World-leading scientific research institute debuts new name and look
August 27, 2018
Under the leadership of noted chemist and CEO Peter Schultz, PhD, who is also a successful biotech entrepreneur, one of the largest private, nonprofit scientific research institutes in the world has undergone a rapid evolution in just three years. Its board of directors has been heavily revamped and populated with influential leaders of industry. Affiliations and mergers have expanded institute capabilities from basic research through drug discovery and development and into early clinical trials. Its Translational Institute, headed by pioneering physician-scientist and Executive Vice President Eric Topol, MD, uses genomics and digital tools to promote individualized medicine. And the organization is currently ranked the #1 nonprofit institute in the world for its influence on innovation as well as for its high-quality research by Nature Index.
To celebrate that evolution, the institute formerly known as The Scripps Research Institute has given itself an extensive makeover. On Aug. 1, leadership debuted a new name, a new logo and a new, more easily navigated website. Now known succinctly as Scripps Research, the bicoastal institute replaced its molecule-shaped logo with a sleek “infinity loop.” According to its website, the new logo “represents our continual pursuit of knowledge and the infinite promise within science to improve health.” The institute’s new tag line, or slogan, captures the breadth and impact of its daily work: Science Changing Life.
“We have markedly broadened our scientific mission to include more applied, cutting-edge research to transform the future of medicine,” says Topol. “Scripps Research is leading a major part of the national Precision Medicine Initiative, a million-participant program, and has been selected by the National Institutes of Health for its flagship Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program, with our most recent grant extending to 2023. Combined with the institute’s long and outstanding track record in fundamental scientific research and drug discovery, we have a number of important stories to tell.”
Anna-Marie Rooney, vice president of Communications at Scripps Research, says the rebranding process was an institute-wide effort. “From the start,” she says, “we asked for input from every viewpoint—executive, administrator, student and scientist. We wanted the new message and imagery to demonstrate who we are and what we do. And the feedback kept returning to people. ‘Make it human; show the profound connection we have with improving people’s lives.’ That’s how we arrived at our tag: Science Changing Life.” She says the process, which began only a few months ago, was successfully steered by a rising San Diego creative agency, Grizzly, who has worked with corporate giants such as Microsoft and Nestle. “I can’t say enough about Grizzly’s leadership and creativity,” Rooney adds. “They knocked this project out of the ballpark.”
Scripps Research performs biomedical research and drug discovery on two campuses, one in La Jolla, California and the other in Jupiter, Florida. Institute discoveries have led to nine approved drugs to date. In June, Scripps Research announced a licensing agreement with pharmaceutical company AbbVie to develop new cancer therapies based on an improved CAR-T platform technology developed within Calibr, the institute’s drug discovery and development division. CAR-T therapy enlists a patient’s own immune system to attack cancer cells. AbbVie currently markets Humira, the best-selling prescription drug in the world, which was also developed from discoveries at Scripps Research.
About Scripps Research
Scripps Research is ranked the most influential scientific institution in the world for its impact on innovation. A nonprofit research organization, Scripps expands basic knowledge in the biosciences and uses these fundamental advancements to develop profound innovations that improve well-being. Scripps researchers lead breakthrough studies that address the world’s most pressing health concerns, accelerating the creation and delivery of medical breakthroughs to better human health across the globe. Our educational and training programs mold talented and committed students and postdocs into the next generation of leading scientists.
For more information about Scripps Research visit www.scripps.edu. Follow @ScrippsResearch on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
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