29th Annual Symphony at Salk Program

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M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T Unlocking the secrets of life itself is the driving force behind the Salk Institute.

Our team of world-class, award-winning scientists pushes the boundaries of knowledge in areas such as neuroscience, cancer research, aging, immunobiology, plant biology, computational biology, and more. Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. www.salk.edu

Follow us on:

@salkinstitute

29th annual Symphony at Salk printed program printed by Neyenesch Printers.

Dear Friends, On behalf of the Salk Institute, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the sold-out 29th annual Symphony at Salk. Tonight is a night like no other—the only evening each year when our iconic Courtyard, framed by the timeless architecture of Louis Kahn, is transformed into an outdoor concert venue.

Under the stars, and among some of the brightest minds in science, we gather to celebrate the limitless potential of discovery, creativity, and our ability to improve the quality of lives for future generations.

We are excited to present this extraordinary night of music featuring the renowned San Diego Symphony alongside the incomparable Kristin Chenoweth. We are honored to host such world-class talent in this unique setting, where science and art come together to inspire us all. Thank you to our presenting sponsors, Rita and Brian Kaspar, and our Zenith sponsors Ann Tsukamoto-Weissman and Irv Weissman, for making it all possible. You are true champions of science!

An evening like this does not come together without vision, dedication, and tireless effort. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the 2025 Symphony at Salk Committee, led by Salk Trustee Amy Jacobs and including Florence Cheng, Brian Kaspar, and Priscilla Wood Balikian. Their commitment to the Institute and to this special evening helps propel Salk’s mission forward.

And to you, our esteemed sponsors and guests, thank you for being here tonight and for your steadfast support.

By joining us, you are not only experiencing a night of world-class entertainment, you are also advancing groundbreaking scientific research that has the power to change lives.

Tonight, we are especially mindful of the urgent need to drive discovery in Alzheimer’s disease. This devastating illness touches millions of lives and families around the world. Here at Salk, our scientists are making remarkable strides in understanding the fundamental mechanisms that drive this disease, including chronic inflammation, genome instability, and dysregulated energy metabolism, to forge new approaches in early diagnosis and treatment.

Your generosity fuels this vital work, enabling innovations that have the potential to transform the future of human health.

As the music rises and the stars shine, let us celebrate the spirit of exploration and imagination that defines Salk.

Together, we are championing a brighter future—one idea, one discovery, and one breakthrough at a time.

Thank you again for joining us for this magnificent evening. Enjoy the show!

With warm regards,

Gerald Joyce Salk Institute President 1

SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST

KRI STIN C HENOWETH Actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth has garnered widespread acclaim for her work across film, television, and stage. She won an Emmy Award for Pushing Daisies (2009) and a Tony Award for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999). Chenoweth is celebrated for her iconic Broadway role as the original Glinda in Wicked, and she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015. A passionate advocate for arts education, Chenoweth founded Broadway Bootcamp in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

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“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.”

JONAS SALK

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SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Founded in 1910, the San Diego Symphony is the oldest orchestra in California and one of the largest and most significant cultural organizations in San Diego.

The orchestra performs more than 140 concerts to over 250,000 people each season, offering a wide variety of programming at its two much-loved venues, Copley Symphony Hall in downtown San Diego and The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, its breathtaking outdoor venue on San Diego Bay. Rafael Payare serves as music director, leading the orchestra’s 82 full-time musicians, graduates of the finest and most celebrated music schools in the US and abroad. Payare’s profound musicianship, technical brilliance, and charismatic presence on the podium have elevated him as one of the most sought-after young conductors in the country.

The orchestra also performs each season with the San Diego Opera and appears regularly at several regional performing arts centers. And for more than 30 years, it has offered comprehensive music education and community engagement programs reaching more than 65,000 students annually and bringing innovative programming to San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods and schools. For more information, visit www.sandiegosymphony.org.

MARY-MITCHELL CAMPBELL , CONDUCTOR Mary-Mitchell Campbell is an award-winning music director, orchestrator, and educator with extensive Broadway, touring, and concert credits. She frequently performs with artists such as Kristin Chenoweth, Gavin Creel, Jessica Vosk, and Raul Esparza, and has collaborated with pop icons including Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Carole King, and Josh Groban.

Her screen work includes serving as music director and orchestrator for HBO’s Homeschool Musical, vocal director for Peacock’s Girls5Eva, and vocal coach for Disney+’s Better Nate Than Ever, in which she also appeared.

