Introducing the
Volume 7 | Number 1
Spring 2010
Sanford|burnham
In T h i s Iss u e Volume 7 | Number 1
Spri ng 2010
Founders
Trustees, continued
William H. Fi sh man, Ph.D. Lillia n Fi sh man
Shehan Dissanayake, Ph.D. M. Wainwright Fishburn, Jr. Jeannie M. Fontana, M.D., Ph.D. David Hale Jeanne Herberger, Ph.D. Brent Jacobs James E. Jardon II (Florida) Robert J. Lauer Fred Levine, M.D., Ph.D. Sheila B. Lipinsky Papa Doug Manchester Robert A. Mandell (Florida) Douglas H. Obenshain Peter Preuss Stuart Tanz Jan Tuttleman, Ph.D., M.B.A. Andrew J. Viterbi, Ph.D. Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D. Bobbi Warren Allen R. Weiss (Florida) Gayle E. Wilson Diane Winokur Kenneth J. Woolcott
Honorary Trustees S anford | B urn h a m R e s e arc h
A Vote of Confidence
1
Joe Lew is C o nra d T. P rebys T. De nny Sa nfor d
About Denny Sanford
3
Trustees and Officers
Partners
4
G reg Lucier Chairman
News
7
A l an G leich er Vice Chairman Jo hn C. Ree d, M.D., Ph .D. President & Chief Executive Officer Professor and Donald Bren Presidential Chair
Ph i l a nth r o p y
Honoring Good Friends
11
Bring It! Again
12
Running for Discovery
12
Marg are t M. Du nbar Secretary
F i n a l th o u g hts
President’s Message
13
Partners in Science
14
O n T h e C over On January 26, Denny Sanford made a $50 million transformative gift to support the cutting-edge science at Burnham Institute for Medical Research, which has been renamed Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. Denny Sanford and Malin Burnham
G ary F. R ai sl, Ed .D. Executive Vice President Chief Administrative Officer Chief Financial Officer Treasurer
Denny Sanford and Malin Burnham share a vision of
Trustees
Ex-Officio
Brigitte Bren Arthur Brody Malin Burnham
Raymond L. White, Ph.D.
B l a i r B lu m Senior Vice President External Relations
Andr e a M o se r Vice President Communications
El i z a b eth Gi a ni ni Vice President External Relations
J o sh Ba x t Editor
Edg a r G i l l enwat e rs Vice President External Relations C hr is L e e Vice President External Relations Stephanie Boumediene, M.P.H. Vice President External Relations
Sanford Gift Takes Institute to Next Level
Chairman, Science Advisory Board
HA N NA H LOtt- S C H WART Z Contributor Gavin & Gavin Advertising Design M a r k Dast ru p Natha n Pe tt y Na di a Bo rows k i S c ott Photography Please address inquiries to: jbaxt@sanfordburnham.org
how science can improve human health. Together, they hope
www.sanfordburnham.org
their support will continue to advance medical research and
Sanford | Burnham Medical Research Institute
alleviate the great suffering caused by disease.
A Vote of Confidence
10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037 • 858.646.3100
Sanford | Burnham Medical Research Institute at Lake Nona 6400 Sanger Road, Orlando, FL 32827 • 407.745.2000
Denny Sanford and Malin Burnham watch the gift announcement video.
On January 26, the excitement at Burnham was everywhere. In La Jolla, television news trucks were double-parked; an intricate stage was set up in the Fishman Auditorium and overflow seating was arranged so that everyone could participate in the upcoming announcement.
At Lake Nona, a video
others, Senior Vice President
tant research and speed the
feed was bringing the news
of External Relations Blair
search for new treatments.
cross-country. Throughout the
Blum announced that South
The gift will also strengthen
Institute, people were eager to
Dakota philanthropist T. Denny
the Institute’s endowment.
learn what all these prepara-
Sanford was making a $50
tions meant. They did not have
million gift to rapidly expand
in our team and this organiza-
to wait long.
biomedical research at
tion, with a landmark $50
Burnham.
million gift, atop the $20
At a little after 10 a.m., surrounded by scientists,
“Your show of confidence
Sanford’s gift will expand
million that you previously
community leaders,
the Institute’s intellectual
directed to build children’s
California Governor Arnold
resources by supporting the
research programs at
Schwarzenegger, San Diego
recruitment and retention of
Burnham, is nothing short of
Mayor Jerry Sanders, Burnham
bright and creative scientists.
amazing,” said John C. Reed,
co-founder Lillian Fishman,
In addition, the gift will help
M.D., Ph.D., President and
Malin Burnham and many
the Institute carry out impor-
CEO, professor and Donald
Sanford | Burnham Medical Research Institute at Santa Barbara 2324 Life Sciences Building, University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93106 • 805.453.0259
www.sanfordburnham.org
Sanford|Burnham
1
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m Ann o u nc e m e nt
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m Ann o u nc e m e nt
opportunities for scientific research that will have an
Denny Sanford
About
impact on world health.” Governor Schwarzenegger echoed Mayor Sanders’ sentiments and applauded
T. Denny Sanford, Chairman of the Board of First Premier Bank and Chairman of the Board of Premier Bankcard, Inc., was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the height of the Great Depression.
