2025 Report Impact
On the cover: This image shows mouse pancreas tissue with different cell types highlighted using the GLYPH method developed in the Wang lab by Sara Ancel, PhD. Exocrine acinar cells appear in pink, pancreatic ducts in blue, and blood vessels in green.
(Will)
David A. Brenner, MD President and Chief Executive Officer
Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair
Advancing Together
As we begin to celebrate our 50th anniversary (1976–2026), it is appropriate to take note of the long list of achievements and milestones in the history of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.
By any name, the list is impressive: the discovery of integrins and the mechanisms of apoptosis or programmed cell death; co-invention of the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, precursor to many important diagnostic tests; and development of new treatments for hypophosphatasia (soft bone disease) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Some of our more recent successes are part of this report, but I want to talk about looking forward because as much as we are justifiably proud of what we have accomplished as an institute and as scientists and physicians, there is much more that can be done.
And there is much more we will do.
A big reason is the changing nature of scientific research, now driven and accelerated by new tools once unimaginable, particularly in the areas of data science, computational biology and artificial intelligence (AI).
These rapidly evolving technologies, along with dramatic advances in imaging, sequencing, gene editing, single-cell analysis and regenerative medicine, provide our extraordinarily talented faculty and staff with the means to meet and exceed our mission and vision in general and our ambitious strategic plan in particular.
That plan is bold in both aspiration and in execution. It breaks down into 15 principal initiatives:
1. Lead intensely targeted studies of the most critical diseases
2. Drive innovation through drug discovery and data sciences
3. Translate discoveries into health through commercialization
4. Increase research capacity
5. Grow the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, a unique resource
6. Prepare postdoctoral trainees for maximum success
7. Promote collaboration and innovation
8. Create seamless research support
9. Maintain a safe, compliant environment that supports scientific excellence
10. Accelerate discovery with the latest shared technology platforms
11. Enable data-driven decisionmaking
12. Develop multiple sources of revenue
13. Grow philanthropic support
14. Control costs
15. Enhance community outreach
Our ambitions are not modest. They are neither simple nor easy. They demand time, effort, expertise, experience, imagination and, critically, your support. We are making progress. With your continued help, we are advancing together.
David A. Brenner, MD President and Chief Executive Officer Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair
Celebrating 50 Years
Sanford Burnham Prebys was founded in 1976 by William Harold Fishman, MD (1914–2001), and his wife Lillian Waterman Fishman (1915–2013) after his retirement as professor, director and founder of the Cancer Research Center at Tufts University
The new entity was originally called the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation.
With early support from the National Cancer Institute, including designation in 1981 as only the third basic science cancer center in the United States (now one of seven), the Foundation grew and prospered.
In 1996, the Foundation was renamed The Burnham Institute following a $10 million gift from San Diego businessman Malin Burnham.
In 2007, philanthropist T. Denny Sanford gave the Institute $20 million, followed by another $50 million gift in 2010 initiating a name change to SanfordBurnham Medical Research Institute.
In 2015, the name became Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, honoring a $100 million gift from local philanthropist Conrad Prebys (1933-2016).
Learn more at sbpdiscovery50.org
NCI-Designated Cancer Center
Since 1981
Discovery, Decoded
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States (after heart disease), with more than 680,000 deaths each year. The lifetime risk of developing cancer in the U.S. is roughly 40% for men and 39% for women.
Cancer is not one disease, but more than 200 types, each with unique characteristics and treatment options—if effective treatment options exist. The mission of the Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys is to answer the fundamental questions in cancer biology that can address unmet clinical needs through forward-thinking translational studies.
The Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys is one of only seven National Cancer Institute–designated basic laboratory cancer centers in the nation.
To achieve success requires broad and innovative collaboration among many faculty specialists, from immunologists to cell biologists and experts in epigenetics, metabolism, the microbiome and aging, many working in two distinct programs: the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program and the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program.
These experts are further supported by the unique capabilities of the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, which offers unparalleled technical expertise in drug discovery.
Paul Boutros, PhD, MBA
Leading a new era of cancer research
Boutros joined the Institute in October 2025 as director of the National Cancer Institute–designated Cancer Center.
Prior to coming to Sanford Burnham Prebys, Boutros was a professor in the departments of Human Genetics and Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and interim vice dean for research.
He is the first computational biologist to oversee an NCI-designated cancer center, a network of 73 basic, clinical and comprehensive centers created as part of the National Cancer Act of 1971.
