Endothelial αvβ3 integrin induction during hypoxia protects blood–brain barrier integrity

The Milner Lab: “Endothelial αvβ3 integrin induction during hypoxia protects blood–brain barrier integrity,” PNAS

San Diego BioMed’s Milner Lab has published their most recent findings in renowned …

Volume 8, Issue 2

Cannabis Use Moderates Methamphetamine- and HIV-Related Inflammation: Evidence from Human Plasma Markers

The Marcondes Lab: “Cannabis Use Moderates Methamphetamine- and HIV-Related Inflammation: Evidence from Human Plasma Markers,” MDPI

HIV continues to be a public health issue and an incurable …

Master transcription-factor binding sites constitute the core of early replication control elements

San Diego BioMed congratulates the Gilbert Lab for their recent publication featured in The EMBO Journal!

Learn and read the full manuscript @ https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44318-025-00501-5

Professor Gilbert …

CD16a pairs form the basal molecular subunit for the NK-cell ADCC lytic synapse

We extend our sincerest congratulations to the Murin Lab for the publication of their first official paper!

Read and learn more @ https://academic.oup.com/jimmunol/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jimmun/vkaf077/8164288#google_vignette

In this study, our …

A Single-Cell Perspective on the Effects of Dopamine in the Regulation of HIV Latency Phenotypes in a Myeloid Cell Model

While new discoveries are the grand indicator of success at San Diego BioMed, we feel that creating differences truly occurs when these discoveries are publicized …

Defining the hypoxic thresholds that trigger blood-brain barrier disruption: the effect of age

In this study, San Diego BioMed’s own Milner lab – researchers Arjun Sapkota, Sebok Halder, and Richard Milner – “investigated how aging affects the brain’s …

National Cancer Survivors Day

Join San Diego BioMed in recognizing the 38th annual National Cancer Survivors Day® 2025! Today, communities rally together as a moving Celebration of Life led …

The Day to Day

The lab space is San Diego BioMed’s epicenter of traffic and life. No one day at the bench is the same.

Hear some words about daily …

Complete Sequencing of Ape Genome

Check out San Diego BioMed’s own Gilbert Lab publication, featured on the front cover of Nature: ‘Complete sequencing of ape genome’ !

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08816-3

Walk MS San Diego

Last weekend, the team at San Diego BioMed came together to show our support for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at a local sponsored walk – WalkMS. …

Promoting health and survival through lowered body temperature

San Diego BioMed would like to congratulate our own Conti Lab, on their most recent publication about temperature and aging biology! Paper publications in the …

Allosteric Anti-KLK4 Antibody Development for Targeted Anti-cancer Effects in Ovarian Carcinoma

Adjunct Professor Ashley Buckle is excited to share their latest publication in the Journal of Molecular Biology:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022283625001676

Dr. Buckle and the team involved has developed …

Volume 8, Issue 1

Unlocking the Secrets of a Key Autoimmune Target: GAD65

Adjust Professor Ashley Buckle is thrilled to share a new Nature Communications publication.

Dr. Buckle notes that:

“The human body is a marvel of balance, but sometimes, …

Inter-Lab Learning

Take a look inside some of the daily learning at San Diego BioMed as one of our postdoctoral fellows—Satoshi—presents his lab’s findings to lab technicians …

Welcome to the team!

San Diego BioMed’s team continues to grow with talent!

In this snapshot, we have Research Technician, Francisco, mentoring our newly hired team member – Adamo. Here, …

“Stranding Together” by Aaron Cover

San Diego BioMed would like to officially unveil our stunning new artwork by local artist and friend, Aaron Cover with Coverworks. Aaron calls this mural …

Volume 7, Issue 1

San Diego BioMed 10-Year Anniversary

On April 1st, 2014, San Diego BioMed embarked on a mission to predict and prevent diseases and infections, and to accelerate medical advances that maintain …

Defective endomembrane dynamics in Rab27a deficiency impairs nucleic acid sensing and cytokine secretion in immune cells

San Diego BioMed is on a roll, as we excitingly congratulate another published paper from our team – the Baccala Lab. Join us in many …

Impact of glycan depletion, glycan debranching and increased glycan charge on HIV-1 neutralization sensitivity and immunogenicity

The Binley Lab is delighted to share their latest paper investigating how glycans affect antibody-mediated neutralization of HIV-1.