Sanford for his contributions to improving health. “Today is a terrific example of the kind of public/private partnerships that are so important,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “I know that everyone here will agree that this research is extremely Cameras ringed Fishman Auditorium while staff prepared for the announcement.
important because it will
Denny Sanford and Malin Burnham show off the new sign.
He started working at age 8, helping in his father’s
ease the suffering for cancer Bren Presidential Chair. “Your
said Mayor Sanders. “He gave
Regenerative Medicine. And
patients, diabetes patients,
the last year, in spite of
had the vision to see what it
clothing distribution company. As a teen, Sanford spent his
investment in this institu-
a $20 million gift to create
today, $50 million to accel-
Alzheimer’s patients and the
the recession, we gained
could do.”
summers selling clothing to retail stores. He attended the
list goes on and on.
2,000 jobs in biotechnology.
tion will catalyze innovative
the Sanford Children’s Health
erate the scientific research
medical research for decades
Research Center at Burnham.
here at Burnham. That’s
With that, Burnham called
“But also, California
Denny’s donation will create
Denny Sanford up on stage
hundreds of additional jobs.”
to join him. Together, they
to come, giving rise to break-
He gave a $30 million gift to
$100 million of support
biotech firms employ more
through discoveries and
build the research facility for
for new jobs and research
than 280,000 workers
helping to translate those
the Sanford Consortium for
infrastructure and many more
in high-paying jobs. Over
great discoveries into real progress for improving human health worldwide.”
H ono r ed Gu ests
B rothe r s Throughout the festivities,
degree in psychology. Sanford was recruited by Armstrong Cork Company
announced that the Institute
to work in sales and marketing management. Later, he
had been renamed Sanford-
founded a company that promoted technical products
Burnham Medical Research
through architects and engineers.
it was clear that no one was
Institute, unveiled the new
having a better time than
logo and premiered the
Malin Burnham and Denny
renamed First Premier Bank. Under his leadership, First
Sanford-Burnham video.
Premier Bank has grown its assets to almost $1 billion.
Sanford. In the two plus years
As the event continued,
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and graduated with a
“I am truly honored to have
In 1986, he purchased United National Bank, which was
Another business, Premier Bankcard Inc., has become a
since they met, Burnham
Mayor Sanders and Governor
my name associated and right
and Sanford have developed
Schwarzenegger noted how
next to this guy right here,”
a bond of friendship and
Denny Sanford’s gifts to
said Denny Sanford, putting a
mutual respect.
charitable giving. By 2005, he ranked 14 on The Chronicle
hand on Burnham’s shoulder.
of Philanthropy list of America’s Most Generous Donors,
“This is an outstanding organi-
with donations that year alone of more than $70.5 million.
Burnham and the Sanford
“Denny has been telling
national leader in the credit card industry. In 2001, Sanford established the Sanford Foundation for
Consortium for Regenerative
people that he and I are
Medicine are having a remark-
zation that has at its core the
brothers, and he even calls
In 2006, he was named to Business Week’s Top 50 most
able impact on science, as
development of the very best
me ‘bro’ from time to time,”
generous philanthropists in the United States.
well as the economy, in San
research, the hiring of the very
said Burnham. “So yes, we
Diego and beyond.
best people and the success
are brothers, and we are part-
based Sioux Valley Hospitals & Health System to create
that can come from this.”
Sanford Health. Later that year, he donated $20 million
“Over the past two years,
ners. When Denny and I first
In 2007, Sanford donated $400 million to South Dakota-
through Sanford Health to Burnham Institute for Medical
Mr. Sanford has established
started talking about what
an impressive legacy of philan-
To view the Sanford-Burnham
more he could do here at the
Research to create the Sanford Children’s Health Research
thropy on Torrey Pines Mesa,
announcement video, visit:
Burnham Institute, I really
Center. The following year, he donated $30 million to the
helping our life sciences
www.sanfordburnham.org/video.
didn’t know exactly where it
San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, which
community stay in the fore-
might go, but I knew that he
front of medical research,”
2
Sanford|Burnham www.sanfordburnham.org
was subsequently renamed the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine.
Malin Burnham and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
www.sanfordburnham.org
Sanford|Burnham
3
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m R e s e a r ch
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m R e s e a r ch
Partners
cable to a variety of solid
properties to consider. Does
proteins that bind to them.
