Fall 2014

www.sanfordburnham.org | PORTAL 1VOLUME 4 NUMBER 4 | FALL 2014

Working Together to Conquer DiseaseTHE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS

PORTAL | www.sanfordburnham.org2

ON THE COVERLayton Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of Drug Discovery at Lake Nona, pictured with Pamela McLean, Ph.D., of Mayo Clinic. The two collaborate through the Florida Translational Research Program to advance findings in Parkinson’s research.

A Letter from Lake Nona Scientific Director, Daniel P. Kelly, M.D. 1The Power of Partnerships: Working Together to Conquer Disease 2Next Generation: The Future of Philanthropy 5Partners for Life: Cancer Center Community Advisory Board 6Envisioning the Future: Q&A with Trustee Alan Gleicher 8Institute News: Sanford-Burnham Elects Five New Members to the Board of Trustees 10Institute News: Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Awards Innovation Grant 11Past Events 12Upcoming Events 13Partners in Science: Representative Matt Hudson Back Cover

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037 • 858-646-3100

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute at Lake Nona6400 Sanger Road, Orlando, FL 32827 • 407-745-2000

www.sanfordburnham.org Toll-free: 1-877-454-5702

VICE PRESIDENTS, PHILANTHROPY

Paul BakerPhilip Graham, M.B.A.VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONSEDITOR

Deborah RobisonPRODUCTION MANAGER & CONTRIBUTOR

Rhiannon BruniART DIRECTION

James ShortWRITER

Kate CallenCONTRIBUTORS

Karolyn BakerPatrick BartoschSusan Gammon, Ph.D., M.B.A.Marissa IgartuaDiane WilsonDESIGN

Creative Fusion

FOUNDERSDr. William H. and Lillian Fishman

HONORARY TRUSTEESRoberta and Malin Burnham Joe Lewis Conrad T. Prebys T. Denny Sanford

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Gregory T. LucierCHAIRMAN

Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D.PRESIDENT AND INTERIM CEO

PAULINE AND STANLEY FOSTER PRESIDENTIAL CHAIR

PROFESSOR, NCI-DESIGNATED CANCER CENTER

Gary F. Raisl, M.B.A., Ed.D.EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

SECRETARY

TREASURER

Lorenzo M. BerhoJames C. Blair, Ph.D.David W. DownDaniel J. EpsteinM. Wainwright Fishburn Jr.Pauline M. FosterPatrick J. GeraghtyWilliam GerhartAlan A. GleicherJeanne L. Herberger, Ph.D.Donald L. Jernigan, Ph.D.J. Bernard Machen, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D.

“Papa” Doug ManchesterHenry L. NordhoffDouglas H. ObenshainEdward R. SchulakRasesh ThakkarLuder G. Whitlock Jr.

VOLUME 4 NUMBER 4 | FALL 2014

Working Together to Conquer DiseaseTHE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS

www.sanfordburnham.org | PORTAL 1

The 21st century is shaping up to be an era of team science. The “siloism” of the past has given way to a new climate of synergy and openness. This is especially true in biomedical translational research, where success depends on the ability to collaborate across disciplines.

Sanford-Burnham’s tradition of “science without walls” has made us an attractive partner for organizations that share our mission. With this year’s launch of our new 10-year strategic vision, the Institute is poised to be the partner of choice for public-private alliances with a host of collaborators—academic, clinical, pharmaceutical, and philanthropic—to join in our central unifying quest, From Research, the Power to Cure.

In line with the strategic vision, Sanford-Burnham and our partners are building a direct path from basic biological discoveries to breakthrough therapeutic drugs and devices. The path begins with the elucidation of the processes that cause or drive the progression of a range of diseases, from cancer and Alzheimer’s to diabetes and heart disease. We apply that knowledge to help identify molecular targets for new therapies aimed at specific disease areas. We seek to develop and test novel and existing drug candidates that will engage those targets safely and effectively.

While no one institution can travel the path alone, it takes singular leadership to begin the journey and bring others along. We showed that leadership seven years ago by aligning our scientific discovery efforts with the high-throughput-screening technology of the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the nonprofit world. Scientists throughout the public and private sectors are now using the Prebys

Center to help develop new medicinal compounds and biomedical-research tools.

