Sanford Burnham Prebys

@sbpdiscovery

🔬Since 1976, Sanford Burnham Prebys has been dedicated to pushing biomedical discoveries faster and further toward clinical treatment and therapies that improve human lives. We translate science into health.

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Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· 15d

In two back-to-back studies published in Genes & Development, a team led by Anindya Bagchi, PhD, uncovered a new framework for understanding how the PVT1 region regulates MYC activity. sbpdiscovery.org/press/resear... @anindyabagchi.bsky.social

An array of human cancer tissues, including prostate, colon, kidney, intestine and breast, are depicted in samples using fluorescence immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. A common denominator: Most are driven by mutations in the MYC gene. Image courtesy of Wellcome Collection.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Jul 22

With Alzheimer’s, tau proteins form noxious knots and gradually disrupt the brain circuits they would otherwise preserve. The Huang lab showed in #ScienceAdvances that a different protein called SORLA offers protection against the effects of these lethal loops. sbpdiscovery.org/press/protec...

An overabundance of SORLA protein protects against a number of biological processes linked to the formation of tau tangles and progression of neurodegeneration. These include reducing the addition of too many phosphate groups to tau, known as hyperphosphorylation. In these biopsy images, less phosphorylated tau—stained to appear green—has accumulated in the bottom sample overexpressing SORLA. Image credit: Tim Huang, Huijie Huang, Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Timothy Huang, PhD, assistant professor in the Center for Neurologic Diseases at Sanford Burnham Prebys and Huijie Huang, PhD, is a staff scientist in the Huang lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Jul 13

We’re excited to welcome Jill Mesirov, PhD, to Sanford Burnham Prebys as Distinguished Professor and Senior Vice President for Computational Science. sbpdiscovery.org/press/pionee...

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Jun 2

Launching 50 for 50: 50 discoveries from 50 years at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Some transformed fields. Some opened doors others walked through. All worth knowing. More stories coming. sbpdiscovery50.org/50-for-50/

50 for 50
50 discoveries that shaped our first 50 years.
Celebrating 50 years of discovery at Sanford Burnham Prebsuy

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· May 22

Cholesterol-craving cancers need lipid enzymes to use metabolites for growth |Study finds kinases move cholesterol in the cell to where it can activate a growth pathway in many aggressive cancers. The @bemerling.bsky.social Emerling lab published in #ScienceAdvances. sbpdiscovery.org/press/choles...

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Mar 10

Nearly 40% of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome, a condition that can lead to liver damage and fibrosis. A new study from Sanford Burnham Prebys highlights LARP6, an RNA-binding protein that helps drive fibrosis and may be a promising therapeutic target. sbpdiscovery.org/press/living...

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Press Release
Living LARP6: How a protein plays an oversized role in liver fibrosis
Author
Communications
Date
March 9, 2026

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In this stained sample of liver tissue with cirrhosis, bands of fibrotic scarring are shown in blue.
In this stained sample of liver tissue with cirrhosis, bands of fibrotic scarring are shown in blue.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Feb 13

An international team including the Kaufman lab published in Nature.com showing that liver cell stress can both drive cancer and make tumors less resistant to immunotherapy. The findings may help physicians identify which patients are most likely to benefit from existing treatments.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Feb 12

Today, on International Day of #WomenAndGirlsInScience, we gathered for the latest Women in Science Lecture Series. Thank you for the thoughtful and engaging conversation Cheryl Anderson, PhD, MPH, MS and Angela Liou, MD. Grateful to everyone who joined us. #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Feb 4

Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists published in @cp-cellreports.bsky.social showcasing a new approach for measuring the activity of enzymes linked to cell death and a more complicated picture where protein activation cannot always be presumed by protein production. sbpdiscovery.org/press/metall...

Cells that are dysfunctional due to aging or mutation are removed through a process of programmed cell death, known as apoptosis. Image credit: Kateryna Kon/Sanford Burnham Prebys.

https://sbpdiscovery.org/press/metallic-markers-make-direct-measurement-of-protein-activity-possible/

Study shows how new chemical probes can count individual enzymes and discern their activity levels, may inform discovery of new treatments

Cells operate on rules not vibes, including when on the precipice of persisting or perishing. Yet, with prior research methods, scientists studying this phenomenon had to infer how cells choose to sustain themselves or self-destruct based on the output of their protein factories.

