People

Welcome to our new program director, László Nagy, M.D., Ph.D.

by Patrick Bartosch on May 14, 2013 at 6:01 am | 0 Comments

Dr. Nagy will join Sanford-Burnham at Lake Nona in October.

Please join us in welcoming the internationally renowned genomic scientist László Nagy, M.D., Ph.D., to Sanford-Burnham’s Lake Nona campus. Nagy will serve as professor and program director in our Diabetes and Obesity Research Center. He will join us in October to lead a new cross-platform research program that will help accelerate discoveries at our Orlando campus. Nagy is currently professor and head of the Center for Clinical Genomics and Personalized Medicine at the University of Debrecen Medical and Health Science Center in Hungary.

Sanford-Burnham’s co-founder turns 98

by Molly Townsend on May 1, 2013 at 10:40 am | 0 Comments

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Sanford-Burnham co-founder Lillian Fishman turned 98 last weekend

Sanford-Burnham’s co-founder Lillian Fishman celebrated her 98^th birthday this past weekend. In an interview conducted by Patty Fuller for U-T San Diego, Mrs. Fishman recounts the Institute’s beginnings in 1976 as the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, and explains the development of San Diego’s scientific communities over the past four decades.

Rocking science and innovation

by Kristina Meek on April 9, 2013 at 2:58 pm | 0 Comments

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Check out our ad at the 2013 Rock Stars of Innovation Summit

We’re excited about an event coming up later this week—the 2013 Rock Stars of Innovation Summit. (With a name like that, who wouldn’t be?) The conference, presented by CONNECT and Xconomy, takes place at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego April 11 and 12, 2013.

Lab finds a creative way to support their PI

by Heather Buschman, Ph.D. on April 5, 2013 at 5:19 am | 0 Comments

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Malene Hansen, Ph.D., assistant professor in our Del E. Webb Center for Neuroscience, Aging, and Stem Cell Research and native of Denmark, gave a faculty promotion seminar last week. It was her chance to show off her science and service to a committee that will evaluate her for promotion to associate professor. Check out her lab members in attendance. They’re showing their support with Danish flag scarves! Best of luck to Hansen and her team.

Stem Cell #SciencePitch Challenge

by Kristina Meek on March 27, 2013 at 9:33 am | 0 Comments

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Scientific research isn’t always easy to explain—or to understand. Whichever side of the conversation you’re on, you might feel a communication gap. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) , the state’s stem cell agency, recently set out to bridge that gap with a #SciencePitch Challenge. Their goal was to encourage stem cell researchers to develop their “elevator pitch” — the short overview of their work that they’d give if a fellow elevator passenger asked them what they do and they only had a short ride in which to explain it. In the process, the participants are also demonstrating the importance of stem cell research and generating excitement about their work.

Kudos to Ze’ev Ronai, Ph.D., newly appointed Scientific Director

by Communications Staff on February 19, 2013 at 11:29 am | 0 Comments

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Ze'ev Ronai, Ph.D.

Editor’s note: below is a message that Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., our President and Interim CEO, sent to Sanford-Burnham scientists and staff today.

Dear All:

I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ze’ev Ronai to the position of Scientific Director of the La Jolla campus. As many of you are aware, such position was held by Dr. John Reed in 1995-2001, while I held a similar position of Executive Vice President for Scientific Affairs prior to my appointment as President in 2010.

Welcome to our new trustees

by Communications Staff on February 8, 2013 at 9:00 am | 0 Comments

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We are pleased to announce that James C. Blair, Ph.D., and Patrick J. Geraghty have been appointed to our Board of Trustees.

James Blair, of Princeton, N.J., and San Diego, Calif., is a partner with Domain Associates, founded in 1985 to invest exclusively in emerging life sciences companies. He has been involved at the board level in the creation and successful development of more than 40 life sciences ventures including Amgen, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Applied Biosystems, NuVasive, Pharmion, and Volcano.

Patrick Geraghty of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., is chairman and chief executive officer of Florida Blue, the state’s largest health plan serving more than seven million people across the state. He serves as a board member for a variety of organizations, including the National Institute of Health Care Management and Prime Therapeutics. He is a member of the Florida Council of 100, which advises the governor on key Florida issues from a business perspective.

Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., Sanford-Burnham’s president and interim CEO, said, “In seeking trustees we look for business acumen and a strong understanding of the potential impact of our research. We have found both of these characteristics in James Blair and Patrick Geraghty. Each gentleman can provide insight from his industry that affords us an invaluable perspective. We are very fortunate to add their expertise to our already robust board.”