As a leading expert in harnessing artificial intelligence and data science to decode the complexity of can-
cer, Boutros will shape the future of discovery at the Institute. Boutros’ lab and collaborators are focusing on how the diverse elements of clinical, molecular and imaging data can be linked and leveraged to personalize therapies for cancer patients.
“I came to Sanford Burnham Prebys because this is quite literally the best place in the world to do transformative cancer research,” says Boutros.
“It has the right leadership, a nimble culture that embraces new ideas and a community ready to turn innovation into real impact for patients.”
Curebound Challenge
Dream Team continues its long-standing role at San Diego's largest cancer research fundraiser.
More than 3,000 riders, runners, walkers and spinners participated in the August 2025 Curebound Cancer Challenge, including the Sanford Burnham Prebys Dream Team. The event raised $4 million to advance cancer research in San Diego. Ten Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists were awarded eight grants in 2025.
Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases
Balance, Restored
At the heart of liver and health is the metabolism, a complex series of chemical reactions within the body that converts food into energy and maintains life. Yet, metabolic diseases run rampant, with more than one-third of U.S. adults having metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that raise the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other serious health problems.
Chief among these health threats is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, which afflicts 20 to 30% of adults in the U.S., and its more severe form metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which affects 5 to 10% of U.S. adults. Untreated, these conditions can lead to scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer and organ failure.
The goal of the Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases is to identify and interpret the underlying causes and drivers of metabolic and liver diseases, a continuum of research that includes basic intracellular signaling, metabolic translational research, human physiological studies and clinical trials.
Michael Karin, PhD
A globally recognized scientific leader
Karin was recruited in June as the founding director of the Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases, bringing decades of pioneering research on the role of chronic inflammation in cancer.
Prior to coming to Sanford Burnham Prebys, Karin was a distinguished professor of pharmacology and pathology and the Ben and Wanda Hildyard Chair for Mitochondrial and Metabolic Diseases at UC San Diego, where he served on the faculty for nearly 40 years.
related to metabolic stress and immunosuppression.
His work has been prolific and influential, with hundreds of published papers earning more than 360,000 citations from other scientists. He has received multiple awards and honors, and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the European Molecular Biology Association and the American Association of Cancer Research.
Spotlight on aging
For a decade, an international team of scientists, including researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys, has studied and chronicled the lives of centenarians living in the Cilento region of Italy.
The ongoing Cilento Initiative on Aging Outcomes (CIAO) seeks to uncover the biological and environmental factors that contribute to exceptional longevity by learning directly from people who are 100 years and older.
A symposium this year focused on analyzing accumulated data
In that time, Karin and collaborators discovered numerous revelatory links between chronic inflammation and cancer, including new signaling molecules and pathways and defining next steps. CIAO investigators highlighted several important findings—offering new insight into the biological mechanisms that support healthy aging and pointing toward future avenues for research.
C1 A 0
HEALTHY AGING STUDY
Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Discovery, Accelerated
Locked within immeasurable troves of data, from experimental findings to clinical samples and records, lie insights, answers and potential cures for some of our greatest and most intractable health threats.
Rapidly emerging and metamorphing technologies based on artificial intelligence, computational biology and other data sciences are making it increasingly possible to sort and sift through these onceimpregnable monoliths of information.
The mission of the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence is to make sense of vast, complex datasets spanning disciplines and the full spectrum of human disease. Its faculty members are experts in AI, statistics, genetics and the omics fields. They are trained to uncover patterns, generate insights and spark innovation, turning raw information into knowledge that drives scientific breakthroughs and new possibilities for human health.
This is the future of biomedical research, here and now at Sanford Burnham Prebys.
Yuk-Lap (Kevin) Yip, PhD
Harnessing
data and AI to accelerate discovery
Yip was named director of the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in February. He joined the Institute in 2022 as a professor specializing in cross-disciplinary, large-scale data analysis.
Prior to coming to Sanford Burnham Prebys, Yip was a distinguished scientist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research interests include the development of computational methods for analyzing data produced by emerging experimental technologies; studying fundamental gene regulatory mechanisms using machine learning and data science methods; and identifying, annotating and interpreting genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic changes in human diseases.
Computational deep dive surfaces unexplored world of cancer drug targets
DeepTarget tool predicts direct and indirect targets of cancer drugs.
