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In Brief


'Audacious Goals' Initiative Funds Work by Hollis Cline and Colleagues

Research co-led by Hollis Cline, Hahn Professor of Neuroscience and chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), has been selected as one of six projects funded by the National Eye Institute’s (NEI) $12.4-million Audacious Goals Initiative, a targeted effort to restore vision by regenerating neurons and their connections in the eye and visual system.

“Understanding factors that mediate the regeneration of neurons and the growth of axons is crucial for the development of breakthrough therapies for blinding diseases,” said Paul A. Sieving, director of NEI, part of the National Institutes of Health. “What we learn through these projects will have a health impact beyond vision.”

In their research project, titled “Molecular discovery for optic nerve regeneration,” Cline and colleagues, including TSRI Professor John Yates III, Stanford University’s Jeffrey L. Goldberg and Andrew D. Huberman and Harvard University’s Larry Benowitz, hope to identify genes and proteins that impact the ability of retinal ganglion cells to regenerate, grow axons to a target and become functional. Promising molecular candidates will be investigated in longer-term animal studies designed to assess changes in vision.

For additional information on Cline’s research, visit her faculty webpage and lab website; for more information on Yates, visit his faculty webpage and lab website.


TSRI Receives International Life Sciences Award

TSRI has been named the Best Biomedical Science Research nonprofit organization in the United States by GHP, a United Kingdom-based publication covering human, animal and environmental health.

According to GHP publishers, the awards are given “solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.”

A complete list of the 2016 award winners is available on the GHP website.


Institute to Celebrate National Postdoc Appreciation Week

TSRI will recognize the significant contributions postdoctoral scholars make to the institute’s research and discoveries with a week-long schedule of events on both California and Florida campuses during National Postdoc Appreciation Week, September 19 to 23.

The events—from seated chair massages and yoga class to lightning talks and a distinguished lecturer presentation—are sponsored by groups including TSRI’s Career and Postdoctoral Services Office (CPSO) and International Services Office (ISO), Scripps California’s Society of Fellows (SOF), Scripps Florida’s Society of Research Fellows (SRF) and Scripps Consulting Club (SCC).

California

Postdoc Family Potluck in the Park; Saturday September 17, 11 AM to 3 PM

A pre-celebration event will take place at Nobel Athletic Park, 8810 Judicial Drive, San Diego, sponsored by the ISO and the International Spouses and Partners Group. Contact ISO [tsriglobal@scripps.edu] for a location map and more information.

CPSO Open House, Pizza and Raffle; Monday, September 19, 2 to 3 PM
Meet the staff, network, enjoy pizza and enter a raffle for “fabulous” prizes; CPSO offices, first floor, Hazen building.

Meet the Alumni: Maoyi Lai of 1798 Consultants; Tuesday, September 20, 2 to 3 PM
Maolyi Lai (Postdoc ’15), who worked with the Xiao lab, will discuss working in management consulting, sponsored by CPSO and SCC; first floor dining room, Hazen building.

Social Media Photo Lab; Wednesday, September 21, 9 to 11 AM
Complimentary professional photos for LinkedIn and social media profiles are offered for the first 30 to sign up; CPSO offices, first floor, Hazen building.

Peer Mentoring Bicoastal Workshop; Wednesday, September 21, noon to 1 PM
Postdoc alumni will discuss how to create a professional development support group, sponsored by ISO and CPSO; CPSO offices, first floor, Hazen building, snacks provided.

Distinguished Lecture Seminar; Wednesday, September 21, 4 PM
University of Toronto Professor Louis E. Kay will speak on “The Role of Protein Dynamics in Protein Function and Misfunction,” sponsored by SOF; Timkin Amphitheater, Scripps Green Hospital; reception to follow.

SOF Lightning Talks; Thursday, September 22, 1:30 to 5 PM
The third annual competition of three-minute science talks will offer prizes up to $500. The 2016 Outstanding Mentor Award recipient will be announced at the event; Keck Amphitheater, Beckman building.

Free Seated Chair Massage; Friday, September 23, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Postdocs can sign up for a free 10-minute massage, sponsored by CPSO. Contact Whitney Wagner, whitneyw@scripps.edu, for an appointment; first floor, Hazen building.

International Services Office Meet & Greet; Friday, September 23, 9 to 11 AM
Meet the ISO team, enjoy coffee and pastries; first floor, Hazen building.

Florida

Free Seated Chair Massage; Monday; September 19, 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Postdocs can sign up for a free 10-minute massage, sponsored by CPSO; email cpso@scripps.edu for an appointment; B158.