She has conducted leading symphonies across the country, including the Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, and Nashville symphonies, and will lead the Colorado Symphony’s Imagination Artist Series. A Drama Desk Award winner for Company, she’s also been nominated for her orchestrations of Allegro and Hello Again.

A lifelong advocate for arts education, Mary-Mitchell Campbell is the Founder and President of ArtsIgnite, working globally to empower youth through the arts. She also serves on the advisory board of Maestra and is a founding member of MUSE. Originally from North Carolina, she holds degrees from Furman University and UNCSA, where she also received an honorary doctorate.

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Mary-Mitchell Campbell

Credit: Amir Hamja

for The New York Times

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SALK SCIENCE IN THE NEWS 2024-2025 BIOCHEMISTRY/ BIOPHYSICS The dysfunction of microscopic highways (called microtubules) and vehicles (called motor proteins) in our cells can lead to severe developmental and neurological disorders. Assistant Professor Agnieszka Kendrick captured footage showing how one of these motor proteins, dynein, and its partner protein, Lis1, work together. The insights pave the way for new therapeutics that restore their function—an especially urgent task in the fight to cure lissencephaly, a fatal Lis1-caused neurodevelopmental disorder.

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology May 2025

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Muscle loss accelerates with age, confounds with systemic diseases like sepsis or cancer, and is an unintended consequence of GLP-1 medications. Professor Ronald Evans discovered that the protein BCL6 is key to maintaining healthy muscle mass in mice, suggesting that BCL6-boosting drugs could help prevent or counteract unwanted muscle loss in these vulnerable populations.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 2025

ABOVE: Compound lipid fluxes are depicted as rivers and waterfalls flowing down a human-shaped mountain, leading to distinct pools, including liver- and heart-shaped lakes. Different fatty acids flow down the mountain at their own pace and thus drive distinct chronic or acute pathologies. CREDIT: Salk Institute

M E TA B O LI S M Addressing cardiovascular diseases and adverse health events like stroke or heart attacks starts with understanding their causes. Professor Christian Metallo discovered that, beyond cholesterol, another class of lipids called sphingolipids contributed to arterial plaques and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in mice fed high-fat diets—making sphingolipids a promising new therapeutic target.

Cell Metabolism November 2024 LEFT: The stomach sends hunger signals to the brain in the form of ghrelin (blue arrow), prompting the brain to send growth hormone to muscle tissue (pink line). In the foreground, a closer look at the muscle reveals growth hormone (pink orbs) influencing BCL6 (purple blob) to attach to the cell’s DNA (purple chain), where it is able to control the production of IGF1. CREDIT: Salk Institute

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C A N CE R Professor Tony Hunter discovered that a protein called PIN1—first identified in his lab in 1996—drives bladder cancer by triggering the synthesis of cholesterol, which cancer then uses as fuel to grow. The researchers developed an effective treatment regimen that largely halted tumor growth in their mouse model of cancer: sulfopin, an experimental PIN1 inhibitor not yet tested in humans, and simvastatin, a statin already used in humans for lowering cholesterol levels.

Cancer Discovery January 2025 LEFT: Two syringes representing experimental PIN1 inhibitor sulfopin and simvastatin being injected into a bladder tumor, symbolizing the experimental treatment combination against bladder cancer. CREDIT: Salk Institute

I M M U N O B I O LO G Y Recently, scientists have noticed that the SSRI Prozac protects patients against extreme infection in COVID-19 and sepsis, a condition where the body’s inflammatory response runs out of control and causes internal damage.

Professor Janelle Ayres revealed that Prozac regulates the immune system and defends against infectious disease—meaning the drug has highly effective dual offense and defense abilities. These insights could lead to a new generation of life-saving treatments and enhance global preparedness for future pandemics.

Science Advances February 2025 RIGHT: In the foreground, a pill bottle of fluoxetine (Prozac) is divided into purple and pink sides to represent the different uses for the drug. On the purple left side, a brain and neuron network represent the drug’s neurological effects and original use as an antidepressant. On the pink right side, a heart, immune cells, and bacteria represent the drug’s immunological effects and protective nature against infection. CREDIT: Salk Institute 29 TH ANNUAL SYMPHONY AT SALK

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C O M P U TAT I O N A L

B I O LO G Y

Quantifying the physical features of our brain cells is essential to understand how humans learn and remember, as well as how those processes evolve over time or deteriorate with disease. Professor Terrence Sejnowski established a new method for exploring synaptic strength, precision of plasticity, and amount of information storage, which he then used to discover that our brains can store 10 times more information than we previously thought.