Sanju Sinha, PhD
Assistant Professor Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
A new study led by Assistant Professor Sanju Sinha, PhD, introduced DeepTarget, a computational tool designed to uncover both direct and hidden targets of cancer drugs. By analyzing large-scale genetic and drug screening data across hundreds
of cancer cell lines, DeepTarget helps researchers see how existing medicines may work differently depending on disease context. The tool outperformed current prediction methods and successfully revealed why the blood cancer drug ibrutinib
More specifically, his lab studies gene regulatory mechanisms using novel computational modeling methods, including those produced by cuttingedge high-throughput experiments.
Since joining the Institute, Yip has directed a popular course on computational biology at the graduate school. Yip also leads the Lab Experience As Pathway (LEAP) to Graduate School program. This one-year training and career development experience is designed to prepare recent college graduates to succeed in STEM PhD programs.
can also affect lung cancer, by acting on a secondary target. DeepTarget’s ability to identify these overlooked targets could accelerate drug repurposing, bringing effective treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.
Center for Neurologic Diseases
Complexity, Clarified
As the nation ages, the burden of chronic disease— and neurological disorders in particular—continues to grow. More than 7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number projected to rise sharply in the coming decades.
The Center for Neurologic Diseases is dedicated to gaining a fundamental and therapeutically actionable understanding of agingrelated diseases. Through molecular and systems-based approaches, its scientists work to advance novel treatments that improve both health outcomes and quality of life.
This work is driven by a broad range of collaborative research efforts spanning disciplines—from uncovering the role of mRNAs in neurodegenerative disease to harnessing the regenerative potential of stem cells.
Scientists at the Institute found that in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, the DNA in the Alzheimer’slinked APP gene can be “mixed and matched” into new forms not seen in healthy individuals. Creating these variants requires reverse transcriptase, an enzyme associated with HIV, suggesting that existing HIV medications could potentially be repurposed as near-term treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
“The discovery of reverse transcriptase somatic gene recombination, and how it is
Philanthropic partnership advances Alzheimer’s disease research
In school, we learned that all cells have the same DNA. Thanks to support from the Bruce Ford and Anne Smith Bundy Foundation, research at Sanford Burnham Prebys has revealed that there are exceptions to this rule.
Jerold Chun, MD, PhD Professor Center for Neurologic Diseases
dysregulated in the Alzheimer’s disease brain, was a key research area supported by the foundation, and one that we continue to pursue,” says Jerold Chun, MD, PhD, a professor in the Center for Neurologic Diseases.
“In an environment of research funding challenges, the Bruce Ford and Anne Smith Bundy Foundation is an essential partner as we continue our quest for meaningful therapeutics.”
Treating alcohol addiction is not “one size fits all”
The scientific challenge of developing effective treatments
Like trying to stop a tidal wave with a few sandbags, alcohol's effects on the brain are too numerous to treat all at once.
“When you have a drug this pervasive within the brain, you need as many tools as possible to help treat this disease because people uniquely respond—or don’t—to different medications,” says Kokila Shankar, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the Sheffler lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys.
Kokila Shankar,
PhD Postdoctoral Associate Sheffler lab
In the hopes of adding another tool to the clinical arsenal, Shankar studies compounds targeting the stress signaling system in our brains.
“From studies in this field, we know that stress signaling is quite involved in the onset and progression of addiction," says Shankar.
“Our (late) co-founder Anne Smith Bundy became devoted to reducing suffering in her community and beyond after serving as a nurse in World War I, and she took a special interest in the often-hidden crisis of Alzheimer’s disease.
"Jerold Chun and his team are doing excellent work, and we are pleased to support graduate students who represent the next generation of Alzheimer’s disease scientists."
— Bruce Ford and Anne Smith Bundy Foundation
By testing compounds designed by medicinal chemists to uncover and refine those with therapeutic potential, Shankar and her collaborators may one day provide another avenue for escaping the crushing cycle of alcohol use disorder.
Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases
Strength, Sustained
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide and in the United States, accounting for about 32% of all deaths in the U.S. The most common form is coronary artery disease (CAD), which affects roughly one in 20 adults age 20 and older.
The Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases investigates the underlying mechanisms of organ formation, how patterns in cells and tissues occur and how different factors lead to dysfunctional or diseased states, including the drivers of congenital heart defects, which impact 1 in 100 newborns.