Pasquale, Ph.D., has studied
tumors that over-express the
the molecule stay in the body
If successful, their work will
a family of receptors called
Eph receptor, including pros-
long enough to be effective?
create compounds that further
Eph. These receptors play a
tate, lung, breast and ovarian
Is it safe? Does it attach only
help Dr. Pasquale unravel
major role in early develop-
cancers.”
to the target protein or is it
the mysteries behind Eph/
binding to other proteins,
ephrin interactions. Also, since
which could lead to unwanted
protein/protein interactions
side effects?
are abundant in cells, finding
For many years, Elena
ment but are also implicated in the uncontrolled cell growth associated with cancer. Dr. Pasquale’s laboratory was among the first to identify several Eph receptors and their ligands (called ephrins), describe how they function and develop ways to control them. “Because these receptors are so prevalent in cancer cells, they could be an excellent target for treatDrs. Nicholas Cosford and Elena Pasquale
ment,” says Dr. Pasquale. “For example, we could use a
Denny Sanford and Malin Burnham are the latest in a long line of partnerships to advance the Institute’s important work, starting with co-founders Dr. William and Lillian Fishman.
aberrant proteins that may
research tools to learn how a
be too active or not active
protein’s function affects an
enough. Much of the work
organism or the progress of
being done at Sanford-
a disease. And sometimes, a
Burnham seeks to identify
small molecule will be devel-
these problem proteins and
oped into a new medicine.
With the creation of the
In fact, collaboration is one of Sanford-Burnham’s most cherished values and has led
These over-expressed receptors could become a doorway
thousands of small molecule compounds against biological material to find a handful of hits—molecules that can alter a protein’s function. But that’s only the beginning of the story. Medicinal chemists, like Nicholas Cosford, Ph.D., take those molecules and improve (optimize) them. Small molecules work by binding to a specific part of a protein, so making the bind tighter could improve the molecule’s effectiveness. There are other
Dr. Cosford optimizes a
them might open doors in
adding atoms to the original
other disease research.
molecule, a process that combines science and experi-
how to use small molecules
ence. Once a molecule has
to disrupt protein/protein
been altered, it must be
interactions, then we have the
retested against biological
opportunity to treat diseases in
material to determine if its
new ways,” says Dr. Cosford.
properties have improved. This can be slow work, but
hope that at least one of the
Dr. Cosford is pioneering
compounds they are testing
a new technology, called
will have strong drug-like prop-
microfluidics, that accelerates
erties that would merit further
molecular redesign.
testing, possibly leading to
“We have compressed
process,” says
the road.
Making Cell s B eh ave
Pellecchia, Ph.D., to attach
Dr. Cosford.
The outside surfaces of
Eph ligands to anti-cancer
“What used to
drugs, like Taxol.
take a couple of
to bring in medication.” Dr. Pasquale is working
days, we can now
“We believe this could
do in about 20 minutes. This is
“This technology is likely applicable to a variety of solid tumors that over-express the Eph receptor, including prostate, lung, breast and ovarian cancers.”
engineers and others routinely cross disciplinary boundaries
a powerful way to accelerate drug discovery.” Dr. Cosford
—Dr. Maurizio Pellecchia
to find solutions to pressing
and Dr. Pasquale
medical problems. As Sanford-Burnham enters a new era of acceler-
Center), scientists were given
binding with other molecules
a new tool to find chemical
called ligands. When a ligand
be a very effective strategy,” says Dr. Pellecchia. “Our data
attaches, the receptor is acti-
strongly suggest that these
vated and sets off a cascade
drug conjugates effectively
ated research, one area
compounds (also called small
where this collaborative spirit
molecules) that could benefi-
will lead to new successes is
cially alter the behavior of a
of activity within the cell. This
deliver the chemotherapeutic
drug discovery. Quite often,
protein. Sometimes, these
is one of the fundamental
agent to Eph cancer cells.
diseases can be linked to
small molecules become
ways the body talks to cells.
This technology is likely appli-
4
Sanford|Burnham www.sanfordburnham.org
are collaborating to improve molecules that interfere with the interaction between Eph proteins Dr. Maurizio Pellecchia
and the ephrin
ical development, many of which went on to clinical trials. Dr. Jackson recently joined Sanford-Burnham as Vice President for Drug Discovery and Development. In this role, Dr. Jackson leads Sanford-Burnham’s
preclinical and clinical trials.
closely with Maurizio
Chemical Genomics (Prebys
Computer model of small molecule compound (top of image) binding to Eph protein.
Drs. Pasquale and Cosford
new cancer treatments down
receptors, which work by
pharmacologists, physicists,
“If we can understand
down to a single
cells contain proteins called
ratory. Biologists, chemists,
ways to obstruct (or enhance)
compound by strategically
Their efforts could result in
Conrad Prebys Center for
to many successes in the labo-
to deliver a therapeutic drug.
