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  Making science matter: A vision for a new century of life-changing science

  In the inaugural lecture of the 2024 Centennial Front Row series, President and CEO Peter Schultz illuminated how Scripps Research is building on its storied past—a remarkable century of discovery and innovation—to establish a new paradigm for the future of science and medicine. Under Schultz’s leadership, Scripps Research is expanding its global impact by empowering exceptional scientists to pursue groundbreaking ideas and seamlessly blending curiosity-fueled science with impact-driven drug discovery. Schultz shared how this unique approach is already giving rise to a new generation of first-in-class medicines against cancers, heart disease, deadly pathogens, neurological disorders and many other health threats.

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  Editing genes to tackle neurological conditions

  Networks of genes coordinate the formation of brain cells during early life development. However, diverse genetic variants can impact this process and ultimately manifest in different brain disorders and developmental disabilities. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research assistant professor Xin Jin shared how her lab is using cutting-edge technology to discover which brain regions and cell types are involved in disease pathology. Jin’s insights are revealing neurodevelopmental and other disorders, as well as defining a path for new diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions.

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  Preventing heart disease with machine learning and smartphone technology

  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, yet our ability to predict and lower our own risk has been limited. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research professor Ali Torkamani shared how his team is developing app-based digital tools that can analyze genetic markers and predict someone’s future cardiovascular disease risk. Torkamani’s research is being integrated into remote clinical trials that can provide personalized behavioral and therapeutic interventions to improve long-term health outcomes.

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  Re-engineering a sustainable world

  Since the dawn of life, nature has balanced the composition of our planet’s atmosphere by evolving elegant ways of capturing carbon dioxide. Today, humanity’s overuse of fossil fuels has altered this atmospheric balance to bring about environmental disruptions, and nature is poorly equipped to correct them. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research assistant professor Ahmed Badran shared how his lab is developing strategies inspired by plants to help sequester the rising levels of carbon dioxide. His breakthroughs in synthetic biology are guiding revolutionary environmental approaches that could make a lasting impact on the atmosphere and agricultural food systems.

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  Visualizing the invisible machinery of life and death

  Within each of our cells, countless microscopic molecular machines work to keep the body healthy. But when these machines break down, chronic diseases arise. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research professor Gabriel Lander shared how his lab is using the most powerful microscopes on the planet to visualize the ways these biological motors operate and how they can be controlled to fight chronic diseases. His discoveries are helping us understand how cellular machines communicate within the body, providing avenues for therapeutic intervention in cancer, heart disease and neurodegeneration.

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  Decoding sugar messages to create new diagnostics and therapeutics

  Sugary molecules called glycans encapsulate our cells, serving as beacons to direct key biological activities, from tissue communication and growth to immune system activation. However, scientists have historically had limited ways to study glycans. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research associate professor Mia Huang shared the innovative tools her lab is using to decode the language of glycans. Her expertise in chemical biology is guiding the creation of new ways to diagnose or treat complex conditions, such as cancer and liver disease.

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  Paving the way to new therapies for neurodegenerative disease

  Learning, memory and behavior depend on the continuous movement of valuable cellular components along axons, narrow nerve fibers through which neurons send signals to other neurons. But when this transport system fails, molecular traffic jams can cause neuronal damage associated with diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion disorders. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research associate professor Sandra Encalada shared how her lab is unraveling the cellular pathways that lead to the formation of toxic protein clumps seen at traffic jams inside brain cells undergoing neurodegeneration. Her breakthroughs are transforming the way scientists view brain health and identifying new molecules that could treat, and even reverse, complex neurological conditions.

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  Understanding biological factories to fuel drug discovery

  Every organism depends on its ability to make cellular proteins from the core set of genetic blueprints—a process carried out in the cell by ancient biological factories. However, when this building process goes awry, various types of disease can take hold. In this opening lecture of the sixth season, Scripps Research professor and regular Front Row host Jamie Williamson unveiled his lab’s unprecedented exploration of these protein-building machines and the secrets they hold in maintaining cellular health. His cutting-edge research is evolving our view of molecular engineering and uncovering new drug targets for bacterial infections and cancer.