DECEMBER 2023 NEWS

Dear Friends,

As 2023 comes to a close, I want to express my gratitude once again for your interest in and support of high-impact science and the people who bring it to life here at the Salk Institute. We often talk about how our scientists aim to tackle big challenges, and you can read about two examples below: mapping the brain and treating pancreatic cancer. I am proud of all that our teams have accomplished this year, and I can’t wait to see what 2024 brings.



I wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season, and success and happiness for the new year.

Warmest regards,

Salk teams assemble first full epigenomic cell atlas of the mouse brain

Salk Institute researchers, including Professors Edward Callaway, Joseph Ecker, and Research Professor Margarita Behrens, were part of a worldwide initiative to revolutionize scientists’ understanding of the brain, called the NIH BRAIN Initiative. The Salk team analyzed more than 2 million brain cells from mice to assemble the most complete atlas ever of the mouse brain. Four Salk-authored papers are featured in a special issue of Nature as a part of the 10-paper package, which altogether detail the thousands of cell types present in the mouse brain, how those cells connect, and what genes and regulatory programs are active in each cell.

See also:

GeekWire »

How drugs can target the thick “scar tissue” of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers—only about one in eight patients survives five years after diagnosis. Those dismal statistics are in part due to the thick, nearly impenetrable, wall of fibrosis, or scar tissue, that surrounds most pancreatic tumors and makes it hard for drugs to access and destroy the cancer cells. Now, Professor Ronald Evans and team have discovered how a class of anti-cancer drugs called HDAC inhibitors can help treat pancreatic cancer by modulating the activation of fibroblasts—the cells that make up that wall of scar tissue.

See also:

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News »

Inside Precision Medicine »

INSIDE SALK

Salk's award-winning magazine | winter edition

Inside Salk Winter 2023 is arriving in mailboxes soon! This edition of Inside Salk celebrates the people that make Salk the prestigious and powerful research institute that it is. We feature Salk’s Education Outreach team, which introduces science to local San Diego students and inspires the next generation of scientists. We share captivating stories from faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, and staff members, and we celebrate this season’s exciting discoveries, awards, and events on-campus. Sign up to receive the print edition in the mail or read it online. The new issue will be available soon.

SALK STREAMING

Sign up for the Salk Institute's exclusive new media channel, where you'll find stories of science and the people who bring it to life.

Salk Fellows Program welcomes physicist Adam Bowman

The Salk Institute has appointed Adam Bowman to the Salk Fellows Program, where he will join current Salk Fellow Talmo Pereira. Joining in March 2024, Bowman is an applied physicist who develops new technologies for optical microscopy. The Salk Fellows Program brings scientists from broad disciplines to the Institute to encourage innovation and perpetuate the Institute’s collaborative spirit.

Read more »

Salk Institute celebrates 50th anniversary and renewal of National Cancer Institute designation

The Salk Institute marks 50 years as a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center with good news: NCI has renewed the designation and grant support for another five years. Salk’s 2023 application for NCI designation and grant renewal received the highest score the Institute has received in the past 20 years. With this designation, NCI recognizes centers around the country that meet rigorous standards for transdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research focused on developing new and better approaches to preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer.

Read more »

Salk welcomes San Diego philanthropist Amy Jacobs as new trustee

The Salk Institute Board of Trustees welcomes its newest trustee, Amy Jacobs. Jacobs brings her experience as a philanthropist with an educational background in science to the Institute. Since moving to San Diego 13 years ago, she has been active in supporting local Jewish organizations and the Jacobs Cushman San Diego Food Bank, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, as well as housing and homelessness initiatives in San Diego. Additionally, Jacobs is a member of the Pauline Foster Women’s Leadership Institute and a former member of Forward Global (formerly the Philanthropy Workshop). She will formally join the Salk Board in April 2024.

Read more »

VISIT SALK

Private and public docent-led tours are resuming on January 10. Visitors are welcome to visit the Salk Institute for pre-registered Campus Tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. unless the Institute is closed for a holiday or private event. Campus Tours are approximately one hour in length. Visitors are also welcome to visit the Institute by booking a Private Group Tour.

Enjoy Salk science on your devices

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

This month's image is from a recent press release featuring work from Professor Ronald Evans and team and their discovery that anti-cancer drugs called HDAC inhibitors can help treat pancreatic cancer by modulating the activation of fibroblasts (scar tissue).

The abundance of cancer-associated fibroblasts (magenta) in the microenvironment with pancreatic cancer cells (green).

Learn more »

Phone: (858) 453-4100

Email: communications@salk.edu

Media inquiries: press@salk.edu

Website: www.salk.edu