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What does Life Without Disease mean to you?

For us, it is the promise of empowering people to live the life they want.
These are the people whose stories inspire us: 

Page + Larry  |  Bill Brown  |  Dr. Melanie McCauley

Dear James,

Proudly representing the next generation of researchers at La Jolla Institute, I am reaching out to introduce myself and to share with you the profound potential of the The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology.

We are ready to achieve the next breakthrough. All we need is a chance. SPARK awards give us this chance in the form of flexible funding for our ideas. But this is only possible when you and other generous supporters stand beside us with your contribution. 

In this brief clip, my fellow finalists and I share how your donation profoundly impacts our careers, our lives, and our pursuit of Life Without Disease^®:




James, will you stand beside me and my fellow finalists as we pursue the next breakthrough? As of today we just need $6,515 to fund the next award, which would allow one of us to run our independent SPARK project. Please help us get to that finish line today by donating now at:
https://go.lji.org/e/562772/ive-253692---donation-checkout/v9v7g2/875710195?h=wnF8zY71EyaKcVzKXhIm8F6Gf2zvo7QgBmDxnAE5sUw

The impacts of your donation are endless. Every dollar goes directly to a SPARK project vetted by the Institute's experts for its potential to deliver results. A young scientist is empowered to pursue their novel idea, never before explored in medical research. And a young career is given the opportunity to flourish. 

We look forward to updating you in the New Year on the progress made by The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology, and I will be honored to be among the 2020 SPARK Award winners if funding is made possible through philanthropic support. Happy holidays to you and your family! 

Sincerely,

Cecilia

P.S. You can learn more about my SPARK project and the projects of the other finalists at:
www.lji.org/SPARK 
 
Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn, Ph.D.
Finalist / 2020 Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards
Instructor / Alessandro Sette, Dr. Biol.Sci. Laboratory and Bjoern Peters, Ph.D. Laboratory
La Jolla Institute for Immunology 

 Join us for our next
Life Without Disease event on March 26th
on AUTOIMMUNITY
featuring Dr. Klaus Ley

Sign up here, or contact Chelsea Luedeke at
858-752-6896 or cluedeke@lji.org.

Register Now

Join the conversation about solutions to this COVID-19 pandemic with internationally-renowned infectious disease expert Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D. Professor of the Institute''s Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research. She is the Director of the just-launched Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium, a global partnership focused on accelerating discovery, optimization, and delivery of life-saving antibody-based therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others. 

Dr. Saphire will highlight research efforts and observations from the field Monday, April 6th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PST). Institute leadership and experts Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., Stephen S. Wilson, Ph.D., and Eric V. Zwisler will also provide their insights during the virtual discussion. 
Questions for Dr. Saphire can be submitted prior to the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar. 

We also welcome you to share this opportunity with family and friends that may be interested in learning more about the novel coronavirus and the research efforts underway by the Institute''s global leaders in infectious disease and immunology research.

Additional information on research related to COVID-19 at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and resources available are shared on the Institute''s social channels as well as at: lji.org/covid-19

As we all navigate uncharted territory during this COVID-19 epidemic, La Jolla Institute for Immunology is committed to updating the community on its related research efforts underway. Infectious disease expert Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D. will share her research efforts and observations from the field Monday, April 6th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PST). Institute leadership and experts Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., Stephen S. Wilson, Ph.D., and Eric V. Zwisler will also provide their insights during the virtual discussion. 

James, the Institute invites you to learn more about the latest advances led by Dr. Saphire addressing the rapidly developing COVID-19 epidemic. We also welcome you to share this opportunity with family and friends that may be interested in learning more about the coronavirus. Space for this live virtual discussion is limited. Please register now to ensure access. 

Questions for Dr. Saphire can be submitted prior to and during the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar. 

Dr. Saphire is a Professor of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. She is the Director of the just-launched Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC), a global partnership to accelerate discovery, optimization, and delivery of life-saving antibody-based therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, and is supported by the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and MasterCard Impact Fund. She was also the galvanizing force behind the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Immunotherapeutic Consortium and is the Director of this organization. This consortium unites 44 previously competing academic, industrial and government labs across five continents to understand and provide antibody therapeutics against Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and other viruses.

Additional information on research efforts underway related to COVID-19 at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and resources available are shared on the Institute''s social channels as well as at: lji.org/covid-19

Dear James,

• From NBC: Can our immune system ''remember'' the coronavirus? Scientists hope so
• From CNN: Read Study confirms new version of coronavirus spreads faster, but doesn''t make people sicker and watch Dr. Saphire's interview with CNN's Kate Bolduan
• From The Atlantic: How Long Does COVID-19 Immunity Last?

My best wishes to you and yours as you enjoy the rest of the summer. Stay safe, remain vigilant, and be healthy.

Sincerely,
 
Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D.
President and Chief Scientific Officer
 

From the Lab

From Wuhan to San Diego-How a mutation on the novel coronavirus has come to dominate the globe

In a study published in the journal Cell, LJI researchers in the Saphire lab with their international collaborators reported that the mutated variant of the novel coronavirus dominating global cases does not make the virus more deadly; rather, it helps the virus copy itself, resulting in a higher viral load in patients. Learn more here. 