Donuts & Raffle; Tuesday, September 20, 9:30 to 10:30 AM
Enjoy donuts and coffee, enter a raffle for “fabulous prizes,” sponsored by SRF and ISO; B159.

Yoga Class; Tuesday, September 20, 6 PM
Relax and unwind with yoga instructor Kelsey. Bring a towel and mat, and wear comfortable clothing. Sponsored by SRF; B158.

Peer Mentoring Bicoastal Workshop; Wednesday, September 21, 3 to 4 PM
Postdoc alumni will discuss how to create a professional development support group. Sponsored by ISO and CPSO, snacks provided; B214.

Academic Job Search Workshop; Thursday, September 22, 10 to 11:30 AM
Practical advice and guidance on conducting an academic job search will be offered by Ryan Wheeler, director of TSRI Career, International and Postdoctoral Services; B158.

Ice Cream Social; Thursday, September 22, 3 to 5 PM
Meet, greet and build a customized sundae. Sponsored by ISO and CPSO; Building B.

SRF Happy Hour; Friday, September 23, 5:30 to 7 PM
End the week of celebration with a networking Happy Hour at Jumby’s, 1203 Town Center Drive, Jupiter.


New Displays Spotlight TSRI Alumni

A new display in the Hazen building first-floor lobby pays tribute the ever-growing body of TSRI alumni now working in academia and industry. “Alumni Spotlight” features photos and comments of four former TSRI postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. A similar display soon will be established on the Scripps Florida campus in Building B.

The display currently highlights:

  • Holly Soutter (Class of ’10), who conducted doctoral work in the Boger lab and is now principal scientist, Therapeutic Discovery Sciences, at X-Chem in Boston
  • Federico Bernal (Class of ’02), who conducted work in the Nicolaou lab and is currently a principal investigator for the National Cancer Institute
  • Scott Edwards (Postdoc, ’13), who worked in the Koob lab and is now an assistant professor of physiology at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
  • Paresma (Pinky) Patel (Class of ’10), who conducted doctoral work in the Boger lab and is now a chemistry reviewer for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration

Presented by the Career and Postdoctoral Services office, the display will rotate highlighted alumni every three months. TSRI faculty are encouraged to submit names of former lab members for the display to Jean Branan, Career and Postdoctoral Services program coordinator.

spotlight
A new display in the Hazen building lobby highlights four TSRI alumni and their career achievements. The display will rotate featured alumni every three months.


Loring Lab Hosts Bill Walton

walton-loring
TSRI Professor Jeanne Loring and lab members recently showed U.S. basketball legend Bill Walton, his wife, Lori, and friends around the lab, explaining stem cells and their potential to treat Parkinson’s disease. Above, Walton (rear) poses with Loring (second from right) and lab members (left to right) Jason Stein, Yvette DeFreece, Eveline Lee, Candace Lynch, Todd Anzelon, Ai Zhang, Ronald Coleman and Roy Willliams. (Photo by Cindy Brauer.)


SOF Travel Award Applications Due October 7

Applications for the Society of Fellows (SOF) fall session travel awards are due Friday, October 7, at midnight, Pacific time. The awards, open to full-time Scripps California postdoctoral fellows, provide recipients the opportunity to present scholarly work at a national or international conference.

Up to three grants of up to $1,000 each will be awarded for conference-related costs, including travel, housing and conference registration. Applicants who have never attended a meeting to present their current work and those with outstanding financial need are encouraged to apply. Previous SOF travel award recipients are not eligible.

A volunteer selection committee will evaluate each application for quality of scientific communication, scientific merit, applicant's credentials, significance of the conference to the applicant's career and financial need. Winners will be announced Friday, November 4.

Award criteria and application details are available on the SOF website.


Onsite Clinic Scheduled for September 21 on CA Campus

The next onsite immunization clinic on the California campus will be held Wednesday, September 21, from 9:30 to 11 AM, in the Hazen Theory building, rooms 203/205. 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.





Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

cline
Professor Hollis Cline will co-lead a new project funded by the National Eye Institute’s Audacious Goals Initiative (Photo by BioMedical Graphics.)

















CA ScrippsAssists Backpack Drive Equips Children for School
backpack
Thanks to donations from the Scripps California community and the ScrippsAssists annual campaign, 40 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to San Diego children in families struggling to make ends meet. Project Lead Mishelle McClanahan-Shinn delivered the backpacks to ScrippsAssists community partner Home Start in time for the first day of school. (Photo by Cindy Brauer.)