- New endowed chair for AI-powered research
| | - How to starve cancers that rely on cholesterol
| | - Studying a non-opioid pain treatment
| | - Deciphering age-related RNA pollution and brain degeneration
| | - Celebrating 50 years of discovery
| | Qualcomm co-founder Andrew Viterbi gives $5 million to Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute to establish the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Distinguished Chair in the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | | | | |
The inaugural chair holder will be Center Director Yuk-Lap (Kevin) Yip, PhD, a globally recognized leader whose work uses machine learning and advanced analytics to advance disease research, genome sequencing and precision medicine.
Dr. Viterbi’s gift will further strengthen Sanford Burnham Prebys’ leadership in biomedical research, and through this endowed chair, the Institute will continue to attract and support world-class scientific talent, advancing breakthrough discoveries at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence and human health.
| | Cholesterol-craving cancers need lipid enzymes to use metabolites for growth | | | | The Emerling lab studied a strategy for turning the table on certain tumors by subverting their cholesterol cravings. They found that lipid enzymes influenced the movement and behavior of organelles that carry cholesterol around our cells, providing a way to reduce cholesterol’s interaction with a key cancer cell growth pathway. | | Sanford Burnham Prebys awarded $3.9 million NIH grant to develop first-in-class non-opioid pain treatment | | | | Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists have received a $3.9 million NIH HEAL Initiative grant to advance a promising non-opioid pain therapy toward clinical trials. Led by Steven Olson, PhD, the multi-institutional team is developing a next-generation compound designed to provide powerful pain relief without the addictive risks and serious side effects associated with opioids. | | Anne Bang joins $13M research project on age-related RNA pollution and brain degeneration | | | | Aging brain cells are less efficient at RNA processing and turnover to maintain normal function. This leads to an abnormal accumulation researchers call “RNA pollution.” The Bang lab joins a team funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to study this process and identify potential treatments. | | Advancing Health Through Philanthropy | | | | Philanthropic support accelerates scientific research, trains our next generation of scientists, sparks innovative ideas and advances new therapeutics that bring hope to patients. Every gift helps transform bold science into real-world impact, improving lives today and shaping a healthier future. | | |
For more information about making a gift, please contact the Sanford Burnham Prebys Philanthropy office at giving@sbpdiscovery.org or call (858) 795-5089.
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 33-0319504.
| | Women in Science Lecture series spotlights structural biology and immunology leader | | | | Sanford Burnham Prebys recently welcomed structural biology and immunology leader Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD, MBA, to campus for the Women in Science Lecture Series. The event also featured a fireside chat and Q&A with Saphire and Sanford Burnham Prebys scientist Kelly Kersten, PhD. | | |
50th Anniversary Illumination Gala
October 3, 2026
| | | | Join us in celebrating 50 years at our Illumination Gala. Together, we’ll celebrate five decades of incredible achievements and the visionary thinkers and partners who got us here. Our science is fueled by a passion to transform lives. | | |
Come help us celebrate those who dedicated their brilliance, heart and vision to making it possible.
To learn more about the Gala and about sponsorship opportunities, please visit sbpdiscovery.org/gala.
| | Celebrating 50 years of discoveries | | Answering big questions in science since our founding | | |
This year marks 50 years of Sanford Burnham Prebys. 🎉🎉🎉
Almost every scientist is driven by at least one big question, a challenge they hope to solve through their work. As Sanford Burnham Prebys celebrates its 50th anniversary, we asked faculty members: What scientific question do you most want to answer?
| | | Spotlight on the Commmunity: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Dr. David Brenner on Team Science, Al and the Future of Biomedical Research | | | | |
Hosted by Drew Schlossberg, Spotlight on the Community is the nation’s longest running community podcast, now going on 20+ years.
Recently, David Brenner, MD, president and CEO, appeared on the podcast to discuss the mission of the Institute, its research collaborations, the role of AI and the current state of biomedical research locally and beyond.
| | Discovery Dialogues podcast discusses the scientific advances that led to GLP-1 drugs | | | | The latest episode of Discovery Dialogues, hosted by Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists Ani Deshpande and Pamela Itkin-Ansari, explores the decades-long scientific journey behind these medicines. The story begins with a surprising observation: some gastric bypass patients saw their blood sugar normalize within days, long before significant weight loss occurred. | | Listen to the latest episode of the Discovery Dialogues podcast on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and explore new deep-dive shorts featuring leading scientists and experts in biomedical research. | | A micrograph depicts the hippocampal region of the human brain. Located in the medial temporal lobe, it acts as a crucial component of the limbic system for learning, memory and spatial navigation. Image courtesy of Sarah Moghadam and Ahmad Salehi. | | | Sanford Burnham Prebys | 10901 N Torrey Pines Road | La Jolla, CA 92037 US | | | | |