Thank you to T. Denny Sanford for a generous donation toward breast cancer research

by Kristina Meek on February 5, 2013 at 6:00 am | 1 comment

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T. Denny Sanford

Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford has reaffirmed his commitment to Sanford-Burnham and expressed his confidence in our interim chief executive officer, Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., by pledging a seven-figure donation to cancer research.

“At this time of transition, I want to provide both financial support and a personal endorsement of Sanford-Burnham’s excellence,” said Mr. Sanford. “I have the utmost confidence in the Institute’s future and Dr. Vuori’s leadership as interim CEO.” Mr. Sanford’s previous pledges to the Institute total in excess of $70 million, including the transformative gift that resulted in the Institute’s name change in 2010.

Vuori, president of the Institute since 2010, was named interim CEO last month when John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D., stepped down from the position. Reed and Vuori worked closely together during a time when the Institute emerged as a world leader in research and early-stage drug discovery.

“Mr. Sanford has made an indelible mark on this institution through financial support which he has characterized as investments in medical research. He envisions a healthier future and we are honored to be part of that vision,” Vuori said. “As a cancer researcher, this latest substantial gift means a great deal to me personally, as well as to Sanford-Burnham.”

Reflections on a decade of growth

by Kristina Meek on January 29, 2013 at 5:27 am | 0 Comments

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Sanford-Burnham benefactor Malin Burnham (left) raises a toast to Dr. Kristiina Vuori and Dr. John Reed, surrounded by faculty and staff

It’s a good idea for the people within an organization to stop and look around once in a while. And there is perhaps no better time for reflection than during a time of transition.

As John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D., put it, “All organizations benefit from fresh leadership approximately every decade, and that time is now for Sanford-Burnham.” Reed announced on January 14 that he would be stepping down after 11 years as CEO to accept a position with pharmaceutical company Roche.

This turn of events led to an opportunity to reflect on our past, present and future, when Sanford-Burnham’s leaders presented “Reflections on a Decade of Growth.” Our scientists and staff heard from Reed, as well as distinguished professor and past president (1989-2002) Erkki Ruoslahti, M.D., Ph.D., and president and interim CEO Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D.

Their inspiring presentation including four key observations:

John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D., resigns as Sanford-Burnham CEO to accept position at Roche

by admin on January 14, 2013 at 10:13 pm | 0 Comments

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Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute Board of Directors (trustees) announced today that John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D., has accepted the position of Head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development and member of the Corporate Executive Committee. Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., president of Sanford-Burnham, will assume all leadership responsibilities on an interim basis.

“John has led Sanford-Burnham through a decade of tremendous success and growth, particularly in translational research, and we wish him the best as he moves to a new stage of his career,” said M. Wainwright Fishburn, Jr., chairman of Sanford-Burnham’s Board of Trustees. “We have a strong foundation for continued growth, and we have complete confidence in Kristiina’s ability to lead through the management transition.”

Added Dr. Reed, “I am grateful to have led Sanford-Burnham over the past decade, especially in the growth of the Institute’s work in translational research. While I am sad to be leaving the Institute, I look forward to the potential for collaborations in the future between the two organizations. I am confident in the financial strength of the Institute following the strongest year of grant revenue in its history, as well as in Dr. Vuori’s ability to lead through the time ahead. We have worked side-by-side in leading Sanford-Burnham, so she is uniquely qualified to guide a smooth transition and continued excellence.”

A new innovator on the block

by Kristina Meek on November 30, 2012 at 10:14 am | 0 Comments

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Sanford-Burnham benefactor Malin Burnham, Sanford-Burnham President, Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., Pradeep K. Khosla, and Sanford-Burnham CEO John Reed, M.D., Ph.D.

The location of Sanford-Burnham’s headquarters on the Torrey Pines Mesa of La Jolla, Calif., puts us squarely at the center of a hive of innovation. Part of our innovative spirit means we engage in constant dialogue with other, nearby scientific institutions. So when Pradeep K. Khosla, who took up the mantle of Chancellor at UC San Diego on August 1, expressed a desire to get acquainted with his new neighbors, we welcomed him.

Earlier this week, Khosla travelled just across the street to meet with Sanford-Burnham leadership and to tour the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics. He was amazed with the state-of-the-art robotic screening center.

Khosla has expressed his commitment to innovation as a means of bringing income to UC San Diego, and to the region. In fact, a writer for the UT San Diego recently said of Khosla’s arrival in town, “The San Diego entrepreneur community should pay close attention.”