Dr. Binley notes that in this manuscript, …

On the issue of treating HIV in people with syndemic mental-health and substance-use disorders

San Diego BioMed would like to congratulate our own Marcondes Lab on their recent paper publication. We celebrate their impactful research as a testament to …

Volume 6, Issue 2

Volume 6, Issue 1

Volume 5, Issue 2

We are excited to present the summer edition of the San Diego BioMed newsletter! In this issue we cover two recent publications by Dr. Fahumiya …

San Diego BioMed Receives Donation of $200,000 to Combat Disease

Mr. Richard Woltman, a long-time resident of La Jolla, California, and an entrepreneur in business and finance, has recently donated $200,000 to San Diego BioMed, …

International Women’s Day Panel Featuring Dr. Cecilia Marcondes

Recently San Diego BioMed scientist, Dr. Cecilia Marcondes took part in an International Women’s Science Day Panel at UCLA that discussed the struggles of international …

Volume 5, Issue 1

We are excited to present the latest San Diego BioMed Newsletter! In this issue we welcome two new Principal Investigators, Drs. Bruno Conti and Takanori …

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone and their loved ones a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Immune Regulation and Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is caused by immune cells that destroy insulin-secreting cells resulting in uncontrolled high glucose (sugar) levels in the blood. San Diego …

Metastatic Breast Cancer

In 2020, it was estimated that more than 168,000 women in the US were living with metastatic breast cancer, which occurs when cancer cells have …

Obesity and Breast Cancer Research

There is increasing evidence that cancer cells cannot develop into a lethal tumor without the cooperation of neighboring cells. While many cell types have been …

Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Triple Negative Breast Cancer

During this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, San Diego BioMed would like to highlight the work being done by the ElShamy group to find therapies …

Volume 4, Issue 3

We are thrilled to present the last SDBRI newsletter for the year of 2021! In this issue we discuss exciting changes that have happened at …

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

More than 3.8 million women in the U.S. have a history of breast cancer. In response to this urgent need, San Diego BioMed scientists are …

SDBRI Has Officially Moved!

After nearly two years of intense discussion, planning, and construction, we are proud to announce that San Diego Biomedical Research Institute has officially moved into …

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

One of many areas of research that San Diego BioMed scientists are working on is obesity and the complications that come along with it. Obesity …

Volume 4, Issue 2

We are excited to present our latest SDBRI newsletter in which we detail the research that SDBRI is doing to learn more about patients of …

SDBRI Scientist Solves 60-Year Scientific Mystery

Over the last 60 years, scientists have been able to observe how and when genetic information was replicated, determining the existence a “replication timing program”, …

SDBRI Research Technician Accepted Into MIT!

SDBRI is proud to announce that one of our Research Technicians, Breanna Lam, will be pursuing her Ph.D. in Biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology …

Dr. Cecilia Marcondes Ph.D. publishes on “Detection of H3K4me3 identifies neuroHIV signatures, genomic effects of methamphetamine and addiction pathways in postmortem HIV+ brain specimens that are not amenable to transcriptome analysis”

Methamphetamine (Meth) usage is common among people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To study the impact of Meth in those who are HIV+ many …

Wael ElShamy, Ph.D. Publishes on “The Molecular Underpinning of Geminin-Overexpressing Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Homing Specifically to Lungs”

Patients who have been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive form of breast cancer, often develop metastasis in the lungs, meaning that …

Dr. Milner Receives 5-Year, R01 Grant

Congratulations to SDBRI’s very own Richard Milner, Ph.D. for receiving a 5 year, R01 grant from the National Institute of Health to continue his ongoing …

Volume 4, Issue 1

We are delighted to present our first newsletter of 2021. In this newsletter we describe how SDBRI scientists are contributing to the ongoing COVID-19 research. …

San Diego Biomedical Research Institute’s David Gilbert to be involved in new center for studying the structure of the cell

SDBRI’s David Gilbert will be joining a new multi-institution research center, directed by Carnegie Mellon University and funded by the National Institutes of Health. This …

Flow Cytometry with CytoFlex S: The Basics

Our second virtual science focus meeting was hosted by Aditi Narsale, Ph.D. who presented on a technique called flow cytometry that makes use of a …

Richard Milner, Ph.D. publishes on his finding that, Activated Protein C Attenuates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Progression by Enhancing Vascular Integrity and Suppressing Microglial Activation

Dr. Milner’s recent study aimed to clarify the therapeutic potential of activated protein C (APC) in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of Multiple Sclerosis …

New Virtual Science Focus Meeting Series

Annemarie McGover, a laboratory assistant in Dr. Marcondes’ research group, was the first to present at our new, virtual, science focus meeting series. Science focus …

Black Lives Matter

SDBRI stands in support of Black Lives Matter We are here. We are listening.

