Creating a Vision 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Creating a Vision 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Contents About the Burroughs Wellcome Fund 4 President’s Message 6 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Programs Past, Present, and Future 8 2019 Highlights 16 Biomedical Sciences 18 Career Guidance 24 Diversity in Science 26 Infectious Diseases 30 Interfaces in Science 38 Regulatory Science 44 Reproductive Sciences 50 Science Education 56 Science and Philanthropy 66 Report on Finance 67 Grants Index 71 Advisory Committees 90 Board of Directors and Staff 94 Contact Information 94

Burroughs Wellcome Fund 21 T. W. Alexander Drive P. O. Box 13901 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3901 919.991.5100 www.bwfund.org Investing in Biomedical Research and Career Development

More than 60 years of Investing in Scientists and Biomedical Science

Founded in 1955, the Burroughs States and Canada, providing financial awardees with a diverse community of Wellcome Fund is an independent support through our competitive, expertise, mentorship, and inspiration. private foundation dedicated to peer-reviewed award programs. In advancing the biomedical sciences complement to our support of academic BWF believes that a diverse scientific by supporting research and other research, we also make grants to workforce is essential to the process scientific and educational activities. nonprofit organizations whose missions and advancement of research improve the overall environment for innovation, academic discovery, and Within this broad mission, BWF seeks scientific activities and careers. public service. to accomplish two primary goals—to help scientists early in their careers Above all, BWF establishes relation- Our investment in the person ensures develop as independent investigators, ships and invests in the person. We that each award has life beyond any and to advance fields in the biomedi- prioritize the researcher’s individual single grant—that creative, original, cal sciences that are undervalued or development—designing awards that and unique solutions to biomedical in need of particular encouragement. enhance opportunities for training, problems will continue to rise throughout collaboration, and idea-sharing. We an investigator’s career—and in turn, BWF’s primary approach is to target then facilitate networks, gatherings, confer good health and strength for individual researchers at degree- and conversations to further provide all humankind. granting institutions in the United

4 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND BWF believes that a diverse scientific workforce is essential to the process and advancement of research innovation, academic discovery, and public service.

20192019 ANNUAL ANNUAL REPORT REPORT 5 Starting in 2020, we will undergo a strategic terrain mapping exercise in which we look at our funding program areas and determine whether or not they are having the impact that we desire.

President’s Message

It is with the greatest I now have the privilege and mandate best educational programs? We hope enthusiasm and of asking what is next for us as a to support talented programs, not appreciation that I foundation? This question enables just the best known ones, because begin my tenure as us to think innovatively and critically talent is everywhere and comes in president and CEO about assessing our approach to many different forms. of the Burroughs grantmaking. It allows us to determine Wellcome Fund. how we can have the greatest impact In addition to our philanthropic support, The Fund has an on biomedicine and society as a whole we will continue to build on the extraordinary with the resources available to us. community created by our awardees reputation and aura and staff. We will provide opportunities of prestige that has In 2020, we will initiate a strategic to help create and develop networks been fostered by terrain mapping exercise in which we among others in biomedical research the very successful evaluate our funding program areas and STEM education so they may efforts of the past presidents, Drs. and determine whether or not they influence and inspire each other. Enriqueta Bond and John Burris, the are having the impact that we desire. Moreover, I have a vision of the staff, Board of Directors, and Are we funding the best science and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Advisory Committee members. research? Are we recognizing the

6 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND BWF awarded more than $50 million in grants during fiscal year 2019

Interfaces in Science Science Education ($6.45 million) 13.3% 12.1% ($6.11 million)

Reproductive Science 6.5% ($3.30 million) Infectious Diseases ($6.92 million) 13.7% Regulatory Science For audited financial 5.2% ($2.62 million) statements and evaluations of our grant programs, visit 2.5% bwfund.org/annualreport Diversity in Science ($1.04 million)

