Making science matter: A vision for a new century of life-changing science: Peter Schultz, PhD
January 10, 2024
In the inaugural lecture of the 2024 Centennial Front Row series, President and CEO Peter Schultz will illuminate 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.
How experiences shape the developing brain and impact neurological diseases: Hollis Cline, PhD
February 21, 2024
As we age, learn and grow over our lifetimes, the brain continually responds and adapts to what we experience. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research Chair of the Department of Neuroscience Hollis Cline revealed how sensory experiences shape the brain during development and aging—particularly visual experiences. Cline’s work has been critical in revealing how key visual brain circuits become disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as in mapping the different communication pathways between neurons.
Bringing precision therapy to mental disorders: Hugh Rosen, MD, PhD
March 20, 2024
Mental disorders like depression and schizophrenia affect the lives of millions of people around the world, and yet, available treatment options have remained the same for decades. In this free Front Row lecture, Scripps Research professor Hugh Rosen shared how his pioneering research led to the development of the drug navacaprant, which precisely targets one of the brain’s behavioral circuits and is currently in clinical testing for major depressive disorder. Harnessing his expertise as a physician-scientist, Rosen has discovered and developed multiple other medicines, including ozanimod—a breakthrough treatment approved for multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis.
Fixing the misfolded proteins that cause dementia and heart failure: Jeffery Kelly, PhD
May 15, 2024
All proteins have a correct way of “folding” themselves into their three-dimensional structures. When this folding process goes awry, including processes leading to protein misassembly, a number of devastating diseases can result. In this free Front Row lecture, Scripps Research professor Jeffery Kelly shared how he is developing novel therapeutic strategies to target these protein misfolding diseases, which lead to deterioration of the heart and brain. His multi-disciplinary research has already led to the development of an FDA-approved drug available in the pharmacy called tafamidis (Vyndaqel® and Vyndamax®): a medicine that slows the progression of the neurodegenerative disease familial amyloid polyneuropathy and the degenerative heart disease called TTR cardiomyopathy.
Regenerating tissues to treat disease: Michael Bollong, PhD
July 17, 2024
Regenerative medicine involves harnessing the body’s own capacity to repair tissues and organs. In this free Front Row lecture, Associate Professor Michael Bollong shared how he is identifying and targeting the pathways controlling regeneration. By combining traditional drug discovery tools with modern biological techniques, Bollong and his lab are developing novel medicines that can intervene in the processes that cause a spectrum of human diseases and medical conditions, including heart disease, inflammatory disease and fibrosis.
Delivering medicines for a global population: Arnab Chatterjee, PhD
August 21, 2024
Infectious diseases like tuberculosis and malaria pose an ever-increasing risk to communities around the world. Meanwhile, a lack of investment, long treatment protocols and drug resistance have stymied innovation in this area. In this free Front Row lecture, vice president of medicinal chemistry Arnab Chatterjee discussed how the Calibr-Skaggs Institute of Innovative Medicines—the drug discovery and development arm of Scripps Research—is using innovative new approaches and technologies to overcome these historic barriers. His work at the Calibr-Skaggs Institute is helping accelerate the delivery of safe, effective and accessible medicines to countries spanning the globe.
How do you feel? Molecules that sense touch and other pressures: Ardem Patapoutian, PhD
September 18, 2024
The inner workings of the brain have eluded neuroscientists for ages—including how we perceive sensations such as touch, pain, sound and even blood flow. In this free in-person Front Row lecture, Scripps Research professor and Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian discussed the molecular sensors that enable the mind to interpret different physical and chemical stimuli. These discoveries—which Patapoutian was awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for—are helping answer long-standing questions in neuroscience, such as how cells communicate with each other, how we sense our body in time and space, how these sensors impact different diseases and more.