T cells can shift from helping to harming in atherosclerosis

One in four Americans will die from the consequences of atherosclerosis, the buildup of fat and cholesterol plaques in the arteries. A recent finding by researchers in the Ley and Sette labs published in the journal Circulation uncovers how a specific T cell can make atherosclerosis cases even worse by increasing inflammation. Learn more here.

Researchers track down metabolic enzyme that protects against inflammation

Inflammation can provide critical protection but this immune response can also cause significant harm. In the journal Science Advances, LJI scientists in the Sharma lab highlight how a previously poorly understood enzyme inhibits inflammation in blood vessels, which can prove deadly. Learn more here. 

Get Involved

Learn about La Jolla Institute''s local COVID-19 clinical studies

Several LJI labs are studying the immune response to the novel coronavirus, which relies on blood donations from convalescent COVID-19 patient samples. If you or someone you know in the San Diego region had COVID-19, please consider joining the study to advance this work.  Learn more and sign up here. 

Good afternoon James,

In case you missed our Coronavirus Updates: Live from the Laboratory webinar featuring Dr. Alessandro Sette, you can access the full recording, plus a behind the scenes laboratory tour here:
lji.org/covid-19/videos

In his presentation Dr. Sette gave attendees encouraging news-sharing that a detailed analysis of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 bodes well for COVID-19 vaccine development. Thus, demonstrating that the body's immune system is able to recognize SARS-CoV-2 in many ways, dispelling fears that the virus may elude ongoing efforts to create an effective vaccine.

Here's how you can stay informed about our research underway and join the fight against COVID-19:

• lji.org/covid-19 - This page is updated regularly with information concerning research breakthroughs, coronavirus media coverage and LJI''s operations during this time.
• donate.lji.org/covid-19 - Please consider making a gift to support our COVID-19 discoveries. You can make a donation using this link, mail a contribution to my attention to the address below, or if you'd prefer to discuss alternative gift options please give me a call 858-752-6674.

Your interest in our research is greatly appreciated, as is your personal resolve in helping to fight this pandemic by following public health guidelines. Please know we are thinking of you and our global community as our researchers endeavor to fight COVID-19. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
 
Take Care,


Christopher A. Lee, MBA
Chief Advancement Officer
clee@lji.org | 858.752.6674
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
9420 Athena Circle | La Jolla, CA 92037

Please join infectious disease experts Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire and Dr. Sujan Shresta as they report on their latest COVID-19 research live from the laboratory this Tuesday, November 24th from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (PST). Registration availability is limited - save your virtual seat now here.

Dr. Ollmann Saphire has earned high acclaim for directing an international coalition that was instrumental in guiding the development of the first FDA-approved treatment for Ebola virus. During the webinar, Dr. Saphire will update the audience on the latest COVID-19 research results obtained in her lab as well as recent progress made by the Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC), a global alliance modeled after the successful Ebola team and geared toward finding therapeutic antibodies to treat COVID-19. 

Dr. Shresta's research upended established dogma when she showed that dengue and Zika vaccines, designed to mainly induce an antibody response, can make subsequent infections with these viruses much worse. Dr. Shresta will discuss her insights into the importance of eliciting T cells to work alongside antibodies to prevent potentially devastating consequences and how her lab is applying these findings to designing a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. 

We look forward to having you join us and welcome you to share this opportunity with family and friends that may be interested in learning more about LJI and its fight against COVID-19.

Questions for Drs. Saphire and Shresta can be submitted prior to the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar. 

While so much has changed since the beginning of the epidemic, La Jolla Institute for Immunology continues its focus on understanding COVID-19 and is committed to keeping the community up to speed on its COVID-19 related research developments. 

Additional information on current COVID-19 research efforts underway can be found at: lji.org/covid-19

??????
Good afternoon James,

Yesterday, Institute President and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Mitchell Kronenberg shared encouraging news regarding the scientific progress made over the past six months and where he anticipates science can take us as we strive to overcome the elusive SARS-CoV-2 virus. In case you missed our Coronavirus Updates: Live from the Laboratory webinar, you can now access the full recording by clicking the image below:





As always, you can learn more about our coronavirus research efforts and support the fight against COVID-19 at:

• lji.org/covid-19 - This page is updated regularly with information concerning research breakthroughs, coronavirus media coverage and LJI''s operations during this time. It also links to other recorded content regarding COVID-19 featuring Institute scientists. 
• donate.lji.org/covid-19 - Please consider making a gift to support our COVID-19 discoveries. You can make a donation using this link, mail a contribution to my attention to the address below, or if you'd prefer to discuss alternative gift options please give me a call at 858-752-6674.

We appreciate your continued interest in our research and thank you for your ongoing support of LJI. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
 
Take Care,


Christopher A. Lee, MBA
Chief Advancement Officer
clee@lji.org | 858.752.6674
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
9420 Athena Circle | La Jolla, CA 92037

a

 

James, because of your interest in staying updated and leading conversations on research advances, we are sharing access to a new autoimmune disease resource guide that provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the topic and current facts. You might be wondering, ''Why are we talking about autoimmune diseases right now?'' The answer is that autoimmune diseases are the most common category of diseases faced by Americans, with nearly 8% of the population suffering from one of these conditions. And while the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone on a global scale, it has been especially concerning for immunocompromised populations who are at higher risk, highlighting that the need to solve autoimmune disease remains vital. While Institute researchers push forward on COVID-19 research, we also continue our commitment to understanding autoimmune diseases to advance treatments and find cures. Moreover, as researchers race to find vaccines for COVID-19 that won''t overactivate the immune system, it''s clearer than ever that advances in one area like autoimmune disease research can provide insights for infectious disease research, and vice versa. In all cases immunologists are seeking to identify how to elicit the best immune response against the threat of a disease, without disrupting the balance of a healthy immune system. We hope this guide will provide a useful introduction to autoimmune disease and what progress we have made at LJI toward our vision of Life Without Autoimmune Disease.

