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In a pair of studies, the lab of Professor Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte has advanced technologies to study critical stages of embryonic development.

In the first paper, in the journal Cell, his team reported developing early-stage structures termed “blastoids,” from a single cultured mouse cell, circumventing the need for natural embryos in research. These structures could help advance discoveries in development, pregnancy, infertility or health problems later in the offspring’s life.

In a second advance published in Science, the team, along with collaborators in China, created a method to allow primate embryos to grow in the laboratory longer than ever before, enabling the researchers to observe key processes of development for the first time. This technique could help inform approaches for regenerative medicine for humans.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, and some forms rank among the most difficult to treat. Professor Geoffrey Wahl and colleagues have used a state-of-the-art technology to profile each cell during normal breast development in order to understand what goes wrong in cancer. The team’s findings, published in Cell Reports, and shared in a free online resource, lay the groundwork for understanding normal breast development. 

In 2017, the lab of Assistant Professor Dmitry Lyumkis reported that tilting a frozen protein sample as it sat under an electron microscope was an effective approach to acquiring better information about its structure and helping researchers understand a host of diseases ranging from HIV to cancer. Now, they have developed a mathematical framework that underlies some of those initial observations. Their new study, published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, provides a foundation for determining how differences in viewing angles affect the resulting 3D structures of proteins, and could help other researchers determine the best setup for experiments to improve the imaging technique called cryo-EM.

In recent decades, scientists have learned a great deal about how different neurons connect and send signals to each other. But it’s been difficult to trace the activity of individual nerve fibers known as axons, some of which can extend from the tip of the toe to the head. Professor Satchidananda Panda and researchers from UC San Diego report a novel technique for tracing these connections and determining how neurons communicate. The team used this technique to uncover details about how the brain responds to light signals received by the retina in mice, as detailed in Cell Reports.

Gregor Mendel, often called the “father of modern genetics” spent years tediously observing and measuring pea plant traits by hand in the 1800s to uncover the basics of genetic inheritance. Associate Professor Saket Navlakha and colleagues have helped speed up plant phenotyping with machine-learning algorithms that teach a computer system to analyze three-dimensional shapes of the branches and leaves of a plant. The study, published in Plant Physiology, may help scientists better quantify how plants respond to climate change, genetic mutations or other factors.

Credit: Salk Institute/Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Core Facility

As the tools to study biology improve, researchers are beginning to uncover details into microproteins, small components that appear to be key to some cellular processes. Professor Alan Saghatelian, Staff Scientist Uri Manor, director of the Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Core Facility, and others recently showed that the 54-amino acid microprotein PIGBOS contributes to mitigating cell stress. The work, published in the journal Nature Communications, indicates that PIGBOS could be a target for human disease.

A team of Salk scientists led by Professor Martyn Goulding and including Professor Samuel Pfaff, Professor Tatyana Sharpee, Associate Professor Axel Nimmerjahn, and Assistant Professor Eiman Azim has been awarded $14.3 million over five years by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a high-resolution atlas of how the mouse brain generates and controls skilled forelimb movements, such as reaching and grasping.

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Martyn Goulding receives National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Outstanding Investigator Award

Professor Martyn Goulding will receive $9.5 million dollars over the next eight years to further his pioneering studies on sensorimotor circuits in the spinal cord that are important for touch, itch and pain as part of a National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Outstanding Investigator Award. Goulding, who holds the Frederick W. and Joanna J. Mitchell Chair, has shown that these circuits are important for locomotion and balance.

Professor Tony Hunter has received a National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award, which supports accomplished leaders in cancer research. Hunter, who is an American Cancer Society Professor and the Renato Dulbecco Chair, will receive more than $7.5 million over the next seven years to further his work. Hunter is known for discovering tyrosine phosphorylation, a finding that led to a new class of cancer drugs. 

Salk has launched a new podcast series called Where Cures Begin, which explores the lives of scientists and discoveries at the Institute. Season 1 of Where Cures Begin features one-on-one conversations with Salk researchers working at the forefront of cutting-edge science, from cancer and neuroscience to plant biology, circadian science and more. The eight episodes of season 1 are released weekly. The first episode is available and features Assistant Professor Eiman Azim, who speaks about neuroscience, his life as a new dad, and the importance of training the next generation of scientists.

