Sanford Burnham Prebys

08/11/2026

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys in the Tharp lab and their collaborators published findings in Science Advances showing that cancer cells’ cloaking costumes can be a result of changes in the nearby neighborhood of immune cells, connective tissue, blood vessels, proteins and carbohydrates called the tumor microenvironment. The researchers also found a way to thin this sugary shroud, enabling cancer cells to be recognized and eliminated by the immune system.

Study from the Tharp lab finds nearby conditions and nutrients govern how cancer cells avoid immune cells, and how to stop this protection.

07/18/2026

Sanford Burnham Prebys mourns the loss of T. Denny Sanford, whose visionary philanthropy helped shape our Institute and advance biomedical research.

Denny believed deeply in the power of science to improve lives and in investing in the people who make discovery possible. His transformational support established pioneering research programs and, most recently, launched an ambitious effort to recruit outstanding new faculty whose discoveries will improve human health for decades to come.

We are profoundly grateful for his friendship, his unwavering support and the remarkable legacy he leaves behind.

Postbaccalaureate training program participants deliver capstone presentations, thank mentors and colleagues.

07/07/2026

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have uncovered an epigenetic mechanism that helps explain why some prostate cancers remain slow-growing while others become aggressive and spread.

Led by Paul Boutros, PhD, MBA, the team analyzed more than 3,000 prostate tumor methylomes and identified four distinct DNA methylation patterns that closely predict how a patient's cancer is likely to behave. The findings could help clinicians better distinguish patients who need aggressive treatment from those who may be spared unnecessary therapies.

Published in Cancer Discovery, the study also highlights the power of international collaboration, bringing together researchers from 22 institutions around the world.

Researchers identify epigenetic mechanism that explains why some tumors grow slowly and remain localized but others become aggressive and metastasize.

06/22/2026

Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from across the Institute stepped outside the lab to share their science in engaging three-minute talks with colleagues, mentors and members of the broader community.

From aging and Alzheimer’s disease to cancer and liver disease, participants demonstrated not only the breadth of research at Sanford Burnham Prebys, but also the power of clear and compelling science communication.

Organized by the Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network (SBP-SN) and the Office of Learning and Development, the symposium featured a Postdoc Pitch Competition, a Science Communication Competition and an inspiring keynote by Sanjeev Ranade, PhD, who encouraged trainees to embrace opportunities and remain open to unexpected paths.

Congratulations to all of the graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who participated.
https://sbpdiscovery.org/sanford-burnham-prebys-science-network-hosts-community-outreach-symposium-showcasing-early-career-research/

06/17/2026

Congratulations to Kevin Tharp, PhD, assistant professor in the NCI-Designated Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys, who was awarded a three-year, $450,000 grant from the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance OCRA to study high-grade serous ovarian cancer, the most common and deadliest form of the disease.

Tharp will use the funding to build on recent findings that reveal how high-grade serous ovarian cancer evades the immune system's anti-tumor defenses. His team will focus on understanding the physical barrier tumors create to keep immune cells at bay.

The new award will fund research regarding how to bust through the barrier between tumors and immune cells.

06/10/2026

What can we learn from people who live healthy, active lives well past 100?

Researchers, physicians and aging experts from Europe and the United States gathered at Sanford Burnham Prebys for the 11th annual Cilento Initiative on Aging Outcomes (CIAO) Research Symposium, sharing new discoveries and insights into human longevity and healthy aging.

The CIAO Study is an international effort to identify the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to exceptional longevity. The research focuses on the Cilento region of southern Italy, home to hundreds of centenarians who continue to enjoy remarkably good health.

The symposium highlighted the value of global collaboration in advancing our understanding of aging and identifying the factors that help people live longer, healthier lives.

https://sbpdiscovery.org/press/ciao-study-11th-annual-longevity-symposium-provides-new-peeks-and-possibilities-at-longer-healthier-lives/

06/03/2026

🎓 Congratulations to the newest graduates of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences!

We're proud to celebrate this important milestone and to welcome these talented scientists to our alumni community.

Their years of hard work, curiosity and dedication have led to this moment, and we can't wait to see where their scientific journeys take them next.

Congratulations to Michaela Romero (Lynott), PhD ’25; Yu-Ling Linda Chang, PhD ’26; Cedomir Stamenkovic, PhD ’25; Sviatlana Zaretski, PhD ’25; Jiaqian (Emily) Wu, PhD ’25; Ximena Diaz-Olea, PhD ’25; Adarsh Rajesh, PhD ’25; Rema Iyer, PhD ’25; Utkarsha Paithane, PhD ’26; and Rus Nuryyev, PhD ’26.

The Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences held its third Commencement ceremony to celebrate new alumni.

06/02/2026

Fifty years of discovery. Fifty stories to tell.

Since 1976, Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists have pushed the boundaries of biomedical research. To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we're launching 50 for 50 — a curated look at 50 discoveries that shaped our first 50 years.

Some transformed entire fields. Others quietly laid the groundwork for breakthroughs that came later.

Together, they're a portrait of five decades of curiosity and scientific impact.
Follow along as we share the stories.
sbpdiscovery50.org/50for50

05/15/2026

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Eric Wang, PhD, on being named Educator of the Year at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences’ retreat.

The Crystal Apple Award, presented by Alessandra Sacco, PhD, dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and Andrei Osterman, PhD, vice dean and associate dean of curriculum, recognizes outstanding contributions to graduate education, mentorship and support for the graduate school community.

Wang has quickly become a valued mentor and educator at the Institute. In addition to mentoring a graduate student in his laboratory, he serves on five graduate school thesis committees, is a member of the Graduate School Admissions Committee and is chair of the Institute’s Education and Training Committee. He also serves as course director for Modern Drug Discovery Technologies, helping train the next generation of biomedical scientists in approaches that bridge chemistry, biology and translational research.
https://sbpdiscovery.org/eric-wang-named-educator-of-the-year-by-sanford-burnham-prebys-graduate-school-of-biomedical-sciences/

05/07/2026

Visionary innovator, Qualcomm co-founder and philanthropist Andrew Viterbi has made a $5 million gift to establish the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Distinguished Chair in our Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

This investment reflects a powerful belief in the role of artificial intelligence and data science in accelerating biomedical discovery.

The inaugural chair will be held by Yuk-Lap (Kevin) Yip, PhD, whose work in computational biology and machine learning is helping to transform how we study disease.

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Viterbi for his confidence in our mission and for investing in the future of interdisciplinary science.
Read more about this philanthropic gift: https://sbpdiscovery.org/press/qualcomm-co-founder-andrew-viterbi-gives-5-million-to-sanford-burnham-prebys-medical-discovery-institute-to-advance-ai-powered-research/