In Brief

Phil Baran Wins Distinguished Scientist Award

Scripps Research Institute Professor Phil S. Baran has been named recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Scientist Award by the American Chemical Society (ACS)-San Diego.

The award recognizes Baran's "contributions in the area of synthetic organic chemistry, especially creativity in pushing its boundaries with innovative and thoughtful solutions to synthetic problems." It also acknowledges his mentorship of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and interactions with the San Diego science community.

Previous winners of the honor include: Kimberly Prather, H. Jane Dyson/Peter Wright, John W. Kozarich, Jr., John E. Johnson Jr., J. Andrew McCammon, Julius Rebek Jr., Roger Y. Tsien, William H. Rastetter, William G. Tong, Mark Thiemens, Murray Goodman, Leslie Orgel, Chi-Huey Wong, Susan S. Taylor, K. C. Nicolaou, Richard Houghten, Marjorie Caserio, K. Barry Sharpless and Bruno Zimm.

As part of the award program, Baran, who is a member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), will deliver a lecture "Can Innovative Chemistry Save the Practice of Drug Discovery?" on Wednesday, October 24. The event, which costs $30 ($15 with student ID), includes a no-host bar (open at 6 PM), dinner (6:30 PM) and lecture (7:30 PM). It will be held UCSD Faculty Club, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla.

Those interested in registering for the 2012 Distinguished Scientist Award Banquet Lecture should do so by Friday, October 19 at http://sandiegoacsbaran2012.eventbrite.com.

Peterson-Loring Stem Cell Lab Manual Goes to Second Edition

The second edition of Human Stem Cell Manual: A Laboratory Guide, a "how-to" volume edited by TRSI Professor Jeanne Loring and Staff Scientist Suzanne Peterson to assist stem cell biologists has been published by Elsevier Science.

Available in print and as a Barnes and Noble Nook e-book, the updated textbook includes new chapters devoted to recently developed methods, such as iPSC technology, written by scientists who made these breakthroughs.

According to Barnes and Noble reviewer Bruce Fenderson of Thomas Jefferson University, the Peterson-Loring manual is a “reader-friendly book is an outstanding contribution to the literature in stem cell biology … Every laboratory that works with human stem cells should have two copies of this book: one to get marked up at the lab bench and one to keep clean.”

Oktoberfest Success Benefits Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Presented by the Havran and Sauer labs with the Society of Fellows, the second annual Oktoberfest Bratwurst BBQ, held recently on the California campus, raised more than $2,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

More than 160 participants from TSRI and other research institutions attended the Oktoberfest, enjoying locally made bratwurst, homemade German potato salad, authentic sauerkraut and original German barrel pickles along with German-style beverages.

The event was coordinated with the LLS national “Light the Night Walk” campaign. Proceeds fund blood cancer research and LLS patient/family programs and resources. The TSRI fundraising group, calling themselves the Mission Team Researchers, is organized by Professor Wendy Havran, Associate Professor Karsten Sauer (an LLS Scholar Award recipient and member fo the LLS San Diego/Hawaii chapter board of trustees), postdoc Amanda McLeod (Havran lab) and graduate student Luise Sternberg (Sauer lab) and Daniella Carlson, administrative assistant to the Sauer lab.

Fundraising for the LLS on the California campus will continue Monday, October 15, at 7:30 AM with a culinary journey to France as Claire Conche and Stephanie Rigaud, both research fellows in the Sauer lab, host a French pastries sale at the main entrance to the Immunology Building. Bakery items will include crêpes, madeleines, financiers, cannellés, quatre quarts and tartes aux fruits.

Additional donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the Mission Team Researchers can be made by cash or online http://pages.lightthenight.org/sd/SanDiego12/MissionTeamResearchers.

FL Research Fest Set for October 25

Featuring presentations by more than 45 postdoctoral fellows and graduate students and exhibits by numerous vendors, the Research Fest 2012: Scientific Symposium & Vendor Show will be held from 10 AM to 4 PM, Thursday, October 25, on the Scripps Florida campus.

