In this issue

Frontiers

Human Connection—How social interaction and isolation influence our physical and mental health

Salk neuroscientists study how our brains allow us to experience, interpret, and interact with the world around us. Many of these researchers are now studying not only the brain alone, but the brain in a social context.

In the News

Salk scientists lead $126 million effort to map the aging human brain

The largest grant in Institute history has established the new Center for Multiomic Human Brain Cell Atlas to detail the many individual cells that make up the human brain—their molecular features, where they are found, and how they change with age.

Observations

Gerald Joyce—An organizing force

Joyce was appointed Salk’s senior vice president and chief science officer in early 2022. Inside Salk sat down with him to learn about his research on the evolution of RNA, as well as the evolution of his career, science, and Salk.

In Memoriam

A life in service to science and others: Walter Eckhart exemplified generosity and kindness

Eckhart, professor emeritus and director of the Salk Institute’s National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and head of the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory for more than 30 years, died on June 21, 2022, at his home in La Jolla, California, at the age of 84.

In Memoriam

Georg Heinrich “Heini” Thyssen-Bornemisza—Salk Institute mourns loss of influential former Board member

Thyssen’s leadership and generosity helped accelerate scientific efforts at the Institute over the years, always with a focus on allowing Salk scientists to continue their pursuit of high-risk, high-impact research. He died on September 30, 2022.

Insights

Mallory Zaslav—Valuing the differences in backgrounds and experiences

As vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Zaslav’s forward thinking and advocacy have given shape to a range of impact-driven programming and outreach, furthering Salk’s mission of bettering humanity by pushing the boundaries of innovation and discovery.

Next Gen

Katia Troha—Discovering diets that boost survival during infection

Growing up in Peru, Troha’s love of science was fueled by documentaries on groundbreaking studies like the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep. She is now a postdoctoral researcher in the Salk lab of Professor Janelle Ayres.

Summer Scholars

Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars program paves the way for future scientists

For more than 30 years, Salk’s Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars program has provided hands-on laboratory experiences for local high school students interested in exploring careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

President’s Letter

“The one constant has been a sense of continual evolution and growth of the leadership team, the community, and the faculty—growth propelled by a commitment to our mission of serving humanity by conducting the most impactful science in a supportive environment.”

Fred H. Gage
President
View President’s letter

View Board Chair letter

Discoveries

neuroscienceNeurosciencemaking-a-memory-positive-or-negativeMaking a memory positive or negativeProfessor Kay Tye, co-first author Hao Li, and team have discovered a molecule in the brain responsible for associating good or bad feelings with a memory. Their finding paves the way for a better understanding of why some people are more likely to retain negative emotions than positive ones—as can occur with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).See All
plant-biologyPlant Biologythe-best-offense-is-a-great-defense-for-some-carnivorous-plantsThe best offense is a great defense for some carnivorous plantsInsect-eating plants have fascinated biologists for more than a century, but how plants evolved the ability to capture and consume live prey has largely remained a mystery. Professor Joanne Chory, Staff Scientist Carl Procko, and colleagues from Washington University in St. Louis have found evidence that plant carnivory evolved from mechanisms plants use to defend themselves. The findings broaden scientists’ understanding of how plants interact with their environments.See All
geneticsGeneticsdiscovery-advances-the-potential-of-gene-therapy-to-restore-hearing-lossDiscovery advances the potential of gene therapy to restore hearing lossSensory hair cells in the inner ear use long, hair-like structures called stereocilia to transduce sound. In the absence of the protein EPS8, stereocilia are too short to function, leading to deafness. Assistant Research Professor Uri Manor and colleagues from the University of Sheffield found that delivery of EPS8 can rescue stereocilia elongation and function in mice affected by the loss of EPS8. Their study shows promise for the development of gene therapies to repair hearing loss.See All
immune-system-biologyImmune System Biologyhair-raising-research-the-fascinating-link-between-the-immune-system-and-hair-growthHair-raising research: The fascinating link between the immune system and hair growthAssociate Professor Ye Zheng, first author Zhi Liu, and colleagues have uncovered an unexpected molecular target of a common treatment for alopecia, a condition in which a person’s immune system attacks their own hair follicles, causing hair loss. Their findings describe how immune cells interact with skin cells using a hormone as a messenger to generate new hair follicles and hair growth.See All
healthy-agingHealthy Agingnew-target-identified-for-treatment-of-premature-aging-diseaseNew target identified for treatment of premature aging diseaseProfessor Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, co-first author Pradeep Reddy, and colleagues from KAUST in Saudi Arabia have discovered that a stretch of DNA that hops around the human genome plays a role in premature aging disorders. In people with early aging, or progeria, RNA encoded by this mobile DNA builds up inside cells. What’s more, the scientists found that blocking this RNA reverses the disease in mice.See All
infectious-diseaseInfectious Diseaseimaging-solves-mystery-of-how-large-hiv-protein-functions-to-form-infectious-virusImaging solves mystery of how large HIV protein functions to form infectious virusAssistant Professor Dmitry Lyumkis, co-first author Dario Passos, and colleagues from Rutgers University have determined the molecular structure of HIV Pol, a protein that plays a key role in the late stages of HIV replication—the process through which the virus propagates itself and spreads through the body. The molecule’s structure helps answer long-standing questions about how the protein breaks itself apart to advance the replication process. The discovery reveals a new vulnerability in the virus that could be targeted with drugs.See All