But our strongest appeal to prospective partners, as you will read in this issue, is our greatest institutional commodity: the brilliance of our scientists and the high caliber of their research. The quality of science at Sanford-Burnham has always been the engine that drives this Institute.

With the support of our partners and benefactors, that engine will accelerate us into a transformative future.

A Letter from Lake Nona Scientific Director, Daniel P. Kelly, M.D.

Daniel P. Kelly, M.D.SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, TAVISTOCK DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR AND SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR, SANFORD-BURNHAM MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT LAKE NONA


“Sanford-Burnham and our partners are building a direct path from basic biological discoveries to breakthrough therapeutic drugs and devices.”


Florida Translational Research Program:Uniting Drug Discovery PartnersIt’s called “the valley of death”—the gulf between the laboratory bench and the clinical bedside—where treatment breakthroughs languish and patients perish. As drug discovery efforts worldwide strive to bridge this gap, a unique Florida venture is on a trajectory to speed the development and delivery of lifesaving therapies.

The Florida Translational Research Program at Sanford-Burnham (FTRP) is giving basic researchers at universities and nonprofit institutes across the state of Florida an unprecedented opportunity to translate lab discoveries into new treatments. Instead of scouring the nation for drug-screening resources, FTRP-funded investigators are sharing common ground in their own state

at the Institute’s Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics.

Inside the facility, hundreds of thousands of drug-like compounds are run through high-

throughput-screening assays to identify molecules with the greatest therapeutic potential. When those assays produce viable hits, clinical researchers are at the ready to mount trials of promising candidates for efficacy and safety.

“All the stakeholders in this partnership are working hard to reinvent the drug discovery process,” said Layton Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of Drug Discovery at the Lake Nona campus. “Sanford-Burnham is uniquely positioned to lead the charge. We have the biological expertise, the technological infrastructure, and the entrepreneurial culture to create a new process that moves faster with lower costs and a higher yield.”

Making the Case for InvestmentSanford-Burnham proposed the FTRP in response to Florida Governor Rick Scott’s 2011 call for new ventures to catapult Florida into the lead in U.S. biotech innovation. To ensure fiscal responsibility, Scott set three criteria. “Projects would have to elevate science across the state in an open and

The Power of Partnerships:Working Together to Conquer Disease

When Pamela McLean, Ph.D., applied to the FTRP in 2013,

she was looking for state support to advance her search for

breakthrough Parkinson’s disease therapies. Two years later, research discoveries made possible by an FTRP

collaboration have moved McLean closer to therapeutic application. This has brought her additional support from a private foundation, a new scientific collaborator, and the opportunity to tap into two of the nation’s largest drug-compound laboratories.

“The collaboration with

Pamela McLean, Ph.D.



competitive way,” said Smith. “They would have to build on existing resources and infrastructure. And they would have to show potential to be self-sustaining over time.”

Institute officials knew they could hit all three requirements, and key state legislators agreed, particularly Senator Joe Negron and Representative Matt Hudson, who championed the project. “An investment in a statewide collaboration led by Sanford-Burnham is an investment in Florida’s future,” said Negron, “and it will pay off in economic benefits within the state and health benefits to the nation.”

The FTRP proposal outlined how the state could help create a pipeline of potential medicines by giving Florida-

based research scientists access to the Prebys Center’s advanced technology platform. When the Florida Department of Health allocated $3 million in 2012 to launch the FTRP, Smith’s team issued a request for drug discovery proposals that focused on disease targets for which there are limited small-molecule compounds available, as well as the further development of existing pre-therapeutic compounds.

In April 2013, the FTRP announced its first five projects. Three were seeking new treatments for cancer at the University of Miami, the University of Florida, and the University of Central Florida (UCF). The other two were focused on

Sanford-Burnham has been tremendous,” said McLean, a Mayo Clinic in Florida associate professor of neuroscience. “Access to the compounds at the Prebys Center has taken our efforts to the next level. Everything has moved forward at an amazing

pace, and everything has gone smoothly.”