Neural Computation May 2024 RIGHT: Two neurons, one in full (left, light purple) and one partially out of frame (right, light blue) on top of a background of zeros and ones to symbolize the unit of bits used to quantify information storage in synapses. The neuron on the left is sending messages to the neuron on the right. Synapses use an electrical pulse to process and send information.

P L A N T

S CI E N CE

CREDIT: Salk Institute

N E U R O S CI E N CE

Industrial farming practices often deplete the soil of

Deep breath in, slow breath out… Isn’t it odd that we

important nutrients and minerals, leaving farmers to

can self-soothe by consciously slowing down our

rely on artificial fertilizers that are energy-intensive

breathing? Associate Professor Sung Han is the

to produce in addition to polluting water, air, and

first to identify a specific brain circuit in mice that

land. Assistant Professor Lena Mueller proposes

allows for this voluntarily regulation of breathing.

that we pivot to more sustainable farming practices

The cells and molecules in this circuit could be

by boosting symbiotic relationships between plants

promising targets for therapeutics that

and fungi—and shows that supplementing soil with

prevent hyperventilation and regulate

the peptide CLE16 can do just that.

anxiety, panic, or post-traumatic

The Proceedings of the National Academy of

stress disorders.

Nature Neuroscience November 2024

Sciences April 2025

Keep up to date on Salk’s latest discoveries to learn how Salk scientists are working to improve the world for the better. Scan the QR code to sign up for Salk’s Newsletter.

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S Y M P H O N Y

P O S T E R S

FRANÇOISE

GILOT’S Window on the Nile (1998)

Françoise Gilot was an art icon, best-selling author, and wife of Salk Institute founder Jonas Salk. She generously lent her artistic vision and enduring support by serving as the honorary chair of Symphony at Salk from its inception in 1996 to her death in 2023 at the age of 101.

Her original artwork became a signature element of Symphony at Salk, gracing the stage as striking backdrops, welcoming guests at the Institute’s entrance, and featured on the collectible posters cherished by attendees.

This year’s selected artwork is Window on the Nile (1998), an oil on canvas measuring 13 .75" x 9 .5" influenced by Cubism and Abstract Expressionism, and a vibrant reflection of her distinctive style.

Each summer, the beautiful posters Gilot has created for every Symphony at Salk event line the fence leading to Salk’s iconic Courtyard.

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Salk Institute

Discovery Society

Introducing the Discovery Society— Salk’s premier loyalty program for visionary supporters of science

At the Salk Institute, bold science meets boundless possibility. Now, through the Discovery Society, you can become part of an exclusive community that champions pioneering research and helps shape the future of human health, agriculture, and technology. Your support empowers breakthroughs across cancer, Alzheimer’s, healthy aging, plant science, and more.

As a Discovery Society member, you’ll enjoy benefits such as exclusive invitations to events, early access to major discoveries, and personalized VIP tours of Salk’s iconic architecture and labs. It’s a front-row seat to the future of science and a lasting connection to a global community of changemakers.

Become a member today.

Help turn bold ideas into life-changing discoveries.

Learn more and visit us at www.salk.edu/Discovery-Society or email giving@salk.edu.

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JOANNE CHORY

1955-2024

Salk professor and pioneering plant biologist

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The Salk Institute honors Professor Joanne Chory, one of the world’s preeminent plant biologists and environmental activists, director of the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, and holder of the Howard H. and Maryam R. Newman Chair in Plant Biology. Chory passed away on November 12, 2024, at the age of 69 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.

“Joanne was one of the most influential plant biologists of the modern era and a beloved member of the Salk community.

Her leadership, compassion, and joy will be forever missed on our campus and beyond,” says Salk President Gerald Joyce. “It has been a true privilege to know Joanne. Her brilliant work will live on, and just might save the world.”

Chory joined Salk in 1988 as an assistant professor and one of the first plant biologists at the Institute. Over the next 30 years, she revolutionized the field of plant molecular genetics, using modern laboratory techniques to learn how plants sense and react to the world around them. Her work completely changed our understanding of how genetic and environmental factors influence plant growth, including her seminal discovery of the genetics behind how sunlight stimulates plant growth.

