DISCOVERIES

December 2023

A year-end note from David Brenner

This past year — my first full calendar year as president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys — has been exciting and immensely rewarding. We’ve accomplished a lot and, more importantly, laid the groundwork for a wealth of future achievements.

It begins with having a plan. We are in the midst of a biomedical revolution, one in which the old ways of thinking about and doing science no longer address the complexities of modern research or the greater needs in public health.

Sanford Burnham Prebys is particularly positioned to adapt and lead in this new world by combining distinct and powerful resources with a unified mission driven by ambitious goals that emphasize disease-focused centers combined with enabling technology programs.

Of course, doing so requires a brilliant faculty, one that boasts exceptional skills and vision not just in this moment, but in the years to come.

Similarity between vitamin B12 loss and multiple sclerosis revealed

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have described a novel molecular link between vitamin B12 and multiple sclerosis that takes place in astrocytes–important non-neuronal glial cells in the brain.

The findings identify a molecular signaling pathway that could enhance current MS treatments.

Study reveals Zika's shape-shifting machinery—and a possible vulnerability

Viruses have limited genetic material—and few proteins—so all the pieces must work extra hard. Zika is a great example; the virus only produces 10 proteins.

In a new study, researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have shown how the virus does so much with so little and may have identified a therapeutic vulnerability.

When tumors manipulate their mitochondria, Kevin Tharp will be there to stop them.

Mitochondria generate most of the chemical energy needed to fuel a cell’s machinery, their so-called power plants. But their influence goes well beyond simply powering the metabolism of life; they also play a role in disease.

Newly arrived at Sanford Burnham Prebys, Tharp will look at how cellular mechanics can be leveraged to create more effective therapies.

Sanford Burnham Prebys continues unprecedented recruitment of early-career scientists

Continuing its rapid and dramatic recruitment of emerging, top-tier researchers, Sanford Burnham Prebys has hired two more highly regarded early-career scientists: Angela Liou, M.D., a specialist in pediatric oncology and hematology; and Xueqin Sherine Sun, Ph.D., a cancer biologist and genome engineer.

From postdoc to PI, it’s a journey. Don’t forget to pack some support.

The journal Nature Cancer asked a dozen early-career investigators to share their thoughts and experiences about starting their own labs in 2023.

Among them: Sanju Sinha, Ph.D., who joined Sanford Burnham Prebys in June. You can read his essay here.

Tim Huang awarded $4.3 million to study the protective role of SORLA against Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies

“We’re helping to piece together how SORLA affects a protein called tau, which is found abundantly in the brain and nervous system,” says Huang. “An abnormal buildup of tau likely contributes to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.”

The “Eph” system may pave the way for novel cancer therapies

Over the past three decades, researchers have been investigating an important cell communication system called the “Eph system,” and the evidence implicating the system in cancer is staggering.

Elena Pasquale’s new review in Nature Reviews Cancer surveys the large body of data regarding Eph signaling in tumors and highlights potential strategies for therapeutic targeting.

Sanford Burnham Prebys elects Lori Moore to its Board of Trustees

“With many years in health care, both as a provider and a leader, Lori brings a welcomed depth and breadth of experience,” says David A. Brenner, president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys. “Her perspectives will be much valued as the Institute advances its message of translating science into health.”

Moore is a registered nurse, a fifth-generation San Diegan and a member of the Cushman family, whose philanthropic endeavors span decades. She serves as vice president of The Cushman Foundation, which supports a wide range of community and humanitarian causes.

In the News

Opinion: Matthew Perry was open about addiction. Like him, we can’t stop trying to overcome it.

David Brenner’s essay “Opinion: Matthew Perry was open about addiction. Like him, we can’t stop trying to overcome it,” is now available through the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Community Voices Project.

The monthly column is a forum for respectful discourse about news of the day and matters of the community that brings thought leaders together in a public dialogue, which can be a model for others.