Or subscribe and listen via Apple or Google podcasts, Stitcher, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts. If you like what you hear, please submit a rating or review!

Netflix documentary series "Unnatural Selection" features Izpisua Belmonte's lab in Episode 1

Forbes.com lists Salk as a “best-in-class” research brand

Professor Satchidananda Panda discusses tips for diet and sleep based on his lab’s research into circadian biology

Al Gore warns of a looming food crisis caused by climate change, citing Salk approach as “technology that is worth exploring and evaluating”

Genetic influence on root growth discovered by the lab of Associate Professor Wolfgang Busch

Padres Pedal the Cause is dedicated to raising money to fund cancer research in San Diego through a one-day cycle/spin/run/walk event at Petco Park on November 16th. Training is in full swing for Team SCC, Salk's Cancer Center cycling group, which is raising funds for cancer research at the Salk Institute and three other local research centers. Join the team for a 5K run/walk or cycling routes from 25 to 100 miles.

This month’s image comes from a recent press release from Salk scientists in Geoffrey Wahl‘s lab. This image represents luminal cells (green) and basal cells (red) in mature mouse breast tissue.

Which Salk scientist was a rock musician before becoming a scientist? How does a 24-hour biological clock influence our health? Can you use plants to fight climate change? What are stem cells and how can they help with human diseases? To find out the answers to all of these questions and many others, tune into the Salk Institute’s new podcast series called Where Cures Begin. The series features one-on-one conversations with Salk researchers working at the forefront of their respective scientific fields, from cancer and neuroscience to plant biology, circadian science and more. The eight episodes of season 1 feature the following scientists and topics:

Eiman Azim, assistant professor, speaks about how the brain controls skilled movements such as throwing a dart. Azim also talks about his life as a husband and dad, and the importance of training the next generation of scientists.

Tony Hunter, an American Cancer Society Professor at Salk, has garnered many prestigious, international awards for his cancer research. Hunter shares highlights from his 50-year journey as a scientist, including how he made the critical discovery that launched an entirely new class of cancer drugs.

Emily Manoogian, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Satchin Panda at Salk, studies the biological clock that affects every cell in our body. The team has made several discoveries showing that eating within a certain number of hours (dubbed the time-restricted diet) can have a host of health benefits.

Dannielle Engle, assistant professor, has a personal and professional connection to pancreatic cancer. She tells us why pancreatic cancer is both hard to detect and hard to treat, as well as describes innovative approaches her lab is taking to tackle these deadly tumors.

Nicola Allen, associate professor, discusses her research investigating star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes, important support cells in the brain, during this interview and audio tour of her lab.

Ken Diffenderfer, assistant director of Salk's Stem Cell Core facility, shares what stem cells are, why they are so valuable for research, and what their favorite medium is (sadly, it's not audio). He also takes listeners on a guided tour of the Stem Cell Core.

Joanne Chory, globally renowned researcher and director of Salk’s Harnessing Plants Initiative, describes how plants can help mitigate climate change and how her personal journey with Parkinson’s disease makes her research even more urgent.

Rusty Gage, professor and president, is a leading authority in neuroscience. Aside from discovering that brains grow new neurons, Gage has made many critical discoveries in the fields of genetics, mental disorders and aging-related dementia, like Alzheimer’s. He shares why Salk is one of the top scientific research institutes in the world.

Where Cures Begin is a production of the Salk Office of Communications, and can be heard on Apple and Google podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and the Salk Institute website.

Salk Professor Emeritus Jean Rivier, who pioneered studies on the characterization of the hypothalamic peptides that control the stress response—and developed drugs that target this response—passed away peacefully in San Diego, California, on November 13, 2019.

The lab of Professor Kay Tye has discovered a brain circuit that controls alcohol drinking behavior in mice, and can be used as a biomarker for predicting the development of compulsive drinking later on. The findings were published in Science, and may have implications for understanding human binge drinking and addiction in the future.

For the ninth consecutive time, the Salk Institute has earned the highest ranking—4 out of 4 stars—from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity and nonprofit evaluator. Only three percent of the roughly 10,000 nonprofits evaluated have achieved this recognition for nine consecutive times. The coveted ranking indicates the Salk Institute outperforms most other charities in America in regard to executing best fiscal practices and carrying out its mission in a financially efficient way.