Sponsored by the Society of Research Fellows (SRF), the symposium is “an excellent venue for Scripps Florida postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to share their latest research achievements with other researchers in the local scientific community across multiple disciplines, and to build contacts and networks,” said Josh Kostera, research associate in the Paegel lab and symposium chair.

The symposium’s oral presentations will be given by four postdoctoral fellows—Silvia Licciulli (Kissel lab), Argel Agulilar-Valles (Miller lab), Subhashis Banerjee (Burris lab) and Erica Young (Miller lab)—and one graduate student, David Marciano (Griffin lab).

In addition, vendors will showcase new scientific products and services at individual table booths. New this year is a slate of selected vendor presentations scheduled during the afternoon poster competition.

Open to the local life-sciences community, the symposium—now in its third year—draws attendance beyond TSRI, from industry and other research institutions, including the Max Planck Florida Institute, Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach State College

Attendees may enter a raffle prize drawing by visiting vendor exhibits and turning in a completed questionnaire booklet. Prizes will include gift cards and donations from local businesses.

For further detail on Research Fest 2012 and other SRF activities, visit the group’s website.

Symposium to Spotlight Kellogg School Alumni

Highlighting the careers and research accomplishments of Kellogg School of Science and Technology graduates, the Inaugural Alumni Symposium will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 8:30 AM to 7 PM in the Beckman Building’s Galleria and Keck Auditorium.

The symposium will offer presentations by former Kellogg School students whose careers have taken them to positions in academia, government, and industry throughout the United States. Presenters will include:

Michael Burkart, Class of 2000, University of California, San Diego
Michael Dorrell, Class of 2004, Point Loma Nazarene University
Yan Jessie Zhang, Class of 2004, University of Texas at Austin

An afternoon career panel discussion also will feature alumni, including

Phyllis Frosst, Class of 2001, National Institutes of Health
James Graziano, Class of 2006, Fabrus Inc.
Melanie Nelson, Class of 1999, Dart Neuroscience
Pamela Sears, Class of 1996, Optimer Pharmaceuticals
Christopher Yohn, Class of 1997, Sapphire Energy

Open to the public, the symposium will also include a poster session featuring the work of current graduate students from both the California and Florida campuses. The event is presented by the Career and Postdoctoral Services Office and the Graduate Office.

5K Run/Walk Celebrates Jared Purton Volunteer Spirit

The third annual “Good on You” 5K Charity Run/Walk, presented by the Jared F. Purton Foundation and sponsored by the Society of Fellows (SOF), will be held Saturday, October 20, at Crown Point Park (Mission Bay) in San Diego. Three highlighted charities—MADD, Voices for Children and the YWCA—will receive 10 percent of the event proceeds.

Participants in this year's run are encouraged once again to run in Halloween costumes. Prizes will be awarded for best individual male/female costume and best group costume.

The event fee for adults is $25 with online pre-registration (includes an event t-shirt) and $35 race-day registration (cash only); the fee for children ages 2-11 is $15. Children under two years participate free of charge; however, no strollers will be allowed on the run course.

Race-day registration begins at 7:30 AM; the run starts at 9 AM. Online registration deadline is Wednesday, October 17. Participants who pre-register by Sunday, October 14 are guaranteed a race t-shirt. Representatives from local charities will be available at the run/walk finish line to share their missions and volunteer opportunities. All participants will receive a wristband and a raffle prize card to complete by interacting with the charities.

The Jared F. Purton Foundation, established in memory of a young TRSI postdoctoral fellow killed by a drunk driver in 2009, aims to promote local volunteerism to create positive changes in the community. For further information, visit the Jared F. Purton Foundation website.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

The San Diego chapter of the American Chemical Society has honored Professor Phil Baran with the 2012 Distinguished Scientist Award.

SEARCH NEWS & VIEWS

Researchers Pinpoint Gene Variations Linked to Higher Risk of Bipolar Disorder

Scientists Devise New Screening Method to Aid RNA Drug Development Research

$2.1 Million Grant Funds Testing of Potential ALS Treatments

Time Management: Conquering the Clock