The heart is one type of muscle. Skeletal muscle is another. These are the muscles of voluntary movement, and comprise up to 40% of one's total body mass. When they begin to decay and decline, devastating conditions result, such as muscular dystrophies.
The Center’s mission is to better understand how these essential body systems are formed, grow, function and fail, and in those answers, find new treatments for millions of people.
Children with HLHS require a series of three immediate and complex surgeries to construct a whole, functioning heart. Without the surgeries, they do not survive.
Jacobsen’s syndrome is caused by deletions of DNA segments on chromosome 11, but the exact cause of HLHS is not known. Sanjeev Ranade, PhD, an assistant professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases at Sanford Burnham Prebys, is collaborating
A collaborative path toward healing hearts
Jacobsen syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with a wide variety of symptoms. Among the most worrisome: an unusually high risk of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) in which the left side of the organ is underdeveloped.
Sanjeev S. Ranade, PhD
Assistant Professor Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases
with Paul Grossfeld, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, to find answers.
Grossfeld’s clinical team collects cell samples from patients and families affected by Jacobsen syndrome, passing them to Ranade’s lab, where they are returned to an induced pluripotent stem cell state, and then programmed to create patient-specific cardiac organoids— miniature 3D heart tissues that model early heart development in a dish.
Big hearts are not always better
Metaphorical big hearts may make for a more compassionate society, but physically enlarged hearts can be dangerous for our health.
Excessive thickening of the heart muscle—known as cardiac hypertrophy—is often the result of the heart trying to maintain proper blood flow while adapting to changes caused by other heart diseases such as hypertension or heart valve malfunction. Hypertrophy in the heart’s left ventricle is known to lead to more adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes and sudden cardiac deaths.
Graduate student Katya Marchetti in the Ocorr lab at Sanford Burnham
Katya Marchetti
Graduate student Ocorr lab
Prebys wants to know what’s behind thickened hearts riddled with scar tissue—and how to fix them.
“I look at how different genes and gene variants lead to this massively increased heart that's bigger and stiffer,” said Marchetti. “And I use drug screening tools to find potential treatments for the condition.”
“These organoids let us study how genetic changes contribute to HLHS and test potential therapeutic strategies in a controlled, humanrelevant system,” says Ranade. “It’s a collaboration that links cutting-edge stem cell science with compassionate clinical care to accelerate discovery for children born with life-threatening heart conditions.”
One of the cardiac hypertrophy drugs tested in the Ocorr lab worked well on fruit flies and is now being studied in patients under the FDA’s Expanded Access program.
“It’s a special moment to see something we worked on potentially benefit patients in the clinic,” says Marchetti. .
Center for Therapeutics
Discovery
From Target to Treatment
Advancing our understanding of human health is fundamental to the Institute’s mission, but equally important is the ability to translate new knowledge into novel drugs and treatments that improve human health.
The Center for Therapeutics Discovery is where this happens. Our diverse faculty employ the latest technologies, from artificial intelligence and in vitro and in vivo pharmacology to medicinal and computational chemistry and cheminformatics, to identify prototype drugs, then develop these into first-in-class therapeutics.
The Center is supported by the long-standing expertise of the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, the nation’s leading nonprofit drug discovery center. The partner of choice for academic investigators pursuing translational studies, both within the Institute and at collaborating institutions, the Prebys Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys also serves as a bridge to biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners developing novel therapeutics.
The Center for Therapeutics Discovery translates ideas and insights into actual drugs, primarily small-molecule chemicals that comprise 90% of pharmaceutical drugs, typically administered as pills to patients. Its goal: to positively impact the health and quality of life of patients with unmet medical needs.
Powder for Pennies
Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating condition that robs individuals of memory, independence and connection.
Despite decades of research and billions of dollars invested in Alzheimer’s disease, there is still no cure—and current treatments offer only limited relief. For patients and families, the need for faster progress has never been more urgent.
Supported by generous funding from Phyllis and Dan Epstein, the Powder for Pennies (P4P) program is helping accelerate that progress through a bold, efficient strategy: repurposing FDA-approved drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Led by a collaborative network that includes the Center for Therapeutics
at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, this approach dramatically shortens the timeline from discovery to patient impact by building on medicines with established safety profiles.
Under the leadership of Anne Bang, PhD, director of Cell Biology, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, P4P is investigating the Alzheimer’s potential of atomoxetine, a drug currently prescribed for ADHD. Using advanced human stem cell–based models, Bang and her team study how the drug affects brain inflammation,
neuronal communication and neuroprotection—key processes involved in Alzheimer’s disease. These “disease-in-a-dish” models help identify promising treatments more quickly and efficiently, paving the way for earlier clinical trials.
