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.”

– Patrick Griffin, Ph.D., Scientific Director and Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine

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.

Herbert Wertheim, benefactor of UF Scripps

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.

RNA Symposium graphic

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.

Scampavia

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.

HIV

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.

Laura Bohn, Professor and Chair, Molecular Medicine

RESEARCH

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.

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.

Pipkin

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.

Spicer

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

Griffin
Cancer spheroids

LATEST News

Innovations and Discoveries

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