“Joanne and I worked very closely together over the past several years,” says Salk Professor Wolfgang Busch, holder of the Hess Chair in Plant Science. “Her bright mind, her incredible passion, her energy, and her deep insights into science—and what science can be—were

Chory’s research helped reveal that plants could be optimized to help address the atmospheric carbon crisis, laying the foundation for Harnessing Plants Initiative. Chory and her colleagues used their expertise to develop the first line of Salk Ideal Plants®, whose enhanced root systems can capture excess carbon from the atmosphere and store it deep in the soil for decades or even centuries. Once planted worldwide, Salk Ideal Plants could make a transformative impact in cleaning our air, preserving our natural landscapes, and supporting the future of agriculture. Chory dedicated the final chapter of her distinguished career to this mission—the culmination of her life’s work.

Chory was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and a member of several elite scientific academies, including the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She was one of the most highly cited researchers in the world and was recognized with numerous awards, including the L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Award, the Gruber Genetics Prize, the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the Princess of Asturias Award, the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, the Wolf Prize in Agriculture, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science.

Born on March 19, 1955, in Boston, Massachusetts, Chory was raised with five siblings by Lebanese parents. She attended Oberlin College for her undergraduate degree in biology, completed her PhD in microbiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School. Chory is survived by her husband, Stephen, her two children, Joe and Katie, and her granddaughter, Sadie Jo. Scan the QR code to see how you can join us in supporting Joanne’s legacy.

one of a kind. It had been such a privilege to work with her, to get to know her as a person, and to have her as a friend. The loss is immeasurable.”

HPI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WOLFGANG BUSCH

Opposite page: Joanne Chory in the Salk Courtyard. Credit: Salk Institute; Right: Joanne in 1989 and with her family.

Joanne in 1989

With her family.

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Peace of Mind Begins with the Right Partner.

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At Whittier Trust, we believe in the quiet strength of true partnership—rooted in integrity, guided by expertise, and focused on preserving what matters most.

We’re proud to support this year’s Symphony at Salk, a celebration of innovation and excellence. Just as music brings harmony, the right fiduciary partner provides clarity and continuity across generations. We’re honored to be part of the San Diego community and this inspiring event.

Investment Management & Consulting | Trust Services

Family Office | Philanthropy & Family Continuity | Real Estate

CONTACT WHIT BATCHELOR | 858.394.1005 | KILEY BARNHORST MACDONALD | 858.394.1010 WHITTIERTRUST.COM Investment and Wealth Management Services are provided by Whittier Trust Company and The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada, Inc. (referred to herein individually and collectively as “Whittier Trust”), state-chartered trust companies wholly owned by Whittier Holdings, Inc. (“WHI”), a closely held holding company. This document is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended, and should not be construed, as investment, tax or legal advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and no investment or financial planning strategy can guarantee profit or protection against losses. All names, characters, and incidents, except for certain incidental references, are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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2025: Salk’s Year of Alzheimer’s Disease Research A new chapter in the fight against this devastating condition

Alzheimer’s disease continues to take a heartbreaking toll—on individuals, families, and society at large. More than 6 million Americans are living with the disease, and that number is expected to double by 2050. Despite decades of research and over $30 billion invested by the US government since 1984, the needle has barely moved in terms of effective treatments.

At the Salk Institute, we believe it’s time to reimagine how we approach this disease.

That’s why we’ve declared 2025 the Year of Alzheimer’s Disease Research.

The prevailing Alzheimer’s research narrative has long been centered on the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain—hallmarks of the disease visible in autopsies for over a century. Yet, targeting these features has yielded disappointing clinical results.

It’s clear we need to broaden the scope of inquiry. At Salk, we are pivoting toward a deeper exploration of a critical yet largely overlooked driver of Alzheimer’s disease: chronic inflammation.

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This focus offers promising new leads. Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized not just as a side effect of aging but as a key driver of neurodegeneration. When the immune system remains in a constant state of alert, the body suffers collateral damage—including the brain. Our researchers are investigating how specific immune responses might be modulated to protect neurons rather than harm them.

