SBP May Discoveries

DISCOVERIES

May 2018

Dear colleagues and friends,

Welcome to the May issue of SBP Discoveries. This month we are highlighting research advances in targeting cancer and treating diabetes, and revealing insights into the signals that regulate the survival of T cells—a type of white blood cell that is central to immunity.

SBP also held its ninth annual graduate student retreat this month—an opportunity for 25 students in our Ph.D. program to present their research and mingle with mentors, faculty and fellow students.

We are very much looking forward to hosting “SBP Insights: Alzheimer’s Disease” on June 5, and our Cancer Center Open House on June 14. Please consider joining us to learn more about how research can lead to better diagnostics, treatments and potential cures for these challenging diseases.

Finally, I wish to thank Congresswoman Susan Davis for visiting our campus. It was an honor to host a government representative who has long supported funding biomedical research that can improve the lives of patients in need of better therapies.

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D.

President

Pauline and Stanley Foster Presidential Chair

New insights into T cell survival

A healthy pool of circulating T cells is essential to kill pathogens, make antibodies, shut down the immune system to prevent uncontrolled inflammation and autoimmune disorders—and even fight cancer. A new study by Maximiliano D’Angelo, Ph.D., identifies a nuclear pore protein that is critical for the survival of circulating T cells, paving the way for potential advances in immunotherapy.

Advancing efforts to starve cancer to death

For years, scientists have tried to halt cancer by blocking the nutrients that cancer cells need to grow and proliferate. These strategies have often failed because cancer cells are crafty—they have backup plans to gather the food and oxygen that they need to survive. Brooke Emerling, Ph.D., led research revealing an alternative metabolic pathway used by cancer cells that may be targeted to starve tumors.

A new approach to restore insulin production in diabetes

If you are a diabetic, there is a strong chance you are either on insulin therapy now, or will be in the future. This holds true for type 1 and type 2 diabetics; both types lead to elevated blood glucose levels. Fred Levine, M.D., Ph.D., has advanced efforts to regenerate pancreatic beta cells—the cells that store and secrete insulin. This research could one day free millions of patients from daily doses of insulin.

EVENTS

Congresswoman Susan Davis visits SBP

Susan Davis, U.S. Representative for California’s 53rd congressional district (D-San Diego), visited our Institute in April and met with SBP President Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., and several members of the faculty. Davis has a long history of supporting federally funded biomedical research, with particular interest in diabetes and cardiovascular research.

Highlights from the 2018 graduate student retreat

SBP’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences held its ninth annual retreat in San Marcos, Calif. on May 17-18. This year’s theme was “Beyond the Bench: What is the future of your findings?” Students were encouraged to share their vision of where they think their research may ultimately lead.