McLean studies how the protein alpha-synuclein may give rise to Parkinson’s by aggregating into harmful Lewy bodies, which she calls “garbage cans of proteins.” She has developed an assay to find compounds that

can monitor and block the harmful aggregation. Before the FTRP, McLean was limited to assays of only a few hundred compounds. Now, with access to the Prebys Center’s library of 900,000 compounds, she can accelerate her search for

Continued on Page 4

Continued on Page 4


“Sanford-Burnham is uniquely positioned to lead the charge. We have the biological expertise, the technological infrastructure, and the entrepreneurial culture to create a new process that moves faster with lower costs and a higher yield.” — Layton Smith, Ph.D.

Layton Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of Drug Discovery at Lake Nona.


therapies for diabetes and obesity. One was a collaboration between The Scripps Research Institute and Sanford-Burnham, and the other was a Sanford-Burnham study headed by Fraydoon Rastinejad, Ph.D.

The news energized the state’s research community. “The immediate and potential long-term impact of the FTRP on my research cannot be overstated,” said UCF FTRP participant Cristina Fernandez-Valle, Ph.D. “The program is critical for us to successfully compete for the federal funds that we need to eventually develop an effective drug therapy for neurofibromatosis [a genetic disorder that disturbs cell growth in the nervous system].”

Early Dividends, National InterestNow entering its third year, the FTRP has amassed a portfolio of 32 collaborative drug discovery projects involving nine institutions, including Florida International University, Mayo Clinic of Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Nemours Children’s Hospital, as well as those listed above.

The FTRP is already making good on its promise. The program has its first patent filing, which is “a first step in the return on investment that the governor was looking for,” said Smith. And two FTRP principal

investigators have parlayed the state’s initial discoveries into out-of-state grants that will further advance their discoveries. Mayo Clinic in Florida researcher Pamela McLean has received funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (see sidebar), and Rastinejad has received a National Institutes of Health grant.

Smith believes that the FTRP is on track to achieve self-sustainability through royalties and licensing agreements, and he has found that the program has become a national model. “There is no other statewide collaboration like this,” he said. “We know that because we’re hearing from other states like Texas and North Carolina, and they’re asking, ‘How did you do this?’”

high-potential candidates.“Our research benefits

because Sanford-Burnham is willing to share its facility,” said McLean. “And it allows the Institute to become involved in the research of other scientists, so it’s a win-win situation.”

Initial results of McLean’s FTRP assays were so strong that she and program director Layton Smith, Ph.D., submitted a funding proposal to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), which responded

with advice that every grant applicant dreams of hearing: think bigger.

“The Foundation is on board with translating lab findings into therapies for Parkinson’s, and they encouraged us to come back with an expanded proposal for a larger screening effort,” McLean said. With MJFF support, she and Smith “are advancing this research to the next stage,” she added, which includes access to the National Institutes of Health’s

library of compounds.The FTRP’s emergence as

a drug discovery catalyst is filling a gap created by a decline in federal research funding and mounting risk aversion in the pharmaceutical industry. “By working with Sanford-Burnham, we are moving forward to push drugs through the pipeline and translate discoveries into clinical settings,” said McLean. “Academia cannot do this alone. It has to be a team effort, and the FTRP is showing the way.”


Florida Translational Research Program Continued from Page 3

Pamela McLean Continued from Page 3


NEXT GENERATION

The generosity of visionary philanthropists has transformed the face—and name—of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute throughout our 38-plus-year history.

Our supporters’ contributions have enabled our scientists to achieve breakthrough discoveries and pioneer treatment strategies to improve the quality of life for those impacted by illness. We can never thank them enough for their unwavering support of our quest, From Research, the Power to Cure.

This past spring, we were thrilled to meet some of the new faces inspired by our science and the generosity of our past benefactors. They are the next generation of philanthropists, and they are already making a difference in their communities.

The Cambridge SchoolStudents from The Cambridge School in San Diego, Calif., voted Sanford-Burnham as the recipient of funds raised to honor a teacher currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

The middle-school students made and

sold bracelets before choosing to gift the money they raised to Sanford-Burnham to advance breast cancer research.

“The students wanted to donate to a place

they believed was making major progress in finding solutions for cancer,” said Melissa Gingrich, a teacher at The Cambridge School who oversaw the fundraiser. “They chose Sanford-Burnham because of the researchers’ dedication to understanding all aspects of cancer—and their commitment to creating better treatments for cancer patients.”

