Scripps Research | Annual Report 2021
2021 The Year in Review 2021 was another year of exceptional science at Scripps Research. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s ongoing challenges, our scientists fervently pursued their investigations and delivered outstanding progress. I’m continually inspired by our researchers’ resilience and dedication as they seek to create a healthier world for us all. M E R E D I T H J O H N S T ON | VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY, SCRIPPS RESEARCH
Dear friends, During my time in the Office of Philanthropy at Scripps Research, I’ve been honored to witness the transformative power of individuals and organizations partnering with our researchers to solve the world’s most pressing health concerns. The institute’s unique nonprofit biomedical research model provides our scientists with limitless possibilities to produce creative solutions to complex problems. In the pages ahead, you’ll find the remarkable impact of philanthropy and collaboration at our institute this past fiscal year, setting us on a trajectory of continued excellence. Bolstered by our community’s support, scientists of all levels—from graduate students to Nobel laureates—expanded our understanding of human biology and disease. Research teams across disciplines probed longstanding mysteries and made profound discoveries, such as learning how cells repair and replicate themselves and gaining a deeper insight into social disorders like autism and depression. Studies this past year have also highlighted how interconnected our bodies’ systems are. For instance, one showed the intertwined relationship of our circadian clocks and our bodies’ abilities to suppress tumors, while another revealed the complexity of the communication loop between our gut and brain. The distinct structure of Scripps Research enables our scientists to translate these foundational science discoveries into biomedical applications to improve human health worldwide. Our labs, in collaboration with teams across the globe, continued to confront the pandemic, from studying avenues to offer broader protection against COVID-19 and its variants to identifying numerous antiviral treatments effective against coronaviruses. Beyond our coronavirus research, our labs are actively developing critical therapeutics for a variety of devastating diseases. Currently, scientists are making groundbreaking progress toward preventing HIV with a first-of-its-kind vaccine and pioneering a universal flu vaccine. I’m grateful to work alongside our institute’s brilliant researchers, whose shared spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration accelerates innovation and generates breakthroughs. In 2021, we both welcomed talented new scientists to our ranks and celebrated some of our current researchers’ scientific contributions—as several faculty members received national and global awards and recognition for their revolutionary work. Our research efforts and achievements would not be possible without the generosity and partnership of our donors and scientific community. Please accept my sincere appreciation for everyone who’s contributed toward our common goal of creating a healthier future globally. In the following report, I am pleased to share with you some highlights from the past fiscal year (October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021). I hope the advancement of science and medicine taking place at Scripps Research encourages and inspires you.
Meredith Johnston Vice President, Philanthropy
Thank you for helping us reach $41.4 million in philanthropic support in Fiscal Year 2021. Because of your generosity, we raised $37.7 million in revenue and $3.7 million in commitments. Your gifts help support science changing life.
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2021 by the numbers FY2021: October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021
Scripps Research Revenues | Fiscal Year 2021* External Research Funding Royalties, Licensing and Other
13%
$71,071
71%
$381,750
7%
$37,698
Philanthropy
9%
$46,606
Investment Income Total Revenue: $537,125
Scripps Research Expenses | Fiscal Year 2021* External Research Activity
28%
Indirect Costs
$129,184
59%
$275,885
4%
$20,144
9%
$41,531
Internal Research Activity Graduate Program and Other Total Expenses: $466,744
*In Thousands
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Another year of exceptional science During the institute’s 2021 fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021), Scripps Research scientists contributed to the improvement of human health across the globe. The following is a capsule review of their impactful scientific discoveries.
COVID-19
CHEMISTRY
• A collaborative study between scientists in the lab of Ian Wilson, DPhil, and researchers in Germany and the Netherlands revealed the structural details of how SARS-CoV-2 variants escape immune response. The findings provide direction for future vaccines or therapies that may offer broader protection against variants.
• Chemists at Scripps Research, led by Jin-Quan Yu, PhD, solved a longstanding problem in their field by developing a method for making a highly useful and previously very challenging type of modification to organic molecules. The breakthrough eases the process of modifying a variety of existing molecules for valuable applications, such as improving the potency and duration of drugs.
