Introducing The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology
The toughest health problems can’t be solved by one expert, or even a few. they require the smartest minds in research, the most dedicated physicians in health care and the most powerful computing power paired with artificial intelligence. All working together for a singular purpose — to advance discoveries from laboratories to the people who need cures now. The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute aims to take on the toughest challenges in medicine. Get ready for breakthroughs.
a POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP
Exceptional Scientists, Groundbreaking Discoveries
“Our connection with the clinical and scientific expertise at UF Health provides exceptional opportunities to accelerate scientific discoveries for the benefit of human health.”
NEWS
historic gift
‘A Launchpad for Science’
The largest individual gift in UF history will name The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology and launch a public-private partnership that will drive the future of biomedical research and innovation.
UPCOMING SYMPOSIUM
RNA: From Biology to Drug Discovery
Scientists and students are invited to register and join UF Scripps on Tuesday, Jan. 17 and Wednesday, Jan. 18 for a free symposium, “RNA: From Biology to Drug Discovery.” Hear from scientific luminaries who have revealed intriguing facets of the biology and structure of noncoding RNA, and meet some of the researchers who have challenged conventional wisdom to devise compounds that target, bind, edit and degrade disease-associated RNAs.
Muscular Dystrophy and ALS
Research Spotlight: Chemist targets RNA to attack incurable disease from a new direction
A trailblazing scientist targets ALS, myotonic dystrophy, Parkinson’s, metastatic breast cancer, viral diseases and more by attacking key RNA, preventing disease-causing genes from being expressed.
COVID-19
Scientists to receive $15M to help fight current, future pandemics
Multiple scientists from The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute will join a massive federal effort to develop antiviral drugs to treat the pandemic coronavirus and other viral threats. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease announced a $577-million-dollar, multi-tiered venture to stock the nation’s medicine chest with new treatments for dangerous viral diseases.
HIV
Armed with $26.5M grant, multi-institution collab will tackle HIV in a new way
HIV is notorious for its ability to hide in a latent state in immune cells. While latent viruses don’t cause overt symptoms or full-blown AIDS, a lapse in daily therapy could lead to a rapid rebound of the infection. Now, a multi-disciplinary group of researchers is trying a completely new strategy for curing HIV. The new approach aims to both silence and permanently remove HIV from the body.
open rank faculty positions
Now Recruiting for Assistant, Associate and Full Professor Faculty
The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute has exceptional resources to support your high-impact science:
– An outstanding bicoastal Scripps Research graduate program ranked top-10 nationally for both chemistry and biological sciences.
– A vibrant and collaborative scientific environment.
– Extensive bicoastal and cross-state collaborations with Scripps Research in California and the University of Florida, encouraged with seed funding and newly installed virtual classroom and conference facilities.
– State-of-the-art core facilities.
RESEARCH
SEVERE AND CHRONIC PAIN
Search for safer pain relief advances with new engineered compounds
Scientists at UF Scripps Biomedical Research have created a collection of new pain-relieving compounds that, like morphine and other drugs, provide relief via activation of opioid receptors, but without inducing many dangerous and unwanted side-effects that have driven opioid-related overdose and deaths.
ADDICTION
Opioid users may benefit from meth-relapse prevention plan
New research raises the possibility that a wider group of people in recovery from substance use disorders may benefit from a relapse-prevention compound designed by Courtney Miller, Ph.D., director of academic affairs and professor.
BLINDNESS
Discovery may lead to potential cure for blindness
The discovery of how distinctive brain connections, give humans their sophisticated and powerful vision sense may aid future efforts to boost vision lost due to retina degeneration, which is common in the elderly, and may potentially help connect lab-grown light-sensing prosthetics that cure blindness.
CANCER AND IMMUNITY
Scientists find possible master switch for programming cancer immunotherapy
During tumor growth, a type of specialized white blood cells called CD8+ T cells rapidly multiply within the spleen and lymph nodes and acquire the ability to kill diseased cells. Finding the factors that cause T cells to function beyond the lymphoid system and in sites of infection or cancer has proven a tough challenge, but it’s essential for developing cancer-fighting immunotherapy strategies.
HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING
High-throughput molecular screening
High-Throughput screening is a drug-discovery process widely used in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. It leverages automation to quickly assay the biological or biochemical activity of a large number of drug-like compounds for the discovery of novel small molecule ligands against receptors, enzymes, ion-channels and other pharmacological targets.
BREAST CANCER
Taking aim at breast cancer from a different angle
“Cancer patients whose tumor growth is boosted by hormones such as estrogen and progesterone need more options. We’re taking a different approach, looking at the structure of the hormones’ interacting molecules as potential targets to silence cancer’s growth signal.” — Patrick Griffin, PhD, Scientific Director and Professor, UF Scripps Department of Molecular Medicine
LATEST News
Innovations and Discoveries
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