Chronic inflammation is driven in part by genome instability and disrupted energy metabolism. Genome instability—when the machinery that maintains our DNA falters—can lead to an accumulation of mutations and cellular dysfunction. In a healthy brain, cells repair DNA damage efficiently. But in the aging brain, and especially in Alzheimer’s, this repair system often breaks down. Our scientists are unraveling how and why this occurs, and what can be done to correct it.

Energy metabolism is also a major contributor to chronic inflammation. The brain, while only about 2% of our body mass, uses roughly 20% of our energy.

When neurons can’t efficiently generate energy, their functions deteriorate. Our teams are investigating the roots of this breakdown and how we might restore energy balance within the brain’s cells.

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Crucially, we’re expanding our attention beyond neurons to include glial cells, which make up roughly half the cells in the human brain. These generally underappreciated cells act as support staff—cleaning up waste, insulating neurons, and managing immune responses. Emerging evidence suggests that when glial cells malfunction, they may actively contribute to Alzheimer’s pathology. This area is ripe for discovery.

At the Salk Institute, innovation often emerges at the intersection of scientific disciplines. We are uniquely positioned to tackle Alzheimer’s from this new angle, thanks to our deep expertise in neuroscience, molecular biology, immunology, and aging. Our collaborative, curiosity-driven environment empowers researchers to ask bold questions and pursue ideas that don’t fit neatly into conventional boxes.

Salk’s prime objective has always been and always will be to produce high-impact science—that’s what the Institute does best. Ultimately, our discoveries will spur the development of precision diagnostics that can detect Alzheimer’s early and tailored therapies that slow or halt its progression.

The Year of Alzheimer’s Disease Research is a statement of our ongoing commitment to focus on one of the most pressing biomedical challenges of our time. It’s an invitation to rethink, retool, and reinvest in a future where growing old no longer means risking losing one’s sense of self.

Learn more and donate to support this work by scanning the QR code, or visit www.salk.edu/Alzheimers.

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THE DAY POLIO MET ITS MATCH C E L E B R A T I N G T H E

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eventy years ago, on April 12, 1955, a scientific breakthrough changed the course of public health and inspired hope worldwide. The polio vaccine developed

by Jonas Salk and colleagues was officially declared “safe, effective, and potent”—a monumental triumph over one of the most feared diseases of the 20th century.

“The most successful public health interventions are often overlooked or underappreciated—we take them for granted because you don’t see what’s not there,” says Salk Institute President Gerald Joyce. “Join us in remembering what polio took away from many families and communities, the hope and security that Jonas Salk brought us, and the value of vaccines to the past, present, and future of humanity.”

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Jonas Salk continues to be a hero to many.

Jonas Salk, a young virologist and researcher, took on the challenge of defeating polio. Unlike other vaccine developers of the time, Salk pursued a vaccine based on killed poliovirus—an innovative approach that was safer and simpler to produce.

By 1954, Salk’s vaccine had undergone rigorous testing in one of the largest clinical trials in history.

Nearly 2 million children, affectionately called the “Polio Pioneers,” participated. When the announcement came the following year that the vaccine was both safe and effective, celebrations erupted across the nation.

On this milestone anniversary, here are some key things to know:

Polio was terrifying.

In the early 20th century, polio struck fear in families around the globe. A particularly devastating outbreak in 1952 claimed more than 3,000 lives and left tens of thousands with severe impairments. Victims of the disease could face lifelong disabilities, paralysis, or even death. The sight of children in wheelchairs and iron lungs underscored the desperation for a cure.

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By 1954, Salk’s vaccine had been tested in one of the largest clinical trials, involving nearly 2 million children known as the “Polio Pioneers.”

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Bulletin clipping announcing the polio vaccine to be safe and effective.

Jonas Salk’s decision not to patent the vaccine— famously stating, “Could you patent the sun?”— ensured its widespread distribution. This act of altruism exemplified his commitment to humanity. In 1960, Salk furthered his vision of advancing science for the public good by founding the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a hub for big, bold, lifesaving research.

Jonas Salk administering the polio vaccine.

From left: Louis Kahn and Jonas Salk engage in a discussion over the Salk Institute model.

The polio vaccine’s impact still resonates today.

The widespread use of Salk’s vaccine led to an unprecedented drop in polio cases. In the US, average annual cases plummeted from 45,000 before the vaccine to just over 900 by 1962.