• In collaboration with the IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Dennis Burton, PhD, and his team invented a monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19. The novel treatment is currently in early clinical trials. • When scientists in the Burton lab investigated how the immune system’s previous exposure to cold-causing coronaviruses impacts immune response to COVID-19, they discovered one crossreactive coronavirus antibody that’s triggered during a COVID-19 infection. The findings may help them develop a vaccine or therapy that works against most or all coronaviruses. • By mining the vast drug discovery division of Scripps Research, ReFRAME, scientists at Calibr identified four clinically approved drugs and nine compounds in other stages of development with strong potential to be repurposed as oral drugs for COVID-19.
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• Noble laureate K. Barry Sharpless, PhD, and Peng Wu, PhD, working with teams from two other institutes, harnessed “click chemistry” to safely create a vast, new library of polymers. Each molecule in the library holds distinct potential for applications in drug discovery and materials science. • A study from Scripps Research chemist Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy, PhD, and collaborators clarified how a key chemical engine of life—the citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle—might have arisen from simple organic compounds on early Earth. The discovery provides information on the crucial molecular building blocks that cells use to repair and replicate themselves. • Biochemist Jeffery Kelly, PhD, was awarded a $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for demonstrating that nervous system and heart diseases can be caused by protein clumping-associated toxicity, and for inventing a medication, tafamidis, to slow progression of such diseases. The Breakthrough Prizes in Fundamental Physics, Life Sciences and Mathematics are recognized as some of the world’s most prestigious science prizes.
2021
NEUROSCIENCE
HIV
• Scripps Research scientists in the lab of Marisa Roberto, PhD, identified changes to anti-inflammatory mechanisms and cellular activity in the brain’s amygdala that drive alcohol addiction. By countering this process in mice, they were able to stop excessive alcohol consumption, revealing a potential path for treatment.
• A first-in-human clinical trial confirmed that a novel HIV vaccine approach developed by IAVI and Scripps Research stimulated production of rare immune cells needed to start the process of generating antibodies against the fast-mutating virus. The landmark study accelerates progress toward an HIV vaccine.
• An experimental vaccine developed in the lab of Kim Janda, PhD, was able to diminish the fatal respiratory effects of fentanyl and carfentanil, the deadliest of the synthetic opioids, in a study in rodents. The Janda team is working to translate their drug to the clinic.
• In a collaborative study between the labs of Dennis Burton, PhD, and Andrew Ward, PhD, scientists used electron microscopy to discover that some proof-ofconcept HIV vaccines in early human trials generate antibodies that actively hinder protection by degrading the vaccine’s payload. The new insights will help improve the design of future HIV vaccines.
• Neuroscientist Lisa Stowers, PhD, and her team discovered a node in the brains of male mice that modulates the sounds they make in social situations. Identifying similar locations in the human brain could potentially lead to a better understanding of social disorders such as autism and depression. • A team led by Stuart Lipton, MD, PhD, discovered that when the protein alpha synuclein accumulates in abnormal clusters in the brain—as often seen in patients with Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia and some other neurodegenerative conditions—the clusters damage neurons by inducing excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter glutamate. The researchers also found, for the first time, that the experimental drug NitroSynapsin can block excessive activity of the neuronal glutamate receptors. The drug is headed for human clinical trials. • A study by scientists in the lab of Ardem Patapoutian, PhD, collaboratively with a team at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, found that the sensor protein PIEZO1 plays an important role in regulating iron levels in the body. Additionally, a variant of the PIEZO1 protein that is common in people of African backgrounds was linked with higher iron levels. The findings open a new avenue into the investigation of iron metabolism and iron overload. * Ardem Patapoutian’s research into sensor proteins earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2021.
