In October 2024, Scripps Research welcomed leading executives, philanthropists and investors to campus for a daylong discussion on the future of science and medicine and how academia, industry, investors and philanthropists together can tackle the pressing health challenges of our time.
The event, Catalyst: The Future of Science and Medicine, hosted by Scripps Research board member and The Yucaipa Companies founder Ron Burkle, included special guest Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, which has provided major support for Scripps Research’s global health efforts. The event kicked off with Scripps Research President and CEO Pete Schultz sharing how Scripps Research is pioneering a new model for nonprofit research institutes that bridges the gap between fundamental research and the development of innovative medicines.
Leading scientists at Scripps Research also gave insights into some of the most exciting areas of science: Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian, professor of neuroscience and the Presidential Endowed Chair in Neurobiology; Michael Bollong, associate professor of chemistry and the Early Career
Endowed Roon Chair for Cardiovascular Research; Arnab Chatterjee, vice president of medicinal chemistry at the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines; and Scripps Research Executive Vice President Eric Topol, the Gary and Mary West Chair of Innovative Medicine.
The event culminated in a discussion with extraordinary leaders in the life sciences space who explored the trajectory of global health, led by moderator Nancy Thornberry, former CEO of Kallyope, Inc. The engaging dialogue dove into the intricacies of research and medicine, as well as strategies to address crucial health needs and where investments can best catalyze areas of science to drive medical advances.
Hear what some of these luminaries had to say:
Bill Gates
Gates Foundation
“We’re going after primarily the diseases that are more prevalent in developing countries than enriched countries, and Calibr-Skaggs has been an incredible partner. They can do collaborations in a way that would be very difficult to do in a for-profit format. Two of the very best tuberculosis drugs that we have are coming out of Calibr-Skaggs, and we’ll have a new regimen fairly soon that avoids all the drug resistance that’s out there. It’s been a fantastic collaboration with Calibr-Skaggs.”
Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen. He’s also the founder of Breakthrough Energy, an effort to commercialize clean energy and other climate-related technologies, and TerraPower, a company investing in developing groundbreaking nuclear technologies. Through his private office, Gates Ventures, he focuses on Alzheimer’s research and other issues, such as healthcare, interdisciplinary education and technology.
Gerald Chan, ScD
Morningside
“Scripps Research investigators attack the problems of regenerative medicine: not just stopping the degenerative processes of aging, not only slowing them down, but reversing them. These are really bold problem statements that the investigators here aren’t afraid of. It’s not just a bonus in ambition, but there’s also an infrastructure to turn that ambition into practice. I think that’s truly amazing.”
Gerald Chan, is a scientist, global leader in biotechnology, and Scripps Research board member. As a venture capitalist, he has been involved in the building of more than 100 biotech companies. Of these, more than a dozen companies were co-founded by him with intellectual property spun out from universities. His work has resulted in first-in-class drugs, diagnostics and medical devices being approved by regulatory agencies for use in the clinic. In recent years, his work has focused on using AI to develop digital biomarkers, digital diagnostics and therapeutics for dementia, autism and behavioral disorders.
Mikael Dolsten, MD
Pfizer, Inc.
“How often do you hear of a recent Nobel laureate thinking about applying their knowledge to making an impact on human medicine? Calibr-Skaggs allows scientists to be part of a journey to make an impact without giving up their excellence in science. Here we have probably the most outsized contribution to turn biomedical research into medicines because of what you’re building: a place that allows people to really collaborate across all boundaries.”
As the former chief scientific officer and president of Pfizer Research & Development, Mikael Dolsten focused on advancing Pfizer’s scientific breakthrough leadership in small-molecule medicines, biotherapeutics, gene therapies and vaccines. He was a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the company’s Portfolio Management Team, which governs major pipeline investments and strategic end-to-end R&D priorities. He led Pfizer Research & Development, focused on discovery and early- and late-stage clinical development for vaccines, inflammation and immunology, internal medicine, and infectious diseases, as well as non-malignant hematology and rare neuromuscular diseases.
Rajiv Kaul
Fidelity Select Biotechnology Fund
“A lot of the basic technology that’s advancing in all these different domains—designing drugs, interrogating biology, atomic level resolution, real-time dynamic simulations—you start getting closer and closer to causation. And it’s not just one drug, it’s an entire engine. I cannot think of another company or institution or venture capital organization anywhere in the world that has this kind of depth of science and the ability to quickly translate it.”
Rajiv Kaul is a portfolio manager and research analyst for Fidelity Investments and considered one of the country’s top-rated healthcare investors. Widely recognized for his leadership in the biotech industry, he manages Fidelity’s Select Biotechnology Portfolio and its Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology Fund.