The new podcast series called Where Cures Begin has launched and features one-on-one conversations with Salk researchers working at the forefront of their respective scientific fields, from cancer and neuroscience to plant biology, circadian science and more. Find it on Apple and Google podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and the Salk Institute website.

Nearly 300 local high school girls attended the 5th Annual Women in Biotech event, sponsored by Salk’s Education Outreach program and the San Diego Unified STEAM Leadership Series. The event was covered in two articles by the San Diego Union-Tribune:

Associate Professor Nicola Allen and Assistant Professor Eiman Azim discussed their National Institutes of Health BRAIN initiative grants on KUSI:

Massive Science highlighted the work of Professor Satchin Panda and Postdoctoral Fellow Emily Manoogian in an article about circadian rhythms and time-restricted eating

The Salk Science & Music Series consists of four remarkable Sunday afternoons that bring together virtuosos from the worlds of science and music. Each concert features stunning performances by some of the finest instrumentalists in the world of classical music in addition to riveting talks about the latest discoveries by the Institute’s globally renowned scientists. You will be amazed and inspired!

On November 16, over 55 members of the Salk Cancer Center Team participated in Padres Pedal the Cause, which is dedicated to raising money to fund cancer research at the Salk Institute and three other local research centers. Team members completed a 5K run/walk or cycling routes ranging from 25 to 100 miles. You can donate to the team through Saturday, December 7.

Please enjoy this short video we created highlighting some of our 2019 accomplishments. The year ahead marks our 60^th anniversary and we look forward to celebrating this landmark with you. 

Done Bravely 

At the Salk Institute, we are fearless in our pursuit of answers to many of the most challenging problems facing the world, ranging from aging, cancer, climate change, brain disease and more. We believe—as our founder Jonas Salk did—that hope lies in dreams, in imagination and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.

Done Tenaciously  

Done Together 

Your support can lead to future discoveries. A gift from you will help Salk scientists pursue research to discover answers to the extraordinary challenges that confront our generation.

For nine consecutive times, the Salk Institute has earned the highest ranking—4 out of 4 stars—from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity and nonprofit evaluator. Only three percent of the roughly 10,000 nonprofits evaluated have achieved this recognition for nine consecutive times. The coveted ranking indicates the Salk Institute outperforms most other charities in America in regard to executing best fiscal practices and carrying out its mission in a financially efficient way.

Professor Satchin Panda and collaborators found that a 10-hour time-restricted eating intervention resulted in weight loss, reduced abdominal fat, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol. The pilot study, published in Cell Metabolism, could lead to a new treatment option for metabolic syndrome patients who are at risk for developing life-altering and costly medical conditions such as diabetes.

Metformin is the most commonly prescribed type 2 diabetes drug, yet scientists still do not fully know how it works to control blood sugar levels. Professor Reuben Shaw’s lab used a novel technology to investigate how it functions. The findings, published in Cell Reports, could also explain why metformin has been shown to extend health span and life span in recent studies.

Researchers from the lab of Professor Dave Shubert led by Senior Staff Scientist Pam Maher showed how two compounds (CMS121 and J147) can slow aging in healthy older mice. The research, published in the journal eLife, suggests that the drug candidates may be useful for treating a broad array of conditions and points out a new pathway that links normal aging to Alzheimer’s disease.

Mitochondria, tiny structures present in most cells, are known for their energy-generating machinery. Professor Gerald Shadel and colleagues discovered a new function of mitochondria: they set off molecular alarms when cells are exposed to stress or chemicals that damage DNA, such as chemotherapy. The results, published online in Nature Metabolism, could result in cancer treatments that prevent tumors from becoming resistant to chemotherapy.

A study from Professor Alan Saghatelian’s lab, published in Nature Chemical Biology, identified over 2,000 new, small genes—expanding the number of known human genes by 10 percent. These newly identified genes could help scientists better understand human biology and diseases ranging from cancer to diabetes.

Bright light at night interrupts the body’s normal day-night cycles, called circadian rhythms, and can trigger insomnia. In a Science study, Professor Satchin Panda and colleagues reported the discovery of three cell types in the eye that detect light and align the brain’s circadian rhythm to our ambient light. The study marks the first direct assessment in humans of light responses from these cells.