INFLUENZA • A study led by scientists in the lab of Andrew Ward, PhD, and others at the University of Chicago showed that during the influenza pandemic in 2009, people developed strong, effective immune responses to stable, conserved parts of the virus that don’t vary much from strain to strain. The findings suggest a strategy for developing universal flu vaccines. CANCER • New research from the lab of Katja Lamia, PhD, demonstrated a clear link between the circadian clock and the body’s tumor suppression system, with the potential to accelerate cancer growth. The discovery highlights the importance of our daily cycles for cancer prevention and could potentially guide the development of circadian-based therapeutics. METABOLIC DISORDERS • In studies involving roundworms, neuroscientist Supriya Srinivasan, PhD, and her lab discovered a previously unknown communication loop within cells lining the intestines which is activated only in times of prolonged fat-burning to protect longevity. This cellular process may hold implications for treating metabolic disorders.
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Board gains a visionary trio Lillian Lou, PhD | Member, Board of Directors “Throughout his career, John was guided by his dedication to doing the right thing for patients. I’m humbled to honor John by serving as a member of the Scripps Research Board of Directors.” Lillian Lou, PhD, joined the Scripps Research Board of Directors in 2021, bringing broad experience in the biotechnology field. During her career at Gilead Sciences, she served as director of Hepatitis Medical Affairs and helped steer its global program designed to increase access to Gilead medicines in low- and middle-income countries. Prior to that, she directed discovery biology research and clinical studies at several pharma and biotech companies. Now, she is president of The John C. Martin Foundation, named for her late life partner. The foundation seeks to improve health care by focusing on the control and prevention of endemic illnesses among underserved populations.
Jennifer Rubio | Member, Board of Directors “As an organization tackling the world’s most dire health issues, Scripps Research is developing the next generation of leaders in science and I’m excited to offer guidance and support to the entire organization.” Jennifer Rubio is the co-founder and CEO of travel lifestyle brand Away, named one of Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” and recognized on TIME’s list of “Best Inventions.” In addition to her business acumen, Rubio has an active interest in global health; in 2021, she and her husband, Stewart Butterfield, donated $25 million to UNICEF to accelerate its global COVID-19 vaccination programs. The entrepreneur and philanthropist joined the Scripps Research Board of Directors in 2022.
Stewart Butterfield | Observer, Board of Directors “Scripps Research is known for innovation and its faculty are producing paradigm-shifting science. I hope to be helpful in leveraging the experience I’ve gained in taking novel products and technologies from idea to reality.” Stewart Butterfield, the co-founder and CEO of team-based messaging software Slack, serves as an observer to the Scripps Research Board of Directors. A visionary businessman who was once a graduate student in the history and philosophy of science, Butterfield has long supported scientific research and medicine. In 2015, he pledged a portion of his personal shares in Slack to the Equity Giving program operated by Science World, a charitable organization promoting the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) fields.
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Facts at a glance
Five Nobel laureates
$295M
annual federal and state grant expenditures
Two MacArthur Fellows
50+
Spin-off companies
More than
1,100
Ranked #1 institute
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA
in the world for our impact on innovation
U.S. Patents
17
Centered in the third largest life sciences cluster in the U.S.
SPOTS
HELD BY SCRIPPS RESEARCH FACULTY ON THE 2021 HIGHLY CITED RESEARCHERS LIST
(representing top 1% globally)
175+
active faculty working to understand human disease and develop new treatments
30
memberships in the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
11
FDA approved drugs and vaccines
50+ DRUG CANDIDATES
IN THE PIPELINE
10
TOP
graduate program in biology and chemistry for more than two decades
As ranked by U.S. News & World Report
from Scripps Research discoveries benefiting millions of people worldwide.
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What can I do? At Scripps Research, our deep commitment to our mission coupled with our emphasis on innovation enables us to lead the way for nonprofit biomedical research institutes. We are sustainably conducting world-class scientific research and translating our discoveries into new medicines and treatments that are reshaping the future of human health each day. We’d love to partner with you.
Learn more Visit our website at scripps.edu to take a virtual peek inside our labs to see what we’ve been working on. Through our institute blog and podcasts, you’ll meet dedicated faculty members and research associates and learn about their scientific journeys. On the Scripps Research YouTube channel, you can watch recorded presentations that match your areas of interest. And when you sign up for our free monthly e-newsletter, you’ll never miss a “Eureka!” moment.
