-
Discoveries: Have you heard of microproteins? They might be our future weight loss drugs
-
Symphony at Salk: A night to remember with Emmy and Tony Award-winning Kristin Chenoweth
-
Spotlight: Salk welcomes new faculty, launches partnership with La Mer
-
Inside Salk: Fall issue now available online! Find out how Salk scientists are shaping the future of GLP-1 drugs
-
Meet a Salk scientist: Featuring immunologist Professor Susan Kaech
-
Listen to Salk’s podcast, Beyond Lab Walls: Our scientists are sharing their stories and latest discoveries
-
In the news: Assistant Professor Shika Ramanan explains the science of breast milk
-
Social media highlight: Live science illustration on campus
| | Finding microproteins to treat obesity and metabolic disorders | | Mouse fat cells filled with lipid droplets (green). Credit: Salk Institute | | Obesity affects more than one billion people worldwide, but treatment options are still limited to lifestyle interventions, bariatric surgery, and GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy. Professor Alan Saghatelian is exploring a new strategy in microproteins, a mysterious class of molecules found throughout the body whose functions are only just beginning to be revealed. His latest study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identifies new microproteins that could serve as future drug targets to treat obesity and other metabolic disorders. | | Scientists debut a new foundational atlas of the plant life cycle | | Illustration capturing the study’s findings, with Arabidopsis thaliana sprouting amongst cells and strands of DNA—all inside a globe. Credit: Aga Weickoeska | | Arabidopsis thaliana, also known as thale cress, is a small, flowering weed that has shaped much of plant biology as we know it. But despite its beloved reputation among plant biologists worldwide, many elements of the Arabidopsis life cycle have remained a mystery. Professor Joseph Ecker has now established the first genetic atlas to span the entire Arabidopsis life cycle. The findings, published in Nature Plants, will help expand research and development in plant biotechnology, agriculture, and environmental sciences. | | Mitochondrial move-in: Could relocating proteins help diagnose Alzheimer’s? | | Neurons with labeled mitochondria (red) and nucleus (blue). Credit: Salk Institute | | Salk scientists are searching for biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease that can be easily detected from skin biopsies. In a new study published in Redox Biology, Professor Gerald Shadel surveyed skin cells from Alzheimer’s patients and found certain proteins moving into the cells’ mitochondria in response to oxidative stress. The identified proteins could one day serve as biomarkers to screen for early signs of aging and Alzheimer’s. | | Scientists get back to basics with minimal plant genomes | | Arabidopsis thaliana Credit: Salk Institute | Ancient events in plant evolution have left behind large, duplicated regions in their genomes. Research Professor Todd Michael found that deleting these large blocks of DNA can still lead to normal plants. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrate that large chromosomal deletions are a viable strategy in plant genetic engineering, which could now accelerate the development of streamlined, minimal plant genomes, a major goal in industries looking to create new plant-based biotechnologies. | | Celebrating science at the 29th annual Symphony at Salk | | |
Salk’s courtyard sparkled with music, lights, and conversation as art and science converged at our August 16 celebration. Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth dazzled alongside the San Diego Symphony, putting on an unforgettable performance of beloved showtunes and new heartfelt hits.
We thank all of our attendees and sponsors for making the night such a spectacular tribute to the science and faculty here at Salk. We are especially grateful to our presenting sponsors, Rita and Brian Kaspar, and Zenith sponsors, Ann Tsukamoto-Weissman and Irv Weissman. Please join us in thanking all 60 generous event sponsors.