Bang’s work has already helped uncover new uses for existing medicines, including efavirenz, now being tested in a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s. Together, these efforts demonstrate how strategic investment can unlock faster, more hopeful paths to treatment for patients and families.
Phyllis and Dan Epstein
Anne Bang, PhD
Research Highlights 2025
Bias can lead to better therapies
Steven Olson, PhD, executive director of Medicinal Chemistry, with a collaborative team of scientists from Sanford Burnham Prebys, the University of Minnesota and Duke University, published new findings in Nature showing how a small molecule can bind a G proteincoupled receptor on the inside of the cell and bias, or more specifically, direct the receptor’s signaling. If drug designers can control how compounds bias signaling, they can
Reshaping tumor neighborhoods to give treatments a boost
Cosimo Commisso, PhD, senior author and deputy director of the NCI–designated Cancer Center, led research examining how cancer cells constantly interact with their surroundings, which scientists term the "tumor microenvironment."
This includes obtaining extra resources needed to fuel their unchecked growth. This cellular scavenging process—known as macropinocytosis—affects the area surrounding the tumor, making the connective tissue stiffer and
preventing immune cells from reaching the tumor.
Scientists published the research in Cancer Cell, demonstrating that blocking macropinocytosis reshapes the tumor microenvironment to be less fibrous and to allow more access to immune cells. These changes made immunotherapy and chemotherapy more effective in treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors in mice.
leverage those that favor therapeutic pathways while preventing changes in other pathways that result in unwanted side effects.
With about one-third of all FDAapproved drugs targeting this large family of cell membrane receptors, the new drug discovery approach opens up many more receptors previously considered “undruggable” as potential drug targets.
Low muscle mass in the elderly— known as sarcopenia—leads to increased frailty and movement problems. Patients with sarcopenia are more likely to be hospitalized and develop other comorbidities, largely
Turning back time on muscle stem cells to prevent frailty from aging
due to falls and fractures that tend to create health declines that quickly spiral out of control.
A study published in Cell Stem Cell demonstrated the effectiveness of treating aged mice with a naturally occurring lipid, Prostaglandin E2, which improved regeneration and strength of aged muscle. The
Bacterial genomes hold clues for creating personalized probiotics
Probiotics are emerging tools used by neonatal intensive care units to promote healthy outcomes and prevent intestinal diseases. Probiotic treatment often includes bacterial strains belonging to the Bifidobacterium genus that are considered beneficial to human health.
Scientists have sought to use probiotics to deliver the benefits of Bifidobacterium to infants suffering
Three copies of chromosome 21 cause Down syndrome. It remains unclear why roughly half of children born with Down syndrome in the United States also have congenital heart defects. In a paper published in Nature, a team of scientists identified a nuclear binding protein as a key
from malnutrition. Researchers published findings in Nature Microbiology demonstrating the ability to predict the nutritional adaptations of Bifidobacterium strains by analyzing the distribution of hundreds of metabolic genes in thousands of Bifidobacterium genomes. This knowledge may allow experts to personalize treatment by selecting the most suitable probiotic candidates.
research team also detailed how this therapy worked, showing that it counteracts molecular changes that occur with stem cell aging.
The study was led by first author Yu Xin (Will) Wang, PhD, an assistant professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscle Diseases.
The study was led by Andrei Osterman, PhD, a professor in the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, with colleagues from Sanford Burnham Prebys, Washington University School of Medicine, Sabanci University and the University of California San Diego.
Hunting for the chromosomal genes that break the heart
contributor to these trisomy 21–related heart defects.
The researchers hope that their approach lays out a roadmap for finding genes driving other kinds of defects seen in children with Down syndrome, such as intellectual disability or abnormalities in bone formation. Once they identify the players that drive disease, the team believes this information could be
used to find drugs that may help people with Down syndrome.
The study was conducted by a team of scientists including Sanjeev S. Ranade, PhD, assistant professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases and the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Education and Training
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
74 graduates from the Graduate School of Biomedical Studies since 2006
<5 years time-to-degree
89% retention rate
In addition to advancing health by expanding the frontiers of biomedical research, we are dedicated to training future scientific leaders.