0.7% Science & Philanthropy ($0.35 million) Biomedical Sciences 46% ($23.18 million)

headquarters in Research Triangle National Academies of Science to for the future of our society. Park becoming a hub of intellectual address the connection between activity for regional and national areas human health and climate change. Thank you. of interest. We hope to host more This convening may well instigate events and gatherings to discuss the new funding areas at the Fund. important scientific topics of our time. We have an opportunity to engage in In the article following this letter, we Louis J. Muglia, MD, PhD creative and constructive dialogue. provide an overview of our program- President and CEO Burroughs Wellcome Fund This dialogue is the bridge connecting matic funding and pose several science to broader social issues. questions that we ask you to consider. Please share your feedback and To help keep you informed, we will thoughts with us as we undergo our undertake a stronger social media strategic planning efforts. Reach out presence to allow you to better connect to us let us know what your ideas and with the Fund’s work and engage with concerns and help us become the our many collaborations. A recent best foundation that we can possibly example is our partnership with the be not just now but for the future and

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 7 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Programs PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE The potential of biomedical research to advance human well-being has never been greater. More than treating disease, disease prevention strategies and efforts to enhance human accomplishment and longevity have gained greater centrality. The National Institutes of Health in the United States has promoted this culture beginning in the Vietnam war era, and they remain the primary support system for most academically oriented institutions. In this manuscript, we will highlight how a non-profit, non-governmental organization, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, has thought about optimizing its impact given the resources it has available to invest, in the past, and what efforts are currently underway to continue this disproportionately high impact given the scale of the funding it controls in comparison to other funders, by prioritizing its targets.

Biomedical Research, Broadly

Since becoming an independent awards which addressed a similar that we were not training enough foundation in the mid-1990s, the demographic. As a consequence, the physician-scientists, especially Burroughs Wellcome Fund has Fund reconfigured the CABS award MD’s-only. In 2017 the Fund’s Board distinguished itself as a funder by into the Career Awards for Medical of Directors approved a $25 million focusing on the human capital of the Scientists (CAMS) award to further initiative aimed at encouraging medical research enterprise, in particular, the enhance its ongoing impact. schools to offer research-training individual researcher. Such a focus programs to MD-only students. Ten began with the Career Awards in the The Career Award for Medical Scientists programs were funded with the goal of Biomedical Sciences (1995-2006), (CAMS) focused on the transition of keeping this group closely networked which served as a bridging award for physician-scientists from postdocs/ to share best practices in the hopes of postdocs focused on basic biomedical fellows into an independent research inspiring other medical schools to offer questions and provided risk funding position. This program hoped to similar programs. This mechanism tests into the early years of independent address the shortage of physicians divergent strategies to achieve the research. Aided by a distinguished entering the research workforce. To enhancement of the MD physician- Board of Directors and Advisory date, the program has funded 148 scientist pool given constraints in Committee, the prestige associated physician-scientists to go on to clinical training requirement, physician acquiring these awards inspired many become independent researchers. debt, and protected research time early stage investigators to apply. The during training. In spite of the successes of the CAMS success of this approach contributed program, it became apparent to the to the NIH instituting the K99/R00 Board (and a large number of people)

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 9 The Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease program has funded 177 assistant professors with $500,000 grants throughout the years.

Infectious Disease The infectious disease program has sends junior M.D.’s to conduct also tried to build networks through- research in areas of the world where Throughout the years of the Fund’s out the field, exploring areas to tropical diseases are prevalent. As of association with the pharmaceutical facilitate collaborations. Nearly two 2019, 53 fellows have been funded. company, the organization offered decades ago, the Fund provided scholar programs in various fields of support around the Eukaryotic infectious disease. As an indepen- Pathogen Genomics Database Scientific Interfaces dent foundation in the mid-90s, the (EuPathDB.org), which is a collection By the mid-1990’s, the Burroughs Fund decided to switch gears and of resources for analyzing large-scale Wellcome Fund identified the inter- focus on the infectious disease datasets associated with microbial face of biology and the physical and researcher at the assistant professor pathogens. quantitative sciences as an area in level. Funding at this level provides need of funding. It quickly became flexible risk capital for the investiga- Pathogenesis has also been actively apparent that there was little formal tor to explore novel approaches that involved in a variety of meetings and training for individuals with a quanti- have come to light during their funding for other efforts in areas tative or physical science background independent research career. The such as mycology and malaria. The interested in tackling biomedical program, Investigators in the Fund provided significant funding for questions. So rather than follow its Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease sequencing the Plasmodium falci- pattern of funding individual investi- (PATH), is especially looking for the parum genome, which was published gators directly, the Fund created a connection between the host and in Nature in 2002. program (Institutional Awards at the pathogen. Throughout the years the Since 1999, BWF has supported a Scientific Interface – IASI) that Fund has funded 177 assistant program of the American Society of funded 10 institutions from 1996- professors with $500,000 grants. Tropical Medicine and Hygiene that 2000, which supported 367 trainees.