The Prebys Center screens
several steps
understand how they contribute to disease.
molecule that binds to them
B u i l d ing a B ett e r Mo l ec u l e
efforts to identify drug candidates, develop promising chemical compounds into new medicines and create partnerships for preclinical
B r i ng i ng Med i c in e s C los e r to Pat i ents
and clinical drug development.
Michael Jackson, Ph.D.,
In essence, his job is to take
knows drug discovery. Dr.
the basic science discoveries
Jackson spent 15 years with
at Sanford-Burnham and
Johnson & Johnson in a
help translate them into new
number of positions, including
medicines.
Senior Vice President of
The role that Dr. Jackson
Drug Discovery at Johnson
plays at Sanford-Burnham
& Johnson Pharmaceutical
is unique among non-profit
Research and Development
biomedical research institu-
(J&J PRD), where he estab-
tions. To streamline their
lished their state-of-the-art
business model, pharma-
drug discovery site in San
ceutical companies are
Diego. Under his leadership,
devoting fewer resources to
J&J PRD delivered numerous
basic biomedical research.
drug candidates into preclin-
Their efforts are now more focused on developing proven
www.sanfordburnham.org
Sanford|Burnham
5
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m R e s e a r ch
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m R e s e a r ch
to advance a project to a
studying apoptosis
tion of that disease in a dish.
this shift raises an important
Dr. Pasquale’s
point where licensing makes
(programmed cell
The Institute’s capabilities
question: Where will these
work, different
sense. But there are even
death) for years. In
in neuroscience, synaptic
companies find active, drug-
types of Eph recep-
more sophisticated options.
cancer research, the
damage, cell biology, embry-
like compounds if they don’t
tors are found on
“We are looking more
goal is to understand
onic and induced pluripotent
develop them in-house?
cells throughout
thematically at what we’re
why cancer cells don’t
stem cell biology and drug
compounds into drugs. But
Returning to
the body, so
doing in the laboratory,” says
die and design ways
discovery technology puts
companies downsize their own
understanding
Dr. Laikind. “The critical mass
to reverse that. With
Sanford-Burnham at the
research and development
the mechanisms
of talented scientists and
neurodegenerative
leading edge of research on
departments, they are looking
that influence
cutting-edge technology we
diseases, researchers
neurodegenerative disorders.
to outsource that work,” says
them can impact
bring to bear on a project,
and clinicians want
Dr. Jackson. “Ultimately, it will
other conditions
combined with our collab-
to keep cells alive.
collaborations with industry
be up to academic institutions
beyond cancer.
orative, multi-disciplinary
So learning the basic
will help us translate our
like Sanford-Burnham to pick
Recent collabora-
approach, can be very
mechanisms that
hard work into tomorrow’s
up some of that slack and
tions between
appealing to a drug company.”
determine whether a
bring new compounds to the
Dr. Pasquale and
drug pipeline.”
the Max Planck
“As pharmaceutical
Drs. Paul Laikind and Michael Jackson work closely to translate Sanford-Burnham advances into new medicines.
As an example, Dr. Laikind to follow up on this ancillary
has extensive experience
Institute have shown that Eph
in business development
corporate and non-profit
finding may well depend on
receptors play a key role in
whether the company even
and has cofounded three
research organizations
regulating glutamate levels
biotech companies—Gensia
are beginning to develop a
has a neurology division. Our
in the brain. Glutamate helps
academic freedom allows us
Pharmaceuticals, Viagene
complementary relationship:
relay electrical signals between
to pursue numerous research
and Metabasis Therapeutics.
academic research uncovers
neurons, but if not removed
avenues and then seek out
His goal is to find good
the root causes of disease
properly, it becomes toxic and
the appropriate company to
corporate homes for Sanford-
Dr. Jackson notes that
cell dies or survives
“Establishing long-term
cures,” says Dr. Laikind. “Our The high-throughput robots at the Prebys Center screen for chemical compounds that beneficially alter protein function.
job is to communicate the
cites Sanford-Burnham’s
can impact the study
approach to neurodegenerative
of numerous conditions.
induced pluripotent stem
tise to industry and create
disorders. Talented neurosci-
Sanford-Burnham’s world-class
cells (mature cells that are
collaborations that advance
entists collaborate closely
stem cell biologists also play
transformed into stem cells)
these discoveries as rapidly
with cancer researchers and
a role, devising new ways to
from patients with a specific
as possible.”
other scientists who have been
replace lost tissue or create
disease and study the evolu-
Institute’s far-reaching exper-
Burnham discoveries.
“The critical mass of talented scientists and cutting-edge technology we bring to bear on a project, combined with our collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach, can be very appealing to a drug company.”
—Dr. Paul Laikind
“My job is to help SanfordBurnham achieve its mission of transforming cutting-edge science into important medical advances that benefit patients and society as a whole,” says Dr. Laikind.