Worldwide, polio cases have fallen by more than 99 percent since the vaccine’s introduction, thanks to collaborative global efforts and expanded immunization programs. Today, polio is on the verge of eradication—a testament to the power of vaccines and public health initiatives.

The work of safeguarding humanity is never truly done.

Seventy years later, the success of the Salk vaccine serves as an important reminder of what science and collaboration can achieve. While polio has been nearly eradicated, the ongoing threat of other infectious diseases reminds us that the work of safeguarding humanity is never truly done.

Jonas Salk conquered polio through his bold science and generous spirit. As we celebrate this landmark anniversary, join us in honoring the lives he saved and celebrating the innovation he continues to inspire.

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MAKE A LEGACY GIFT TO SALK Together, we can build a healthier, brighter tomorrow—one discovery at a time. By including the Salk Institute in your estate plans, you empower long-term, risk-taking research and innovation that may not be eligible for current funding and will drive breakthroughs to improve human health and wellbeing for decades to come. Many gifts have financial and tax benefits, and all allow for naming opportunities to honor your family or a loved one.

We invite you to be the newest member of Partners in Research, Salk’s legacy society, and enjoy exclusive invitations to events, early access to major discoveries, VIP tours of Salk’s iconic architecture and labs, and so much more!

To learn more about including Salk in your estate plans, please visit www.salk.edu/plannedgiving or contact Cheryl Dean at (858) 543-1228 or cdean@salk.edu.

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Salk Institute Faculty Nobel Laureates

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Elizabeth Blackburn Physiology or Medicine, 2009

Sydney Brenner (1927–2019) Physiology or Medicine, 2002

Roger Guillemin (1924–2024) Physiology or Medicine, 1977

Renato Dulbecco (1914–2012) Physiology or Medicine, 1975

Robert William Holley (1922–1993) Physiology or Medicine, 1968

Francis H. C. Crick (1916–2004) Physiology or Medicine, 1962

ANNOUNCING THE

SHILEY STEM INITIATIVE Thanks to a visionary gift from Darlene Marcos Shiley, we are transforming STEM education and research at USD.

sandiego.edu/STEM 23

Board of Trustees

Faculty

Marna C. Whittington (Chair)

Gerald Joyce

Rusty Gage

Lena Mueller

Terry Rosen (Vice Chair)

(President)

Martyn Goulding

Axel Nimmerjahn

Sung Han

Joseph Noel

Diana Hargreaves

Clodagh O’Shea

Daniel Hollern

Satchidananda Panda

Tony Hunter

Samuel Pfaff

Susan Kaech

Deepshika Ramanan

Agnieszka Kendrick

John Reynolds

Pallav Kosuri

Alan Saghatelian

Julie Law

Terrence Sejnowski

Edward Callaway

Kuo-Fen Lee

Gerald Shadel

Amy Jacobs

Sreekanth Chalasani

Dmitry Lyumkis

Tatyana Sharpee

Sanjay K. Jha

Jesse Dixon

Pamela Maher

Reuben Shaw

Mark Knickrehm

Joseph Ecker

Graham McVicker

Christina Towers

Benjamin H. Lewis

Dannielle Engle

Christian Metallo

Kay Tye

Fred Luddy

Ronald Evans

Todd Michael

Ye Zheng

Gerald Joyce (President) Janelle Ayres Wolfgang Busch David Dolby Frederick J. Dotzler Jay Flatley Carol Gallagher Richard A. Heyman Lyn Hutton

Jan Karlseder (Chief Science Officer) Nicola Allen Kenta Asahina Janelle Ayres Eiman Azim Daniel Bayless Margarita Behrens Wolfgang Busch

Corinne Mentzelopoulos Christian Metallo Howard H. Newman Frederik Paulsen Markus Reinhard Eric Sagerman Mary Jane Salk

Nonresident Fellows Lewis C. Cantley

Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz

Carla J. Shatz

Douglas R. Green

J. Anthony Movshon

Detlef Weigel

Mary Lou Guerinot

Stephen Quake

Irving Weissman

David Julius

Brenda Schulman

Timothy M. Schoen Haeyoung Kong Tang Daniel Tierney

Resident Fellows

Horacio Valeiras

Adam Bowman

Irving Weissman

Talmo Pereira

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Innovating at the intersection of memory, aging, and computational biology At Refactor Bio, we believe that extending life means preserving what makes it meaningful—our memories, our stories, and the people we love. Led by Founder and Chief Scientist Philip Cheung, our team uses cutting-edge bioinformatics and drug design to accelerate therapeutic discovery for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

As proud supporters of the Symphony at Salk, we stand with the scientists whose groundbreaking work is redefining the future of neuroscience.

