In Brief
Bruce Beutler Wins 2004 Koch Prize
Professor Bruce Beutler of The Scripps Research Institute
has won the 2004 Robert Koch Award together with Professor
Shizuo Akira of Osaka, Japan and Professor Jules A. Hoffmann
of Strasbourg, France, the Robert Koch Foundation has announced.
"I'm completely thrilled," says Beutler. "I have never won
such a prestigious award before, and I am honored to be included
with two people who are so completely deserving [as Akira
and Hoffmann]."
The prize, named in honor of one of the founding fathers
of immunology Robert Koch, is one the highest scientific honors
of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is given annually under
the patronage of the Federal Minister of Health to researchers
for outstanding, internationally recognized scientific achievements.
In winning the Robert Koch Award, Beutler was acknowledged
by the foundation for his "groundbreaking research on molecular
mechanisms underlying recognition, signal transduction, and
effector functions" of the immune system. He uses a technique
called forward genetics to study human genes used by the innate
immune system to clear pathogens from the body.
Last year, Beutler and his Scripps Research colleague Kasper
Hoebe identified a protein called Trif, which helps the body
respond to viruses and bacteria. This was the first time that
anyone had identified a signaling protein directly activated
by signals the innate immune system sends when it recognizes
both bacteria and viruses. And recently, Beutler discovered
rare genetic mutations in a subset of people who come down
with a kind of severe sepsis, an acute and often deadly disease.
Beutler will receive his share of the total prize money of
65,000 Euros (about $83,000) in the presence of the German
Federal Minister of Health and Social Safety later this year.
Nemazee to Speak in Faculty Lecture Series
Scripps Research Professor David Nemazee will speak on "Immunological
Tolerance in B Lymphocytes," on Wednesday, April 14, as part
of the Faculty Lecture Series. The lecture will be held at
5 PM in the Valerie Timken Amphitheater, Scripps Clinic, 10666
North Torrey Pines Road. No reservations are necessary.
National Alcohol Screening Day
National Alcohol Screening Day—designed to raise public
awareness about the consequences of at-risk drinking and alcohol's
effect on general health—will be held on Thursday, April
8. Free, anonymous screening for alcohol-related problems
or concerns and referrals to local treatment resources will
be available. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from
these services, please call (800) 763-1200 or visit the NASD
website. Confidential help is also available from the
Scripps Research Counseling and Postdoctoral Services Department.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Jan
Hill, x4-2950 or Jeff Jones, x4-2063.
Reminder: Mail Order Prescription Program
Benefits Administration would like to remind Scripps Research
employees about the prescription plan offered through AdvancePCS
and its mail order pharmacy, which provides a quick and easy
way to fill prescriptions needed on a regular basis. Through
this service, employees may receive a 90-day supply for the
price of a 60-day supply—$40 for brand name and $20 for
generic medications. Mail
order prescription forms can be obtained from AdvancePCS,
Human Resources, or from the Benefits web site. Please contact
Benefits Administration at x4-8487 or benefits@scripps.edu
with any questions about this program..
News&Views Takes Spring Break
News&Views will not be published next week in honor
of Spring Break. Weekly publication will resume on Monday,
April 19.
Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu
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Lerner Meets with Leaders of Florida's Historically Black
Colleges and Universities
Scripps Research President Richard A. Lerner met recently
with leaders of Florida's Historically Black Colleges and
Universities to discuss collaboration opportunities at Scripps
Florida. From left: Edward Waters College Vice President of
Academic Affairs Alan Sheppard; Florida Memorial College President
Albert Smith; Lerner; Florida A&M University President
Fred Gainous; and Bethune Cookman College President Oswald
P. Bronson. Photo by Kevin Fung.
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