For more information, visit us at sbpdiscovery.org.
Sanford Burnham Prebys is an independent biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding human biology and disease and advancing scientific discoveries to profoundly impact human health. Sanford Burnham Prebys is an independent nonprofit research organization that blends cutting-edge fundamental research with robust drug discovery to address unmet clinical needs in the areas of cancer, ne
uroscience, immunity and addiction. The Institute invests in talent, technology, and partnerships to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries that will have the greatest impact on patients. Recognized for its world-class NCI-designated Cancer Center and the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys employs more than 500 scientists and staff in San Diego (La Jolla), Calif.
04/22/2026
We’re pleased to welcome Sheri L. Jamieson and Neil Davis Wachsberger to the Sanford Burnham Prebys Board of Directors.
Sheri and Neil bring distinct perspectives shaped by leadership in philanthropy, community impact, and healthcare. Their experience will help guide the Institute as we continue advancing discovery.
DO YOU KNOW a college senior or recent grad who’s thinking about a STEM PhD?
Please share: the LEAP to Grad School program at Sanford Burnham Prebys is a one-year, mentored experience designed to build lab skills and prepare for the next step.
✔ Hands-on lab experience
✔ 1:1 mentorship from leading scientists
✔ Competitive stipend and benefits
📅 Apply by April 30 📅
The Lab Experience As Pathway to Graduate School is a one-year mentored training and career development experience designed to prepare recent college graduates to succeed in STEM PhD programs.
04/08/2026
This week is Graduate Student Appreciation Week (April 6–10), and we’re celebrating the incredible students in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Sanford Burnham Prebys.
Our graduate students are advancing research in the lab while also serving as leaders and mentors within the scientific community.
We’re excited for the discoveries ahead and the impact they will have on science and human health.
Postdocs play a critical role in biomedical research, bringing fresh ideas, new perspectives and energy to the lab every day. We’re grateful for the contributions these scientists make to advancing discovery and improving human health.
Today we’re highlighting several women scientists featured in Sanford Burnham Prebys’ Postdoc Profile series.
In recognition of International Women’s Day, we’re proud to celebrate the many women across our community who help advance science every day, from postdocs and research staff to technicians and administrators.
Featuring L to R: Dana Mamriev • Huijie Huang • Arailym Sarsembayeva • Kelly Yichen Li • Alexandra Houser • Meenakshi Sudhakaran
03/02/2026
Thank you to The San Diego Union-Tribune for helping share the story of Sanford Burnham Prebys as we mark 50 years of biomedical discovery and impact.
For five decades, our mission has remained clear: translating science into health.
The La Jolla-based research institute continues its founding principle of collaboration across multiple fields
02/19/2026
This year marks 50 years of Sanford Burnham Prebys. 🎉🎉🎉
Our interactive timeline traces the discoveries, milestones and philanthropy that have guided the Institute’s evolution from its founding to today. Visionary donors and dedicated scientists have driven progress that improves human health.
Explore the anniversary timeline to see the breakthroughs and generosity that made this impact possible and continue to fuel what comes next.
Wonderful to see Hudson H. Freeze, PhD, featured at the 2026 CDG Scientific & Family Conference — a reflection of his lifelong commitment to the CDG community.
💚🎤 2026 CDG Scientific & Family Conference Speaker Series #6:
We are honored to feature Dr. Hudson H. Freeze, PhD, Director of the Human Genetics Program and Professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.
Dr. Freeze is a globally recognized pioneer in Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG) research and has been instrumental in identifying and characterizing many known CDG subtypes. For over four decades, his work has advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying glycosylation disorders and opened the door to potential therapeutic strategies.
A dedicated collaborator, educator, and long-standing Medical Advisory member of CDG CARE, Dr. Freeze continues to shape the scientific foundation that drives progress across the CDG community.
What do medieval plant poisons have to do with modern diabetes treatments?
In the latest episode of the Discovery Dialogues Podcast, hosts Ani Deshpande and Pamela Itkin-Ansari explore how nature’s chemical defenses became some of medicine’s most important therapies.|
From ancient remedies to today’s blockbuster drug Metformin, this conversation traces how scientists learned to harness compounds plants evolved to deter predators and turn them into lifesaving treatments.
Featuring insights from surgeon and writer Ambarish Satwik, endocrinologist David Nathan, and longevity researcher Nir Barzilai.
As part of the 50th anniversary of Sanford Burnham Prebys, we asked our faculty a simple question:
What challenge in science do you most want to resolve?
We start with Lukas Chavez, PhD, who shares the scientific problem that drives his work and the bigger question behind the research in his lab.
Explore the series and the thinking shaping the next 50 years of discovery. https://sbpdiscovery50.org/big-questions/
02/04/2026
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.
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.
Learn more: https://sbpdiscovery50.org
01/08/2026
Neuroinflammation is a hidden driver of many brain diseases — and a major challenge in neuroscience. Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute—working with biophysics technology company Fareon and biotechnology company Inapill—are exploring a new magnetic therapy approach that could change how these conditions are treated.
Neuroinflammation is the body's response to injury, infection, toxins, or autoimmune dysfunction in the brain and spinal cord. Institute researchers —working with biophysics technology company Fareon and biotechnology company Inapill—describe a new form of magnetic therapy that demonstrated anti...
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Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) is a preeminent, independent biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding basic human biology and disease, and advancing scientific discoveries to profoundly impact human health.
Our track record of pioneering research, anchored by our NCI-designated Cancer Center, spans more than 40 years, and has produced breakthroughs in cancer, neuroscience, immunology and children’s diseases.
• Our scientists are prolific in their pursuits, publishing nearly one peer-reviewed research article per day.
• SBP consistently ranks among the top 3 percent of research organizations worldwide in total number of publication citations, which attests to the quality and impact of its science.
• SBP ranks among the top three independent research institutes in the amount of NIH funding it receives, and in 2017 alone, increased NIH grant revenue 15 percent over the previous year.
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and one of the most advanced nonprofit drug discovery centers in the world, we harness breakthrough discoveries to develop prototype therapies with the potential to improve human health and save lives.
Supported by a deep culture of collaboration, generous benefactors and a global network of partners, we’re also committed to educating and training the next generation of scientific leaders to ensure our legacy continues.