The Benjamin SchoolStudents from The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, Fla., designated Sanford-Burnham as the recipient of funds raised as part of a philanthropy education program.

The students worked closely with their teacher and a local financial ambassador to learn the mechanics of philanthropic giving—including essential skills for understanding and interpreting nonprofit tax documents and industry ratings, as well as learning about the importance of advocacy and charitable giving in their communities.

The students applied their new knowledge to finding an organization where their gift could make a positive impact.

“They picked Sanford-Burnham because they were excited about the future of medicine after hearing firsthand about the advancements happening in Florida,” said Mary Ditaranto, the students’ teacher.

THE FUTURE OF

PHILANTHROPY


Benjamin School students excitedly present their gift to Sanford-Burnham’s Diabetes and Obesity Research Center.

Sixth-grade student Jacqui Giles, and her mother, Suzanne Giles, with the bracelets The Cambridge School’s students sold to raise funds for breast cancer research.


Cancer Center Community Advisory BoardCancer survivors do not lack for courage. When you have beaten a deadly disease, but you know it could come back, you feel empowered, and you stay vigilant.

Courage is one of many assets that cancer survivors bring to the Community Advisory Board (CAB) of Sanford-Burnham’s National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center. Board members serve the Center’s mission through their passion for advancing translational research and their determination to raise awareness and support.

For Cancer Center scientists, survivors are a steady source of inspiration. “They make us realize just how important our research is,” said Center Director Garth Powis, D.Phil. “When you’re talking to someone who has benefited from existing treatment, and might someday need new treatment, that personalizes your pursuit

of therapeutic breakthroughs.”Three-time cancer survivor Helen

Eckmann, Ed.D., believes her 16 years of service on the Board have given her a new sense of purpose. “After cancer, you want to make the rest of your life count,” she said. “Cancer is a complex puzzle, and the Cancer Center is at the heart of solving it. As advisors, we’re part of the team, which is very energizing.”

With members like Eckmann, patient advocates Dani Grady and Nina Fishman, the daughter of Institute founders William and Lillian Fishman, the CAB is working to extend its public outreach activities (see sidebar).

As the CAB becomes more closely engaged with the Center, members will become conversant in the Center’s achievements and goals, and “they will help us get the message out about how

Partnersfor Life

Cancer Center Community Advisory Board. From L to R: Nina Fishman, Marie Schrup, Center Director Garth Powis, D.Phil., Helen Eckmann,

Ed.D., Ruth Black, and Ellen Weinstein. Members not pictured: Judge Robert Coates, Linden Blue, Dani Grady, and MaryBeth Burnham.


Sanford-Burnham is poised to have a major impact on cancer drug discovery and development,” said Powis.

The Board provides both the mechanism and the people to help the Cancer Center engage with the community. “These advisors know the scope of our scientific investigations and the quality of our research,” said Powis, “and they engage the community on our behalf.”

To that end, CAB members function as interpreters between scientists and the lay public. “We sit down with the investigators,” said Eckmann, “we learn about their research, and we help them parse out how their work is relevant to people who want to help move cures forward.”

Nov. 6 Cancer Survivors Open HouseThe inaugural Open House was held on June 5 in celebration of Cancer Survivors Week (June 1-8).

Hosted by Center Director Garth Powis, D.Phil., and the Cancer Center Community Advisory Board, the reception gave 70 guests an opportunity to tour cancer research labs and facilities to learn more about the Center’s basic biological studies and drug discovery efforts.

The NCI-designated Cancer Center has scheduled a second Open House for cancer survivors, their families, and friends on November 6 at the La Jolla campus.

See the Upcoming Events section to learn more about how to attend.

A Word from Dr. Ze’ev RonaiZe’ev Ronai, Ph.D., scientific director of Sanford-Burnham’s La Jolla campus and deputy director of the NCI-designated Cancer Center, helped launch and develop the Center’s Community Advisory Board. As he discusses here, he takes great pride in its impact:

“Having our CAB members translate to their friends and colleagues our efforts to understand how cancer evolves and how we use our research knowledge to develop new medicines has been most rewarding. I applaud those who have won the battle against cancer and who tirelessly engage with us to further advance the next discovery and possibly the cure.”