Know others that might be interested in autoimmune disease research and similar content? Forward this email and share social posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn during the week ahead, as we focus on autoimmune disease research. 

Good afternoon James,

In case you missed our Coronavirus Updates: Live from the Laboratory webinar featuring Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire, you can access the full recording here: lji.org/covid-19/resources.
 
Here's how you can stay informed about our research underway and join the fight against COVID-19:

• lji.org/covid-19 - This page is updated regularly with information concerning research breakthroughs, coronavirus media coverage and LJI''s operations during this time.

• covic.lji.org - This link provides specific information about Dr. Saphire''s new global consortium CoVIC that is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

• donate.lji.org/covid-19 - Please consider making a gift to support our COVID-19 research. You can make a donation using this link, mail a contribution to my attention to the address below, or if you'd prefer to discuss alternative gift options please give me a call 858-752-6674.

• facebook.com/fund/LifeWithoutDisease - Through this link you can share our work with your Facebook Community and start a fundraiser of your own to help accelerate our research.

We thank you for your continued support and interest in our work, and also for doing your part to help us flatten the curve by following public health guidelines.  In the meantime, please know we are thinking of you and our global community as our researchers endeavor to fight COVID-19.
  
Take care,


Christopher A. Lee, MBA
Chief Advancement Officer
clee@lji.org | 858.752.6674
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
9420 Athena Circle | La Jolla, CA 92037

• Identifying protective antibodies. LJI has been awarded a significant grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC). Headquartered at LJI, and led by Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire, CoVIC will serve as a clearinghouse to understand which antibodies are most effective against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and to accelerate the research pipeline to provide immunotherapeutics to treat patients with severe manifestations of COVID-19.
• Finding weak spots for attacking the virus. A team of researchers at LJI, from the labs of Dr. Alessandro Sette and Dr. Bjoern Peters, in collaboration with researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute, provided the first analysis of potential targets for effective immune responses against the novel coronavirus. Knowing which parts of the virus the immune system reacts to and how strongly, is of immediate relevance for the design of promising vaccine candidates and their evaluation.
• Informing the public. We also know how critical it is to share with the public what we are working on so that we may provide transparency and factual information. To that end we plan to provide live updates from our researchers when possible, and also will keep you informed via email and our social channels. We will send out details about our first live update soon.

We will also be updating our website regularly with more information about our coronavirus research efforts, including access to live-stream and video updates, and useful links for public health information. You can also learn what LJI is doing internally to keep our employees safe and while ensuring research moves forward.

I want to thank you again for your support and interest in our work, and also thank you for doing what you can to follow public health guidelines to help us flatten the curve of this outbreak as well. I hope that this information has provided you some encouragement, and I will reach out again as new discoveries and developments arise. In the meantime, please know we are thinking of you and our global community as our researchers endeavor to fight COVID-19. You serve as a continued source of motivation as we endeavor toward Life Without Disease.

Sincerely,

Mitch


Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D.
President and Chief Scientific Officer
La Jolla Institute for Immunology

Please join infectious disease experts Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire and Dr. Sujan Shresta as they report on their latest COVID-19 research live from the laboratory today from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (PST). Register now here.

Dr. Ollmann Saphire has earned high acclaim for directing an international coalition that was instrumental in guiding the development of the first FDA-approved treatment for Ebola virus. During the webinar, Dr. Saphire will update the audience on the latest COVID-19 research results obtained in her lab as well as recent progress made by the Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC), a global alliance modeled after the successful Ebola team and geared toward finding therapeutic antibodies to treat COVID-19. 

Dr. Shresta's research upended established dogma when she showed that dengue and Zika vaccines, designed to mainly induce an antibody response, can make subsequent infections with these viruses much worse. Dr. Shresta will discuss her insights into the importance of eliciting T cells to work alongside antibodies to prevent potentially devastating consequences and how her lab is applying these findings to designing a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. 

We look forward to having you join us and welcome you to share this opportunity with family and friends that may be interested in learning more about LJI and its fight against COVID-19.

Questions for Drs. Saphire and Shresta can be submitted prior to the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar. 

While so much has changed since the beginning of the pandemic, La Jolla Institute for Immunology continues its focus on understanding COVID-19 and is committed to keeping the community up to speed on its COVID-19 related research developments. 

Additional information on current COVID-19 research efforts underway can be found at: lji.org/covid-19

Join Us Today | Register Now

From 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PST) today, vaccine design expert Dr. Crotty will share his approach and observations from the field in this next installment of Live from the Laboratory. Institute leadership and experts Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., Stephen S. Wilson, Ph.D., and Eric V. Zwisler will also provide their insights during the virtual discussion. 