Nobel Laureates
Anchor Lake Nona’s
Inaugural Symposium
Dr. Laikind’s Business and develops compounds
can cause epilepsy and other
Development and Intellectual
with therapeutic potential,
develop what we find. This
conditions.
should be a highly efficient
Property team are looking
model for drug discovery.”
for the best ways to protect,
and industry applies its vast
“Academic institutions
resources to optimize these
have a great advantage in that
drug candidates and shepherd
we can follow the research
them through clinical trials.
wherever it takes us,” says Dr.
One of the advantages of
Jackson. “It’s not uncommon
advance and commercialize
Ind ustry C oll aborations To bring new drugs closer
Sanford-Burnham technology. Sometimes, the method can be as simple as a licensing
this model is that it can maxi-
that a scientist will be investi-
to market, Dr. Jackson is
agreement, in which a scien-
mize the serendipity that so
gating cancer biology and find a
working closely with Paul
tist has developed technology
often occurs when scientists
relationship to other conditions,
Laikind, Ph.D., Senior
that a company wishes to
are trying to answer a thorny
such as neurodegenerative
Vice President, Business
use. In other cases, busi-
question about biology.
diseases. In a corporate
Development and Chief
ness development might help
setting, the researcher’s ability
Business Officer. Dr. Laikind
secure corporate funding
6
Sanford|Burnham www.sanfordburnham.org
On February 12, Sanford-Burnham at Lake Nona hosted its inaugural scientific symposium, which attracted 200 scientists from across the country. The symposium was described by one participant as the scientific equivalent of Woodstock, with a program that featured
during informal exchanges and in poster sessions, during which SanfordBurnham postdoctoral scientists presented their research.
Drs. Michael Brown, Tim Osborne, Robert Lefkowitz and Joseph Goldstein
“This symposium helps put Orlando on the map as a desti-
two Nobel laureates, Drs. Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein, as
nation for medical research,” said John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D.,
well as Drs. Robert Lefkowitz, Lewis Cantley, Cynthia Kenyon, Eric
Sanford-Burnham President and CEO, professor and Donald Bren
Olson and Ronald Evans.
Presidential Chair. “If we can continue to attract some of the
Disseminating scientific information is one of the most important
world’s greatest scientists to meetings such as this, Orlando will
activities researchers do after concluding their investigations. At the
become known world-wide as an area from which great research
symposium, ideas were exchanged at the formal presentations,
emanates.”
www.sanfordburnham.org
Sanford|Burnham
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S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m N e ws
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m N e ws
Delivering Medicine
Directly into a Tumor Drs. Kazuki Sugahara, Tambet Teesalu, and other researchers in the Ruoslahti laboratory of SanfordBurnham at the University of California, Santa Barbara, have identified a peptide (a piece of a protein) that recognizes and penetrates cancerous tumors but not normal tissues.
published
The iRGD
December 8
peptide incor-
in the journal
porates two
Cancer Cell.
elements: the
“This peptide has extraor-
Secrets of Immunologic Memory
RGD cell attach-
dinary tumor-penetrating
ment sequence
properties, and I hope that it
discovered by
will make possible substantial
Dr. Ruoslahti in
improvements in cancer treat-
the 1980s and
ment,” says Dr. Ruoslahti.
a tissue penetra-
“In our animal studies, the
tion element his
against diseases and, as memory cells, provide immunity
iRGD peptide has increased
laboratory identi-
to subsequent infections. Linda Bradley, Ph.D., Bas Baaten,
the efficacy of a number of
fied recently. The
Ph.D., and colleagues determined that without CD44, Th1 cells
anti-cancer drugs without
RGD element
increasing their side effects.
directs the
If these animal experiments
peptide to tumor
translate into human cancers,
vessels. An enzyme then
shown to deliver diagnostic
we would be able to treat
cuts the peptide, activating
particles and medicines into
cancer more effectively than
the penetration element,
the tumor. This new peptide,
before while greatly reducing
which takes the peptide out
called iRGD, could dramatically
the side effects the patient
of the tumor vessels and
enhance both cancer detection
would suffer.”
into the tumor cells. Previous
and treatment. The work was
peptides have been shown to
The peptide was also
Investigators in the Bradley laboratory have discovered a new way the cell surface protein CD44 helps Th1 cells (a type of white blood cell) develop immunologic memory. Th1 cells are important components in the body’s defense
died off during their initial immune response and thus were Dr. Erkki Ruoslahti
recognize and bind to tumors but were unable to go beyond the tumor blood vessels. The researchers later attached
Drs. Bas Baaten and Linda Bradley
“In various infections and autoimmune conditions, Th1 cells
unable to generate immunologic memory. This is the first time
are often the bad guys,” says Dr. Bradley. “They can contribute
scientists have identified this unique CD44 function on Th1
to disease by overproducing cytokines (immune system
cells, making the protein a potential target to treat a variety of
signaling molecules) and are often responsible for disease
diseases. The study was published online on January 14 in the
pathology. Our findings reveal an opportunity to harness CD44
journal Immunity.
to control this pathogenesis.”
drugs to the iRGD peptide, which were also carried to the tumor cells.