Tour leaders Anne Bang, Ph.D., Craig Hauser, Ph.D., Michael Jackson, Ph.D., and TC Chung, Ph.D.

Skip Coomber (center) and guests enjoy conversation and healthy snacks in between tours.

Guests discuss the latest in cancer research.


Envisioning the Future:Q&A with Trustee Alan GleicherAlan Gleicher has a rare gift for seeing into the future. In the early 1980s, he anticipated the rise of personal computers and became a software-industry pioneer, most notably co-founding an educational software company, and then as an Intuit executive overseeing global operations and sales. In the early 2000s, he attended a Burnham Institute Gala and immediately grasped the value of the Institute’s mission. Today, Gleicher is a Sanford-Burnham Trustee and an eloquent Institute ambassador. In this interview, he sizes up the 10-year strategic vision, and he explains why he and wife Marleigh have chosen to devote their time and support to the Institute.

How would you describe your personal approach to philanthropic giving?

It is an important value in my family to give back. Marleigh and I are committed to medical research—you can have an exceptional life, but if you don’t have good health, it’s a game changer—and we are passionate about Sanford-Burnham. It also is important to lead by example. I could never ask someone to contribute to the Institute if I did not support it myself. Sanford-Burnham has a wonderful story to tell, and for me, it’s easy to talk about that. I know people see my excitement, and I hope it is contagious.

What drew you to Sanford-Burnham? I attended the Gala where Stuart Lipton

was the keynote speaker. He talked about his research on Alzheimer’s disease, which had afflicted my mother. Dr. Lipton discovered the Alzheimer’s drug memantine, and I was very grateful for that. As I learned about the Institute, I was impressed with the quality of its people and with its mission to save lives. I have years of experience in business, and I felt my background could lend itself to helping the Institute build its position and raise support.

What are your most important duties as a Trustee?

I have been chair of the External Relations

Committee for a number of years. We have worked hard to build the Sanford-Burnham brand by creating a strong message and an effective strategy. I feel that we have accomplished a tremendous amount in establishing the Institute’s world-class reputation, which has been strengthened by the advanced technology of the Prebys Center’s high-throughput compound screening. We are only one of a few nonprofit institutes which has that capability.

How will Sanford-Burnham’s 10-year strategic vision drive innovation?

This point in the Institute’s history is like

the early ‘80s when the personal-computer market was just beginning, and it went on to change our lives. I believe we are on the verge of huge discoveries, and the 10-year strategic vision gives us the road map. It has all the things a business plan should have, like timelines and deliverables. I was especially pleased that we brought in an advisory committee of some of the top leaders in health care and scientific research. Many business plans fall short because organizations fail to get input from outside experts. Our external advisors pushed the envelope to leverage our strengths in basic research and drug discovery.



Over the next 10 years, how will the Institute deliver on its quest, From Research, the Power to Cure?

We are extremely well positioned. Sanford-

Burnham is a lean organization that can make decisions and move quickly—look at how fast things have happened at our Lake Nona campus. The Institute’s growth has been very strategic. We began with a focus on cancer and expanded into other areas that are interwoven with cancer, as well as into areas of increasingly prevalent diseases, such as aging-related neurodegeneration and obesity. We benefit from a collaborative culture, and our partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and health care organizations give us a competitive advantage.

What are your goals for the Institute in the External Relations area?

I have two goals. I want to create opportunities to connect our brilliant scientists with the public so that people can grasp the potential impact of their work and—just as important—see the passion they bring to it. The biggest challenge in biomedical research is the same challenge we faced in the early software industry: educate and demonstrate to the public that your work will touch their lives directly and personally. I also want to raise more support for Sanford-Burnham by creating “donors for life,” especially young, up-and-coming donors. This is a very exciting time at Sanford-Burnham, and I’m honored to be part of it.


“This point in the Institute’s history is like the early ‘80s when the personal-computer market was just beginning, and it went on to change our lives. I believe we are on the verge of huge discoveries, and the 10-year strategic vision gives us the road map.”

— Alan Gleicher

Marleigh and Alan Gleicher attending the 2014 Bring It! Playoffs.


