Dear Friends,
At Salk, we believe that foundational science is the wellspring of discovery from which all innovation flows.
This issue of Inside Salk highlights the vital importance of foundational research. Before there can be breakthroughs in medicine or technology, before treatments and cures reach patients, there must be new insights—hard-won knowledge about how life works at a fundamental level. That is Salk’s mission.
You can see that philosophy reflected in our iconic River of Life, the water feature that runs through our majestic Courtyard. Designed by Luis Barragán in collaboration with architect Louis Kahn and our founder Jonas Salk, the water begins as a single stream, symbolizing the spark of discovery. It then flows west, drawing in knowledge and momentum as it tumbles into larger pools and finally meets the Pacific Ocean, a symbol of humanity’s expanding body of knowledge. As you will see in this issue, that metaphor continues to inspire us. Every cell we investigate and every gene we decode is a contribution to that river. It all starts in our labs here at Salk.
Foundational research at Salk has always been possible thanks to a highly effective partnership between federal funding and private philanthropy. Especially this year, as federal support has become increasingly unreliable, private philanthropy has become essential to our continued success and ongoing discoveries. Visionary donors give our scientists the flexibility to pursue bold, early-stage ideas that may not yet qualify for government grants. And when public funding stalls, private giving keeps us moving forward.
This is why we say science can’t wait. The world needs answers—to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, metabolic diseases, and threats to agriculture. The game-changing answers only come when we empower scientists to ask bold questions.
The work you’ll read about in this magazine wouldn’t be possible without the people who make Salk what it is: our remarkable scientists, our dedicated staff, our visionary Board of Trustees, and our generous donors and supporters. Your belief in Salk’s mission ensures that the River of Life continues to flow strongly, pushing science forward, for the benefit of us all.
With deep appreciation,
Gerald Joyce, MD, PhD
Salk Institute President
