OCTOBER 2023 NEWS

Dear Friends,

This month the journal Science published a special series revealing the first steps in the creation of a human brain atlas—a detailed map of every cell type, led by Salk’s Professor Joseph Ecker and Research Professor Margarita Behrens (see details below).

This is an exciting opportunity to better understand how the brain operates in both health and disease, but here is a little peek behind the scenes: Ecker’s lab alone will generate approximately 11 petabytes of data—roughly equal to 10 million copies of the Encyclopaedia Britannica! That’s in part why we recently launched a pilot program with Google Cloud Platform to help the team store and analyze this data, and just announced the appointment of our first CIO—Jerry Sheehan, who joins us from San Diego State University.

Investing in infrastructure for biocomputation—including artificial intelligence and other advanced computing capabilities—will better position Salk scientists to tackle unaddressed scientific questions and open fundamentally new areas of scientific inquiry.

I’m excited about the future of Salk science and trust you are, too.

Warmest regards,

“A new era in brain science”: Salk researchers unveil human brain cell atlas

Credit: Michael Nunn

Professor Joseph Ecker, Research Professor Margarita Behrens, and team, as part of a larger collaboration with research teams around the world, analyzed more than half a million brain cells from three human brains to assemble an atlas of hundreds of cell types that make up a human brain in unprecedented detail. The massive scientific collaboration is a part of the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative, an effort launched in 2014 to describe the full plethora of cells in mammalian brains. More detailed work on a larger number of brains, Ecker says, will pave the way toward a better understanding of how certain brain cell types can dysfunction in brain disorders and diseases.

See also:

STAT News »

Scientific American »

Axios »

Deutsche Welle »

MEET A SALK SCIENTIST

In the new monthly video series “How I got here/Where I’m going,” we bring you the unique stories of Salk researchers, including their personal journeys, motivations, and goals.

Todd Michael is research professor who leverages genetic sequencing technology and computational biology to uncover how genomic differences enable plants to better respond to and exploit their environments. As a member of Salk’s Harnessing Plants Initiative leadership team, Michael is providing genome sequencing support to create Salk Ideal Plants^®, which store excess amounts of atmospheric carbon deep in the ground as a means to help mitigate climate change.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Assistant Professor Pallav Kosuri helps YouTube personality Mark Rober make the world’s smallest Nerf gun

Kosuri's part starts at 13:33, where he explains and employs his lab’s technique for manipulating DNA architecture. Just after its release, the episode was YouTube's #1 trending video and has since garnered nearly 24 million views.

Jerry Sheehan named Salk Institute’s first chief information officer

The Salk Institute has appointed Jerry Sheehan as the Institute’s first chief information officer (CIO). He will assume the position December 4. Sheehan served most recently as vice president and CIO at San Diego State University, where he led the development and deployment of information technology infrastructure and services for research, instruction, and administration. As Salk’s CIO, Sheehan will work closely with the president, chief science officer, and other senior administrative and scientific leaders to lead technology efforts across the Institute and drive digital innovation in support of the Institute’s leading-edge scientific research.

Read more »

Salk Institute’s Christina Towers receives NIH New Innovator Award

Assistant Professor Christina Towers received a five-year, $2.85 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Award from the NIH Common Fund’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research program. Towers will use the award to employ new tools and models to better understand cancer cells’ rapid and dynamic response to metabolic changes—all with the goal of preventing treatment resistance in cancer patients.

Read more »

Postdoctoral Researcher Zhibin Liang named 2023 STAT News Wunderkind

Liang was honored by STAT News, a life science news publication produced by Boston Globe Media, as a STAT Wunderkind ’23. This award recognizes the work of early-career scientists and clinicians. As a member of Research Professor Pamela Maher’s lab, Liang is uncovering the underlying mechanisms of the bioactive ingredients in plants to develop more effectives therapeutics. He aims to use these natural products (plant chemicals) to treat incurable diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. He is also looking at how these active molecules prevent mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegeneration and aging. Read more »

Salk earned Charity Navigator’s highest ranking—4 out of 4 stars—for 12th time

The coveted distinction indicates Salk has demonstrated strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Only 25 percent of organizations evaluated by Charity Navigator receive the four-star rating. Read more »

St. Jude and Caltech researchers join Salk Institute as Nonresident Fellows

The Salk Institute has named two highly accomplished scientists, Douglas Green and Stephen Mayo, to join its faculty as Nonresident Fellows, a group of eminent scientific advisors who guide the Institute’s leadership. Green is a co-leader of the Cancer Biology Program and Peter C. Doherty Endowed Chair of the Department of Immunology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Mayo is Bren Professor of Biology and Chemistry and Merkin Institute Professor at Caltech. The two will visit Salk each year to advise on scientific progress of faculty and the efficacy of existing and proposed scientific programs.

Read more »

Salk communications team earns awards

At the San Diego Press Club’s 50th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards, Salk brought home five first-place awards, as well as one second-place award and one third-place award. Also this month, the Trade Association Business Publications International hosted their annual TABBIES Awards, where Salk won in three categories. Many of these awards celebrated Inside Salk, our magazine that features the people and science that make Salk so special. Read Inside Salk online or join our mailing list for print editions.

EVENTS

November 8, 2023: Salk Women & Science Program

Salk Women & Science will be presenting the 2023 Scientific Career & Professional Development Awards and recognizing 17 remarkable women for their scientific achievements. This year's program will feature keynote speaker Assistant Professor Shika Ramanan, who will discuss how mothers can shape their babies' immune systems across multiple generations via breastmilk. Afterward, all audience members will join the Salk awardees in a reception where they will be able to view the winning projects and ask the awardees questions regarding their research.

This month at Salk: Hispanic Heritage Month

In October, we celebrated both Hispanic Heritage Month and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Salk’s chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) hosted SalkFEST—an event filled with food, music, and games.

Enjoy Salk architecture on your devices

Looking for a unique background image for your computer, Zoom meeting, iPad, or phone?

When designing Salk’s campus, architect Louis Kahn valued natural light and open, airy work areas. Kahn built the outer laboratory walls using large, double-strength glass panes. The underground levels also receive natural sunlight, thanks to a series of light wells flanking each building. Learn more »

Phone: (858) 453-4100

Email: communications@salk.edu

Media inquiries: press@salk.edu

Website: www.salk.edu