While much more advanced than a pundit’s vibe check, these analyses were constrained by the inability to account for the activity of these proteins after their construction.

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and Wroclaw University of Science and Technology published findings January 10, 2026, in Cell Reports demonstrating a new approach for measuring their activity. The researchers also revealed a more complicated picture in which protein activation cannot always be presumed by protein production.

Many cells in our bodies are routinely monitored for signs that they need to be removed. Like a gardener pruning dead or diseased branches, cells that are dysfunctional due to aging or mutation are removed through a process of programmed cell death, known as apoptosis. One of cancer’s calling cards is that cancerous cells ignore apoptosis and grow to become harmful tumors.

“Scientists have defined a lot of the cellular signals involved in apoptosis,” said Guy Salvesen, PhD, professor emeritus at Sanford Burnham Prebys and senior and co-corresponding author of the manuscript. “To better understand how these signals work, we need to know how many active copies of an enzyme it takes to trigger apoptosis in a cell.”

The research team needed to trac…

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Feb 2

Join us on February 11 for the next event in the Women in Science Lecture Series at Sanford Burnham Prebys, featuring a lecture and fireside chat that highlight the groundbreaking work and perspectives of women leaders in biomedical science. Must RSVP to attend: lnkd.in/gzkXQRrm

Women in Science Lecture Series - Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders in Biomedical Research

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Jan 30

Advancing Together: 50 Years of Sanford Burnham Prebys - For 50 years, bold ideas, dedicated scientists, and a shared commitment to discovery have shaped who we are today. Join us as we celebrate this milestone year and look ahead to the next 50. youtu.be/Q4hNMzBq7N0?...

Two scientists looking at a petri dish.
Celebrating 50 Years of Sanford Burnham Prebys - For 50 years, bold ideas, dedicated scientists, and a shared commitment to discovery have shaped who we are today. Join us as we celebrate this milestone year and look ahead to the next 50.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Nov 18

New research from Sanju Sinha, PhD, introduces DeepTarget, a tool that predicts both primary and secondary targets of cancer drugs. It could help repurpose existing medicines for more patients. sbpdiscovery.org/press/comput...

DeepTarget’s predictions are based on the principle that removing a gene encoding the protein target of a given drug through CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing can mimic the inhibitory effects of that drug. The tool was built by leveraging large-scale genetic and drug screening experiments with comprehensive data for 1450 drugs across 371 cancer cell lines. Image credit: Sanju Sinha, Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Nov 3

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys, the University of Minnesota and Duke University report in Nature that “biased modulators” can target GPCRs more precisely—expanding potential drug targets and reducing side effects. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Oct 23

“Once we find the players that drive disease, we can find drugs to help,” says Sanjeev Ranade, PhD. New study reveals a key protein linked to heart defects in Down syndrome. 🧬❤️ sbpdiscovery.org/press/huntin...

In this colorized karyotype of chromosomes, the three copies of chromosome 21 are indicated. Trisomy 21 causes Down syndrome, and half of all such cases also involve congenital heart defects.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Oct 16

🧬 Biomedical Sciences PhD Applications Now Open! Do you want to explore the science behind human health and disease? Our program is looking for curious and driven researchers ready to tackle the most pressing questions in biology and medicine. sbpdiscovery.org/education/gr...

Applications are now open for Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The Deadline is December 1, 2025.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Oct 7

We’re pleased to announce that Paul Boutros, PhD, MBA, has been named the new director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer center at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. Read all about it! sbpdiscovery.org/press/paul-b...

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Oct 2

👏 Congratulations to Xueqin Sherine Sun, PhD, on receiving a $600,000 grant from the V Foundation for Cancer Research to study glioblastoma, one of the most common and deadly brain cancers. sbpdiscovery.org/xueqin-sun-a...

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Sep 25

What connects survival, science + diabetes care? Adam Heller, PhD. At 92, this Holocaust survivor, scientist + engineer shares how his innovations changed how millions manage diabetes. 🎙️Hear his remarkable story in Episode 5 of the podcast. 👀On YouTube: youtu.be/TEhPlF29yl4?...

