Salk Scientist appointed inaugural holder of Françoise Gilot-Salk Chair

July 6, 2012

Salk Scientist appointed inaugural holder of Françoise Gilot-Salk Chair

July 6, 2012

LA JOLLA, CA—The Salk Institute is pleased to announce that faculty member Greg Lemke has been named the inaugural holder of the Françoise Gilot-Salk Chair, in recognition of his significant research accomplishments and scientific leadership.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a global, specialty biopharmaceuticals company that recently donated $10 million to provide funding for the highest research priorities at the Salk Institute, established the endowed chair in honor of Françoise Gilot-Salk –the internationally acclaimed artist and the widow of Dr. Jonas Salk.

“Selecting Greg as the recipient of this chair is further acknowledgement of his exceptional scientific accomplishments” said Salk president William R. Brody. “He epitomizes the Salk Institute’s legacy of excellence and innovation and I congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition”

Lemke, a professor in the Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, is renowned for his distinguished contributions to understanding the roles that receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways play in regulating nervous system development and immune system function. The endowment will help support his research on the role that TAM receptors play in immune regulation. These receptors, which were discovered in Lemke’s lab, are central inhibitors of the innate immune response to bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Diminished activity of the TAM system is associated with systemic Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and other human inflammatory syndromes, while activation of the TAMs facilitates virus infection.

Lemke is currently investigating agents that either activate or inhibit TAM receptor signaling to develop new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of human autoimmune diseases and viral infections.

关于索尔克生物研究所：
索尔克生物研究所是世界顶尖的基础研究机构之一，其国际知名的教职人员在一个独特、协作和富有创造性的环境中，深入探究生命科学的基本问题。索尔克科学家们致力于发现和指导未来几代研究人员，通过研究神经科学、遗传学、细胞和植物生物学以及相关学科，在癌症、衰老、阿尔茨海默氏症、糖尿病和传染病的认识方面做出了开创性的贡献。.

学院取得了许多成就，获得了包括诺贝尔奖和美国国家科学院院士在内的无数荣誉。该研究所由脊髓灰质炎疫苗先驱 Jonas Salk 博士于 1960 年创立，是一家独立的非营利组织和建筑地标。.