Scripps Florida Forms Molecular Therapeutics Department

In anticipation of Scripps Florida's continued expansion, The Scripps Research Institute has created a new academic department, the Department of Molecular Therapeutics.

"We will recruit faculty to the Department of Molecular Therapeutics capable of utilizing the advanced drug discovery technology at Scripps Florida," says Patrick Griffin, the new department's chair. "Our goal is to discover new chemical probes that have immediate therapeutic implications."

Associate Professor Phil LoGrasso and his group will be among those joining Griffin and his team as the department's first members.

"Pat has the exciting challenge of building a new academic department at the same time that it takes occupancy of a new world-class research facility," says Gerald Joyce, dean of the faculty and a member of the Scripps Florida Steering Committee, which voted to form the Department of Molecular Therapeutics at its regular meeting last month. "It's a great opportunity for all the founding members of the department."

Steve Kay, chair of the Biochemistry Department and another member of the Scripps Florida Steering Committee, adds, "Pat's background in cutting-edge science and the discovery of therapeutics positions him well to assume this new leadership position at Scripps Florida."

Griffin also heads the existing Scripps Florida Translational Research Institute, which will continue to focus on the conversion of basic science discoveries into clinical applications (see http://www.scripps.edu/newsandviews/i_20061113/griffin.html).

In addition to Molecular Therapeutics, Scripps Research departments based primarily on the Jupiter, Florida, site are Infectology, chaired by Charles Weissmann, and Cancer Biology, chaired by John Cleveland. Additional departments are anticipated as the permanent Scripps Florida campus, scheduled to open in 2009, nears completion.

For more on a related development—the creation of a new Department of Genetics on the Scripps Research La Jolla, California, campus—look to an upcoming issue of News&Views for an interview with Chair Bruce Beutler.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

"Our goal is to discover new chemical probes that have immediate therapeutic implications."

—Patrick Griffin