Mental illness treatments advance with $4.5 million NIH grant

DISCOVERIES

August 2020

$4.5 million NIH grant awarded for mental illness therapeutics

Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists have been awarded a $4.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to identify new therapies for mental health disorders. The funding supports the discovery of new classes of drugs that target “orphan” receptors to treat psychological conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and substance abuse.

New drug target for pancreatic cancer discovered

Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists have uncovered a novel drug target, a protein called PPP1R1B, that stops the deadly spread of pancreatic cancer when inhibited in mice. Published in Gastroenterology, the findings are a first step toward a potential treatment for one of the deadliest cancers known today.

Scientists “turn back time” on cancer using stem cell method

Evan Snyder, M.D., Ph.D., has reprogrammed cancer cells back into their pre-cancer identity—opening new doors for studying how cancer develops and how it might be prevented. The research, published in Stem Cell Reports, may lead to tests that identify cancer early on and uncover preventive treatments.

GRADUATE SCHOOL

A path to parity for Black Ph.D. students in the sciences

Only 5% of graduate students in science and engineering are Black despite making up more than 13% of the U.S. population. We spoke with Guy Salvesen, Ph.D., the dean of our Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, to learn more about barriers that discourage students who are Black from applying to Ph.D. programs—and how they can be dismantled to address disparities.

VIRTUAL EVENT

Watch: Navigating life in the "new normal"

Missed our recent Bring It! fireside chat about COVID-19? You can still catch all the insights from the discussion, which featured leading COVID-19 researchers Sumit Chanda, Ph.D., and Evan Snyder, M.D., Ph.D. The scientists discussed their latest research advances, answered your questions about the pandemic and shared their personal stories about how COVID-19 has affected their lives.

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UPCOMING EVENT

Join us (virtually) for the 2020 Fishman Fund Awards ceremony

Each year, Sanford Burnham Prebys’ exceptional postdoctoral scholars compete for coveted Fishman Fund Awards. These prestigious grants support the research of early-career scientists and help them develop into the scientific leaders of tomorrow. Join Reena Horowitz and Jeanne Jones on Thursday, September 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT, to meet and celebrate this year’s Fishman Fund Award winners.

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IN THE COMMUNITY

At Sanford Burnham Prebys, we are passionate about finding bold new ways to treat disease, and we recognize the importance of sharing our discoveries with the public—especially during this unprecedented time. Find out where and when you can "meet" our scientists virtually and learn about their research in this community event calendar.

IN THE NEWS

Read about the $4.5 million NIH grant our scientists were awarded to uncover new drugs for mental health disorders by targeting "orphan" receptors.

Our researchers explain how they are using "mini-lungs" to understand why COVID-19 is impacting people of different races and genders disproportionately.

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In this series featuring San Diego pandemic stories, Sumit Chanda, Ph.D., describes his hunt for a potential treatment for COVID-19.

Learn about our scientists' discovery of a promising drug target for pancreatic cancer, often called the world's "toughest cancer."

PHILANTHROPY

Double your COVID-19 donation

Only research will allow scientists to understand and stop COVID-19. We are hopeful that our work will emerge as part of the larger solution to this global health crisis, and we invite you to accelerate our progress and impact. If you donate today, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar—up to $500,000—thanks to the generosity of Dinah Conyers Ruch.

Donate now