Space for this live discussion is limited. Please register to ensure access. 
Questions for Dr. Crotty can be submitted prior to the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar. 

Dr. Crotty is a Professor at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and a world-renowned expert in vaccine design, with a focus on how the immune system remembers infections and vaccines. His research drew international attention when he discovered a pivotal piece of the body''s mechanism for switching on the production of antibodies, the yardsticks against which the efficacy of vaccines are traditionally measured. By applying this insight into processes, Dr. Crotty hopes new and better vaccines can be developed, particularly against deadly diseases such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and now-COVID-19.

Resources and additional information on research efforts underway related to COVID-19 at La Jolla Institute for Immunology are shared on the Institute''s social channels as well as at: lji.org/covid-19

Dear James,

The Coronavirus Updates: Live from the Laboratory webinar with Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire initially scheduled for tomorrow, June 10, 2020 has been postponed to Friday, June 26, 2020 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PDT).

If you already registered for the webinar, your registration is still confirmed. You will receive another email from Zoom shortly with the updated date and time, and we encourage you to update your calendar accordingly. If you have not yet had a chance to register, please be sure to register now to ensure access, as space for this live virtual discussion is limited.

Thank you for your understanding with this scheduling change. We look forward to the upcoming virtual discussion highlighting La Jolla Institute for Immunology''s COVID-19 research updates.

Stay well,

Christopher A. Lee
Chief Advancement Officer
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
clee@lji.org
858-752-6674

Beside you during these uncertain times and assisting you in navigating the reopening of society, La Jolla Institute of Immunology is providing an update from leading coronavirus expert, Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire. As an infectious disease researcher, Dr. Saphire will share her research progress and observations from the laboratory next Wednesday, June 10th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PST). Institute leadership will also be joining to provide their insights and experience during the virtual discussion. 

Space for this live virtual discussion is limited. Please register now to ensure access.
 
Dr. Saphire is a Professor of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. She is the Director of the newly-launched Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC), a global partnership to accelerate discovery, optimization, and delivery of life-saving antibody-based therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, and is supported by the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and MasterCard Impact Fund. She was also the galvanizing force behind the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Immunotherapeutic Consortium and is the Director of this organization. This consortium unites 44 previously competing academic, industrial and government labs across five continents to understand and provide antibody therapeutics against Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and other viruses.
 
Questions for Dr. Saphire can be submitted prior to and during the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar.

Additional information on current COVID-19 research efforts underway can be found at: lji.org/covid-19

James, because of your interest in staying updated and leading conversations on research advances, we are sharing our 2020 updated Understanding Cancer Immunotherapy resource guide with you. This guide provides an introduction to the topic and current facts. You might be wondering, ''Why are we talking about cancer immunotherapy right now?'' The answer is that cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and every minute someone dies of cancer in the United States.

Of great concern at this moment, cancer patients have compromised immune systems, and while the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us, it has been especially concerning for those at higher risk. Therefore the search for a cure for cancer remains urgent. At LJI, our scientists are working around the clock on COVID-19 research, but we have also remained committed to making new discoveries and progress toward therapies that could eradicate cancers by harnessing the power of our own immune systems. We hope this guide will provide a useful introduction to cancer immunotherapy and the progress we continue to make at LJI toward Life Without Cancer.

Dear James,
 
As we head into summer I hope you are doing well and that you are continuing to take the necessary precautions to keep you and those around you safe from the novel coronavirus. While public life is reopening, it's critical that we remain vigilant especially as we are seeing upticks in infections and hospitalizations again throughout the country. During this time, I hope La Jolla Institute can remain an important source of information for you for facts about SARS-CoV-2 and the state of related research, as we continue to make critical discoveries to help find therapeutics and vaccines that will protect us from COVID-19.

I also hope you were able to join us for this month's Live from the Lab webinar with Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire. Dr. Saphire shared a recent finding related to SARS-Cov-2 that a mutation the virus acquired in March made the virus "fitter" and more infectious; however, data also suggests that the mutation didn't make it any harder for our immune system to neutralize virus and the virus hasn't become more lethal. If you missed it, you can get a high level overview of the implications of this discovery made in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory and Duke University by watching the recording of the webinar here.

I'd like to reiterate that Dr. Saphire's research, and that of several other labs at LJI working on understanding immune response to the coronavirus rely on blood donations from convalescent COVID-19 patient samples. If you, or someone you know in the San Diego region has had COVID-19, we hope you will consider joining the clinical study to help advance our research. You can learn more about the study and sign up here.

I'd also like to express my gratitude to many of you who continue to step forward and support our COVID-19 related research with a donation. This month 16 households made gifts totalling about $70,000 to keep our research pushing forward. These donations are being immediately put to use by our scientists to help us better understand the virus, the progression of the disease, and how to prevent and attack COVID-19.

As we look ahead, there is still much more work to be done to ensure we get to a therapy and vaccine as soon as possible. And we hope private philanthropy can continue to be a source of support and inspiration for our scientists. Gifts of every size make an impact, and we hope you will consider making a donation today to help us find solutions faster. 