Sanford Burnham Prebys provides rigorous scientific training for postdoctoral researchers, as well as networking opportunities, workshops and professional development events in a robust, invigorating environment.
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences was founded on the Institute’s collaborative ethos to serve aspiring doctoral students. The program emphasizes our strengths in biomedical research and is supplemented by technologies developed here and elsewhere to accelerate breakthroughs in both thought and practice.
For students preparing for PhD programs, Sanford Burnham Prebys offers the Lab Experience As Pathway to Graduate School (LEAP to Grad School) as a one-year mentored training and career development experience. It is designed to provide recent college graduates with new skills and research experience to become more competitive and succeed in their future doctoral studies.
The Institute also aims to spark and nurture a passion for science in younger learners through internship programs for high school students that provide meaningful exposure to an active biomedical research lab.
A milestone for graduate education at Sanford Burnham Prebys
The Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences was founded in 2006 with the mission of educating students to become the innovative biomedical scientists of the future. In July 2015, the school received its initial accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
In 2026, the school marks 20 years of graduate education at Sanford Burnham Prebys. At two decades and counting, the school’s future is as bright as its students and alumni.
Brooke Emerling, PhD and Ryan Loughran, PhD
Education and Training
Fishman Awards
Honoring future transformative scientific leaders at Sanford Burnham Prebys
On September 18, five outstanding postdoctoral researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys were celebrated at the 24th annual Fishman Awards ceremony for their groundbreaking biomedical research.
The Fishman Awards Fund, established in 2001 by Mary Bradley and Reena Horowitz to honor the Institute’s founders, supports earlycareer researchers with awards that include stipends, fellowships and opportunities for professional development. In 2010, Jeanne Jones became the co-founder designee.
2025 Fishman Award Recipients
Meenakshi Sudhakaran, PhD
Reena
Alejandro Lillo, PhD
Jeanne Jones and Kathryn Fishback Fishman
Theophilos Tzaridis, MD
Cynthia Schwartz Shenkman Research Excellence Fishman Award
Bastien Cimarosti, PhD
Don Barach Memorial Fishman Career Award
Career Award
Kokila Shankar, PhD
Lenka Finci and Erna Viterbi Fishman Career Award
Horowitz and Mary Bradley Fishman Founders Career Award
Reena Horowitz and Cynthia Shenkman
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Preuss Program
High school students in the Preuss internship program supported by Peggy and Peter Preuss and Debby and Wain Fishburn
Each year, high school students from the Preuss School come to Sanford Burnham Prebys to conduct biomedical research in an intensive three-week internship program.
During the program, students work in small teams to conduct experiments and learn core research techniques, while working closely with scientific mentors and exploring potential careers in biomedical research. To date, more than 100 students have participated in this impactful program.
SPARK Interns
The SPARK program is a six-week, fully paid internship open to high schoolers from California
The Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge (SPARK) is an initiative by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. In 2025, the program supported 11 students.
Education and Training
More Than a Namesake: Prebys Foundation
A $1 million grant from Prebys Foundation strengthens biomedical science and training of our next generation of scientists.
Sanford Burnham Prebys was one of seven organizations to receive a transformational $1 million gift from Prebys Foundation to strengthen biomedical research in San Diego during a period of unprecedented uncertainty.
The gift supports two major initiatives. Of the total award, $750,000 is being used to strengthen retention of early- to mid-career researchers by providing critical support to six assistant and associate professors in the Institute’s NCI-designated Cancer Center and Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases.
LEAP interns
Sanford Burnham Prebys
An additional $250,000 supports the continuation of Lab Experience as Pathway (LEAP) to Graduate School, a one-year mentored training and career development program designed to help postbaccalaureate graduates succeed in STEM PhD programs. Six paid participants spend 40 hours per week immersed in hands-on research and professional development, contributing to their laboratories’ research aims while building technical skills, expanding professional networks and navigating the graduate school application process. By reducing barriers to highly competitive PhD programs, this investment expands access for talented graduates while supporting critical research across the Institute.
“Prebys Foundation is proud to support Sanford Burnham Prebys as a vital regional partner advancing biomedical discovery in cancer and other critical diseases,” says Grant Oliphant, CEO and president of Prebys Foundation. “This investment reflects our belief in the power of science to improve lives and our commitment to helping train the next generation of scientific leaders through innovative programs like LEAP. Together, we're building a stronger future for discovery, opportunity and human health.”