Aging is known to be the largest risk factor for most diseases, including Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes and others. By 2050, the population of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease will double from current levels to impact more than 13 million people. 

In November, an evening program at the Salk Institute explored recent and ongoing aging research with a guest presentation and a panel discussion among several Salk scientists. Salk President Rusty Gage introduced components of the new initiative, including the multidisciplinary approach employed at Salk to understand the fundamentals of aging and how interactions between the major systems of the body contribute to age-related diseases. 

Professor Joanne Chory penned an op-ed for The Economist on using plants to fight climate change:

Massive Science highlighted the work of pancreatic research at the Salk: 

The winter issue of Inside Salk lands in mailboxes soon.

Interested in getting on our mailing list to receive the print version of Inside Salk?

The issue is available online here:

The Institute’s season 1 of Where Cures Begin features conversations with Salk researchers working at the forefront of their respective scientific fields, from cancer and neuroscience to plant biology, circadian science and more. Find episodes on Apple and Google podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and the Salk website.

Rusty Gage, professor and president, is a leading authority in neuroscience. Aside from discovering that brains grow new neurons, Gage has made many critical discoveries in the fields of genetics, mental disorders and aging-related dementias, like Alzheimer’s. He shares why Salk is one of the top scientific research institutes in the world.

Joanne Chory, globally renowned researcher and director of Salk’s Harnessing Plants Initiative, describes how plants can help mitigate climate change and how her personal journey with Parkinson’s disease makes her research even more urgent.

Ken Diffenderfer, assistant director of Salk's Stem Cell Core facility, shares what stem cells are, why they are so valuable for research, and what their favorite medium is (sadly, it's not audio). He also takes listeners on a guided tour of the Stem Cell Core.

Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung, piano

Joseph Noel Professor,

Jack H. Skirball Center for Chemical Biology and Proteomics

The Salk Science & Music Series consists of four remarkable Sunday afternoons that bring together virtuosos from the worlds of science and music. Each concert features stunning performances by some of the finest instrumentalists in the world of classical music in addition to riveting talks about the latest discoveries by the Institute’s globally renowned scientists. You will be amazed and inspired!

Inside Salk sat down with Joseph Noel to learn about his path to becoming a scientist and about his current work researching coastal wetlands to help combat climate change.

11-minute read

7-minute read

Corina Antal is not your typical postdoctoral researcher. From wrangling bull sharks to climbing mountains to seeking a cure for pancreatic cancer, Antal follows her passion.

5-minute read

From now until September 30, we are offering an exclusive Salk face mask for your contribution of $100 or more during this campaign.  

Follow us: @salkinstitute

The lab of Professor John Reynolds, together with Professor Terry Sejnowski’s lab, has uncovered details into the neural mechanisms underlying the perception of objects. The team found that patterns of neural signals, called traveling brain waves, which were previously thought to be artifacts of being under anesthesia, also exist in the awake brain and are organized to allow the visual system to perceive objects that are faint or otherwise difficult to see. The findings were published in Nature.

Professor Joanne Chory, who pioneered the application of molecular genetics to plant biology and transformed our understanding of photosynthesis, received the 2020 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, Rockefeller University''s preeminent award recognizing outstanding women scientists. Frances Beinecke, former president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, presented the prize in a virtual ceremony hosted by Rockefeller on October 22.

Assistant Professor Edward Stites has been named an NIH Director’s New Innovator for 2020 as part of the National Institutes of Health’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program. The award “supports unusually innovative research from early career investigators,” according to the NIH and provides $1.5 million for a five-year project. For his project, Stites will use mathematical and biological approaches to identify strategies to convert failed therapeutics into effective agents.

Salk Institute Assistant Professor Dannielle Engle has been awarded a New Investigator Award from the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) to examine how tobacco use promotes cellular changes that lead to pancreatic cancer. Engle will receive over $1 million over three years to develop new models for examining how tobacco carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) lead to tumor development and metastasis.

Professor Janelle Ayres was featured in “Some people’s bodies learn to live with Covid-19”

Ayres was also cited in “Why people with diabetes are being hit so hard by Covid-19”

Professor Joanne Chory was quoted in “Award-winning scientists offer advice to the next President of the United States”