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. Follow us on: @salkinstitute www.salk.edu
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
CHENOWETH KRISTIN
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.
“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.”
JONAS SALK
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.
Mary-Mitchell Campbell
Credit : Amir Hamja
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
HEALTHY AGING
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
METABOLISM
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
IMMUNOBIOLOGY
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
CANCER
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
PLANT SCIENCE
Industrial farming practices often deplete the soil of important nutrients and minerals, leaving farmers to rely on artificial fertilizers that are energy-intensive to produce in addition to polluting water, air, and land. Assistant Professor Lena Mueller proposes that we pivot to more sustainable farming practices by boosting symbiotic relationships between plants and fungi—and shows that supplementing soil with the peptide CLE16 can do just that.
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences April 2025
NEUROSCIENCE
Deep breath in, slow breath out… Isn’t it odd that we can self-soothe by consciously slowing down our breathing? Associate Professor Sung Han is the first to identify a specific brain circuit in mice that allows for this voluntarily regulation of breathing. The cells and molecules in this circuit could be promising targets for therapeutics that prevent hyperventilation and regulate anxiety, panic, or post-traumatic stress disorders.
Nature Neuroscience November 2024
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.
SYMPHONY POSTERS
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.
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.
JOANNE CHORY
Salk professor and pioneering plant biologist
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.
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.
“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 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
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.
Joanne in 1989 With her family.
Opposite page: Joanne Chory in the Salk Courtyard. Credit: Salk Institute; Right: Joanne in 1989 and with her family.
Peace of Mind Begins with the Right Partner.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE DAY POLIO MET ITS MATCH
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF THE SALK VACCINE
Seventy 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.”
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
From left: Louis Kahn and Jonas Salk engage in a discussion over the Salk Institute model.
Jonas Salk administering the polio vaccine.
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
Salk Institute Faculty Nobel Laureates
Elizabeth Blackburn Physiology or Medicine, 2009
Renato Dulbecco (1914–2012)
Sydney Brenner (1927–2019) Physiology or Medicine, 2002
Robert William Holley (1922–1993)
Roger Guillemin (1924–2024) Physiology or Medicine, 1977
Francis H. C. Crick (1916–2004) Physiology or Medicine, 1962
SHILEY STEM INITIATIVE
Thanks to a visionary gift from Darlene Marcos Shiley, we are transforming STEM education and research at USD.
sandiego.edu/STEM
Faculty Board of Trustees
Marna C. Whittington (Chair)
Terry Rosen (Vice Chair)
Gerald Joyce (President)
Janelle Ayres
Wolfgang Busch
David Dolby
Frederick J. Dotzler
Jay Flatley
Carol Gallagher
Richard A. Heyman
Lyn Hutton
Amy Jacobs
Sanjay K. Jha
Mark Knickrehm
Benjamin H. Lewis
Fred Luddy
Corinne Mentzelopoulos
Christian Metallo
Howard H. Newman
Frederik Paulsen
Markus Reinhard
Eric Sagerman
Mary Jane Salk
Timothy M. Schoen
Haeyoung Kong Tang
Daniel Tierney
Horacio Valeiras
Irving Weissman
Gerald Joyce (President)
Jan Karlseder (Chief Science Officer)
Nicola Allen
Kenta Asahina
Janelle Ayres
Eiman Azim
Daniel Bayless
Margarita Behrens
Wolfgang Busch
Edward Callaway
Sreekanth Chalasani
Jesse Dixon
Joseph Ecker
Dannielle Engle
Ronald Evans
Rusty Gage
Martyn Goulding
Sung Han
Diana Hargreaves
Daniel Hollern
Tony Hunter
Susan Kaech
Agnieszka Kendrick
Pallav Kosuri
Julie Law
Kuo-Fen Lee
Dmitry Lyumkis
Pamela Maher
Graham McVicker
Christian Metallo
Todd Michael
Nonresident Fellows
Lewis C. Cantley
Douglas R. Green
Mary Lou Guerinot
David Julius
Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz
J. Anthony Movshon
Stephen Quake
Brenda Schulman
Lena Mueller
Axel Nimmerjahn
Joseph Noel
Clodagh O’Shea
Satchidananda Panda
Samuel Pfaff
Deepshika Ramanan
John Reynolds
Alan Saghatelian
Terrence Sejnowski
Gerald Shadel
Tatyana Sharpee
Reuben Shaw
Christina Towers
Kay Tye
Ye Zheng
Carla J. Shatz
Detlef Weigel
Irving Weissman
Resident Fellows
Adam Bowman
Talmo Pereira
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
DONALD COHN
Listen to all-new episodes of Salk’s podcast, Beyond Lab
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.
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.
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
Rita and Brian Kaspar
Zenith
Ann Tsukamoto-Weissman and Irv Weissman
Supernova
BioMed Realty
Family and Friends of Joanne Chory
Frederick and Cassandra Dotzler
Sarah and Jay Flatley
Hutton-Zimmerman Family
Irwin Jacobs
La Mer
Show Imaging
Marna and Tom Whittington
Galaxy
Dr. and Mrs. Richard and Priscilla Balikian Cooley LLP
East End Advisors, LLC
Feuerstein Family
Carol and John Gallagher
Rich Heyman and Anne Daigle
Amy and Adam Jacobs
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
Aurora
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
David and Linda Hale
Johnson & Johnson
Margaret T. Morris Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Tierney
Wagon Wheel Investments
Comet
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
Star
Bright Event Rentals
Dan and Phyllis Epstein
Fidelity Investments
Susanna and Michael Flaster
Tony Hunter and Jenny Price
KPBS
Drs. Melanie and Matthew Langford
Jones Zafari Group, Merrill Private Wealth Management
Cheryl Noncarrow and Tim Hoops
Padres Foundation
Ranch & Coast Magazine
Spencer Stuart
The Wild Thyme Company
Catering & Events
Symphony at Salk
2025 Committee
Amy Jacobs (Chair)
Florence Cheng
Brian Kaspar
Priscilla Wood Balikian
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.