Sensing Sugar Spikes and the man who made the invisible visible.
Episode 5 of The Discovery Dialogues podcast

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute scientists Ani Deshpande, PhD, and Pamela Itkin-Ansari, PhD,

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Sep 16

Today, 62 National Cancer Institute (NCI)–Designated Cancer Centers issued a joint statement underscoring the importance of HPV vaccination. #HPVvaccine #HPVvax #EndHPVCancers

HPV vaccination prevents 6 types of cancer. Get vaccinated and share the facts.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Sep 10

🔬 New research from the @anideshpande.bsky.social Deshpande lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys. The study demonstrates how public genomic screening data can be used to uncover a new genetic vulnerability in synovial sarcoma. 👏 Shout out to Rema Iyer, PhD lead author of the manuscript.

Sizing up a weakness in synovial sarcoma’s genes

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Aug 14

For decades, scientists thought MYOD was just a muscle-builder. But new research from Sanford Burnham Prebys shows this gene has a Jekyll-and-Hyde side—able to switch from activating muscle genes to silencing them. sbpdiscovery.org/press/muscle...

Myogenic determination gene number 1 (MYOD) protein immunofluorescence in myofibers.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Aug 2

New research from the Marth Lab: Most blood glycoproteins are easy to spot—but finding the rare ones is like searching for Waldo across every book. 🧠🧬 🔗 Read more: sbpdiscovery.org/press/signal... #Biomedicine #SanfordBurnhamPrebys #NatureCommunications #Science

After comparing proteins in the bloodstreams of normal mice and mice lacking Mrc1, the team found the accumulation of 244 mannosylated blood plasma proteins to double or more of the amounts found in normal mice due to Mrc1 no longer keeping the levels in check. The scientists then took a closer look at the newly identified ligands. They used bioinformatics to review and depict these hundreds of proteins by their functions. Image credit: Jamey Marth and Mayank Saraswat, Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Jul 26

A promising advance for pancreatic cancer published Cancer Cell: Blocking macropinocytosis reduces fibrosis around pancreatic tumors, improving immune cell access & boosting response to chemo & immunotherapy in mice. sbpdiscovery.org/press/reshap... @cosimocommisso.bsky.social @yijuan.bsky.social

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Jul 15

Big congrats to grad students Aashna Lamba & Ashley Neil at @SBPdiscovery—named 2025 CIRM Predoctoral Fellows! 🌟 Lamba’s research could help hearts heal after injury ❤️ Neil is exploring brain inflammation in Alzheimer’s 🧠 #SanfordBurnhamPrebys #RegenerativeMedicine #CIRM #STEM

Aashna Lamba - Lamba is investigating the use of genetic reprogramming to help the heart heal after being injured.

Ashley Neil - Neil is studying a neurotransmitter that influences brain cell inflammation and activity in Alzheimer's disease.

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· Jun 4

🧠 Could HIV drugs help lower #Alzheimer’s risk? New research from Sanford Burnham Prebys, led by Jerold Chun, MD, PhD, found that patients taking #HIV drugs blocking #reversetranscriptase had fewer cases of Alzheimer’s—pointing to a potential drug target. More: https://bit.ly/4kuxvHU

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· May 30

From cancer and aging to immunotherapy and AI, these new PhDs are already making an impact—and they’re just getting started. 👏 Learn more about how we’re training tomorrow’s scientists: vist.ly/3n5mjza #SBPgrad #PhDlife #FutureOfScience #BiomedicalResearch #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· May 29

🎙️ Catch Ani Deshpande, PhD, in episode 151 of the @epigeneticspod.bsky.social‬‬ where he discusses his work on epigenetic regulation in #AML, and the use of #CRISPR and high throughput screens for drug discovery. ▶️ YouTube: vist.ly/3n5jemi ᯤ Spotify: vist.ly/3n5jemj

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· May 6

Kelly Kersten, PhD, has received a grant from the Melanoma Research Alliance @melanomaresearch.bsky.social to study how to restore the function of exhausted #immunecells in #melanoma tumors. The award is part of MRA’s $9.3M research funding commitment for 2025. Learn more: 🔗 vist.ly/3n3ney9

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· May 5

📢 Calling all advanced graduate students and prospective postdocs! Thinking about your next move after grad school? We're hosting a Postdoc Virtual Open House 🖥️ on May 19, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. PT. Join us to learn more: 🔗 vist.ly/3n36wva

Sanford Burnham Prebys@sbpdiscovery· May 5

Researchers from the CIAO (Cilento Initiative on Aging Outcomes) study are gathering in Cilento, Italy📍 to mark 10 years of exploring what drives healthy aging and longevity. When your subjects live past 100, a decade of science is just the beginning. Read more: 🔗 vist.ly/3n3jq33