Sanford Burnham Prebys

𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 Although not every scientist-in-training will need to be an ace programmer, the next generation of scientists will need to take advantage of advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and computing that are shaping biomedical research. Scientists who understand how to best process, store, access and employ algorithms to analyze ever-increasing amounts of information will help lead the data revolution rather than follow in its wake. “I think the way to do biology is very different from just a decade or so ago,” says Kevin Yip, PhD, a professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the director of Bioinformatics. “I think most people now would agree that data science and the use of computational methods—AI included—are indispensable in biology. To use these approaches to the greatest effect, computational biologists and bench laboratory scientists need to be trained to speak a common language.” Read more: https://bit.ly/3WVYJh8 #artificialintelligence #computationalbiology #datascience #biomedicalresearch

This summer, Sanford Burnham Prebys welcomed high school students to the Institute to participate in one of two internship programs. One group came from the Preuss School, which is located on the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla and educates students striving to be first-generation college graduates. The Institute also welcomed its third cohort of interns this year for the Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge (SPARK). SPARK is an initiative by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) that provides research opportunities for high schoolers from underrepresented groups throughout California. “The whole internship was super fun,” says Saanvi Dogra, a SPARK intern who worked in the lab of Sanjeev Ranade, PhD, an assistant professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program. Fernando Pech, a Preuss intern who worked in the lab of Peter Adams, PhD, director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, added, “I believe you can find your passion at Sanford Burnham Prebys, so I would recommend this experience to other students.” Read more: https://bit.ly/3WSwvE6 #internship #firstgeneration #firstgenerationcollegestudent #firstgenerationgraduate #underrepresentedgroups #regenerativemedicine

The NCI-Designated Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys welcomed San Diego community members to the institute’s campus on July 31, 2024 for an open house focused on addiction research. The Cancer Center team developed the event in partnership with scientists from Scripps Research and the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from and interact the scientists at stations featuring posters describing research underway at all three represented institutions. Participants were also able to tour the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, which is the institute's comprehensive center for drug discovery and chemical biology. A big thank you to all who attended and to the talented scientists who are conducting this incredible research! Read more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/gd6BD57s #cancerresearch #addictionresearch

𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 👨🏽💻 The wealth of data stored in electronic medical records has long been considered a veritable treasure trove for scientists able to properly plumb its depths.  Emerging computational techniques and data management technologies are making this more possible, while also addressing complicated clinical research challenges, such as optimizing the design of clinical trials and quickly matching eligible patients most likely to benefit.  Scientists are also using new methods to find meaning in previously published studies and creating even larger, more accessible datasets. “While we are deep in the hype cycle of artificial intelligence [AI] right now, the more important topic is data,” says Sanju Sinha, PhD, an assistant professor in the Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. “Integrating data together in a clear, structured format and making it accessible to everyone is crucial to new discoveries in basic and clinical biomedical research.” Read more: https://bit.ly/3SEO1t3 #artificialintelligence #computationalbiology #data #datascience #datasets

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and Salk Institute for Biological Studies have uncovered a new role for a protein known for its role in the brain helping control feelings of hunger or satiety, as well as in the liver to aid the body in maintaining a balance of energy during fasting. The new study shows that this protein also supports the maintenance of heart structure and function, but when it is overactive it causes thickening of the heart muscle, which is associated with heart disease. Excessive thickening of the heart muscle—known as cardiac hypertrophy—is often the result of the heart trying to maintain proper blood flow while adapting to changes caused by other heart diseases such as hypertension or heart valve malfunction. Hypertrophy in the heart’s left ventricle affects as many as half of all patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and the thickening of this chamber is known to lead to more adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes and sudden cardiac deaths. Karen Ocorr, PhD, an assistant professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, her lab, and her collaborators at the Salk Institute published results on August 1, 2024, in Cell Reports, showing that a protein called CREB-regulated transcription co-activator (CRTC) is likely one of the underlying sources of #cardiachypertrophy. Read more: https://bit.ly/4dc5QI2

