PhD, from UC San Francisco; and Xiao Tian, PhD, from Harvard Medical School.
Sinha joined the Institute in June. Kevin Tharp, PhD, from UCSF, arrives in November. The other four researchers, including Shengjie Feng, PhD, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and UCSF, officially join Sanford Burnham Prebys in January 2024.
Brenner then introduced a special four-minute video: a visual thank-you to Sanford and a visionary peek at the Institute’s next steps and aspirations. The video ended with a standing ovation.
With the lights still dim, the entertainment portion of the evening began: a live reimagining of John Lennon’s beloved 1971 song “Imagine,” dedicated to Sanford and the new strategic plan.
“Imagine there’s no illness It’s easy if we try…”
“You may say Denny’s a dreamer But he’s not the only one. We hope someday you’ll join us And the world can be as one.”
Then it was the Beatles’ tribute band “Abbey Road Show,“ a 70-minute set of music and narration chronicling the Fab Four, followed by nightcaps, conversation and thoughts about the next day—when the future begins.
Note: For your own free, handy, wallet-sized mission card or more information about how you can support Sanford Burnham Prebys, please contact the Philanthropy team.
Institute News
Dinah Conyers Ruch: The power of investing in human health
AuthorDinah Conyers Ruch
Date
June 24, 2020
Long-time supporter Dinah Conyers Ruch discusses the impact of giving to biomedical research—especially COVID-19 efforts—and the importance of investing in human health.
How were you introduced to Sanford Burnham Prebys? My grandson John, whom we called “Rocket,” was born with a rare disease known as CDG, or Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation. Our doctors were able to quickly diagnose this disease thanks to CDG expert Hudson Freeze at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. Dr. Freeze works closely with the families of children impacted by rare diseases like CDG and has now become a lifelong friend. Though we weren’t able to save Rocket, we have kept his legacy alive by supporting Dr. Freeze through a fund that continues to study this disease and fight for a cure.
What about the Institute’s mission compels you to keep giving? Over ten years ago, our family’s experience with Rocket showed us the promise and power of science to understand and improve human health. Today, we continue to be inspired by the dedication and passion of the scientists who devote their careers to often neglected diseases like CDG, which impacts thousands of children worldwide. When I started to hear about COVID-19 earlier this year, another intractable disease, I initially felt powerless. Then I started to receive emails from the Institute about the efforts underway to study the virus, and I knew I wanted to do something immediately. Private philanthropy can be a powerful catalyst for change and progress especially when you have trusted partners like the scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys.
What inspired you to give to Dr. Sumit Chanda’s research? Dr. Chanda’s efforts to understand and find treatments for COVID-19 are essential not just in the short-term but also well into the future. When I learned about the drug repositioning strategy, which involved screening more than 12,000 approved drugs, I understood that this research could save time, money and, most important of all, lives. Dr. Chanda shared his larger vision too, which includes expanded research capacity, multiple scientific leaders, and strategic partners from across the globe. This excited me. This is a vision that is responsive and forward-looking and it confirmed my interest in boosting the efforts through philanthropy.
Why should someone else give back to pandemic research? Put simply, the need couldn’t be greater. The pandemic has changed American life so quickly. The devastating effects of COVID-19 go beyond our health and include rampant unemployment, economic uncertainty and broken social safety nets. Investing in therapies now can improve not just our human health but also our societal outlook. Scientists at the Institute have long led the path from research to power a cure. I have seen it firsthand. And I am more confident than ever that the COVID-19 research today will lead to greater health tomorrow. I hope others will join me in supporting this important work.
Join Dinah
Join Dinah in supporting COVID-19 research at Sanford Burnham Prebys through our first-of-its-kind matching gift opportunity—which doubles all donations dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000. For more information contact Rachael McCabe at rmccabe@sbpdiscovery.org or make a gift online.
Malin Burnham: Community before self during the COVID-19 crisis
AuthorMalin Burnham
Date
May 21, 2020
Our namesake shares why supporting biomedical research is more important than ever before.
How are you and your family doing in this COVID-19 crisis? How has it affected your life? We are lucky in that all of my family members and friends are in good health. When you see the situation in other parts of the country and the world, however, you can tell that this virus has a devastating impact on the communities where it hit hardest. Given that I have not been affected directly, I don’t want to complain, but I have to admit that cabin fever has become a real challenge. I hope that we will find ways to manage the outbreak quickly, so we can all go back to our normal lives soon. I am thrilled about the exciting and promising COVID-19 research that has been taking place at Sanford Burnham Prebys over the past weeks.
Is there anything that you’ve learned in this crisis that surprised you? There have been many things that have surprised me since the outbreak began earlier this year. On the one hand, I have been impressed by how quickly some communities have prepared and responded to the pandemic. I have been even more impressed by the compassion and work ethic of our healthcare workers. This crisis shows us again, how much we need them and what important roles they play in our society. A major surprise to me has been the virality of this virus and how fast the pandemic has affected the entire world. Nobody lives in a bubble anymore. Healthcare crises like this one can quickly spread across the globe.