My best wishes to you and yours for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend. Stay safe, remain vigilant, and be healthy.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D.
President and Chief Scientific Officer

P.S. I thought you'd also like to know that the discoveries we shared last month about the first detailed analysis of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 made in the labs of Dr. Alessandro Sette and Dr. Shane Crotty has continued to receive international attention.  Dr. Sette and Dr. Crotty were featured in articles by Wall Street Journal ("Before Catching Coronavirus, Some People's Immune Systems Are Already Primed to Fight It"), Business Insider ("Some People May Have a Head Start Against Coronavirus, Surprising Evidence Shows"), and the Guardian ("Are we underestimating how many people are resistant to Covid-19?") to name a few.  We are proud that the research performed here at LJI is helping the global community as we all seek solutions to COVID-19, and as a supporter we hope you are too.

Live from the Lab: Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire''s Recent Update

Save the Date

Next Live from the Lab Webinar on July 22nd

Pandurangan Vijayanand, M.D., Ph.D. is a recognized expert in analyzing how genes influence immune responses. Please join us Wednesday, July 22nd from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PDT) for a virtual discussion live from the lab. Register here.

Other Research News

Immune cells that may lower allergy and asthma risk uncovered

Many are asymptomatic to common allergens like house dust mites but some have severe reactions like asthma attacks. To treat the cause, we need to know what differentiates patients. In a recent Science Immunology study, LJI scientists offer a clue. Learn more here.

Powerful protein behind antibody development investigated

LJI scientists have discovered a potential new way to better fight a range of infectious diseases, cancers and autoimmune diseases. The new study, published recently in Nature Immunology, shows how a protein works as a "master regulator" in the immune system. Learn more here. 

As we navigate the phased reopening of society together, La Jolla Institute of Immunology is providing a COVID-19 research update from global collaboration leader and infectious disease research expert, Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire. Dr. Saphire will share her research progress and observations live from the laboratory this Wednesday, June 10th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PDT). Institute leadership will also be joining to provide their insights and experience during the virtual discussion, highlighting the Institute''s state-of-the-art technology behind COVID-19 research. 

We welcome you to forward this invitation to your networks that may be interested in learning more about the cutting-edge COVID-19 research at the Institute. Space for this live virtual discussion is limited. Please register now to ensure access.
 
Dr. Saphire is a Professor of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. She is the Director of the newly-launched Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC), a global partnership to accelerate discovery, optimization, and delivery of life-saving antibody-based therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, and is supported by the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and MasterCard Impact Fund. She was also the galvanizing force behind the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Immunotherapeutic Consortium and is the Director of this organization. This consortium unites 44 previously competing academic, industrial and government labs across five continents to understand and provide antibody therapeutics against Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and other viruses.
 
Questions for Dr. Saphire can be submitted prior to the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar.

Additional information on current COVID-19 research efforts underway can be found at: lji.org/covid-19

Dear James,
 
I hope you and your family are safe as we come to the end of another month since this pandemic began. We've had some encouraging news recently, thanks to the efforts of La Jolla Institute's Coronavirus Task Force. In particular, discoveries made in the labs of Dr. Alessandro Sette and Dr. Shane Crotty are providing the first detailed analysis of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2. Their findings, published in the scientific journal Cell on May 14th showed two very important things: 

1. The immune system is able to recognize the virus, which means this virus does not evade the immune response and vaccine development for COVID-19 is possible.
2. Some people who never had COVID-19 did have T cells that could respond to the virus, suggesting that past exposure to other coronaviruses (such as those that cause the common cold) had primed their T cells to recognize and attack this new coronavirus.

This study was featured on national and local news channels, in Science Magazine, and also The New York Times. 

In addition to his time in the lab working on COVID-19 research, Dr. Crotty has also been widely featured as a vaccine expert for several news outlets this past month. In doing so, he's helping to educate the public on how vaccines and herd immunity work, and how we can apply what we already know to the current pandemic. Here are a few examples: WIRED Magazine's article "The First Shot: Inside the Covid Vaccine Fast Track"; FiveThirtyEight's article "Without A Vaccine, Herd Immunity Won't Save Us"; and Science Insider's video "Can You Get The Coronavirus Twice?".

New grants from NIH almost always take many months and therefore discoveries like these are in great part made possible thanks to the generosity of private individuals and foundations. The gifts and our rapid results underscore how philanthropic investments enable our scientists to respond quickly in a crisis. We are incredibly grateful for the support we've received in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just this month we received $21,000 in one day thanks to 46 donors stepping forward on #GivingTuesdayNow; and we raised more than $600,000 from three new donors to purchase essential equipment needed for our Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility and to accelerate the efforts of the Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC) being spearheaded by Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire.

We are encouraged by the confidence our donors are placing in us, as we continue to push ahead with the momentum generated thanks to the gifts we've received thus far. But our work is far from over, and we hope we can continue to count on private support as we pursue discoveries for life without COVID-19 again. Gifts of every size make a difference, and we hope you will consider making a donation today to help us find solutions faster. Especially when time means so much right now.

I look forward to keeping you informed on our coronavirus research. In the meantime, my best wishes to you and yours as we navigate the partial reopening of society. Stay safe and be healthy.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D.
President and Chief Scientific Officer

????Learn More and Make An Impact

??????Dr. Saphire Returns Live from the Laboratory on June 10th

Returning to report back updates from the field, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D. will be sharing the status of her COVID-19 research since being live from the lab in early April. Join Dr. Saphire and Institute leadership June 10th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PST).
Register here.