New Form of Stem How
Flu Succeeds
Investigators in the Chanda laboratory, in collaboration with Mount Sinai School Drs. Sumit Chanda and Renate Koenig of Medicine, the Salk Institute and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, have identified 295 human proteins and other cell factors that influenza A strains, including swine-origin H1N1, must harness to infect a cell.
“Because influenza mutates so readily, it has become a moving target for therapeutic intervention, making it difficult to treat circulating strains,” says Sumit Chanda, Ph.D. “As a result, there is now widespread resistance to two classes of antiviral drugs. However, by targeting more stable human host factors, we may be able to develop therapies that prevent or treat a variety of influenza A strains and are more likely to maintain their effectiveness.” Influenza A virus contains only enough genetic information to produce 11 proteins and must co-opt host cellular machinery to complete its life cycle. Drs. Sumit Chanda, Renate Koenig and others used RNAi screening technology to selectively turn off more
The team also identified small molecule compounds that act
than 19,000 human genes to determine which human factors
on several of these factors and inhibit viral replication, pointing to
facilitate viral entry, uncoating, nuclear import, viral replication and
new ways to treat flu. These findings were published on December
other necessary functions.
21 in the journal Nature.
8
Sanford|Burnham www.sanfordburnham.org
differentiate into the specific type of neuron to provide this
Cell Communication Rescues
therapeutic effect.
Diseased Neurons
“We showed a while ago that stem cells may exert a therapeutic effect on damaged
cells, when in direct contact with diseased neurons, send Dr. Evan Y. Snyder signals through specialized An international team of channels that rescue the investigators, co-led by Evan neurons from death. Y. Snyder, M.D., Ph.D., and including researchers from These direct cell-to-cell the Karolinska Institutet, connections may also play Beth Israel Deaconess, a role in normal developHarvard Medical School ment by creating the and the Universite Libre blueprint for more mature de Bruxelles, have demonelectrical connections strated in mouse models between neurons and other that transplanted stem
cells. The research was
or diseased host systems by
published in the journal
secreting therapeutic factors
Proceedings of the National
and ‘bathing’ the dying cells,”
Academy of Sciences.
says Dr. Snyder, director of the
While it was already
Stem Cell and Regenerative
known that stem cells will
Biology program. “However,
seek out diseased cells in
we did not know that stem
the brain, the team showed
cells can also exert their
that stem cells bring
action through direct cell-to-cell
diseased neurons back
contact. This may be a newly
from the brink via cross-talk
recognized way in which stem
through gap junctions, the
cells communicate with the
connections between cells
cells around them, not only
that allow signals to pass
under diseased conditions but
back and forth. Significantly,
during normal development.”
the stem cells do not need to
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Sanford|Burnham
9
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m NEWS
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m Ph i l a nt H r o p y
Natural Compound Inhibits Cancer Cell Migration Investigators in the Vuori laboratory have discovered that the natural compound sceptrin, which is found in marine sponges, reduces cancer cell motility (movement) and has very low toxicity in normal cells. Metastasis, the process in which malignant cells migrate to other parts of the body, is one of the deadliest aspects of cancer, so restricting aberrant cell movement is an important step toward advancing treatments. The research was published in ACS Chemical Biology in collaboration with Phil S. Baran, Ph.D., of The Scripps Research Institute. The team tested sceptrin in multiple tumor cell types, including cervical, breast and lung cancers, and found that sceptrin restricts
Honoring Good Friends
motility in all cell lines.
illness. Many of us have had
Mandell recently. “One of the
our own personal battles with
only ways to change medicine
illness. And it is through our
is through research. This
support that we give Burnham
institution has an incredible
scientists the tools to fight
reputation for collaborative
tion for cell motility. The
these diseases. That is why
research. The way they go
researchers also found
we have created this plaza, to
about their work, I don’t think
that sceptrin synthesized
encourage people to support
it gets any better than that.”
in the laboratory was just
this wonderful place.”
Further tests showed that the compound works by limiting the cells’ ability to contract, a critical func-
as effective as the natu-
are focal points for the
A B i - C oasta l M essag e
rally derived compound. “Given the recently
Dr. Kristiina Vuori
Mandell Innovation Plaza
scientists. Designed to
sceptrin in multi-gram quantities by the Baran laboratory, sceptrin
was dedicated as part of the
resemble DNA helices, the
could prove to be an attractive lead molecule for further preclinical
ceremonies to open Sanford-
sites provide an artistic touch
testing and development for therapeutic purposes,” says Kristiina
Burnham’s facility at Lake
to each campus, as well as
Vuori, M.D., Ph.D. “It may also prove to be a useful research tool in
Nona. Like Mary
order to elucidate the mechanisms involved in cell motility.”