“The Salk Institute’s pioneering research aligns deeply with our mission at Refactor Bio. Supporting their work is not just an investment in science—it’s a commitment to a future where cognitive decline is no longer inevitable.”

PHILIP CHEUNG FOUNDER & CHIEF SCIENTIST, REFACTOR BIO

Scan the QR Code to connect with Cheung on LinkedIn

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Donald Cohn 1931-2025

The Salk Institute thanks Donald Cohn, former member of our Board of Trustees, for his service and dedication to science and Symphony at Salk. You will be missed.

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Listen to all-new episodes of Salk’s podcast,

Beyond Lab Walls®

In our Year of Alzheimer’s Disease Research, we’re sitting down with the experts behind Salk’s bold new approach to studying Alzheimer’s. Hear from Jeff Jones, a staff scientist from South Florida whose experiments are revealing the role of DNA damage in aging and Alzheimer’s—and how brain organoids could help us find a way to fix it. Subscribe and stay tuned to hear what makes Alzheimer’s research at Salk so special.

29 TH ANNUAL SYMPHONY AT SALK

Beyond Lab Walls is a production of the Salk Office of Communications and can be heard on Apple and Google podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Scan the QR code to visit www.salk.edu/podcast.

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2025 Symphony at Salk Sponsors The Salk Institute extends its heartfelt appreciation to the following individuals, foundations, and corporations for their generous and loyal support of the 29th annual Symphony at Salk.

Presenting Sponsor

Supernova

Galaxy

Rita and Brian Kaspar

BioMed Realty

Dr. and Mrs. Richard

Zenith

Family and Friends of Joanne Chory

Ann Tsukamoto-Weissman and Irv Weissman

and Priscilla Balikian

Frederick and Cassandra Dotzler

Cooley LLP

Sarah and Jay Flatley

East End Advisors, LLC

Hutton-Zimmerman Family

Feuerstein Family

Irwin Jacobs

Carol and John Gallagher

La Mer

Rich Heyman and Anne Daigle

Show Imaging

Amy and Adam Jacobs

Marna and Tom Whittington

Sanjay and Fiona Jha Rodeki Foundation Gerald F. Joyce and Nancy McTigue George W. and Carol Ann Lattimer Fred and Adriana Luddy Darlene Marcos-Shiley NOMIS Foundation Terry Rosen Eric and Jane Sagerman Haeyoung Tang Amy and Horacio Valeiras

28

Aurora

Star

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

Bright Event Rentals

Symphony at Salk 2025 Committee

Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Dan and Phyllis Epstein

Amy Jacobs (Chair)

David and Linda Hale

Fidelity Investments

Florence Cheng

Johnson & Johnson

Susanna and Michael Flaster

Brian Kaspar

Margaret T. Morris Foundation

Tony Hunter and Jenny Price

Priscilla Wood Balikian

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Tierney

KPBS

Wagon Wheel Investments

Drs. Melanie and Matthew Langford

Comet

Jones Zafari Group, Merrill Private Wealth

Anonymous Foundation Daniel and Annette Bradbury Bristol Myers Squibb Clark Construction Group Charles and Alicia Foster Elaine Galinson and Herb Solomon Jeff and Nancy Levinson Marie Raftery and Dr. Robert Rubenstein Thermo Fisher Scientific

Management Cheryl Noncarrow and Tim Hoops Padres Foundation Ranch & Coast Magazine Spencer Stuart The Wild Thyme Company Catering & Events

THE LA MER FELLOWSHIP IN HEALTHY AGING La Mer is proud to support Salk’s scientific research with a 3-year fellowship that epitomizes both organizations’ commitment to innovation and ingenuity.

Congratulations to Dr. Ankita Chadda, the inaugural fellow in this landmark program.

With a focus on exploring how aging disrupts cellular transport in neurons, Dr. Chadda’s work may reveal new strategies to prevent or reverse transport-related neurodegenerative diseases.

As a brand dedicated to enhancing the body’s innate functions through bioenergetic transformation, La Mer is honored to sponsor this groundbreaking research project.

30

29 TH ANNUAL SYMPHONY AT SALK