Congratulations to the 2024 Fishman Fund Career Development Awardees! Dr. Huijie Huang (postdoc in Dr. Timothy Huang’s lab) Dr. Jessica Proulx (postdoc in Dr. Peter Adams’ lab) Dr. Kelly Yichen Li (postdoc in Dr. Kevin Yip’s lab) Dr. Zinia D'Souza (postdoc in Dr. Hud Freeze’s lab) The Fishman Fund Career Development Award is unique in nature, awarded to Sanford Burnham Prebys postdocs who clearly articulate their career goal and describe a thought-through plan for how their postdoctoral training will prepare them to succeed in that career path. Awardees are provided with funds for career development activities that will support their desired career goals. Thank you to the generous donors and supporters of the Fishman Fund program: https://lnkd.in/g2CNXHkT. #careerdevelopment #postdocs

The NCI-Designated Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys welcomed San Diego community members to the institute’s campus on July 31, 2024 for an open house focused on addiction research.  The Cancer Center team developed the event in partnership with scientists from Scripps Research and the UC San Diego School of Medicine. “As I have learned more about the research being presented here, I am impressed by just how much of a powerhouse we have on this mesa regarding both cancer and addiction science,” said David Brenner, M.D., president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys, during his welcoming remarks. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from and interact with the following scientists at stations featuring posters describing research underway at all three represented institutions. Participants were able to tour the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, which is the institute's comprehensive center for drug discovery and chemical biology. The open house featured a reception with remarks from Robert M. Anthenelli, M.D., a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and Helen Eckmann, Ed.D., an NCI-designated Cancer Center Community Advisory Board member. Read more: https://bit.ly/4cYg9iN #addictionresearch #cancerresearch

Stem cell scientists: Join the next Southern California Stem Cell Seminar on August 8, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. PDT featuring Catherine Yeung, PharmD, Ph.D., MPH, of School Of Pharmacy University Of Washington. This event is in collaboration with UC San Diego and hosted by Evan Snyder, M.D., Ph.D. Register: https://bit.ly/3SytV3y #stemcells #stemcellresearch

Congratulations to James Marchant (postdoc in Dr. Alexandre Colas's lab) who has been selected as the 2024 Fishman Fund Fellow! The Fishman Fund Fellowship is awarded to a Sanford Burnham Prebys postdoc whose research shows leading-edge promise and who has demonstrated past research success. Dr. Marchant's research aims to develop a new gene therapy to convert fibroblasts in scar tissue back into beating cardiac cells to promote heart repair. This work is crucial as no effective heart failure therapies exist, and past reprogramming attempts have had limited success. The fellowship will support his research for two years and include funds for career development activities. Thank you to the generous donors and supporters of the Fishman Fund program: https://lnkd.in/g2CNXHkT. #fellowship #postdocs

𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 Biological techniques that study the entire landscape of a sample’s genes or proteins—genomics or proteomics, respectively—help scientists discover new results without becoming too narrowly focused on what they predicted would happen. Although some scientists pursuing studies with this wider lens have been accused of going on “fishing expeditions,” many researchers counter that they now are able to investigate their hypotheses without missing other important results. “I am a major proponent of omics, and especially unbiased omics,” says Sanju Sinha, PhD, an assistant professor in the Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. “If someone now doesn’t show me unbiased results, it deeply bothers me. If every experiment only shows results from one pathway, it’s concerning and increases my skepticism about the study.” An omics approach differs from traditional hypothesis-driven research in that it includes a comprehensive perspective about the phenomenon a scientist is studying and what might be causing it. However, the hypothesis is not an endangered species destined to be replaced by unbiased omics approaches. On the contrary, omics experiments can often be kick-starters that help scientists generate new hypotheses to explore. A team of scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and their collaborators are using an omics technique called resistomics to develop a new class of antibiotics effective against a drug-resistant pathogen. Read more: https://bit.ly/3M9Bf25 #artificialintelligence #computationalbiology #omics #genomics #proteomics