The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute

08/06/2025

If a prowler tries to break in, it’s natural to hide and call 911. Cells do much the same during viral attack. A new study from the lab of James Burke, Ph.D., at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute sheds light on the mysterious process cells can use to defend themselves: temporarily shutting off their metabolism. Read the full article: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/2025/08/06/how-cells-power-down-during-viral-attack/

07/31/2025

Important new publication from the Martins lab at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, in the journal Nature.

JUPITER, Fla.— Delivering broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 to newborns via gene therapy provided them with multi-year protection from HIV/AIDS…

07/30/2025

Check out this recent discovery!

A groundbreaking study in Nature shows that a single dose of gene therapy at birth can protect breastfeeding babies from HIV infection. Mauricio Martins, Ph.D., from The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, led this innovative research that could protect vulnerable populations worldwide.

Learn more about the study here: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/2025/07/30/gene-therapy-may-block-hiv-transmission-during-breastfeeding-study-shows/

07/28/2025

Meet Alexander, a high school student at Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, and Kenan Fellow at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute.

This summer, he’s working in the laboratory of neuroscientist Gavin Rumbaugh, Ph.D., studying whether a SYNGAP1 gene variant known as the E19 allele may extend the brain's window for learning and adaptation.

Next week Alexander is joining 14 other hard working student interns who will celebrate their internship's completion with a special symposium for family, friends and mentors.

Thank you to the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust and the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation for making this opportunity possible. Read more about the institute's internships here: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/education/glenn-w-bailey-stem-education-and-outreach-programs/

07/24/2025

Ever wonder what an internship at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute looks like?

The Kenan Fellows High School Internship Program, held every summer, is part of our Glenn W. Bailey STEM Education and Outreach Initiatives.

Follow along with Shivangi, one of 15 outstanding high school students from Jupiter Community High School, who is interning with structural biologist Patrick Griffin, Ph.D., scientific director of the institute. From inflammation studies to RNA-based therapies, these future scientists are gaining firsthand experience at the forefront of discovery.

We are grateful to the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust and the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation for making this opportunity possible: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/education/glenn-w-bailey-stem-education-and-outreach-programs/

07/11/2025

Your tax dollars at work. Thank you!

Federal research grants, funded by public support, are powering groundbreaking science right here in Jupiter, FL.

From inflammation research that could transform treatments for chronic disease, to promising new therapies for rare brain disorders, these discoveries are made possible through NIH support and your investment in science.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to turn public funding into real-world impact.

Read more about our stand-out faculty productivity here: https://bit.ly/44UtFlT

07/02/2025

Great details here on the mechanisms underlying the experimental glioblastoma drug MT-125, invented here at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute.

Experimental myosin inhibitor MT-125 sensitizes glioblastoma to radiation and kinase inhibitors, prolonging survival in mouse models.

07/02/2025

Today's good read: Cancer cells and healthy cells look much the same to our immune systems. Immunologist Christoph Rader developed a double-decker antibody that sees cancer. When tethered to a microbial compound found in the natural products collection at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, this antibody-drug combo shows promise against aggressive lymphomas. Great scientific collaboration!

https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/2025/07/02/antibody-cancer-drug-combo-shows-promise-against-aggressive-lymphoma/

07/01/2025

Glioblastoma is a nasty brain cancer with few options but there’s exciting news from the lab of Neuroscientist Courtney Miller at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute. Miller has invented an experimental drug just greenlighted for clinical trials by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The drug works by blocking nanoscale molecular motors in the brain. New papers in Cell Press reveal the innovative science behind the discovery. Read more here: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/2025/07/01/scientists-wipe-out-aggressive-brain-cancer-tumors-by-targeting-cellular-motors/

06/20/2025

It's summer camp field trip time! More than 40 eighth-grade students from TechTrek Florida's summer camp learned about research career paths during their visit to The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute today.

Field trips like TechTrek’s visit to The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute are made possible through the institute’s Glenn W. Bailey STEM Education and Outreach Programs, said Rosie Albarran Zeckler, Ph.D., education outreach coordinator for The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute. TechTrek is a project of AAUW.

“Training the next generation of scientists is an important part of our mission, and we’re grateful to the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation for helping us expose more students to research careers,” Albarran Zeckler said. Read more about the campers' day at the institute at the link: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/2025/06/20/eighth-grade-students-learn-about-research-careers-at-the-wertheim-uf-scripps-institute/ AAUW

06/13/2025

Welcome, Kenan Fellows High School Interns!

15 exceptional high school students from Palm Beach and Martin County have arrived at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute in Jupiter, Florida, for an immersive summer internship experience.

These talented interns are diving into projects focused on inflammation, disease treatments, RNA medications, genes related to brain sensory circuits and more.

After eight weeks of gaining hands-on experience alongside expert mentors, the summer internship will conclude on July 31 with a symposium and reception to present their research.

This experience is possible thanks to the generosity of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust and the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation.

Learn more about the 2025 cohort here: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/2025/06/13/welcome-2025-kenan-fellows-high-school-interns/

06/06/2025

Welcome, SURF interns!

This week, we welcomed the talented 2025 cohort of Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) to our Jupiter, Florida, campus. Selected from nearly 600 applicants across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, more than a dozen exceptional students will spend the summer engaging in hands-on research, participating in seminars, and developing skills through training sessions alongside dedicated mentors.

We look forward to introducing these interns to the breadth of biomedical career opportunities and to showcasing the world-class quality of our graduate training program here at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute.

Learn more about the next generation of scientists here: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/2025/06/06/welcome-summer-undergraduate-interns/