Connect with us Join the Scripps Research community via social media for current updates and to learn more about what we do. Better yet, help us spread the word about our work by sharing with your friends and networks.
Make a gift Ensure our scientists are able to continue their research without interruption. Philanthropic support from our friends and advocates allows us to think creatively, shift quickly and move swiftly toward the next life-changing discovery. Make your gift online at give.scripps.edu or reach out to our Office of Philanthropy.
Office of Philanthropy 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, TPC-2 La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 784-2915 philanthropy@scripps.edu
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Board of Directors Chairman John D. Diekman, PhD Founding Partner, 5AM Ventures Ron Burkle Founder, The Yucaipa Companies Founder and Chairman, Ronald W. Burkle Foundation Gerald Chan, ScD Co-founder, Morningside
Administrative Leadership JoAnne Stubbe, PhD Professor Emerita, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Christopher T. Walsh, PhD Consulting Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, Stanford University
Peter Schultz, PhD President and CEO L.S. “Sam” Skaggs Presidential Chair Matt Tremblay, PhD Chief Operating Officer James Williamson, PhD EVP, Research and Academic Affairs Eric Topol, MD EVP, Director, Scripps Research Translational Institute The Gary and Mary West Chair of Innovative Medicine
Tom Daniel, MD Chairman, LocanaBio Inc.
Herbert Wertheim, OD, DSc, MD (hc) Founder and CEO, Brain Power Incorporated Co-founder, Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family Foundation
Mark Edwards Founder and Managing Director, Bioscience Advisors, Inc.
Peter Schultz, PhD Vice Chair of the Board President and CEO, Scripps Research
Jared Machado, CPA Chief Accounting Officer
Peter C. Farrell, PhD, DSc Founder and Chairman, ResMed
Ardem Patapoutian, PhD Faculty Board Appointee Professor, Department of Neuroscience Presidential Endowed Chair in Neurobiology, Scripps Research
Anna-Marie Rooney VP, Marketing and Communications
Benedict Gross, PhD Professor Emeritus, Mathematics, Harvard University Professor, Dept. of Mathematics, UCSD Sherry Lansing Co-founder, Stand Up To Cancer Founder, The Sherry Lansing Foundation Ge Li, PhD Founder, Chairman and CEO, WuXi AppTec Lillian Lou, PhD President and Program Director The John C. Martin Foundation Claudia S. Luttrell President, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology Mark Pearson Founder, CEO of Altamont Pharma Co-founder, Vice Chairman, Drawbridge Realty Trust Jen Rubio Co-founder and CEO, Away Co-founder, The David C. Butterfield and Alfonso D. Rubio Memorial Foundation
Jared Machado, CPA Board Treasurer Chief Accounting Officer Scripps Research Alanna Rutan, Esq. Board Secretary Chief Compliance Counsel Scripps Research Mary Wang, PhD Assistant Board Secretary Director, Strategic Planning Scripps Research BOARD OBSERVER Stewart Butterfield Co-founder and CEO, Slack Co-founder, The David C. Butterfield and Alfonso D. Rubio Memorial Foundation In Memoriam John C. Martin, PhD Past Chairman, Gilead Sciences
Chinh Dang Chief Information Officer Meredith Johnston VP, Philanthropy
Marshall Olin, Esq. Chief Business Counsel
Alanna Rutan, Esq. Chief Compliance Counsel Karen Haggenmiller VP, Human Resources
Academic Leadership Phil Dawson, PhD Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Donna Blackmond, PhD Chair, Chemistry The John C. Martin Endowed Chair in Chemistry Dennis Burton, PhD Chair, Immunology and Microbiology James & Jessie Minor Chair in Immunology Ian Wilson, DPhil Chair, Integrative Structural and Computational Biology Hansen Professor of Structural Biology James Paulson, PhD Chair, Molecular Medicine Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Chair of Chemistry Marisa Roberto, PhD Vice Chair, Molecular Medicine Schimmel Family Chair Hollis Cline, PhD Chair, Neuroscience Hahn Professor of Neuroscience
Visit us at scripps.edu