LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF FIGHTING DISEASE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Research spectrum runs from type 1 diabetes to infectious diseases to cancer
SAN DIEGO - (November 3, 2008) Amid the biomedical research institutes that enrich the San Diego landscape, there lies one that has dedicated itself to unmasking the mysteries of the body's immune system, which time has shown offers one of the greatest avenues for improving human health. Now celebrating its 20th year, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI) has emerged as a world leader in immunology research and is San Diego's only research institution, and one of the few in the world, focused on solving immune-mediated disorders, which encompass an incredibly wide array of diseases.
"We are focused on the immune system because we know it holds the key to stopping human suffering caused by a broad spectrum of disorders," said Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., LIAI president & scientific director, noting that the Institute's quest for knowledge has resulted recently in important findings on type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, infectious diseases and more - findings that could one day help to improve - or even save - the lives of millions of people.
"Most people understand that our immune system protects us from colds, flu and life threatening infections from smallpox virus and other agents," Kronenberg continued, "but they may not realize the central role it plays in a host of other disorders - known as autoimmune diseases - in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues." Kronenberg said this category includes type 1 diabetes, where the immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, and multiple sclerosis, in which the immune system attacks the lining of nerve cells that allow them to control muscle movement. Allergies and asthma also result from inappropriate immune responses and, even heart disease, has now been found to have a strong inflammatory immune system link.
Kronenberg said the array of diseases impacted by the immune system makes the Institute's work all the more exciting. "We're making discoveries today that offer hope for new treatments for many diseases that have plagued society for decades. Our founders realized the immune system's extraordinary potential for improving human health, which is why they formed this research institute 20 years ago."
The Institute, a nonprofit, has begun a year-long celebration of its founding, which began with an elegant 20th anniversary fundraising gala November 1st at the Del Mar Country Club. Chaired by Michael and Paula Martin of Rancho Santa Fe, the event raised funds for the Institute's continuing research on type 1 diabetes and cancer.
Kronenberg said the 20th anniversary offers a nice opportunity to reflect on the Institute's many accomplishments over the years. While modest in size compared to some of the larger research institutes on the Torrey Pines mesa, LIAI's accomplishments have placed it among the finest research institutions in the world in terms of scientific impact.
For instance, the Institute was ranked among the top five molecular biology and genetics research organizations in the world and, not surprisingly, was tapped by the federal government to develop and host the largest database on infectious disease immune responses ever created. The database, developed under a $31 million contract from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and launched in 2006, is a novel research tool designed to help scientists worldwide develop new and better vaccines. The NIH chose the Institute for the project in a competitive bid process, where LIAI's impressive credentials in vaccine development figured prominently.
Some other recent major achievements:
- Earlier this year, La Jolla Institute scientist Hilde Cheroutre, Ph.D.'s, discovery of a link between retinoic acid, a vitamin A derivative, and inflammatory diseases was named as one of the key biomedical research advances of 2007 by Nature Medicine, a highly respected and internationally renowned journal for biomedical research. The finding demonstrated that retinoic acid may have the potential for treating a host of autoimmune diseases, among those inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- La Jolla Institute researchers have received many awards and honors. Recently, Matthias von Herrath, M.D., received major awards from two of the nation's top diabetes organizations -- the American Diabetes Association 2008 Outstanding Scientific Achievement award and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Scholar Award. Both awards recognize von Herrath's work, which is showing significant promise at stopping type 1 diabetes when caught in the early stages. In addition, Klaus Ley, M.D., head of the Institute's recently created Inflammation Biology division which is studying novel immune-based approaches to combating heart disease, was recently selected as the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Marie T. Bonazinga Research Award. Ley will receive the award, the highest honor presented by the Society for Leukocyte Biology, in November in recognition for his work illuminating the basic cellular mechanisms underlying inflammation, particularly as it relates to heart disease.
- La Jolla Institute researcher Shane Crotty, Ph.D., is playing a key role in U.S. biodefense efforts with his discovery of an antibody that fights the smallpox virus. The antibody, which the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is considering stockpiling alongside the vaccine, could be the nation's first line of defense in the event of a terrorist-sponsored smallpox outbreak. The NIH recently awarded Crotty a $7.1 million grant to further those studies.
- Three of the Institute's researchers have received the "Highly Cited Scientist" distinction, which is held by less than one half of one percent of all publishing scientific authors, according to the Institute for Scientific Information. The distinction recognizes the frequency in which a researchers work is cited in scientific papers worldwide and reflects an important body of scientific work.
- The Institute is home to the Center for Infectious Disease (CID), one of the few such dedicated research centers in California. In July, the Institute launched its second center, the Type 1 Diabetes Center, to be led by von Herrath.
Kronenberg said he believes one of the keys to the Institute's success has been its collegial work environment that encourages collaboration and innovation. "When you visit our Institute, you'll see a lot of talking and exchanging of ideas between researchers. They're sharing information in an environment that's brimming with activity, where they have freedom to explore and are encouraged to work together to advance their research."
He added that the Institute's faculty are preeminent researchers who could easily be at the largest and most famous research institutions in the country. "But they choose to be here," he said. "I think it's just really rewarding to be part of something so exciting, in a place where as colleagues you actually know each other well and can share the joys of discovery together."
About La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology
Founded in 1988, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology is a nonprofit medical research center dedicated to increasing knowledge and improving human health through studies of the immune system. Scientists at the institute carry out research searching for cures for cancer, allergy and asthma, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. LIAI's research staff includes more than 100 Ph.Ds.
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