Image is by Titus Kaphar for TIME Magazine

Transition Back to Work Training

Following California’s Phase 2 for reopening, SDBRI prepared for a partial reopening, to perform essential duties. Although exciting, this presents a new challenge: how will …

Wael ElShamy, Ph.D. publishes on the immunosuppressive microenvironment in BRCA1-IRIS-overexpressing TNBC tumors is induced by bidirectional interaction with tumor-associated macrophages

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) promote the progression of what is considered to be one of the most aggressive types of breast cancers—triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). …

Cecilia Marcondes, Ph.D. publishes on Systems Biology Analysis of the Antagonizing Effects of HIV-1 Tat Expression in the Brain over Transcriptional Changes Caused by Methamphetamine Sensitization

Methamphetamine (Meth) usage is common among people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The HIV-1 regulatory protein, trans-activator of transcription (Tat), can induce changes in …

Volume 3, Issue 1

Welcome to the first of our newly formatted triannual newsletters. In this year’s first newsletter we describe how we’ve pivoted to a work from home …

Postdoctoral Position – Davies Lab

San Diego Biomedical Research Institute (SDBRI) is a nonprofit scientific research organization located in the heart of the San Diego research community. The mission of …

Drs. Binley and Verkoczy Receive $9 Million R01 Grant Renewal

Congratulations to our very own James Binley, Ph.D. and Laurent Verkoczy, Ph.D. for receiving a 5 year renewal of their R01 grants totaling over $9 …

SDBRI Ranks #11 in 2019 Fiscal Year for NIH Funded Organizations

We are excited to announce that SDBRI has ranked #11 out of 107 National Institute of Health funded organizations in San Diego County in total …

Breast Cancer Study Recruitment

Breast cancer survivors are undoubtedly strong— more than 3.5 million women in the United States alone (American Cancer Society) are proof of that.

Researchers here at …

Richard Milner, Ph.D. publishes on a critical role for microglia in maintaining vascular integrity in the hypoxic spinal cord

Recent studies in the Milner lab show that chronic mild hypoxia induces transient vascular leak in spinal cord blood vessels that is associated with microglial …

Huntington Medical Research Institute July 2019 Lecture

SDBRI scientist, Dr. Maria Cecilia Marcondes, Ph.D. invited to the Huntington Medical Research Institute to discuss “The Role of Sirtuin1 in neuroHIV and in Aging-Associated …

SDBRI receives $100,000 from the Richard P. Woltman Fund

San Diego, California, June 2019 – San Diego Biomedical Research Institute (SDBRI) announces a donation of $100,000 from Richard P. Woltman, La Jolla, California. SDBRI …

Take a Tour of Our New Space! Click the link below.

2019 SNIP Conference

Ashley Rosander, a student in the Marcondes research group at SDBRI, is selected to present her findings on Drug Abuse in HIV at the 2019 …

Volume 2, Issue 3

2019 Keystone Symposium

SDBRI scientist, Dr. James Binley, invited to chair the scientific session, Env Immunogen Design and Evaluation, at the 2019 Keystone Symposium, “Functional Cures and the …

Volume 2, Issue 2

With the Multiple Sclerosis awareness month approaching, the SDBRI newsletter for the month of February is an explanatory video describing the Multiple Sclerosis symptoms. Watch …

Dr. Cecilia Marcondes’ new publication investigates what pieces of HIV are required to activate inflammatory genes

At SDBRI, we study the neurological consequences and complications existing in individuals who are infected with HIV and abuse drugs. The recent publication by Dr. …

Volume 2, Issue 1

Dr. Cecilia Marcondes’ research is selected for the San Diego Center for AIDS Research Director’s Choice as an outstanding study

Research on mechanisms that explain methamphetamine use in HIV-infected people, led by SDBRI scientist Dr. Cecilia Marcondes, is selected for the Director’s Choice as an …

Volume 1, Issue 11: Cancer

SDBRI welcomes Dr. Richard Milner

Dr. Milner obtained his PhD in Neurobiology in 1995 and MD in 1998 from the University of Cambridge, UK. He completed postdoctoral training at Cambridge …

SDBRI welcomes Dr. Celine DerMardirossian to their Faculty

Dr. DerMardirossian obtained her PhD from University Orsay in Paris in 1998. After a postdoctoral fellowship at The Scripps Research Institute, she was promoted to …

Researcher Isabelle Tardieux gives a seminar on Cell and Membrane dynamics of parasite-host interactions

Yesterday at SDBRI, Isabelle Tardieux – a research director from the Institute for Advanced BioSciences in Grenoble, France – gave an enlightening seminar on cell …