10 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND The Career Awards at the Scientific Interface program began in 2001, and a total of 167 awards have been granted for an investment of $81.4 million.

The success of the IASI program led (MBL) in Woods Hole, MA and the the interdisciplinary talents of to the creation of the Career Awards Reproductive Scientist Development researchers. at the Scientific Interface (CASI) (RSDP) award program. program that was modeled closely on Following the approach for preterm BWF’s Career Awards in the Biomedical Recognizing a particular need for birth, the Innovation in Regulatory Sciences (CABS) program. CASI is more research into understanding the Science Awards funds five research distinguished by the requirement that mechanisms of preterm birth, the proposals at $500,000. Since the applicants have doctoral level training Fund established its Preterm Birth first funding cycle in 2013, the Fund or evidence of significant expertise in Initiative. The program currently has provided 32 grants for an a computational, theoretical, or funds six awards of $500,000. Since approximately $16 million investment. physical science discipline outside of its full inception in 2011 (in 2009 10 This program is distinguished by a biology. The CASI program began in planning grants were made) 31 grants requirement that the applicant show 2001, and a total of 167 awards have have been made for an investment of clearly how the research is intended been granted for an investment of more than $15 million dollars. to impact regulations. $81.4 million. Meeting collaborations with the March of Dimes have also been a Importantly, this institutional program core part of support for Preterm Career Guidance and CASI have been one of the few Birth, although they have recently private sources of funding for foreign evolved to smaller, interactive across Throughout its history the Fund has nationals—a vital source of biomedical disciplines meetings supported provided guidance to biomedical intellectual capital in North America. exclusively by the BWF. Adverse scientists regarding career choices. Following the success of funding pregnancy outcomes of other types, In particular we have tried to help foreign nationals in this program, the such as growth restriction, stillbirth, young scientists as they begin their other career awards programs at the and preeclampsia will be considered careers. This has ranged from Fund opened their application pro- as well. sponsorship of numerous meetings cess to such individuals. (e.g. GREAT, ABRACAMS, SACNES) as well as early support for postdoc- Regulatory Sciences toral associations in the US and Reproductive Sciences Canada. In recent years we have run The Fund identified regulatory a more formal program entitled A core goal of the Fund is to provide science as an underfunded field in Career Guidance for Trainees (CGT). funding for important, yet underval- 2012. The program created focuses Our CGT awardees, who receive ued and underfunded areas. on support for academic researchers grants of up to $50,000, have been Reproductive sciences are seen as developing new methodologies or recognized for their novel contribu- one of these areas. BWF has pro- innovative approaches in regulatory tions to providing information and vided longstanding support for the science that will ultimately inform the guidance to young scientists. We also Frontiers in Reproduction course at regulatory decisions the FDA and provided early support for the AAAS the Marine Biological Laboratories others make. This field too relies on myIDP program.

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 11 Since its inception in 1996, the Student STEM Enrichment Program has reached all 100 of North Carolina’s counties and granted almost $40 million.