Bradley, Robert
supporter and Mary Bradley (1920-2010) touring Bradley Innovation Plaza with daughter Ellen Hunt.
Identify Mechanism for Frank-Ter Haar Syndrome Researchers
The Courtneidge group, together with SanfordBurnham researchers José Luis Millán, Ph.D., Pilar Ruiz-Lozano, Ph.D., and researchers at the University
FTHS suffer from
determined that the mice
skeletal, cardio-
without TKS4 showed virtu-
vascular and
ally identical traits to FTHS
eye abnormali-
patients, confirming the
ties and usually
results of the gene mapping.
Sanford-Burnham recently built donor recognition plazas at our La Jolla and Lake Nona campuses. The installations were designed to honor our friends and evoke the science they so generously support.
who make it possible. During the dedication, surrounded by family and friends, Bradley made an eloquent appeal for the science at Sanford-Burnham. “Over the years, I have seen the kind of success this organization generates
In particular, the two sites
and have made my own
commemorate the commit-
investments to encourage
ment of trustees Robert
that success,” said Bradley.
die in infancy
“This research illus-
or early child-
trates the importance of
Mandell and Mary Bradley,
“Reena Horowitz and I teamed
collaboration in the scientific
whose gifts made these instal-
up to create the Fishman Fund
discovery process,” says Dr.
lations possible.
to honor Burnham’s founders
Bokhoven, Ph.D., at Nijmegen, with assistance from clinical colleagues in several countries, studied 12 families who had been affected by FTHS. The team mapped the condition in seven of these families to a mutated gene that normally
10
of California, San Diego,
Children with
hood. Hans von
Sanford|Burnham www.sanfordburnham.org
and the innovation of our
achieved synthesis of
been a great
An international team of investigators from the Courtneidge laboratory at Sanford-Burnham, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences and other organizations have discovered that TKS4, a protein implicated in cancer metastasis, also plays a significant role in Frank-Ter Haar syndrome (FTHS), a rare, fatal disorder. The research was published on February 12 in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
generosity of our donors
A few months earlier, the
Mandell has
Both recognition sites
Dr. Sara A. Courtneidge
contains the code to create the TKS4 protein. Dr. von Bokhoven soon discovered
Courtneidge, “and how the
Sadly, Mary Bradley died
hard to advance the science. As Chairman of Meritage Homes,
he knows what it takes to
a reminder of the important
build a community and make a
work being done by the
difference in people’s lives.
surrounding laboratories.
“I support SanfordTo honor Mary Bradley with
Burnham because I believe it’s something that will benefit
a contribution to the Fishman
my children and many others
Fund, contact Jane Langer at
in a significant way,” said
858-795-5288.
Dr. William and Lillian Fishman
study of one disease—in
of natural causes a few days
and support postdoctoral
this case cancer—can have
after the Bradley Innovation
fellows. It’s their dedication,
that Sara A. Courtneidge,
a profound impact on the
Plaza was dedicated on
and that of their primary inves-
Ph.D., was also studying
understanding of another. In
January 16. Bradley was a
tigators, that will make cures
TKS4—as it related to cancer
the future, we hope to use
smart, dedicated trustee and
a reality.
metastasis and had created
our mouse model to study the
a passionate advocate for
disease in more depth.”
science and the researchers
a mouse lacking the protein.
has worked
“I support Sanford-Burnham because I believe it’s something that will benefit my children and many others in a significant way.” —Robert Mandell
“We all have friends and family who have succumbed to
Mandell Innovation Plaza, Sanford-Burnham at Lake Nona
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Sanford|Burnham
11
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m Ph i l a nth r o p y
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m P r e s i d e nt ’ s m e ss a g e
Join co-chairs Stath and Terry Karras and lead sponsor Life Technologies on April 29 for the most hilarious and over-the-top fundraising event ever. This is your opportunity to meet, greet, challenge and connect with some of San Diego’s most influential people while eating, drinking and singing your way to the winner’s circle—all while supporting cutting-edge stem cell research.
Bring It! Again
Last year, more than 300 people helped raise nearly $170,000 to support the HeadNorth Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
What famous actor founded the La Jolla Playhouse? What is the leading cause of spinal cord injury? Where do you end up if you take 15 South to 52 West to 5 South, exit 10th Street and drive until it dead ends? Why are we asking? Because you’re the next contestant on Bring It!—the game show-style fundraiser where everyone plays and the buzz goes on for days. With the resounding success of last year’s event, Sanford-
Project at Sanford-Burnham, and this year promises to be even
Accepting the Challenge Denny Sanford’s recent donation of $50 million to support our work has been inspirational to many of us at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. This gift will provide much-needed resources to accelerate our science as we seek solutions to some of the world’s most difficult medical problems. We thank Denny for his generosity, his vision and his faith in our research.
bigger and better. Thursday, April 29, 2010, 6 to 9 p.m. Mission Tower Ballroom at the Del Mar Fairgrounds For more information, contact Chelsea Jones at 858-795-5239 or at cjones@sanfordburnham.org or visit www.burnhamevents. org/bringit.
