Spotlight

Senyei recently joined the Salk Institute’s Board of Trustees, bringing with him his decades of experience at the intersection of medicine, innovation, and investment.

Andrew “Drew” Senyei, MD, recently joined the Salk Institute’s Board of Trustees, bringing with him his decades of experience at the intersection of medicine, innovation, and investment. An inventor of the first FDA-approved test to predict preterm birth, now used by more than 8 million women worldwide, Senyei has played a key role in advancing transformative healthcare technologies, including as the founding investor in NuVasive and former executive chair of NeoSeq Ltd. His leadership across academic, nonprofit, and industry organizations will help support Salk’s efforts to translate fundamental biological discoveries into real-world impact. 

“Salk’s long-standing tradition of world-class, curiosity-driven basic biological research has consistently produced transformative discoveries, many of which began as unexpected findings and became the basis for new ways to prevent and treat disease. I am honored to join the board and assist in translating this extraordinary science into real-world impact.” 

ANDREW SENYEI 

The two scientists join a group of eminent scientific advisors who guide Salk’s leadership.

The Salk Institute recently welcomed two new Nonresident Fellows: Andrew Dillin, PhD, and Christopher Glass, MD, PhD. The two scientists join a group of eminent scientific advisors who guide Salk’s leadership. Dillin is a professor at UC Berkeley and a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator. He served as a faculty member at Salk from 2002 to 2012. His lab’s research on mitochondrial function and dysfunction in the aging process informs our understanding and treatment of aging-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s diseases. Glass is a professor at UC San Diego, where his lab studies the genetic and molecular mechanisms that control macrophage and microglia function in health and disease. 

Joseph Ecker, Ronald Evans, Rusty Gage, Christian Metallo, Satchin Panda, Reuben Shaw, Kay Tye, and Joseph Nery were named to Clarivate’s 2025 Highly Cited Researchers list.

Seven Salk Institute faculty members—Joseph Ecker, PhD, Ronald Evans, PhD, Rusty Gage, PhD, Christian Metallo, PhD, Satchin Panda, PhD, Reuben Shaw, PhD, and Kay Tye, PhD—along with research assistant Joseph Nery, were named to Clarivate’s 2025 Highly Cited Researchers list, recognizing scientists whose work has had exceptional global influence. Their inclusion underscores the international impact of Salk’s curiosity-driven research, which consistently shapes new fields of study and drives scientific advances that inform future technologies and medical treatments. 

Ramanan received the prestigious award in recognition of her creative and high-impact research on maternal immunity during pregnancy and lactation.

Salk scientist Deepshika Ramanan, PhD, received a prestigious New Innovators Award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recognizing her creative and high-impact research on maternal immunity during pregnancy and lactation. The five-year, $1.5 million award supports Ramanan’s pioneering work to uncover how maternal immune changes influence long-term health outcomes for both mothers and babies.

Each year, Curebound, a San Diego-based philanthropic organization, awards one-time seed grants of $250,000 to early-phase cancer research projects that require interinstitutional collaboration. Salk scientists Tony Hunter, PhD, Dannielle Engle, PhD, Reuben Shaw, PhD, and Ronald Evans, PhD, received these grants this year, representing four different projects and with partners at Sanford Burnham Prebys and UC San Diego. 

Georgia Lattanzi, PhD, a researcher in the lab of Daniel Hollern, PhD, was awarded funding for her project investigating how tiny particles released by tumor cells activate B cells to coordinate stronger, more comprehensive immune attacks. CRI recognizes the next generation of cancer immunotherapy innovations, investing in future scientific leaders such as Lattanzi who have the capacity to transform cancer care and research. 

Tony Hunter, PhD, received the 2025 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research in recognition of his “pioneering discoveries that inspired the development of more than 80 cancer therapies that continue to transform patient lives.” A committee of world-renowned scientists selected Hunter as this year’s recipient, adding him to the ranks of 25 other prestigious recipients. 

Harvey P. White, a distinguished leader, philanthropist, and dedicated supporter of the Institute, died on December 18, 2025, at the age of 91. White served on Salk’s Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2016 and was deeply committed to advancing science, education, and the arts. His service reflected a deep commitment to the power of science to improve human health and society.