Hardly having a spare moment to tally up the time she’s spent on the job as the new president of the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., seemed surprised when she was reminded that it had been six months since her appointment was announced.
“Thanks for doing the math,” said Vuori, with a laugh, admitting that her dedication to advancing the organization’s research activity and administrative tasks keeps her busy.
The scientist certainly knows the lay of the land by virtue of nearly two decades of leadership roles within the organization, which has a growing work force and annual budget that she says have a positive impact on the local economy.
She said every grant dollar the institute receives — which totaled $96.5 million in fiscal year 2009 and $105 million in fiscal year 2010 — generates jobs and funds purchases from local vendors like Life Technologies Corp., a biotechnology tools company
Vuori, who was promoted from executive vice president of scientific research, assumed the new role April 13. In addition to overseeing the nonprofit’s day-to-day operations, she continues to serve as the director of its Cancer Center, work which she said is “close to her heart.”
Vuori’s research seeks to identify the molecular mechanisms behind cancer metastasis, which causes nearly all cancer deaths. Her focus is on controlling the mechanisms that allow cancer cells to invade tissues and metastasize, spreading throughout the body.
Cohorts Combine Forces
As Vuori seeks to grow the stature of the institute and its long-term potential for commercial opportunities, she’s joined in these efforts by John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D., the institute’s former president, who continues in his role as chief executive officer.
The institute’s future business growth is a factor in Vuori and Reed splitting the responsibilities, and makes good sense in terms of opportunities, such as licensing its research, said a longtime supporter, former board member and honorary trustee.
“It is a perfect partnership between John and Kristiina, who have worked very well together for many years,” said Malin Burnham, a San Diego civic and business leader. The institute was named in his family’s honor in 1996.
“Kristiina is an outstanding scientist and manager and she has tremendous respect from all the personnel within Sanford-Burnham,” he added.
In her new role, Vuori is overseeing both the scientific and nonscientific operations at Sanford-Burnham. She said she’s working to maximize the organization’s efficiency as it continues to grow its scientific endeavors in La Jolla, Santa Barbara and Orlando, Fla. Most of the institute’s 1,200 employees are at its La Jolla campus.
As CEO, Reed is focusing on business development, philanthropy and external communications, while continuing to contribute his expertise in defining the overall scientific direction and vision of the institute.
Advancing Medical Research
Founded in 1976 as the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, Sanford-Burnham employs nearly 900 scientists. Vuori says the institute is looking “to grow scientifically outside of the cancer research” realm. Thanks to government grants and contracts, which comprise more than 80 percent of its annual budget, scientists are working increasingly in research areas such as neurodegenerative, infectious and inflammatory diseases and diabetes.
A sizable increase in grant funding is further evidence, Vuori adds, that the institute is at the epicenter of San Diego’s expanding biosciences industry.
The Cancer Center at Sanford-Burnham recently received a five-year core grant renewal from the National Cancer Institute. The renewal, which runs through 2015, will provide more than $21 million to support advanced cancer research, a 21 percent increase over the previous grant, said Vuori.
Sanford-Burnham has been an NCI-designated basic research cancer center since 1981, one of only seven in the nation.
But Vuori said the government cannot be the only source of support in the years ahead. Because of uncertainties in the national economy and the possibility of dwindling federal support, the institute has to find alternative resources to beef up business development.
Vuori said this is happening by bringing in the talent to strategically evaluate research assets and position them, through licenses, collaborations or spinoffs, for commercialization.
New hires in the past year include a vice president for drug discovery and development and a chief business officer.