Behind-the-Scenes of COVID-19 Immunity Discoveries 

In case you missed it, you can watch a replay of Dr. Alessandro Sette's Live from the Laboratory webinar in which he discusses his lab's breakthrough COVID-19 discoveries. His colleague Dr. Daniela Weiskopf also takes you behind the scenes of COVID-19 research. Watch here.

Learn About La Jolla Institute''s Local COVID-19 Clinical Studies

This month continued clinical research studies locally in San Diego. If you or someone you know was diagnosed with COVID-19 and have been recovered for more than 14 days please consider participating in our COVID-19 clinical studies.
Learn more here.
 

Dear James,

The Coronavirus Updates: Live from the Laboratory webinar with Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire initially scheduled for today has been postponed to Friday, June 26, 2020 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PDT).

If you have already registered for the webinar, your registration is confirmed. If you have not yet had a chance to register, please be sure to register now to ensure access, as space for this live virtual discussion is limited.

Thank you for your understanding with this scheduling change. We look forward to the upcoming virtual discussion highlighting La Jolla Institute for Immunology''s COVID-19 research updates. To find out more about the Institute''s COVID-19 research and response, frequent updates are available at: lji.org/covid-19

Stay well,

Christopher A. Lee
Chief Advancement Officer
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
clee@lji.org
858-752-6674

Good afternoon James,

In the event you were unable to view the virtual premiere of the half-hour documentary film, Life Without Disease, the full recording can be found at lji.org/covid-19. The film showcases the critical work of three La Jolla Institute for Immunology scientists working on the frontlines of infectious disease and vaccine research. The recording also includes a bonus Q&A with the featured scientists and filmmaker Jody Santos, where they discuss their work in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Please feel free to share the film's link on your social media accounts -  like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram - or share it with others who may have been unable to watch the film live.
 
If you would like to learn more about the award-winning public television series, The Visionaries, hosted by actor Sam Waterston, please check out visionaries.org. The 24th season of The Visionaries is currently airing on local PBS stations. Please check your local listing for air times.
 
As always, you can learn more about our coronavirus research efforts and support the fight against COVID-19 by visiting lji.org/covid-19. This page is updated regularly with information concerning Institute research breakthroughs and coronavirus media coverage.
 
We appreciate your continued interest in our research and thank you for your ongoing support of LJI.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Take Care,


Christopher A. Lee, MBA
Chief Advancement Officer
clee@lji.org | 858.752.6674
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
9420 Athena Circle | La Jolla, CA 92037

Dear James,

I'm honored to share with you that yesterday, on #GivingTuesdayNow, we broke a La Jolla Institute for Immunology record - we had the highest number of donations made in a single day. This collective action is a reminder to our research heroes that outside the lab they have a larger community rooting for them and encouraging them to press ahead.

We raised more than $5,600 yesterday, and donations have continued to come in today. If you missed the opportunity to make a gift on #GivingTuesdayNow - it's not too late to still make an impact and show our 31 frontline heroes that you to applaud their efforts and hope to help them succeed. You can make a donation here...
donate.lji.org/covid-19
 
We will one day again have life without COVID-19, but we will get there faster with your help. Together we can solve the problem of COVID-19, science is the solution.

Take care,
Chris

Christopher A. Lee, MBA
Chief Advancement Officer
La Jolla Institute for Immunology 
clee@lji.org 
858-752-6674

Results of Philanthropy

Voices of America Short Film on LJI COVID-19 Vaccine Research

You can directly support the COVID-19 research featured in this short film with a donation. Voices of America (VOA), the largest U.S. international broadcaster to 280+ million weekly, explores the COVID-19 vaccine through interviews with LJI researchers. Watch here.

Live from the Laboratory Continues with Dr. Sette on May 13th

By making a contribution today, you can fund the work of one of the "world''s most highly cited researchers", Dr. Alessando ''Alex'' Sette. He''s sharing his immune response expertise on Wednesday, May 13th at 12:00 p.m. (PST) in a live discussion. Register here.

Dear James,
 
I'm reaching out to you today to give you an update on the progress made by La Jolla Institute's Coronavirus Task Force this past month. Our researchers have been busy in the labs, many of them putting in back to back 16-18 hour days ramping up their projects; drafting papers to share their findings with the world; and providing expert interviews for regional townhalls, national media outlets like POPULAR SCIENCE and Bloomberg, as well as participating in webinars to provide the public with accurate science-based information about what we are learning about the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in real-time.
 
This month we've initiated clinical research studies locally in San Diego and established international collaborations to collect and analyze the plasma of convalescent COVID-19 patients. We are continuing to make progress toward antibody therapeutics, identifying the best possible targets for vaccines, better understanding immune responses, and disease severity. And we look forward to sharing those findings soon.
 
Our efforts have been possible thanks to private and public investment this month. For example, earlier this month, Dr. Alessandro Sette was awarded $500,000 from the National Institutes of Health to continue his study of how the human immune system recognizes the novel coronavirus. And Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire was among the 1% of applicants to initially receive a Fast Grant from Emergent Ventures. The $100,000 grant enables her to purchase enough incubators to purify vaccine antigens and antibodies from human cells to facilitate her work with the Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoViC). 
 
