What’s so special about Salk
Distinguished scientific legacy
Since its founding, the Institute has been home to six Nobel Prize winners and numerous history-making discoveries. Salk faculty are global leaders in their fields, including 14 members of the US National Academy of Sciences.
An engine of foundational discoveries
Understanding the basics of biology is essential for advancing clinical treatments. Salk is home to one of just seven National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers in the United States that are dedicated to basic laboratory research, and the oldest such center in California.
Collaborative and cross-disciplinary research
Salk scientists don’t work in silos. We collaborate and combine expertise to investigate the unexplored spaces where fields intersect, where the real innovation happens.
High-risk, high-reward science
Our faculty members have the freedom to explore big ideas. We intentionally invest in the kinds of research that would be too bold and complex for traditional labs to carry out.
An architectural marvel
Founder Jonas Salk teamed up with acclaimed architect Louis Kahn to build one of the world’s most renowned architectural landmarks—a “cathedral of science” overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, California. Every aspect of the Institute is meticulously designed to facilitate collaboration, innovation, and evolution.