How do you think the San Diego community has responded to the crisis? I’m most pleased to see that San Diego County immediately started following almost all of the steps proposed on a State and Federal level to keep our population safe and implemented plans to help affected businesses. Even though we can’t tell yet what the long-term effects will be, we should be proud of that as a community. I am also excited to be part of a community that has been on the frontlines of the fight against the novel coronavirus. Our residents abided by the rules, our hospitals were well prepared and managed the influx of COVID-19 patients well, we’re testing more and more people for the virus, and we have the talent and infrastructure on the Torrey Pines Mesa and beyond to find an effective treatment for COVID-19 quickly. Sanford Burnham Prebys is playing an important role in that effort. “Community before Self” has been my motto for a while now and I can really see that happening in our community right now.
What do you think we, as a community, should take away from this crisis? What have we learned? The community spirit to fight COVID-19 that we have seen over the past few weeks has been truly energizing. It shows what we can achieve as a community when we all work together toward a common goal. This shouldn’t stop once we find a vaccine or cure for COVID-19, instead we should expand this cooperative spirit to other community needs of which there are plenty in San Diego and our region.
Why is support for organizations like Sanford Burnham Prebys particularly important at this time? As you know, I have been a supporter of the Institute for a very long time and the COVID-19 crisis shows us again how important the work of institutes like Sanford Burnham Prebys is. If fundamental and translational medical research is not done, there will not be any new treatments or cures. The work Dr. Sumit Chanda, for example, has done, in such a short time, is incredible. Screening a library of 12,000 compounds that are known to be safe in humans in just a few weeks, that’s quite a task and shows how nimble the Institute is. Philanthropic support right now, to fight the pandemic, is more important than ever because getting federal grants takes a very long time and is a cumbersome process. We don’t have the time for that. We need a vaccine or effective treatment quickly, not in a few years from now. Philanthropy can fill that gap and help society at large in a very profound way.
Institute News
Advancing life-changing science at Sanford Burnham Prebys’ 2019 gala
AuthorMonica May
Date
November 13, 2019
On November 2, 2019, more than 170 supporters of Sanford Burnham Prebys stepped into a winter wonderland at our Institute’s “Nordic Nights”-themed gala.
As attendees enjoyed the festivities—including an ethereal violinist on stilts and dancing ballerinas—the evening’s goal was never far from everyone’s mind: advancing biomedical research that will transform the future of human health. Thanks to guests’ generous donations our scientists can accelerate their efforts to understand and treat serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancer and more.
On June 20, 2019, nearly 100 community members, including many people living with autoimmune disorders and their loved ones, joined us at our latest SBP Insights event. The discussion featured unique perspective from three experts—a scientist, a doctor and a patient—on a single topic: autoimmune disorders.
More than 50 million Americans have an autoimmune disorder, such as Crohn’s disease, psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions are often painful, chronic and debilitating. For unknown reasons, more than 80 percent of these patients are women.
Scientists know these disorders occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. But researchers still don’t understand why immunosuppressive treatments don’t work for everyone or know the initial trigger that causes the immune system to misfire. Answers to these fundamental questions could unlock insights that lead to new, effective medicines.
“Before I was diagnosed, I thought doctors had it all sorted out. Now I know there is so much they don’t know,” says 17-year-old Madison Koslowski, who was diagnosed last year with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. She uses a wheelchair and cane for mobility while she works with her doctor to find a treatment that relieves her intense joint pain. “Right now, my friends are planning their future and figuring out where they will go to college. But for me, there are so many unknowns. I don’t know if I’m going to respond to the next medicine we try or if I will be really sick. I feel like my life is on pause. I have no idea when it will start again.”
Madison traveled from Los Angeles with her mother and a friend to hear race-car driver Angela Durazo speak about her journey with rheumatoid arthritis and learn what’s on the horizon for autoimmune treatments (read Angela’s story).
Following Angela’s presentation, Carl Ware, PhD, professor and director of the Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys, took the stage and provided an overview of the science behind autoimmune disease. Ware also described his ongoing research collaboration with Eli Lilly, which recently led to a new Phase 1 clinical trial for autoimmune disorders.
Hal Hoffman, MD, chief, division of allergy, immunology and rheumatology at UCSD and Rady Children’s Hospital, wrapped up the discussion with an overview of how he and his team are turning to rare immune disorders to understand the conditions as a whole. A Q&A followed the brief presentations.
17-year-old Madison Koslowski (right), who was diagnosed last year with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, poses with race-car driver Angela.
The discussion was moderated by Zaher Nahle, PhD, CEO of the Arthritis National Research Foundation.
Join us at our next SBP Insights discussion, which focuses on pancreatic cancer and takes place on November 21, 2019. Event details.
Institute News
Getting groovy for a good cause at Bring It!
AuthorMonica May
Date
May 9, 2019
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.
