Welcome to the latest issue of Discoveries.

Learn how Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists are studying ways to rejuvenate aged muscle stem cells to prevent frailty, how common HIV drugs may be able to treat Alzheimer’s disease and what the lifestyles of the world’s healthiest centenarians reveal regarding the secrets to longevity. You’ll also see how we celebrated our newest alumni, read about the culmination of a yearlong journey for our LEAP scholars and explore how your support is driving biomedical breakthroughs that improve human health.

Image credit: Shiqi Su and Will Wang, PhD, Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Turning back time on muscle stem cells to prevent frailty from aging

Low muscle mass in the elderly—known as sarcopenia—leads to increased frailty and movement problems. Patients with sarcopenia are more likely to be hospitalized and develop other comorbidities, largely due to falls and fractures that tend to create health declines that quickly spiral out of control.

A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of treating aged mice with a naturally occurring lipid, Prostaglandin E2, which improved the regeneration and strength of aged muscle. The research team also detailed how this therapy worked, showing that it counteracts molecular changes that occur with stem cell aging.

Image credit: Jerold Chun, MD, PhD, Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Novel truncated RNAs from jumping DNA encode reverse transcriptases in aging human brain

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and elsewhere have recently reported real-world links in medical records associating common HIV drugs with a reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. The studies showed that patients were at a lesser risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease if they were taking drugs to block a famous enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which copies RNA into DNA.

Jerold Chun, MD, PhD, and colleagues at Sanford Burnham Prebys looked for evidence of actual reverse transcriptase activity in the aging human brain and in brains affected by Alzheimer’s disease, identifying reverse transcriptase enzymatic activity, and novel RNAs that encode brain reverse transcriptases especially in neurons of the aging human brain.

CIAO study: Lessons learned on living longer and better (with more to come)

In May, a select group of scientists from around the world—including several from Sanford Burnham Prebys—gathered in the small town of Acciaroli in the Cilento-Salerno region of Italy to review a decade’s worth of research in the ongoing Cilento Initiative on Aging Outcomes (CIAO), a longitudinal study of local residents 100 years and older.

Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Two major components of why the centenarians of Cilento live longer and better was reaffirmed in multiple studies: diet and lifestyle.

Ninety percent of the centenarians in the CIAO study adhere to the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and olive oil, with minimal red meat consumption.

Additionally, most centenarians were physically active on a regular basis and socially engaged with friends and family.

Research reviews look at liver disease and diabetes

Liver disease and diabetes are among the nation’s most pressing health threats, afflicting millions of Americans. In fact, diabetes is one of the major causes of chronic liver injury.

Image credit: American Association of Anatomy.

A trio of recently published journal reviews by researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys, with colleagues elsewhere, assess the state of science, new findings and opportunities for improving diagnoses and treatments.

Through philanthropy, we translate science into health.

At Sanford Burnham Prebys, philanthropy fuels discovery. Thanks to the generosity of our donor community, our scientists are able to push the boundaries of biomedical research—pursuing bold questions, accelerating breakthroughs and developing cutting-edge technologies that pave the way for new treatments impacting patients and their families.

Philanthropic support empowers us to transform lives by advancing science that matters.

 At Sanford Burnham Prebys, philanthropic support is strategically aligned with our highest funding priorities—those that drive innovation and impact.

• Robust translational programs that accelerate our most promising findings from the lab toward lifesaving therapies impacting patients.
• High-risk, high-reward research that has the potential to revolutionize how we understand and treat disease.
• The training and mentorship of exceptional postdoctoral fellows in our Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; who will become the next generation of scientific leaders.
• Investment in cutting-edge technologies that unlock new avenues of discovery.

For more information, please visit sbpdiscovery.org/giving

Sanford Burnham Prebys celebrates newest graduate school alumni

Family, friends and colleagues gathered at the end of May 2025 to applaud the four newest alumni of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys.

These early-career scientists are the latest graduates to leave their mark on the Institute and carry forth the graduate program’s motto: “Knowledge is the power to heal.”

“Today, we celebrate not only your academic journey, but also your years of dedication to get to this point, and the perseverance and intellectual curiosity that enabled you to reach this milestone,” said Alessandra Sacco, PhD, dean of the institute’s graduate school.

LEAP scholars share research and celebrate a year of growth

In early June, scholars in the LEAP (Lab Experience As Pathway) program shared their research at a capstone presentation event, marking the culmination of a yearlong journey in the lab.

Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

With support from the Prebys Foundation, the LEAP program bridges the gap between college graduation and graduate school by providing recent grads with hands-on research experience, professional development and mentorship to prepare them for advanced studies in STEM.

Opinion: Health database could provide key insights to improve care

Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

In his latest essay in The San Diego Union-Tribune, David Brenner, President and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys, highlights the immense potential of clinical databases: all the electronic health records currently sitting untapped by researchers. These records could hold vital insights, answers, and entirely new avenues for scientific discovery.

Curebound Challenges San Diego to Help Raise Vital Funding Amid Federal Grant Cuts that Threaten Cancer Research

Curebound launches all-new Curebound Cancer Challenge event and calls on individuals, corporations and philanthropists to help fund innovative cancer research as federal grants evaporate and scientists brace for more cuts next year. Funding from events like this directly supports Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers, helping them continue critical work that might otherwise go unfunded.

Image credit: Thomas Deerinck, NCMIR, UC San Diego.

Purkinje neurons are located in the cerebellar cortex of the brain. With their flask-shaped cell bodies, many branching dendrites and a single long axon, these cells are essential for controlling motor activity.