The story of how fruit flies, odors and computer science came together at Salk
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It might seem like fruit flies would have nothing in common with computers, but Assistant Professor
Saket Navlakha
explains the story behind how fruit flies and computers identify novel information in similar ways—and why the research matters.
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Salk scientists uncover how high-fat diets drive colorectal cancer growth
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Deaths from colorectal cancer in people under 55 are increasing. A new study led by Professor
Ronald Evans
in the journal
Cell
suggests that high-fat diets fuel this deadly cancer growth by upsetting the balance of bile acids in the intestine and triggering a hormonal signal that lets cancerous cells thrive. The findings could explain why colorectal cancer is being seen in younger people growing up at a time when high-fat diets are common.
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Guardians of the synapse: scientists identify a new role for nerve-supporting cells
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The lab of Professor
Kuo-Fen Lee
has found that a blood-clotting protein can, unexpectedly, degrade nerves. The findings, published in
PLOS Genetics
, also show how nerve-supporting glial cells called Schwann cells protect nerves by blocking this blood-clotting protein as well as other potentially destructive enzymes released by muscle cells. The research could have implications for diseases as diverse as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease or schizophrenia.
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When neurons are out of shape, antidepressants may not work
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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed medication for major depressive disorder, yet scientists still do not understand why the treatment does not work in nearly thirty percent of patients with MDD. Using serotonergic neurons derived from patients, the lab of President and Professor
Rusty Gage
discovered differences in growth patterns of neurons in those resistant to SSRIs. The work was published in
Molecular Psychiatry
.
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Like mountaineers, nerves need expert guidance to find their way
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The nervous system relies on elaborate timing and location of guidance cues for neuronal axons—threadlike projections—to successfully reach their destinations in the body. Now, the lab of Professor
Samuel Pfaff
has discovered how neurons navigate a tricky cellular environment by listening for directions, while simultaneously filtering out inappropriate instructions to avoid getting lost. The study appeared in the journal
Neuron
.
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How attention helps the brain perceive objects
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Credit: Zerbor/Shutterstock
Professor
John Reynolds
’ lab has shown how too much background "noise" from neurons can interrupt focused attention and cause the brain to struggle to perceive objects. The findings, which confirm a long-held theory that attention to an object can alter perception, appeared in
eLife
and could help improve designs for visual prosthetics.
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Tech and business giants David Dolby and Mark Knickrehm join Salk’s board
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Postdoctoral Fellow Veronica Pessino awarded $150,000 by Cure SMA
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Veronica Pessino, sponsored by Professor
Samuel Pfaff
, received a 2019 Audrey Lewis Young Investigator Award by Cure SMA. The award includes $150,000 to study how the molecule miR-218 could lessen the symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and help establish novel therapeutic targets.
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Satchin Panda
talks to the BBC and
Parade
magazine about circadian rhythms:
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A recent study on aging by
Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte
was covered by the
San Diego Union-Tribune
and in a podcast interview with Postdoctoral Fellow Pradeep Reddy:
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Senior Staff Scientist Pamela Maher of the
Schubert
lab talks about flavonoids on the Living Beyond 100 podcast:
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NOMIS Center 10
th
Anniversary Symposium focuses on harnessing our immune system for better health
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SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
On April 10, Salk honors a decade of partnership with the NOMIS Foundation through the NOMIS Center at Salk 10
th
Anniversary Symposium:
The Power Within–Harnessing Our Immune System for Better Health.
Faculty of the NOMIS Center will give scientific presentations in addition to the inaugural Melvin Cohn Lectures. Author Sonia Shah (
Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond
) will give a keynote address at the end of the day, followed by a book signing.
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Zanvil A. Cohn and Ralph M. Steinman Professor
The Rockefeller University
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Senior Physician
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University of Cambridge
Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow
Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Physician
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Science journalist and author
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Salk Science & Music Series wraps up its sixth season
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- April 28, 2019 - Brubeck Brothers Quartet & Sung Han
Join us for the last concert of the sixth season of the
Salk Science & Music Series
for a fun afternoon of jazz featuring the Brubeck Brothers quartet. The Quartet’s latest CD,
LifeTimes,
was a hit on the
Jazz Week
radio chart, where it made the Top Ten list as one of the most played jazz recordings of the year.
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In 1957, Jonas Salk conceived of a collaborative place where scientists could explore the basic principles of life and realize the broader implications of their discoveries for the benefit of our world. Salk’s legacy continues today through the Institute that bears his name. It flourishes in the hearts, minds and passions of new generations of bold and brilliant scientists at the Salk Institute. By asking big questions and taking risks, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of the brain, cancer, aging, metabolism, infectious disease and plant science. Read more about our history and the architecture that inspires a new generation of scientists.
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Salk wallpaper images
Looking for a unique background image for your computer, iPad or phone?
This month's image captures the remarkable moment during the spring equinox
when the setting sun lines up with the River of Life.
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