David Down is a managing partner of accounting firm KPMG LLP. With over 35 years of leadership experience, he serves on the boards of several civic and charitable organizations, including the Boys and

Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, the San Diego Hall of Champions, the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board, and the United Way Board, among many others.

Donald Jernigan is the president and chief executive officer of Adventist Health System. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Healthcare Executives, chairman of the Board of Florida Hospital, and a member of the Governor’s Council of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission. Jernigan has also served on the boards of the United Way and several chambers of commerce, along with many other health care boards.

“Papa” Doug Manchester is the chairman of Manchester Financial Group as well as the

chairman and publisher of U-T San Diego. His industrial career spans telecommunications, radio broadcast, medical instrumentation, publishing, and real-estate development. Additionally, he is active

in philanthropic causes, including children’s and health issues, human interest, and religious services. He served on our Board previously from 2004-2010.

Edward R. Schulak is an architect, entrepreneur, national real-estate developer, inventor, international business leader, and director and funder of early-stage life sciences and pharmaceutical companies specializing

in genetic sequencing, bioinformatics, and early-stage drug development. He has served on numerous charitable, academic, and business boards, including the Harvard Genetics Advisory Council and the

Advisory Board of the New York University Center for Urban Science.

Rasesh Thakkar is the senior managing director of Tavistock Group and has been with the Group for more than 20 years. Thakkar’s areas of experience range across industries, such as financial services, real-estate, life sciences, leisure services, and retailing, as well as corporate finance and structures, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, and operations. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Central Florida Partnership, the Governor’s Council of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, and the Executive Board of the State of Florida Governor’s Advisory Council, known as The Florida Council of 100, as well as the Board of Trustees of the Tavistock Foundation.

INSTITUTE NEWS

Sanford-Burnham Elects Five New Members to the Board of Trustees

The Institute is pleased to welcome these distinguished leaders to our Board of Trustees.

We recently announced the election of five new trustees to our Board of Trustees. The Board will grow to 21 members with the addition of the following new trustees:


Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF) awarded $250,000 to a team of scientists to advance research

into the treatment of medulloblastoma, an aggressive pediatric brain cancer.

The Innovation Grant, awarded to Robert Wechsler-Reya, Ph.D., professor in the NCI-designated Cancer Center and director of the Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, provides funding to pursue promising research into the molecules and pathways that control tumor growth.

“New therapies are desperately needed,” said Wechsler-Reya, “and these are likely to come from a greater understanding of the signals that drive tumor growth.” Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, affecting about 500 children in the United States annually.

Current treatment includes aggressive surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Although more than two thirds of children with the disease are successfully treated, survivors suffer severe long-term side effects. In many cases, the tumor reappears within a few years.

“The gift from ALSF provides crucial support so that we can advance our research and identify the mechanisms responsible for the rapid growth of these tumors,” added Wechsler-Reya.

Wechsler-Reya is optimistic about the potential impact of the work, saying, “If we can identify the molecular mechanisms driving the disease, we can create treatment strategies that inhibit them and block tumor growth. If successful, the strategy could be employed for many other pediatric cancers.”

Wechsler-Reya’s enthusiasm and optimism is shared by ALSF.

“ALSF is proud to support Dr. Wechsler-Reya’s work to develop innovative treatments for medulloblastoma,” said Jay Scott, co-executive director of ALSF and the father of the foundation’s inspirational founder.

“His team’s findings could lead to the development of new treatments for many childhood cancers—which is the goal my daughter had when she set up her first lemonade stand.”

This isn’t the first instance in which ALSF has supported Wechsler-Reya. He was also named a co-principal investigator on an ALSF grant with City of Hope investigator Margarita Gutova, M.D.

Additionally, in a gesture of mutual support, Wechsler-Reya and his team participated in ALSF’s inaugural Million Mile Walk/Run last autumn—helping to raise funds to benefit all pediatric cancer research.

The relationship between Wechsler-Reya and ALSF exemplifies how different organizations with a common vision are working together to improve the lives of children with cancer.

INSTITUTE NEWS

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Awards Innovation Grant

ALSF founder Alexandra Scott with her original lemonade stand.

Robert Wechsler-Reya, Ph.D., professor in the NCI-designated Cancer Center and director of the Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program.