Volume 1, Issue 10: HIV Vaccine

Volume 1, Issue 9: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

SDBRI professor Helen Leask gives seminar on qualitative research

SDBRI professor, Helen Leask, gave an insightful seminar on qualitative research. Institute staff discussed the scientific challenges as well as the benefits of this type …

Volume 1, Issue 8: Cachexia

Volume 1, Issue 7: Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

July Newsletter: Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

Volume 1, Issue 6: Multiple Sclerosis

SDBRI’s Marcondes Group identify a new mechanism that can explain aggravated HIV infection in drug abusers

HIV infects immune cells in the central nervous system leading to inflammation and neurological deficits. The neurological symptoms experienced by HIV-infected individuals are further aggravated …

Teach Science at SDBRI

Science fun for everyone! As part of our Teach Science program, community members were able to isolate DNA, run a gel and identify different types …

Volume 1, Issue 5: Neurological Disorders

In this month’s newsletter we take a closer look at neurological disorders.

SDBRI Professor, Dr. Helen Leask, discusses new insights into Epilepsy Care “The revolution in the field is real – if only more doctors knew about it”

The Newest Brain Wave in Epilepsy Care

Volume 1, Issue 4: Cancer

In January of this year we decided to create monthly newsletters as a way to inform our community of the interesting, and we hope important, …

SDBRI participated in the 2018 We Support U 5K Fun Run/Walk

SDBRI participated in the 2018 We Support U 5K fun run/walk. The mission of We Support U is to, “revive, renew, and restore confidence, empowerment, …

Volume 1, Issue 3: HIV Vaccine

We are pleased to share with you our March Newsletter. Read about the development of the HIV vaccine and frequently asked questions about HIV/AIDS.

SDBRI Welcomes Dr. Laurent Verkoczy

SDBRI welcomes Dr. Laurent Verkoczy to its team of Principal Investigators. Dr. Verkoczy obtained his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Toronto in 2000 and …

Volume 1 , Issue 2: Type 1 Diabetes

Take a closer look at Autoimmunity and Type 1 Diabetes in our February Newsletter.

Dr. Joanna Davies Visits Vamos a Charlar

Dr. Joanna Davies, President/CEO of SDBRI, spoke at a local San Diego breast cancer support group Vamos a Charlar. Dr. Davies discussed an upcoming focus …

Volume 1, Issue 1: Welcome to SDBRI

We are pleased to share with you the very first SDBRI monthly newsletter! Check out the latest research happening at SDBRI.

Institute Staff Participate in the Susan G. Komen San Diego Race for the Cure

SDBRI staff distributed educational materials during the San Diego Susan G. Komen San Diego Race for the Cure that included information about the institute and …

SDBRI Receives Significant Las Patronas Gift to Purchase Equipment

The institute received a generous donation from Las Patronas to purchase equipment to store temperature sensitive material. This equipment will be used to support two …

Public makes financial gifts to SDBRI as part of Giving Tuesday

Thank you Jeff Steindorf and Mike Robertson for your “Giving Tuesday” donations. These additional dollars will be used to help us Give Every Patient a …

Institute receives community contribution

SDBRI would like to thank John Bauer for his generous donation to our research programs. Thank you John for helping us in our effort to …

Ballad receives donations from community members

Ballad Research Institute would like to thank Barbara Lamb and Bill Hale for their generous donation. Their support and dedication is invaluable to the institute …

SDBRI’s Wael ElShamy publishes article on cancer recurrence and metastases

Dr. Wael ElShamy, with his investigative team at SDBRI, finds new clues about what makes cancer cells travel to distant tissue to cause cancer recurrence …

Aditi Narsale, Ph.D. , SDBRI fellow, presented findings at American Diabetes Association’s 2017 Scientific Sessions

SDBRI scientist, Dr. Aditi Narsale, presented her work on a new immune cell type that might protect children from severe type 1 diabetes by controlling …

Cecilia Marcondes, Ph.D. and colleagues publish findings on West Nile virus.

An SDBRI investigative team, led by Dr. Cecilia Marcondes, finds that osteopontin, a modulator of inflammation, plays a critical protective role in controlling West Nile …

James Binley, Ph.D. and colleagues identify a lineage of HIV-1- neutralizing antibodies that target the envelope trimer apex

To date, long recognition loops have been a hallmark of apex-targeting antibodies. The authors identify a lineage of HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies that target the envelope trimer …

SDBRI’s Maria Cecilia Mardondes, Ph.D. Publishes Article About HIV-1 and Methamphetamine Abuse

SDBRI investigators identify gene networks that are overexpressed in astrocytes in response to methamphetamine. Dr. Cecilia Marcondes discusses the potential implications for neuroprotection and neuropathology …

