Phil Baran Selected Blavatnik National Award Winner

Phil Baran, Darlene Shiley Chair in Chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), is one of three winners of a 2016 Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists, honoring early-career faculty-rank scientists and engineers “for their extraordinary achievements and outstanding promise.”

The awards, one each in the fields of physical science/engineering, chemistry and life sciences, are presented annually by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and administered by the New York Academy of Sciences.

Baran was recognized in the field of chemistry for his “transformative research in the field of natural product synthesis and the development of new synthetic methodology that enables chemists to design scalable, efficient, economically-viable synthetic routes to potential new drugs.”

The awards include an unrestricted cash award of $250,000—the largest unrestricted cash award given to early-career scientists. In addition to Baran, the other 2016 winners are David Charbonneau, professor of astronomy at Harvard University, and Michael Rape, professor of cell and developmental biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

The three laureates and 28 national finalists—including Professor Matthew Disney of Scripps Florida—will be honored at an awards ceremony on September 12 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Additional information on Baran’s research is available on his faculty webpage and lab website.

Daniel Salomon Receives AST Investigator Award

TSRI Professor Daniel Salomon has received the American Society of Transplantation’s (AST) Basic Science Established Investigator Award, recognizing transformative achievements and contributions to the AST and the field of transplantation.

In particular, Salomon was cited for defining fundamental molecular mechanisms of T/B cell activation and regulation, producing detailed profiles of transcriptional and post-translational regulation relevant for transplantation and defining biomarkers for predicting rejection and managing immunosuppressive therapy.

Salomon also serves as program medical director for the Scripps Center for Organ and Cell Transplantation at Scripps Green Hospital. For additional information on Salomon and his research, visit his faculty webpage and lab website.

Robert Laprairie Ranks First in CIHR Fellowship Competition

Robert Laprairie, postdoctoral fellow in the Bohn lab on the Scripps Florida campus, ranked first among more than 1,000 applicants for a competitive fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Presented by the CIHR Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction, the fellowship is designed to support investigators designing and conducting innovative research aimed at improving health.

A Canadian native and PhD graduate of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Laprairie’s research seeks to characterize type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) ligand bias to develop safe and effective drugs for the treatment of pain, Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases, addiction and obesity.

ResearcHERS Lecture Shares Glimpses into Mysteries of Circadian Rhythms

Had a sleepless night? You might be able to blame your genes. That’s because genes produce the protein “time keepers” that control human circadian rhythms, the 24-hour biological clocks that influence a person’s sleep cycle, appetite and much more.

Biologist Katja Lamia shared her research into circadian rhythms and their mysterious connection to disease at a recent ResearcHERS event. For example, Lamia shared that studies have indicated that people who work night shifts have been shown to have a greater risk of getting cancer. She’s working to understand why disrupting the body’s clock might have this effect. “How can we harness that knowledge to improve human health?” Lamia asked.

Lamia’s lecture was followed by a Q&A session and an hors d'oeuvres reception, where attendees mingled with TSRI scientists and community supporters.

The event was the third in the ongoing ResearcHERS series, which highlights the work of TSRI’s female scientists in the fields of neuroscience, immunology, regenerative medicine, chemistry and more. ResearcHERS events are open to the public and feature an educational, lay-friendly speaking program informing attendees about research achievements and the collaborative spirit at TSRI.

The ResearcHERS series will continue on October 26 with a lecture by Professor Hollis Cline, chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience and director of the Dorris Neuroscience Center at TSRI. For information and reservations, contact Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@scripps.edu or 858-784-7083.

Nominations Open for CA Outstanding Mentor Award

Nominations are now open for the 2016 Scripps California Outstanding Mentor Award, honoring the dedication of faculty who consistently and enthusiastically serve as effective mentors to graduate students and postdocs.

Postdoctoral fellows and graduate students may nominate any faculty member who has guided and contributed to their personal or professional development through a mutually trusting and respectful relationship. Nomination procedures and forms are posted on the Society of Fellows (SOF) website.

The winner, who receives a plaque and $500 in funding to support team-building or training efforts in his or her lab, will be selected by a review panel that includes TSRI Director of Graduate Studies Dawn Eastmond, SOF executive board members and members of the Career and Postdoctoral Services Office.

The nomination deadline is Friday, August 12. The winner will be announced September 22. For additional information, contact SOF Career Development Chair Michael Ledbetter at michaell@scripps.edu.

CA NWiS Elects New Executive Board

Alison Kreisler, postdoctoral fellow in the Zorrilla lab, has been elected chair of the 2016-2017 Network for Women in Science (NWiS) executive board on the California campus. Other new board members include:

• Vice chair: Lauren Smith, first-year graduate student
• Treasurer: Emily Bentley, first-year graduate student
• Outreach coordinators: Jae Engle and Vivian Dien, first-year graduate students
• PR officer: Heather Baird, animal care technician

According to Kreisler, the new board will continue providing female scientists with a support network on issues related to career development and scientific culture. The group also plans to expand its membership base and social media presence as well as generate new outreach programs to further engage the TSRI and San Diego scientific communities.

For more information on NWiS activities and resources, visit the organization’s webpage or Facebook page.

The Scripps California Network for Women in Science 2016-2017 executive board includes (left to right) Jae Engle, Lauren Smith, Emily Bentley, Alison Kreisler, Heather Baird and Vivian Dien. (Photo by Cindy Brauer.)

CA Campus Heads to the Links; Signups Due July 15

The Scripps California community and family and friends are invited to participate in the 21^st annual TSRI Golf Tournament and Dinner, scheduled for Thursday, August 4, at the Riverwalk Golf Club in San Diego.

Held from 1 to 8 PM, the tournament will feature a scramble format, limited to 18 four-person teams. Each team must include at least one TSRI employee. Single-player sign-ups will be matched with other individuals or teams. The $70 per-person cost includes green fees, carts and dinner.

Trophies or prizes will awarded to the top teams, doormats (last place), closest to the pin, longest drive and more. Raffle prizes will also be offered. Participants are encouraged to ask favorite vendors to donate prizes.

Registration forms must be returned with full payment by Friday, July 15, to tournament organizer Kathy Spencer, scientific associate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. For additional registration information, contact Spencer at x4-8437.

CA ScrippsAssists: Wee Companion Project

ScrippsAssists invites animal lovers on the California campus to volunteer with San Diego nonprofit gorup Wee Companions, a rescue organization focusing on small exotic animals, on Wednesday, July 6, from 6 to 8 PM.

Volunteers will help clean and set up guinea pig cages and sort through donations at the Wee Companions Adoption Center located near UTC. No animals will be handled on this project.

Wee Companions also seeks volunteers for such services as foster homes for small animals (rats, guinea pigs or other animals), adoption counseling or clerical and staff work.

To volunteer or for more information, please email ScrippsAssists Project Lead Sasha Moola at smoola@scripps.edu.

At the Auditorium: Summer Festival with Schumann

Athenaeum Music & Arts Library opens its 18^th Summer Festival four-concert series on Sunday, July 10, 4 PM. Virtuoso pianist and San Diego native Gustavo Romero will perform piano classics of Robert Schumann and works by Henri Dutilleux, Alberto Ginastera and Mario Lavista. Additional festival concerts will be held on Sundays July 17, 24 and 31. Ticket and program information is available on the Athenaeum website.

The Auditorium at TSRI is located at 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego 92121.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

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