In Brief

Crowdfunding Supporters Pitch In to Help Ebola Research

Erica Ollmann Saphire, professor at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and leader of an international consortium to evaluate treatments to combat the Ebola virus, has launched a public appeal to help fund new equipment urgently needed for her research to defeat the virus, which kills up to 90 percent of those infected.

More than 500 individuals have already responded to the challenge, which was launched October 9 with the help of TSRI’s Office of Philanthropy. As of October 20, more than $60,000 has been raised toward the $100,000 needed to purchase a key piece of equipment, called a Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography machine, which will enable her team to process the hundreds of antibodies currently arriving in the lab from 25 laboratories in seven countries.

The crowdfunding initiative has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, U-T San Diego, Reuters, Chicago Tribune, Smithsonian.com, AOL News and other print and web publications, as well as numerous television and radio outlets.

To join the effort to support research to find a cure for Ebola, go to CrowdRise.com.

Scripps Florida Research Fest Scheduled for October 23

The Scripps Florida fifth annual Research Fest: Scientific Symposium & Vendor Show, sponsored by the Society of Research Fellows (SF-SRF), will be held on Thursday, October 23, from 10 AM to 4 PM in Building B.

More than 40 postdoctoral fellows and graduate students will offer presentations on research advances and discoveries in the TSRI Departments of Cancer Biology, Chemistry, Metabolism and Aging, Infectious Disease, Molecular Therapeutics and Neuroscience.

The morning will feature seminars in the Fink Auditorium and presentation of the SF-SRF Faculty Mentorship Award, followed by a scientific poster session from 1 to 4 PM. Some 40 scientific vendors will showcase their products and technologies from 10 AM to 4 PM in Scripps Café and classrooms.

The event is open to members of South Florida universities and institutes. For additional details, visit the SF-SRF website.

Open Enrollment Period Begins October 27

The two-week TSRI employee benefits open enrollment period begins on both the California and Florida campuses Monday, October 27 and ends Friday, November 7, 5 PM Pacific time. During this annual opportunity, participants may make changes to their TSRI benefit selections and, if eligible, enroll or re-enroll in the Health Care and/or Dependent Care Spending Accounts for the 2015 plan year.

Open Enrollment communications, including the new 2015 plan information, is available on the Open Enrollment website. Due to current healthcare cost challenges, the 2015 health care plan implements some changes, including:

HMO Plan participants will experience a moderate increase to premium costs.
Although there are no plan design changes to the Comprehensive, HSA-Compatible and Graduate Student PPO Plans, the claims administrator and network will be moving to Aetna.
Flexible spending account (FSA) administration will be moved from UMR to Tri-Ad.
Members enrolled in the HSA-Compatible PPO Plan may now enroll in a Health Savings Account through Aetna with the convenience of payroll deductions.

Eligible and previous participants in the Health Care and/or Dependent Care Spending Accounts in 2014 still must log on and elect a new deferral amount to participate in 2015. A 2014 election WILL NOT roll over to 2015.

Open Enrollment period activities on each campus include:

California

Open Enrollment meeting on Thursday, October 23, 11 AM to noon, MEM multipurpose room.
Open Enrollment meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 9:30 to 10:30 AM, Keck Amphitheater, BCC.
Benefits Fair on Wednesday, October 29, 10 AM to 1 PM, Immunology building galleria.
Open Enrollment meeting on Monday, November 3, noon to 1 PM, 3030 Science Park, room 176.
Open Enrollment meeting on Wednesday, November 5, 2 to 3 PM, Skaggs/MB lecture hall.

Florida

An Open Enrollment Fair on Monday, October 27, from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, in the Scripps Café.
Open Enrollment meetings on Monday, October 27, from 3 to 4 PM; Tuesday, October 28, from 10 to 11 AM; and Wednesday, November 5, 2:30 to 3:30 PM. The meetings will be held in B159.
Flu immunization clinics on Monday, October 27, from 11 AM to 4 PM, and Thursday, November 6, from 1 to 4 PM. They will be held on the Scripps Café ramp. No appointments are necessary; ID badge/personal identification is required.
Mammograms at a mobile mammogram unit on Tuesday, November 4, from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (561) 263-4636 to schedule an appointment.