Spotlight

Todd Michael receives $2 million to build a genome repository for the cassava plant

Todd Michael receives $2 million to build a genome repository for the cassava plant

Research Professor Todd Michael received nearly $2 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to sequence the genomes of multiple lineages of the cassava plant, the large starchy root vegetable also known as yuca root that is consumed in more than 80 countries around the world. A better understanding of cassava genetics will help […]
Janelle Ayres joins Cancer Grand Challenges team tackling cancer cachexia

Janelle Ayres joins Cancer Grand Challenges team tackling cancer cachexia

An international team of researchers, including Professor Janelle Ayres, Salk Institute Legacy Chair, was selected to receive a $25 million Cancer Grand Challenges award to tackle the challenge of cancer cachexia, a debilitating wasting condition that often leads to a poor quality of life for people in the later stages of cancer. Known as the […]
Joseph Swift receives Australia to USA Graduate Education Scholarship

Joseph Swift receives Australia to USA Graduate Education Scholarship

Joseph Swift, a postdoctoral fellow in Professor Joseph Ecker’s lab, received a scholarship from the American Australian Association. As a plant biologist, Swift is driven to conduct research that can help mitigate the effects of climate change. Both Australia and the United States are facing drier futures. To help adapt agriculture, he will study how […]
Wen Mai Wong named Damon Runyon Fellow

Wen Mai Wong named Damon Runyon Fellow

Wen Mai Wong, a postdoctoral fellow in Associate Professor Sreekanth Chalasani’s lab, was named one of 16 new Damon Runyon Fellows by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. The prestigious, four-year fellowship encourages the nation’s most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding. Wong is using ultrasound […]
View All

Events

Congratulations to our 2022 Salk Women & Science Research Award recipients

Congratulations to our 2022 Salk Women & Science Research Award recipients

26th Annual Symphony at Salk

26th Annual Symphony at Salk

Salk’s acclaimed annual concert under the stars and largest fundraiser of the year raised more than $1.1 million to support the Institute’s leading-edge research in the fields of aging, cancer, neuroscience, immunology, climate change, and more. The event was held in the Institute’s iconic Courtyard on August 20 and featured a breathtaking performance by Tony, […]
Women & Science: A Discussion on Diversity and Mentorship

Women & Science: A Discussion on Diversity and Mentorship

On November 2, the Salk Women & Science program held a special event to announce the 2022 Women & Science Research Award recipients and discuss the importance of diversity and mentorship. The event featured keynote speaker Lola M. Adeyemo, founder and CEO of EQI Mindset LLC, co-founder and COO of Sapient Logic LLC, and author […]
View All

Sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Latest discoveries, events & more.