Since Denny made his first gift to us to create the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center a little more than two years ago, he has impressed many of our scientists, trustees and staff with his indefatigable drive to improve human health and his insatiable thirst for knowledge about medicine and medical research. Though a businessman by profession, Denny has been known to attend our scientific symposia and sit through hours of complex scientific presentations. He has taken his growing scientific knowledge and translated it into
Burnham and HeadNorth Foundation invite you to Bring It! again.
John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D. President and CEO Professor and Donald Bren Presidential Chair
goals that inspire scientists and physicians. He is a man of great ambition—not ambition directed towards serving self, but ambition to serve humanity through his bold leadership and support of transformative biomedical research. He understands the special role that organizations like Sanford-Burnham play as catalysts for the innovations that produce medical breakthroughs. Denny Sanford’s support is also a tremendous vote of confidence in our science and our
Running for Discovery
with the endurance required to
scientists. It is their untiring dedication to solving medical problems that has made Sanford-
complete a marathon.”
Burnham the top-ranked organization worldwide, in the fields of biology and biochemistry, over
Congratulations to all team members on another successful run and thank you for your continued dedication
Though the Florida weather was uncommonly frigid, with temperatures in the 20s, the intrepid Team Burnham could not be stopped from completing their appointed races.
to first-class discovery and research. Also many thanks to the Team Burnham stalwarts (Front) Jeff Decker, Dawn West (Back) Katie McKeever, John Gabrovic, Elizabeth Gianini, Bea Kochheiser, Andy Swart, Peter Lawrie and Justin Simmons.
contributed to helping Team
“I run for discovery because
the nation in our ability to create new intellectual property through patent production. Though we experience numerous successes, large and small, in our laboratories each day, the medical problems that we face are both large and complex. This gift is indeed a validation of the work that we do. But it is also a challenge to set our sights even higher. For all of us—scientists, trustees, staff and supporters—this is a time to
BE & K Construction, Harmoni Market, CORT Furniture Rental, Florida’s Blood Centers,
$140,000 in its fourth year
find cures for not only cancer
Drs. John Reed, Dan Kelly,
to support Sanford-Burnham
but a multitude of today’s most
Phil Wood and many Sanford-
research in cancer, neurode-
prevalent killer diseases,” said
Burnham staff, braved the cold
generation, diabetes, heart
Peter Lawrie, long-time Team
weather to run the Walt Disney
disease and infectious,
Burnham member and cancer
World half and full marathons
inflammatory and childhood
survivor. “The scientists’ will to
Team Burnham, visit www.
on January 9 and 10. Each
diseases.
succeed has much in common
teamburnham.org.
Sanford|Burnham www.sanfordburnham.org
it is their ingenuity that has made Sanford-Burnham one of the most efficient organizations in
including Baker Hostetler,
Burnham researchers fight to
12
has allowed us to achieve eight consecutive years of double-digit growth in grant revenue. And
Team Burnham sponsors,
Burnham raise more than In all, 60 runners, including
the past decade for the impact of our research publications. It is their resourcefulness that
Orlando Health, Blue Cross
rededicate ourselves to the medical research mission that is embodied in our slogan: From research, the power to cure. On behalf of everyone at Sanford-Burnham, we are honored that Denny has chosen our
Blue Shield of Florida, Berman
organization to be the beneficiary of such incredibly generous support. We applaud his lead-
Properties, Fleet Feet Sports
ership in supporting outstanding science.
and Brooks. For more information about
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13
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID
10901 North Torrey Pines Road
The Burnham Institute
La Jolla, CA 92037
S a n f o r d | b u r n h a m Ph i l a nth r o p y
Partners
in Science: Alex
Martins and Dr. Dan Kelly
As Chief Operating Officer of the NBA’s Orlando Magic—a strong supporter of Sanford-Burnham—Alex Martins can give you chapter and verse on the value of teamwork. He gets no arguments from Dr. Dan Kelly, Sanford-Burnham at Lake Nona’s Scientific Director, who is currently recruiting a
“Sanford-Burnham’s research is invaluable—not just to Central Florida but to the future of human health,” says Martins. “By creating jobs and pioneering disease research, Sanford-Burnham is a win-win for our economy. Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute is an investment in our future.”
premier scientific team to advance our understanding of diabetes and obesity and find new approaches to treating these and other conditions. Together, the Orlando Magic and SanfordBurnham have teamed up to advance science and encourage economic growth.
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