Events

Salk’s “Rockstar”

Outgoing Salk Board Chair Irwin Jacobs was feted like rock royalty at the Trustees’ dinner in November at the La Jolla home of Michele and Ted Waitt, Salk’s new Board chair. In recognition of Jacobs’ decade of service and support of Salk science, the creation of a three-year, $50 million Rockstar Fund for faculty recruitment was announced. Jacobs remains on the Salk Board as chairman emeritus.

Back To Basics On Glia

Salk supporters filled the Conrad Prebys Auditorium for a Back to Basics lecture on November 9 featuring Nicola Allen, assistant professor in the Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory. Allen spoke about her lab’s research on glia, a cell proving essential for the brain to work properly. The Back to Basics program offers lay science lectures to the public twice a year.

Symposium Named For Ellen Potter

Nearly 100 science teachers attended the inaugural “Ellen Potter Research Connections for Teachers Symposium” at the Institute this fall in honor of Salk’s retiring Education Outreach director. The meeting for middle and high school teachers featured Salk scientists describing the latest trends in biological research on topics including cancer, diabetes and epigenetics. Potter retired in December after 38 years at the Institute, beginning as a research assistant in the Regulatory Biology Lab.

Blackburn Addresses President’s Club

President Elizabeth Blackburn spoke about her vision for the future of Salk and its scientific objectives at the annual President’s Club luncheon on November 30 at the Institute. Contributions at the President’s Club level are allocated to the areas of greatest need and make it possible to recruit and retain top-tier scientists, acquire the latest technology and fuel innovative research initiatives.

It Pays To Pedal

The Salk Institute received $300,000 for cancer research for participating in the Padres Pedal the Cause cycling fundraiser. More than 20 cyclists on Team Salk Cancer Center rode November 12–13 to help raise $2 million, which was shared with three other local research centers.

Keeping Pace With Salkexcellerators

Michelle Booden, Salk’s senior director of licensing and intellectual property, addressed Salkexcellerators’ fall forum in November with stories of how commercialized Salk technologies impacted diseases that affect human health. Salkexcellerators are the next generation of community members committed to supporting scientific discovery at the Institute. The 10-year-old program provides social and educational events throughout the year and supports a fellowship fund for the Institute’s postdoctoral researchers.

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