Print FriendlyHome > Support Salk > Your Gift at Work
Your Gift at Work
Your gift, no matter how big or small, gives us the flexibility to respond quickly to the Institute's greatest needs. It supports scientists, keeps research projects on track and buys state-of-the-art equipment. Last year, your donations helped to
- Secure matching funds for big investments - It took more than 10 years and a national effort to complete the first human genome of about 3 billion nucleotides. To meet current scientific demand, the latest sequencing technology can read 25 billion nucleotides in a single day, but it comes with a hefty price tag: $750,000. When a private foundation put up two thirds of the purchase price, unrestricted funds from donors made up the difference.
- Bridge NIH funding gaps - Sometimes grant funding from one source runs out before the next one begins. But potentially life-saving stem cells still need to be kept alive. To multiply, these cells must be grown in pre-treated Petri dishes and fed daily with specially formulated growth medium. Annual fund gifts helped sustain the momentum in multiple labs.
- Mentor promising graduate students and support outstanding postdoctoral fellows - Postdocs and graduate students are the largest component of the scientific workforce, bringing highly specialized training, enthusiasm, and fresh eyes. They also perform vital hands-on lab work. Unrestricted gifts helped pay salaries and support career-building activities for these future scientific leaders.
- Reach out to the community - Your gifts supported a broad program of activities aimed at bringing the excitement of science and scientific discovery to the San Diego community. These activities include several efforts in middle school and high school education, with an overall goal of heightening student and teacher enthusiasm for the biological sciences and current research approaches.