We are grateful to Prebys Foundation—LEAP’s inaugural supporter—for its leadership, continued partnership, and sustained investment in the Institute’s research and training mission.
Rachel Khoury
Philanthropy
Join the Legacy Circle at Sanford Burnham Prebys
If you have included a gift for Sanford Burnham Prebys in your estate plans or through a planned gift, we invite you to become a member of the Legacy Circle. Membership is one way we are able to thank you now for your generosity. Your support builds a bridge between today’s discoveries and tomorrow’s cures, helping us advance life-changing biomedical research for the world.
“Generosity drives excellence across Sanford Burnham Prebys. I am grateful to everyone whose philanthropy allows our Institute to pursue our mission of translating science to impact human health.”
— David A. Brenner, MD President and CEO
Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair
Legacy Circle Spotlight: Armi and Al Williams
Honoring a Lifelong Commitment to Discovery
From friendship to philanthropy, Armi and Al Williams have been part of the Sanford Burnham Prebys story since our early days. Close friends of founders Dr. William Fishman and his wife, Lillian Fishman, they shared the belief that bold science can change the world.
As a two-term trustee during a transformative era in the 1990s led by Dr. Erkki Ruoslahti, Armi helped guide the Institute through remarkable growth. Together, she and Al became devoted champions of the Fishman Awards, empowering young scientists to pursue daring ideas that may one day lead to new treatments and cures.
Now, as proud members of our Legacy Circle, Armi and Al continue to honor the Fishmans' vision, ensuring that future generations of researchers have the tools and inspiration to transform human health. Their legacy reminds us that true impact grows from friendship, purpose and an enduring belief in the power of discovery.
“Sanford Burnham Prebys has always been a place where science meets purpose. We give because we’ve seen the impact research can have, and we want that hope and progress to continue for generations to come.”
— Armi and Al Williams
Transforming grief into progress for melanoma treatment research
The family and loved ones of Chad Johnson visited the laboratory of Kelly Kersten, PhD, through a partnership with the Melanoma Research Alliance.
An emerging leader in melanoma research, Kelly Kersten studies the complex “cross talk” between cancer and the immune system. She is the recipient of a Young Investigator Award and research grant supported by nearly $250,000 raised in Chad Johnson’s memory—funding that is helping accelerate promising new
approaches to melanoma treatment.
The fundraising effort was launched by Paul Giobbi to honor Chad’s life and, in doing so, to transform grief into progress for others facing melanoma. During the visit, Chad’s parents, his wife, Trish, and family friends were able to see firsthand the
Donor spotlight: David Ostrander, MD
Fishman Awards Community Advisory Board Member
“Having spent nearly a half century as a practicing cardiologist, I’ve witnessed the essential link between progress in patient care and progress in basic scientific research. The future of research depends on the dedication, vision and creativity of early-career scientists. That’s why I’m passionate about supporting the postdoctoral researchers
research underway and the tangible hope it represents for patients and their families.
The experience underscored the power of philanthropy to connect personal loss with scientific discovery—fueling research that has the potential to change lives.
for whom encouragement and sufficient resources can make all the difference. I’ve been particularly drawn to the heart repair research being conducted by the Fishman Awards Fellow James Marchant. His work reflects the kind of innovative, translational science
that has the potential to play a transformational role in nextgeneration cardiovascular care. Supporting researchers like James is essential to ensure the future of cardiovascular medicine.”
–
David Ostrander, MD
David Ostrander, MD, and James Marchant, PhD
Kelly Kersten, Tiffany Giobbi, Paul Giobbi, Trish Johnson, Lynn and Bob Johnson and Paul Rutledge
From the Board Chair
Donald Kearns, MD
Looking Ahead
Medicine and science are all about change, building upon past achievements in a constant push toward new discoveries that improve and save lives. Nowhere is that more evident than at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.
The past few years have seen dramatic changes in the structure and operations of the Institute, keyed by an ambitious mission and guided by a new, bold strategic plan.
In 2026, Sanford Burnham Prebys will celebrate its 50th anniversary. What began rather modestly as the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation—the brainchild of William and Lillian Fishman—has become a leader in biomedical research.
More change is coming. Scientific research requires innovation, both in thinking and in new tools to do the job, such as artificial intelligence, computational biology and a deep investment in data science.
We embrace both the opportunity and the possibilities, not just in how we work, but with whom. This year, we welcomed Paul Boutros, PhD, MBA, as the new director of our cancer center. He is the first computational biologist in the country to head a National Cancer Institute–designated cancer center. Paul and others will lead the way.