| | Salk Institute and La Mer launch unique fellowship to advance healthy aging research | | Ankita Chadda Credit: Salk Institute | | Through the new La Mer Fellowship in Healthy Aging, the company will fund a three-year postdoctoral position focused on the molecular foundations of human aging. The inaugural fellowship has been awarded to Ankita Chadda, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Assistant Professor Agnieszka Kendrick. | | Salk welcomes new faculty in plant biology and immunology | | Jamie Blum Credit: Henry Le | | NOMIS Assistant Professor Jamie Blum will join Salk in September 2025. Her lab will explore why some foods trigger allergic reactions while others are more easily tolerated by our immune systems. | | Lucia Strader Credit: Salk Institute | | World-renowned plant biologist Professor Lucia Strader will join Salk in October 2025. Her work will help Salk’s Harnessing Plants Initiative design more resilient crops that can thrive in changing environments. | | Brenda Schulman named Salk Institute Nonresident Fellow | | Brenda Schulman Credit: Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry | | Schulman is a professor and the director of the Molecular Machines and Signaling Department at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany. As a Nonresident Fellow, she joins a group of eminent scientific advisors who provide strategic advice to Salk’s leadership. | | | | |
Check out the new fall 2025 edition of Inside Salk to see how our scientists are shaping the future of GLP-1 drugs. Hear about neuroscience’s new star, Nicola Allen, and get to know plant biologist-turned-startup founder, Joseph Swift. Plus, a look into how Salk is empowering the next generation of scientists—and their teachers.
Join our mailing list to receive a print copy, or read the fall issue online now.
| | Professor Susan Kaech is the director of the NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis and holder of the NOMIS Chair at Salk. Her research on T cells is transforming our understanding of immunology and infectious disease. | |
"The most important thing that my parents and family instilled in me was the idea that hard work is what it takes, and that you can pretty much do whatever you want. I didn’t really know about social boundaries, gender boundaries, or glass ceilings growing up,” she said.
Kaech grew up in rainy Washington state, where her father, a biology teacher, first taught her the wonders of science. Kaech found her niche in immunology during college and went on to have a ceiling-shattering career under the sunny San Diego skies.
| | SALK'S PODCAST BEYOND LAB WALLS | | | | Beyond Lab Walls highlights cutting-edge science and the researchers making it all possible. Check out the latest episodes to find out what humans have in common with plants, what jellyfish can teach us about aging, and what a game show can teach us about our brains. | | |
Forbes
Mutations in newly discovered microproteins are changing our understanding of human disease
| |
Read article »
Features Professor Alan Saghatelian
| |  | |
KPBS
High school students join Salk Institute labs for summer internships
| |
Read article »
Features Assistant Professor Lena Mueller
| | | |
NPR Science Friday
Breast milk is understudied. What are scientists learning now?
| |
Listen now »
Features Assistant Professor Deepshika Ramanan
| | | Spectrum Local News
SoCal scientists work to find a sustainable alternative to artificial fertilizers | |
Watch now »
Features Assistant Professor Lena Mueller
| | | |
Healio
Salk Institute professor receives award for pancreatic cancer research
| |
Read article »
Features Professor Diana Hargreaves
| | | |
Architecture Today
Still standing: the Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, 1963
| |
Read article »
Features Salk Institute architecture
| | | |
The Diary of a CEO podcast
ChatGPT brain rot debate
| |
Watch now »

Features Professor Terrence Sejnowski
| | | |
San Diego Union-Tribune
Ready for back-to-school? La Jolla scientist shares tips for sleeping, eating, and more
| |
Read now »
Features Professor Satchin Panda
| | | |
Every year, we transform our iconic courtyard into a magical setting for Symphony at Salk. One step in that transformation is decorating the walls of our Institute with vibrant microscopy images captured by our own scientists.
Taken in Professor Shrek Chalasani’s lab, this is one of the lucky images to light up our courtyard as Kristin Chenoweth performed alongside the San Diego Symphony. In it, neurons and astrocytes glow in a shade of pink fit for Glinda herself.
| | Don’t miss out! Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X for all the latest updates on our science, culture, and beautiful campus. There you’ll find insightful and creative posts, like science illustrator Amy Cao drawing on one of our courtyard’s signature chalkboards! Check out the final result—an artistic nod to Salk’s Year of Alzheimer’s Disease Research and our ongoing efforts to discover and treat the root cause(s) of Alzheimer’s disease. | |
About this newsletter
Salk’s email newsletter is published monthly with updates on recent scientific publications, media coverage, awards, grants, events, and other timely information for Salk supporters and science enthusiasts.
| | | | |