While these large gifts and grants are significant, it is often the smaller private donations that are critical to help our scientists successfully compete for them. Every donation, from $10 to $10,000, helps our researchers buy supplies, invest in equipment, and keep projects moving until they can secure a larger grant. We've had numerous donors come forward this last month and we are incredibly grateful for their support. We hope that we can continue to inspire your confidence and demonstrate why supporting us is a wise investment. To those of you on the fence about donating, I hope you will consider making a gift - as it is only through our collective efforts that we will defeat this virus.
 
I look forward to keeping you informed on our coronavirus research and thank you again for your interest and support. In the meantime, my best wishes to you and yours. Stay safe and be healthy.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D.
President and Chief Scientific Officer

????Learn More and Make An Impact

Voices of America Short Film on LJI COVID-19 Vaccine Research

Voices of America (VOA), the largest U.S. international broadcaster producing news content for major media to 280+ million weekly, explores questions about the most effective COVID-19 vaccine through interviews with LJI researchers on the frontlines. Watch here.

Join Millions in the #GivingTuesdayNow Day of Unity through Giving

This Tuesday, May 5th you can be part of #GivingTuesdayNow, the new global day of giving launched as an emergency response to the need caused by COVID-19. Impact LJI''s pursuit of pandemic solutions.
Donate here.

Live from the Laboratory Continues with Dr. Sette on May 13th

Join us for a virtual discussion with immune response and vaccine discovery expert Dr. Alessando ''Alex'' Sette, Dr. Biol.Sci. on Wednesday, May 13th at 12:00 p.m. (PST) continuing our Coronavirus Updates: Live from the Laboratory series. Register here.
 

Join Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire today as she shares her research progress and observations live from the laboratory from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PDT). Institute leadership will also be joining to provide their insights and experience during the virtual discussion, highlighting the Institute''s state-of-the-art technology behind COVID-19 research. 

Space for this live virtual discussion is limited. Please register now to ensure access.
 
Dr. Saphire is a Professor of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. She is the Director of the newly-launched Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC), a global partnership to accelerate discovery, optimization, and delivery of life-saving antibody-based therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, and is supported by the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and MasterCard Impact Fund. She was also the galvanizing force behind the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Immunotherapeutic Consortium and is the Director of this organization. This consortium unites 44 previously competing academic, industrial and government labs across five continents to understand and provide antibody therapeutics against Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and other viruses.
 
Questions for Dr. Saphire can be submitted prior to the webinar by emailing Advancement Officer Clare Pister at clare@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar.

Additional information on current COVID-19 research efforts underway can be found at: lji.org/covid-19

Good afternoon James, 

In case you missed our Research Updates: Live from the Laboratory webinar featuring Dr. Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn and Dr. Alessandro Sette you can access the full recording, plus a behind the scenes laboratory tour here. Yesterday we learned that Dr. Arlehamn is spearheading a three-year, $3.5 million study into how immune cells may contribute to Parkinson's disease. The new funding will allow the team to expand on this research to investigate whether T cells contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease. Click here to read the full story. Dr. Sette discussed his team's latest findings on COVID-19 and also touched on the theory that the immune system's response to viral infections, such as COVID-19, could be a "triggering event" that leads immune cells to then target brain cells.

If you or someone you know has Parkinson's, and might be interested in participating in this study, please email donors@lji.org, call/text (858) 255-0680, or visit lji.org/study to learn more.

While this research update briefly touched on COVID-19, you can always stay informed about our research underway and join the fight against COVID-19 by visiting lji.org/covid-19. This page is updated regularly with information concerning research breakthroughs.

Your interest and support in helping us fight disease is appreciated. At LJI we will keep pushing ahead for our vision of Life Without Disease? and are grateful to have you by our side. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me.


 

Take care,


Christopher A. Lee, MBA
Chief Advancement Officer
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
clee@lji.org
858-752-6674

9420 Athena Circle
La Jolla, CA 92037
lji.org

Live from the Laboratory:

??????Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire and Dr. Sujan Shresta

Infectious disease experts Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire and Dr. Sujan Shresta report on their latest COVID-19 research live from the lab. Additional information on current COVID-19 research efforts underway can be found here.

The 2020 Annual Report maps the significant project progress, research discoveries, and career achievements of the program''s 2019 and 2020 SPARK winners-a testament to the impact of SPARK donors. The 2021 SPARK finalists competing for funding this year are also announced in the report. We will be sharing more about them in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your interest in our research and your continued commitment to the pursuit of Life Without Disease?. As you are planning your year-end charitable contributions, I hope you will consider making a gift to support this dynamic program. 



Best,


Kelsey Dale / Deputy Director of Advancement
kdale@lji.org / 858.752.6674

La Jolla Institute for Immunology
9420 Athena Circle
La Jolla, CA 92037
lji.org

As we all navigate uncharted territory during this COVID-19 pandemic, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) remains committed to updating the public on the research efforts of LJI''s Coronavirus Task Force. In our next installment of Live from the Laboratory, vaccine and infectious disease expert Shane Crotty, Ph.D. will share his approach and observations on Monday, April 20th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PST). Institute leadership and experts Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., Stephen S. Wilson, Ph.D., and Eric V. Zwisler will also provide their insights during the virtual discussion. 