Past Events


Preuss SchoolOn July 18, 11 students from The Preuss School UCSD completed an intensive two-week summer research program. This marks the seventh year of the program, in which students participate in daily research lessons and laboratory experiments to learn firsthand about what a career at the lab bench would entail.

The experience culminated with the young scientists showcasing their research at a poster symposium, which allowed them to present their work to their peers in a format used among scientists around the world.

The Baton Pass – Lake NonaScientists at Lake Nona took a very special lunch break on June 12 to participate in Siemens and Stand Up to Cancer’s (SU2C) The Baton Pass™, a joint campaign between Siemens and SU2C to raise funds for innovative cancer research.

The premise is remarkably simple—for every pass of the baton, either physically or virtually, from March to September, Siemens will donate $1 (up to $1 million) to SU2C.

The Baton Pass visited La Jolla in May before heading across the country to continue raising awareness—and critical funds—for cancer research.

Pedal the Cause Forums On July 23, more than 40 guests gathered in Chairmen’s Hall for the latest Pedal the Cause San Diego Forums lecture—a series of TED-like talks focused on the future of cancer research, life sciences, health and wellness, and more.

Garth Powis, D.Phil., director of our NCI-designated Cancer Center, along with Bob Abraham, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief scientific officer at Pfizer’s Oncology Research Unit, presented the lecture, titled “Drug Discovery to Development,” focused on revealing the process behind developing new drugs and treatments, from initial discoveries to lifesaving therapeutics.

If you would like to attend the next Pedal the Cause Forums lecture, check out the schedule of events at www.pedalthecause.org.


Past Events Upcoming EventsSeptember 20 & 21, 2014Pedal the Cause San DiegoPedal the Cause San Diego is gearing up for the second annual bike ride on September 20-21, 2014. The only multi-day cycling fundraiser to support cancer research in San Diego, Pedal the Cause provides critical funding to the community’s three NCI-designated cancer centers.

This year’s ride has something for every skill level—10-, 25-, and 50-mile courses, or a 2-day ride from La Jolla to Temecula, Calif. Virtual-rider and volunteer positions are also available and offer those who choose not to ride a way to participate and support cancer research in their community.

Find out more or sign up today at www.pedalthecause.org

November 6, 2014Cancer Center Open HouseSanford-Burnham’s Cancer Center Community Advisory Board and Garth Powis, D.Phil., professor and director of the NCI-designated Cancer Center, will host the next Cancer Center Open House on Thursday, November 6, in Chairmen’s Hall at our La Jolla campus.

Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with cancer scientists, survivors, and research advocates during an informal evening reception featuring healthy nibbles and refreshing drinks. Guided tours will be offered throughout the event, giving attendees a behind-the-scenes look into our scientists’ varied approaches to cancer research.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Karolyn Baker at [email protected] or 858-795-5239.

JOIN HONORARY GALA CHAIRS LISA & STEVEN CASSIDY KAREN & STUART TANZ

AND THE SANFORD-BURNHAM MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTEBOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR

TOP HATSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2014

ESTANCIA LA JOLLA HOTEL & SPA

FOR GALA TICKET AND SPONSOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACTKAROLYN BAKER (858) 795-5239 [email protected]

November 1, 2014Gala


Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDSanford-BurnhamMedical Research Institute

10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037

Representative Matt Hudson of the Florida House Health Appropriations Committee visited our La Jolla, Calif., campus on June 25 to learn more about the advantages that come with being a bi-coastal research institute.

Representative Hudson, who has a long history of championing medical research in the state of Florida, was responsible for the creation of a new Alzheimer’s research fund, as well as the allocation of more than $100 million for life-sciences research in his health care budget this year—revealing the Florida Legislature to be a significant partner in science.

During his visit, Representative Hudson met with a range of principal investigators, including Stuart Lipton M.D., Ph.D., professor and director of the Neuroscience and Aging Research Center.

Lipton studies the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and stroke, two causes that are exceptionally close to Representative Hudson’s heart.

While together, the two discussed the urgent need for government support to develop new—and more effective—therapies to treat neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Representative Hudson and Stuart Lipton, M.D., Ph.D., tour the Neuroscience and Aging Research Center during his June 25 visit.

PARTNERS IN SCIENCE

Representative Matt Hudson

Fall 2014

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