As chair of the Board of Trustees, it has been my pleasure and honor to work with fellow trustees and the Institute’s tremendously gifted leadership, faculty and staff to shape and further our mission and vision.
I look forward to the changes to come, and to the next great 50 years.
Donald Kearns, MD Board Chair
Sanford Burnham Prebys Board of Trustees
Partner with Us to Accelerate Discovery
Advancing human health requires bold ideas, sustained commitment and a community that believes in the power of science.
At Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, our progress is fueled by individuals who choose to engage through philanthropy, partnership and advocacy to accelerate discoveries that improve lives. Your involvement helps ensure our scientists have the resources they need to move research forward and translate breakthroughs into realworld impact.
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, your partnership is especially meaningful, honoring five decades of scientific discovery while helping to propel the next generation of breakthroughs. With your support, we are also accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence and data science to unlock insights at unprecedented speed and scale transforming how we discover, understand and treat disease all for the benefit of patients and their families.
Make a gift
Join us in achieving our mission to translate science into health by becoming a giving partner today with a gift of $1,000 or more. As a valued partner, you’ll enjoy exclusive opportunities to connect with Sanford Burnham Prebys leadership and scientists through private events, faculty luncheons and behind-the-scenes lab tours, gaining firsthand insight into the groundbreaking discoveries transforming lives around the world. Visit sbpdiscovery.org/philanthropy to learn more or contact the Office of Philanthropy at giving@sbpdisovery.org or call (858) 795-5070.
Celebrating 50 years of discovery
Save the Date: Join us in October 2026 for our 50th Anniversary Gala, as we celebrate this milestone and look ahead to the discoveries still to come.
Upcoming Events
April 15
A Conversation About: Aging and Cardiac Health
September 17 The Fishman Awards
Through philanthropy, we translate science into health.
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Sanford Burnham Prebys Celebrates 50 Years
Sanford Burnham Prebys
Breakthrough discoveries
50+ years of pioneering research
A world–class NCI–designated Cancer Center. One of only seven basic research centers in the U.S. (since 1981)
Top 1% of research institutions worldwide based on citations per paper
Top 3 of all independent research institutes ranked by NIH funding
199 peer–reviewed papers published in 2025
Top 1% in the nation: Nature Index of nonprofit/nongovernment institutions in biomedical science
1,508 patents, 37 start–ups from Sanford Burnham Prebys innovations
By the Numbers
Our mission is to energize, accelerate and reimagine translational research to create and deliver new therapies, faster and better, that improve human lives, health and well–being.
Real results
60+ drug discovery projects
Over $100M of translational science grants in the last five years
7
Clinical trials underway
• Cancer
• Immune Therapy
• Kidney Disease
• Calcification
• Smoking Cessation
• Opioid Addiction
7
FDA-approved treatments and tests
• Aggrastat®
• Epogen®
• Integrilin®
• Strensiq®
• Targretin®
• Venclexta®
• PSA Test
Research Professors and Staff
Interns, Work Study, Visiting
Board of Trustees
Donald Kearns, MD
Chair
President Emeritus, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego
Lori Moore
Vice Chair
Co-Owner, Selma Investments
Cushman Foundation, President
Sharp Healthcare Board of Directors
RCHSD Board Quality, Safety, and Medical Affairs Committee
David A. Brenner, MD
Professor, Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases
President and Chief Executive Officer
Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair
Malin Burnham
Honorary Trustee
Former Chairman, The Burnham Companies
Katherine Chapin
Co-Founder and General Partner, Chapin Ventures
Nicholas Cosford, PhD Professor, Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program
David W. Down Managing Partner, KPMG LLP – Retired
Daniel J. Epstein Founder, The ConAm Group
Douglas H. Obenshain Partner and Senior Vice President, Lockton Commercial Insurance
William A. Roper President, Roper Capital Company
Ted Roth Vice Chairman, ROTH Capital Partners CEO, ROTH Canada
T. Denny Sanford Honorary Trustee Chairman and CEO, United National Corp.
Lonna J. Williams Stolper Director, Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine
David L. Szekeres President, Connect Biopharma
Stuart Tanz CEO, United Income Properties Inc.
Scott LaFee Vice President, Communications
Sandy Liarakos, CFRE, CSPG Vice President, Philanthropy
