In Brief

Gerald Joyce Elected to the National Institute of Medicine

Gerald Joyce, professor in the Department of Chemistry and member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), has been elected to the National Academies Institute of Medicine (IOM), considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.

“This is a well-deserved honor for Jerry that reflects positively on TSRI,” said James Paulson, TSRI’s acting president and CEO. “It’s also quite fitting as he assumes his responsibilities as director of the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation.”

Joyce, whose research laboratory continues to be based at TSRI, is one of 70 new IOM members recognized for having demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the IOM is an honorific membership organization and a recognized national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on health issues. Recent projects include studies of end-of-life issues, sport-related concussions in young athletes, post-traumatic stress disorder in active and veteran military and accountability in graduate medical education.

Joyce joins eight other current IOM members on the TSRI faculty, including Floyd Bloom, Thomas Edgington, Francis Chisari, Michael Marletta, Michael B.A. Oldstone, Eric Topol and Peter Vogt.

2014-2015 Faculty Lecture Series Speakers Announced

TSRI Professor Hugh Rosen will give the first talk in this season’s Faculty Lecture Series titled “Of Mechanisms and Molecules: From R01 to Intelligent Intervention in MS” on Wednesday, November 12, at 5 PM. The lecture will be held in the Timken Amphitheater at Green Hospital, with a reception following in the Beckman building galleria.

Upcoming speakers for 2014-15 academic year include:

Professor Thomas Kodadek on January 14
Professor Michael McHeyzer-Williams on February 11
Professor Mark Mayford on March 11
Associate Professor Ian J. MacRae on April 8
Associate Professor Claudio Joazeiro on May 13
Professor Wendy Havran on June 10

The Faculty Lecture Series Committee comprises Larry Gerace (committee chair), Dennis Burton, Frank Chisari, Benjamin Cravatt and Anette Schneemann.

CA Blood Cancer Research Fundraiser to Sell French Pastries

Delectable homemade madeleines, tartes aux pommes and gâteau au chocolat will tempt Scripps California faculty and staff at the third annual French Bakery Sale, on Monday, November 3, beginning at 8 AM at the Immunology building entrance.

Proceeds from the bakery sale, presented by the DerMardirossian, Sauer and Franc labs, will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) through its TSRI fundraising group, the Mission Team Researchers. LLS supports blood cancer research and provides patient/family programs and resources.

Bakers for this year’s sale are TSRI Assistant Professor Céline DerMardirossian; Assistant Professor Nathalie Franc; Violaine Delorme-Walker, staff scientist in the DerMardirossian lab; Claire Conche and Stéphanie Rigaud, research associates in the Sauer lab; Sophie Wehrkamp-Richter, research associate in the Russell lab; and Thomas Touboul, a postdoctoral fellow at UC San Diego.

The sale menu will also include cannelés, croquants, sablés, financier aux framboises, gâteau basque, quatre-quart breton, tarte amandine, clafoutis aux fruits, pain d’épices and crêpes.

Direct donations to the Mission Team Researchers can be made in cash or online at the LLS website .

New CA ScrippsAssists Project Aids Small Animals

The California campus ScrippsAssists is recruiting volunteers for a monthly project with its newest community partner, Wee Companions, a nonprofit rescue organization for small furry exotic animals, including guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, mice and rabbits.

On the first Wednesday of each month, ScrippsAssists volunteers help clean and set up guinea pig cages at the Wee Companions Adoption Center, 3368 Governor Dr., Suite F, San Diego, 92122, near University Town Center.

The next volunteer evening is scheduled on Wednesday, November 5, from 6 to 8 PM. No animals are handled during this activity.

In addition, Wee Companions volunteers are needed to serve as animal foster home guardians, provide adoption counseling or help with clerical and staff work. Founded in 1998, Wee Companions provides pet adoption services, a foster-care network, holiday pet-sitting for small animals and pet care education.

To sign-up for the November 5 event or for more information, contact ScrippsAssists project lead Sasha Moola, graduate student in the Wilson lab, at smoola@scripps.edu.

Tickets on Sale for SoF Halloween Party

Tickets remain available to the Ninth Annual Society of Fellows (SoF) Halloween Party, to be held Friday, October 31, from 9:30 PM to 1 AM, at Party Pals Sorrento Valley, 10427 Roselle St., San Diego, 92121.

Open to all Scripps California faculty, staff and guests, the popular 21-and-over event will feature LED foosball, pool tables, photo booths, upright classic arcade games, fire pit/lounge area, snacks, prizes and a DJ. Costumes are encouraged.

Subsidized by SoF for TSRI employees, tickets are $5 with TSRI ID and $10 for guests. Cash or checks (made out to “Society of Fellows”) are accepted. Phone or email reservations are not available. Tickets can be purchased from Amanda Ackley in the Morris lab, MEM 125; Dave Guimond, the Mowen lab, IMM 315; Brian Lamb, the Barbas lab, CimBio 262R; and Lynda Groocock, the Boddy lab, MBB 107.

The event is also open to other local institutions, including UC San Diego, Sanford-Burnham and The Salk Institute.

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 & Safety via email to rachellv@scripps.edu by Friday, October 31.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

joyce
TSRI Professor Gerald Joyce has been elected to the Institute of Medicine in recognition of outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. (Photo by BioMedical Graphics.)

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