We hope you will join us for this webinar, and also welcome you to share this opportunity with family and friends that may be interested in an update from the frontlines of coronavirus research. Space for this live virtual discussion is limited. Please register now to ensure access. 

Questions for Dr. Crotty can be submitted prior to the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar. 

Dr. Crotty is a Professor at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and a world-renowned expert in vaccine design, with a focus on how the immune system remembers infections and vaccines. His research drew international attention when he discovered a pivotal piece of the body''s mechanism for switching on the production of antibodies, the yardsticks against which the efficacy of vaccines are traditionally measured. By applying this insight into processes, Dr. Crotty hopes new and better vaccines can be developed, particularly against deadly diseases such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and now-COVID-19.

Resources and additional information on research efforts underway related to COVID-19 at La Jolla Institute for Immunology are shared on the Institute''s social channels as well as at: lji.org/covid-19

Join Us This Wednesday | Register Now
Space for this live discussion is limited.
Please register to ensure access.

Immune response and vaccine discovery expert Alessandro "Alex" Sette, Dr. Biol. Sci. will share his research knowledge and observations from the laboratory on Wednesday, May 13th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PST). Institute leadership will also be sharing their insights and experience during the virtual discussion.

Dr. Sette is establishing a global network to study the immune response in patients with COVID-19. He is working closely with his colleagues at LJI to comprehensively map which parts of the virus elicit a strong immune response, and what distinguishes a good immune response from a detrimental one. This information is particularly important to understand why some people have more severe illness and to ensure that a vaccine induces a desirable immune response without unintended consequences.

The Institute invites you to learn more about the latest advances led by Dr. Sette addressing the rapidly developing COVID-19 pandemic. We also welcome you to share this opportunity with family and friends that may be interested in learning more about the coronavirus. Space for this live virtual discussion is limited. Please register now to ensure access. 

Questions for Dr. Sette can be submitted prior to the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar. 

Additional information on research efforts underway related to COVID-19 at La Jolla Institute for Immunology are shared on the Institute''s social channels as well as at: lji.org/covid-19

Good afternoon James,

In case you missed our Coronavirus Updates: Live from the Laboratory webinar featuring Dr. Shane Crotty, you can access the full recording here: lji.org/covid-19/resources. Please feel free to post the webinar to your social media accounts or share the webinar with others who may have been unable to watch it live.
 
Here's how you can stay informed about our research underway and join the fight against COVID-19:

• lji.org/covid-19 - This page is updated regularly with information concerning the Institute''s coronavirus research breakthroughs, related media coverage and LJI''s operations during this time.

• KPBS News Article and Video: La Jolla Institute Leading Global Hunt For Antibodies To Coronavirus - The international effort led by LJI aims to connect dozens of labs across continents to find the best option. While Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire is working on injectable antibodies as a treatment, Dr. Shane Crotty is tapping into that research to develop a vaccine, which teaches human cells how to make their own antibodies.

• donate.lji.org/covid-19 - Please consider making a gift to support our COVID-19 research. You can make a donation using this link, mail a contribution to my attention to the address below, or if you'd prefer to discuss alternative gift options please give me a call 858-752-6674.

• facebook.com/fund/LifeWithoutDisease - Through this link you can share our work with your Facebook Community and start a fundraiser of your own to help accelerate our research.

We thank you for your continued support and interest in our work, and also for doing your part to help us flatten the curve by following public health guidelines. In the meantime, please know we are thinking of you and our global community as our researchers endeavor to fight COVID-19.
  
Take care,


Christopher A. Lee, MBA
Chief Advancement Officer
clee@lji.org | 858.752.6674
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
9420 Athena Circle | La Jolla, CA 92037

P.S. Save the date for #GivingTuesdayNow, the new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 - as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Please join us in this movement pursuing solutions to this crisis. 

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In our next installment of Live from the Laboratory, vaccine design and infectious disease expert Shane Crotty, Ph.D. will share his approach and observations from the field this Monday, April 20th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (PST). Institute leadership and experts Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., Stephen S. Wilson, Ph.D., and Eric V. Zwisler will also provide their insights during the virtual discussion. 

As part of LJI''s Coronavirus Task Force, Dr. Crotty is applying his specialized expertise on the frontlines of coronavirus research.  We hope you can join us for this behind-the-scenes opportunity, and also welcome you to share this invitation with family and friends. Space for this live virtual discussion is limited. Please register now to ensure access. 
Questions for Dr. Crotty can be submitted prior to the webinar by emailing Engagement and Stewardship Officer Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@lji.org. We will make every effort to answer as many questions as possible during the webinar. 

Dr. Crotty is a Professor at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and a world-renowned expert in vaccine design, with a focus on how the immune system remembers infections and vaccines. His research drew international attention when he discovered a pivotal piece of the body''s mechanism for switching on the production of antibodies, the yardsticks against which the efficacy of vaccines are traditionally measured. By applying this insight into processes, Dr. Crotty hopes new and better vaccines can be developed, particularly against deadly diseases such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and now-COVID-19.

As we all navigate uncharted territory during this COVID-19 pandemic, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) remains committed to updating the public on the research efforts of LJI''s Coronavirus Task Force. Resources and additional information on research efforts underway related to COVID-19 at La Jolla Institute for Immunology are shared on the Institute''s social channels as well as at: lji.org/covid-19