SCIENTIFIC UPDATES
Hair-raising research: Salk scientists find surprising link between immune system, hair growth
Associate Professor Ye Zheng and colleagues have uncovered an unexpected molecular target of a common treatment for alopecia, a condition in which a person’s immune system attacks their own hair follicles, causing hair loss. Their findings describe how immune cells interact with skin cells using a hormone as a messenger to generate new hair follicles and hair growth.
IN THE NEWS
Salk Institute to expand its campus, using lessons learned from its original buildings

For neuroscientist Rusty Gage, progress is a state of mind – Decades after discovering the benefits of physical activity to brain health, Gage remains fascinated with his research

A journey from phosphotyrosine to phosphohistidine and beyond – A perspective from Salk Professor Tony Hunter

An ultra-thin, flexible probe that can record and stimulate neurons in the brains of mice

New drugs for metabolic diseases could come from food waste

How CRISPR rice could help tackle climate change

Intermittent fasting linked to better gut and liver function in mice

Science makes a case for healthy fasting

SPOTLIGHT
Salk Institute mourns the loss of Professor Emeritus Walter Eckhart
Professor Emeritus Walter Eckhart, who served as director of the Salk Institute’s National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and head of the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory for more than 30 years, died suddenly on June 21, 2022, at his home in La Jolla, California. He was 84.
Assistant Professor Christina Towers named a 2022 Pew-Stewart Scholar and joins Keystone Symposia’s 2022 Class of Fellows
Towers is among this year’s six early-career scientists who will each receive $300,000 from the Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust over the next four years to support research focused on a better understanding of the causes, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. She is also one of nine scientists who will join Keystone’s outstanding group of biological and biomedical researchers.
Salk Institute promotes three faculty members in the field of neuroscience
Assistant Professors Kenta Asahina and Eiman Azim were promoted to associate professor, and Associate Research Professor Margarita Behrens was promoted to research professor. They are leaders who have made original, innovative and notable contributions to neuroscience.
Professor Janelle Ayres joins Cancer Grand Challenges team tackling cancer cachexia
An international team of researchers, including Salk’s Ayres, has been selected to receive a $25 million Cancer Grand Challenges award to tackle the challenge of cancer cachexia, a debilitating wasting condition that often leads to a poor quality of life for people in the later stages of cancer.
Professor Susan Kaech elected as American Association of Immunologists councilor 
Kaech was elected to the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) to serve as councilor from 2022 to 2026. She will bring her expertise to the AAI Council to promote advances in immunology education, public awareness, advocacy and research.
Assistant Professor Pallav Kosuri named Beckman Young Investigator
As an awardee, Kosuri exemplifies the Beckman Foundation’s mission of supporting the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers in the chemical and life sciences. The award fosters the invention of methods, instruments and materials that will open new avenues of research in science. This year’s award offers $600,000 in funding over four years.
Assistant Professor Daniel Hollern receives Susan G. Komen grant
With a new three-year, $450,000 Susan G. Komen grant, Hollern and team will study immune cells called B cells and how they interact with and recognize metastasized breast cancer cells. They will also test new promising and existing treatments that activate B cell responses against breast cancers to see if they can help patients living with breast cancer metastasis.
Professor Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte awarded the 2022 Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize
Izpisua Belmonte was chosen for the honor, bestowed by the Gladstone Institutes, because of his work leading to innovations in cellular rejuvenation programming and its promise for the improvement of aging and age-associated diseases.
Nuttida Rungratsameetaweemana
Nuttida Rungratsameetaweemana
awarded the Edwards-Yeckel Postdoc Professional Development Award
Rungratsameetaweemana was awarded the inaugural Edwards-Yeckel Postdoc Professional Development Award. Made possible by a generous gift from the Ray Thomas Edwards Foundation, the award is intended to inspire applicants to explore new avenues of investigation and professional growth.
Inaugural Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind postdoctoral scholars selected
The Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind (KIBM) has launched a program to provide financial support and networking opportunities for outstanding postdoctoral scholars at the Salk Institute and UC San Diego. Salk’s 2022-2023 inaugural KIBM Postdoctoral Scholars are: Jeffrey Jones (Rusty Gage’s lab), Nuttida Rungratsameetaweemana (Terrence Sejnowski’s lab), and Donovan Ventimiglia (Kenta Asahina’s lab). Designed to support postdoctoral scholars in their pursuit of innovative neuroscience research, the KIBM Postdoctoral Scholars Program awards $50,000 for 12 months.
Inspiring minds with Ronald Evans, Dannielle Engle and the Crossley Family

Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to diagnose and all too often there is little that can be done for patients with this devastating illness. Professor Ronald Evans and Assistant Professor Dannielle Engle discuss their efforts to change that as they strive for a better future and better outcomes for cancer patients worldwide.
EVENTS
August 20: Symphony at Salk Featuring Ben Platt
Sponsorships are now available for the 26th annual Symphony at Salk. The event will feature a spectacular evening of music featuring a performance by Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning artist Ben Platt and the talented San Diego Symphony. Support Salk science while experiencing warm camaraderie, gourmet food and drink, a breathtaking sunset and refreshing ocean breezes, all against the backdrop of one of the world’s most striking architectural masterpieces.
How would you change the world for the better?
To advance life-changing discoveries for decades to come, in 2021, Salk launched the Campaign for the Future: Building a More Resilient World—a bold, five-year, $500 million effort to attract the people and acquire the technology and space necessary to accelerate our critical research. At the center of this audacious goal is the plan to build the 100,000-square-foot Joan and Irwin Jacobs Science and Technology Center. Between now and September 30, the Jacobs will contribute $1 for every $2 donated—up to $100 million, which would translate to a total of $300 million with matching funds—for gifts or pledges made towards the campaign.

Are you up for the challenge? Join us: salk.edu/resilient
LAST MONTH'S SCIENCE QUIZ RESULTS
Roughly estimated, how many neurons are there in the average human brain?
Answer: 86 billion
DID YOU KNOW?
Enjoy Salk architecture on your devices
Looking for a unique background image for your computer, Zoom meeting, iPad or phone?

This month's image is of the iconic courtyard with paragliders flying in the sky.
Follow US and Engage!