SDBRI Welcomes Wael M. ElShamy, Ph.D. as Associate Professor

Dr. ElShamy joined the institute as Associate Professor. He received his Ph.D. from the Royal Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Most recently, he was director, Molecular …

SDBRI’s Samantha Grimley, Ph.D. Delivers Presentation at Keystone Symposia

Dr. Grimley presented, “Striking Impact of HIV-1 Envelope Glycoengineering on BnAb Sensitivities,” at the 2017 Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology, HIV Vaccines Meeting. …

SDBRI Welcomes Two New Board Members

Barbara Lamp and Jeff Steindorf, Ph.D. have joined the institute’s Board of Directors. Ms. Lamb is a community volunteer who currently serves in multiple roles …

Mark Hargreaves, Ph.D. Joins Ballad Research Institute Board

Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves became the newest Board member for the Ballad Research Institute. He is Rector of St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La …

Professor James Binley Publishes Article in Virology

The Binley group at SDBRI discovers new methods to increase the frequency of recipients who respond successfully to novel HIV vaccines. Read more….

Cecilia Marcondes, Ph.D. Comes to SDBRI as Associate Professor

Maria Cecilia G. Marcondes, Ph.D. joined the institute as Associate Professor. She received her Ph.D. in Immunology from the Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Most …

“Teach Science” Goes to Casa de Mañana Retirement Community

SDBRI’s Teach Science program visited the Casa de Mañana Retirement Community, where participating residents learned basic lab safety, used scientific equipment, isolated plant DNA, worked alongside …

The Institute Receives Public Gift

SDBRI thanks Emily Rex for her recent donation. She serves as an example of the community’s support of the institute’s activities.

Happy New Year!

Last year has come and gone, SDBRI feels so lucky to have you as a community partner. We are looking forward to a new year …

SDBRI Receives Donations from Community Members

The institute gratefully acknowledges the generous donations from John Bauer and Michael W. Robertson, Ph.D. Their continued support and dedication to SDBRI have been invaluable …

SDBRI Hosts Residents of Casa de Mañana Retirement Community as Part of the Institute’s Teach Science Initiative.

SDBRI hosted residents of Casa de Mañana retirement community as part of the institute’s Teach Science Initiative. The November 5 community outreach event gave the …

SDBRI Hosted Two Events with Sir Dermot Turing

SDBRI hosted two events with Sir Dermot Turing, author and nephew of Alan Turing, the famous British mathematician, philosopher, codebreaker, and founder of computer science. …

SDBRI Staff Participates in ADA’s Annual Walk

SDBRI staff participated in the American Diabetes Association, San Diego Chapter’s annual walk, 2016 Step Out @ Fit Foodie. The walk raised greater than $100K …

The Impact of Cancer on Insulin Control and Cachexia

Aditi Narsale describes the dual impact of cancer on insulin control and cachexia at the 3rd Cancer Cachexia Conference in Washington D.C.

Native HIV Membrane Trimers

SDBRI investigator, James Binley, Ph.D., discussed his work,”Native HIV Membrane Trimers,” at the NIAIDS’s Nanotechnology for HIV, RNA and Vaccine Delivery Workshop.

American Diabetes Association

American Diabetes Association highlights SDBRI in a short documentary at the 76th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans

2nd Annual Spring Reception

San Diego Biomedical Research Institute hosted its 2nd Annual Spring Reception on May 20, 2016. Guests included representatives from research institutions, industry, and philanthropy. See …

San Diego Biomedical Researchers Find Ways to Predict the Duration of Partial Remission in Children Newly Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. 

Additional Funding from the National Cancer Institute

San Diego Biomedical researcher, Joanna Davies, receives additional funding from the National Cancer Institute to identify pathways to explain why some patients with cancer develop …

SDBRI Accepted as Member of the Association of Independent Research Institutes

SDBRI was accepted as member of the Association of Independent Research Institutes (AIRI). AIRI is an association of independent, not-for-profit biomedical and behavioral research institutes whose mission …

Samantha Leigh Grimley, Ph.D. Joins SDBRI as Postdoctoral Fellow

SDBRI welcomes Samantha Leigh Grimley, Ph.D. as a postdoctoral fellow. She will work as part of Dr. James Binley’s research group, assisting that lab with HIV …

Sheila Ferguson Joins the Ballad Research Institute Board of Directors

Sheila Ferguson joins the Ballad Research Institute Board of Directors as its Treasurer. She has a finance background and previously served as a director for …

Mr. John Bauer Joins SDBRI Board of Directors

The institute welcomes Mr. John Bauer as a new member of the SDBRI Board of Directors.  Mr. Bauer is Assistant Dean and Executive Officer of the UC San …