Detailed event information is available on the TSRI Benefits website: California calendar, Florida calendar.

Participants with questions regarding Open Enrollment should contact Benefits Administration at (858) 784-8487 or at benefits@scripps.edu. On the Scripps Florida campus, contact Christine Ng-A-Fook at (561) 228-2036 or cngafook@scripps.edu for additional information.

Lunch & Learn: ‘Finding Flow’

How to increase personal satisfaction is the topic of the next Lunch & Learn presentation, “Finding Flow: Rediscover Contentment and Engagement,” to be held Wednesday, October 22, noon to 1 PM in the Scripps California Keck Amphitheater, Beckman building.

Sponsored by the TSRI Counseling and Psychological Services office, the session will be conducted by Steve Sprinkle, director of the University of San Diego Counseling Center. The discussion will be based on research by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of the best-selling book Finding Flow: the Psychology of Engagement in Everyday Life.

The seminar will cover:

Activities that can foster contentment.
Specific qualities of “flow” activities.
How to incorporate “flow” in daily life.

For additional information on the Lunch & Learn series and other resources provided by TSRI Counseling and Psychological Services, visit the department’s website.

Remember to RideShare

As the iCommute Rideshare 2014 Corporate Challenge passes the midpoint, TSRI faculty and staff are reminded to carpool, vanpool, bike, walk or take public transit to campus as often as possible during month of October and log their alternative commutes on the iCommute website.

In addition to helping TSRI compete for a fourth win in its category, participants are automatically entered in prize drawings held throughout October; prizes include a bicycle valued at $450, $100 eLiveLife.com gift certificates, car2go memberships valued at $50 and San Diego Zoo/Safari Park day-passes.

To participate, sign up for an iCommute account using a TSRI e-mail address. Log alternative commute trips on the iCommute Trip Tracker webpage.

10 Tips: Managing Anger

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s often hard to remain calm in frustrating situations. In the latest of her “Ten Tips” series, TSRI’s Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Daphne Lurie shares positive strategies to successfully manage anger.

Keeping cool isn’t a gift from nature, says Lurie, but does reflect an ability to effectively cope. Her tips include such steps as identifying anger triggers, taking deep breaths to relax, using humor and going for a walk.

The complete Ten Tips list is available on the counseling services website.

Onsite Clinic Scheduled October 29 on CA Campus

The next onsite immunization clinic on the California campus will be held Wednesday, October 29, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, in building 3366, room 150. Appointments are not needed.

Conducted by Sharp Rees-Stealy staff, the clinic will provide hepatitis B vaccination free of charge to all TSRI employees. Environmental Health & Safety Occupational Medicine must pre-authorize all other procedures based on the employee's working conditions. These procedures include tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines and other titers, immunizations and procedures.

CA Biosafety Committee Meeting Materials Due

The TSRI Institutional Biosafety Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, November 12, from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, in the DAR Conference Room. To receive committee consideration, registration documents must be submitted to Environmental Health and Safety via email to rachellv@scripps.edu by Friday, October 31.

At the Auditorium: San Diego’s Groundbreaking Innovators

The Jewish Federation of San Diego County hosts its second FEDTalks speaker series on Thursday, October 30, at 6:30 PM, presenting local scientific and hi-tech sector leaders. Speakers include Adam Furman, Vance Lopez, Jamie Weisman, David Hammel, Asaf Danzan and Ethan Senturia. Tickets are $18; registration information is available at the federation’s website.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

ebola
Individuals from across the country are responding to a crowdfunding campaign to support research by Professor Erica Ollmann Saphire and her team to find a cure for Ebola, which is up to 90 percent lethal.

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