Scripps Research centennial video series

This year, Scripps Research is celebrating 100 years of Science Changing Life. Since its founding by philanthropist and journalist Ellen Browning Scripps in 1924, Scripps Research has remained at the forefront of science and medicine with six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates and a top-ranked graduate school.

Visit the newly launched https://100.scripps.edu/ to hear scientists’ stories and discover the latest research in immunology, chemistry, drug discovery, infectious disease, neuroscience and individualized medicine. Dive into the institute’s world-renowned educational efforts, explore an interactive timeline and stay up to date on the latest scientific news.

Ever wondered what goes on inside one of world's top scientific research institutes? Take a unique tour with this incredible flythrough of Scripps Research in La Jolla, California.

Since 1924, Scripps Research has been at the forefront of uncovering biological insights, demystifying how our bodies work, and translating those discoveries into real-world impact. In 2024, the institute celebrates its centennial, a milestone that marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology; infectious diseases (such as COVID, flu, HIV); neuroscience; heart disease; cancer; and more. The Institute has also made strides in groundbreaking chemistry advances, drug development and educational outreach efforts while contributing numerous findings that have improved human health around the world.

Looking forward to the next 100 years of research, Scripps Research is committed to another century of Science Changing Life by advancing scientific understanding, educating the scientists of tomorrow, and impacting human health across the globe.

Calibr, a nonprofit research institute founded by Scripps Research President and CEO Peter Schultz, joined Scripps Research in 2018 as its drug discovery division.

As a world-class nonprofit “bench to bedside” drug discovery engine, Calibr delivers groundbreaking solutions to unmet medical needs by uniting the creativity of fundamental discovery with highly focused R&D capabilities and expertise.

Chemistry is known as the “central science,” playing a fundamental role in enabling and integrating other scientific disciplines. Scripps Research is home to some of the world’s leading chemists, who advance our ability to design and produce molecules, develop life-changing therapies, and tackle global sustainability challenges.

Former Scripps Research president Richard Lerner was integral to establishing the Institute as a world leader in chemistry and chemical biology. Serving as the institute’s leader from 1987 through 2012, Lerner believed chemistry and biology were inextricably linked, and studying these connections would unlock a new era in science and medicine.

In 1961, pioneering immunologist Frank Dixon established the Department of Experimental Pathology at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, which would later become the basis of Scripps Research. Dixon served as director for 25 years, where his immunological focus would forever shape the institute’s scientific focus — as well as the world’s.

Since Dixon’s leadership, scientists at Scripps Research have made countless discoveries revealing how the immune system functions and responds to different diseases. From designing universal vaccines for harmful viruses to uncovering the structures of deadly microbes, we are dedicated to translating our understanding of the immune system to eradicate disease worldwide.

Every patient is unique, and scientists at the Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI) believe medicine should reflect this. Physician and professor Eric Topol founded SRTI in 2007 with a mission to individualize healthcare across the country, leveraging advancements in human genomics, wireless digital technologies, and artificial intelligence. SRTI is made up of leading scientists and clinical investigators who collaborate to understand the specific genetic, behavioral, and lifestyle factors that contribute to human health and ultimately help transform them.

As Scripps Research celebrates our centennial, take a look at some of the major milestones over the past 100 years: from our founding in 1924, to our transformational leaders, and multiple Nobel Prize wins.

Since its founding by philanthropist and journalist Ellen Browning Scripps in 1924, Scripps Research has remained at the forefront of science and medicine. Located in Torrey Pines, the institute now houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates and a top-ranked graduate school. Discoveries at Scripps Research have led to 15 approved medicines, including five invented within the institute’s labs. Scripps Research has also been an influential force in shaping the bioscience community atop the Torrey Pines Mesa, which is now a thriving and collaborative ecosystem of academic institutions, biopharmaceutical companies and nonprofit organizations.

As Scripps Research enters a new century, the institute plans to expand its global impact on science and human health. Researchers will continue pursuing bold, transformative ideas, while translating these foundational discoveries into life-saving medicines. These are aimed at treating a spectrum of severe conditions, including cancer, neurological disorders, infectious diseases and much more.

Visit our Centennial website to learn more: https://100.scripps.edu/

On February 15, 2024, Scripps Research celebrated its 100-year anniversary with “Scripps Research Day,” as declared by the City of San Diego. The event marked a century of life-saving discoveries, while also looking toward the future of scientific achievement.

Scripps Research President and CEO Peter Schultz, PhD, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria gave remarks and shared the official city proclamation with Institute staff, scientists and students. Attendees enjoyed a photo booth, music, food, games, and a historic archives booth presented by Scripps Research Library.