Wanted: patrons of science

by Kristina Meek on November 19, 2012 at 8:47 am | 0 Comments

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A moment from the Art in Science/Science in Art panel. L to R: Dr. Thomas Albright, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies; Dr. Pamela Itkin-Ansari, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute; Dr. Santiago Horgan, UCSD School of Medicine.

Science and art have a lot in common. That was the clear conclusion drawn by a panel of experts at the world-renowned La Jolla Playhouse on November 11, at an event titled The Art in Science/The Science in Art. Collaboration, the willingness to take risks, and the making of what one panelist called “intuitive leaps” all rose to the fore as shared traits. Although perhaps the most significant thing the two disciplines have in common, they realized, is the ongoing need for funding.

“You hear a lot about patrons of the arts,” remarked Sanford-Burnham adjunct faculty member Dr. Pamela Itkin-Ansari. “I think we also need more patrons of science.” Based on their enthusiastic applause, the audience agreed.

Sanford-Burnham speaks with…Nobel Laureate Bruce Beutler [VIDEO]

by Heather Buschman, Ph.D. on November 10, 2012 at 5:51 am | 0 Comments

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Dr. Bruce Beutler (right) and his host, Dr. Carl Ware, director of Sanford-Burnham's Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center

Bruce Beutler, M.D., professor and director of the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense at UT Southwestern, shared the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his studies of the innate immune system. Working with mice, he discovered toll-like receptors, cellular sensors that recognize bacteria and activate inflammation. Dr. Beutler visited Sanford-Burnham’s La Jolla campus earlier this week to meet with colleagues and deliver a special lecture. He also serves on our Scientific Advisory Board.

While he was here, we sat down with Dr. Beutler and asked him about what inspired him to become a scientist, what he’s most proud of, where the field is headed, and how his life has changed since winning a Nobel.

Watch the video below to see what he said:

Remembering Jan Tuttleman, trustee and friend

by Deborah Robison on November 2, 2012 at 10:49 am | 0 Comments

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Jan Tuttleman and her husband, Craig Lambert, in 2010.

Sanford-Burnham faculty and staff are mourning the loss of Jan Tuttleman, an Institute trustee and supporter, whose academic pursuits were matched by her passion for medical research. Jan passed away earlier this week.

“On behalf of Sanford-Burnham’s faculty, staff, and trustees, I want to express our deep sadness over Jan’s passing and our sincere appreciation for all that she brought to the Institute,” said CEO John Reed, M.D., Ph.D. “Jan was not only a devoted trustee, she was also a good friend to many at the Institute.”

Dwight Towler to lead Sanford-Burnham’s Cardiovascular Pathobiology Program

by Patrick Bartosch on October 17, 2012 at 5:15 am | 0 Comments

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Dr. Towler will join Sanford-Burnham as professor and director of the Cardiovascular Pathobiology Program

We’re pleased to announce that Dwight A. Towler, M.D., Ph.D. is joining Sanford-Burnham’s Lake Nona, Orlando campus as professor and director of our Cardiovascular Pathobiology Program. As program director, Towler will lead the Institute’s research into fundamental and early translational aspects of cardiovascular biology, physiology, and disease. Before joining Sanford-Burnham, Towler was the Ira M. Lang Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. He will formally assume the position at Sanford-Burnham in November 2012.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Towler, a world-renowned endocrinologist and vascular biologist, to the Institute,” said Sanford-Burnham at Lake Nona scientific director Daniel Kelly, M.D. “At Washington University, Dr. Towler conducted extensive research into the cardiovascular effects of type 2 diabetes, which is a key research area within the Diabetes and Obesity Research Center at Sanford-Burnham.”

Top Stories - People

Welcome to our new program director, László Nagy, M.D., Ph.D.

Sanford-Burnham’s co-founder turns 98

Rocking science and innovation

Lab finds a creative way to support their PI

Stem Cell #SciencePitch Challenge

Kudos to Ze’ev Ronai, Ph.D., newly appointed Scientific Director

Welcome to our new trustees

Thank you to T. Denny Sanford for a generous donation toward breast cancer research

Reflections on a decade of growth

John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D., resigns as Sanford-Burnham CEO to accept position at Roche

A new innovator on the block

Wanted: patrons of science

Sanford-Burnham speaks with…Nobel Laureate Bruce Beutler [VIDEO]

Remembering Jan Tuttleman, trustee and friend

Dwight Towler to lead Sanford-Burnham’s Cardiovascular Pathobiology Program

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