With a little help from my friends
Sanford Burnham Prebys’ latest gala celebrated an old, dear friend, a brand-new vision and a crowd in fab form.
On October 20, more than 280 friends, faculty and supporters of Sanford Burnham Prebys gathered at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa to celebrate the event’s theme: “A Future Filled with Discoveries and Cures.”
But more specifically, attendees paid homage to two men: philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, whose long and enduring support has helped shape and sustain Sanford Burnham Prebys; and David Brenner, M.D., the Institute’s president and CEO, who is using Sanford’s most recent gift to implement a bold, new strategic plan.
“Denny has always been a friend, guide and mentor,” said Brenner. “He has made much of what I do—what we will do together—possible.”
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Copycat nutrient leaves pancreatic tumors starving
A study led by scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys suggests an entirely new approach to treat pancreatic cancer.
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The research shows that feeding tumors a copycat of an important nutrient starves them of the fuel they need to survive and grow.
“Pancreatic cancer relies on the nutrient glutamine much more than other cancers, so therapies that can interfere with tumors’ ability to access glutamine could be highly effective,” says senior author Cosimo Commisso, Ph.D.
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Inhibiting an enzyme associated with aging could help damaged nerves regrow and restore strength | |
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New research co-authored by Yu Xin (Will) Wang, Ph.D., has demonstrated a way to accelerate recovery from peripheral nerve injury by targeting an enzyme that was thought to be responsible for muscle wasting with aging.
Inhibiting this enzyme after nerve injury in a mouse model with a small molecule inhibitor promoted regeneration of motor nerve and formation of neuromuscular synapses that resulted in accelerated recovery of strength.
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How liver cells become scarring, and worse
Over time, accumulating scarring distorts the liver, interferes with its blood supply and may progressively lead to worsening consequences, from cirrhosis to liver failure to liver cancer.
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In a new paper, a team of scientists led by corresponding authors David A. Brenner, M.D., president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys, and Tatiana Kisseleva, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine, describe the origin and fate of liver myofibroblasts—the cells that form liver scar tissue—and emerging evidence that liver fibrosis can be reversed if the causative agent is removed.
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A former Sanford Burnham Prebys postdoc writes about science and social responsibility
The laboratory, with its precise protocols and sterile tools, seems far removed from the often discordant chaos of U.S. society.
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"But science does not happen in a sociopolitical vacuum," says Eric Lau, Ph.D., a former student and postdoc at Sanford Burnham Prebys, "and research institutions shouldn’t pretend otherwise."
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Emily Wu awarded Melvin and Phyllis McCardle Clause Scholarship
“This award is special to me because it’s more than a scholarship—it’s inspiring and encouraging for early-stage scholars,” says Wu. “Receiving this honor from a family who was affected by Alzheimer's disease makes me even more motivated to advance my research. I sincerely appreciate the support.”
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A note of gratitude from our Chief Development Officer | |
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We celebrated a great deal at our recent gala.
We recognized legendary philanthropist T. Denny Sanford. We officially “launched” our incredible new leader, David A. Brenner, M.D. And we welcomed the brilliant new scientists who are coming to Sanford Burnham Prebys.
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The event was aptly themed “A Future Filled with Discoveries and Cures.” After all, these young researchers are the future. They could have gone almost anywhere, but they decided to come to Sanford Burnham Prebys. And it’s only because of the power of philanthropy and friends like you that all of this is happening.
When we asked our new recruits why they chose our Institute, here’s what they told us:
- “Sanford Burnham Prebys is a place where I’m surrounded by global research leaders who are collaborating with me to discover transformative technologies for cancer patients waiting for breakthroughs.”
- “It’s a truly outstanding Institute dedicated to conducting basic research-based drug discovery.”
- “Sanford Burnham Prebys has a collaborative research culture where teamwork is the foundation of scientific breakthroughs.”
- “It will give me the freedom to tackle difficult problems and form new collaborations as I seek better treatments for children born with heart defects.”
- “This Institute has an esteemed standing in aging research and a collaborative environment.”
It’s friends like you who help make this magical place what it is. Your support helps brilliant researchers fight for discoveries and cures. We appreciate you!
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With gratitude to you for helping to change the world,
Christine Sanchez Dittmer
Chief Development Officer
P.S. If you’d like to support the future that research brings, we thank you!
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Four of our brilliant new recruits attended our gala: Sanjeev Ranade, Ph.D., from Gladstone Institutes; Xiao Tian, Ph.D., from Harvard Medical School; Kelly Kersten, Ph.D., from UC San Francisco; and Sanju Sinha, Ph.D., from the National Cancer Institute. And yes, that’s our very own Michael Jackson, Ph.D., standing behind the group enjoying a moment of levity.
Photo by our good friend Vincent Andrunas.
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