Education has as a goal to encourage a large munity to political entities come to number of teachers to apply and be the Center to help run programs or The Fund has focused its science funded to provide the confidence and collaborate in seeking grant funding. and math education efforts in North expertise that will enable them to The most recent program that has Carolina and in grades K-12. The submit more and larger grants. involved the direct support of the longest running of the programs is Fund is an effort to get hands-on SSEP (Student STEM Enrichment Other programs in education include science kits to the largest number of Program). This program emphasizes our support of implementation of students possible. informal science education outside of Singapore Math in several schools. the classroom. Since its inception in For the schools that implemented and SMT recognized that a major barrier 1996 the program has reached all continued the curriculum the results to kit implementation is the lack of 100 of North Carolina’s counties and have been positive. There has been funds to refurbish kits, thus many granted almost $40 million. some wider adoption in schools were abandoned after their first use. outside of those funded by the BWF, By establishing two refurbishment Other science education programs but there has not been the hoped-for centers with the support and collabo- are CASMT – Career Awards for broad implementation. The assess- ration of the various school districts Science and Math Teachers -which ment of what works and doesn’t is involved, the barrier to refurbishment runs on alternate years and funds ongoing, though, and will be valuable has been removed and now, in the five outstanding teachers at for others who may choose to try this areas served, all the students have a $175,000/5 years. It is based on the approach that has been so success- chance to do hands-on science using same idea as a Career Excellence ful in Singapore. well-vetted kits that are constantly Award (e.g. MERIT) the NIH provides being renewed. The SMT Center has – choose the best and most promis- led this effort and has worked hard to ing investigators and give them a Science, Math, and make the process sustainable, substantial grant for multiple years. It Technology Education requiring that school districts help remains, to the best of our knowl- Center provide part of the funding and edge, the largest financial award for establishing an escrow account for future funding. K-12 teachers in the US. The Science, Math, and Technology Education Center (SMT) under the PRISM – Promoting Innovations in leadership of Dr. Sam Houston is an Science and Mathematics Program, independent organization, but Diversity in Science is another of our alternate year because the BWF provides most of programs. It is focused on providing The Fund has long recognized that its funding, it is often viewed as an small grants to teachers to get the scientific community does not extension of the Fund. The Center is equipment and supplies and, if reflect the diversity of the US popula- seen as a neutral broker for educa- needed, some professional develop- tion. To try to encourage more tion in the state and individuals and ment to use those materials. The underrepresented minorities and groups from a wide variety of com- application process is simple, and it women to participate in science, the

12 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND The Fund has long recognized that the scientific community does not reflect the diversity of the US population. The Post-doctoral Enrichment Program is a three-year grant, with 16 awards made per year, and is open only to members of underrepresented groups.

Fund has encouraged applications by on to academic positions as well as be undertaken in the next several participation in the many minority to other BWF awards. years to establish if it had a positive meetings, as well as in meetings that impact and encouraged long- term focus on women’s participation. With We are working to replicate this success efforts in this area. regards to women, the Fund does with underrepresented minority graduate make awards in proportion to the students in North Carolina and have The Fund has long been interested in women applying (about 35-40%) now run a graduate enrichment trying to increase the quantitative in which is a number quite close to the program (GDEP) for two cycles. We the biological sciences. We have had awarding of NIH RO1’s and perhaps have been pleased to get an increas- numerous Board meetings devoted to even slightly higher. ing number of students applying and how we might encourage more several of them are already qualified individuals to gain more training in Although awards are made to under- to be applicants for PDEP. this area and bring the quantitative represented minorities in proportion skills to tackle “big data”. The Fund to the application rates, these num- decided to create such an institutional bers are extremely small. To increase Other Programs program in the most recent terrain this number, the Fund has worked to mapping exercise, but the physician- increase the number of underrepre- Starting in 2008 the Fund supported scientist initiative was viewed as a sented minorities in the applicant 10 awards of $2.5 million each to more pressing area where the Fund pool. The post-doctoral enrichment institutions for a program unifying could make a difference. A small program (PDEP) is a direct outgrowth population and laboratory-based program Quantitative Institutional of this effort. This three-year grant, sciences (PUP). It was an effort to Program (QUIP) was created and 3 with 16 awards made per year, is open encourage population scientists to schools were funded to develop only to members of underrepresented tackle biomedical questions (and vice curriculum that would better prepare groups. We have averaged around 80 versa). The program has had some students for what will certainly be a applications per year and helped successes, and some of the need for a more quantitative create a strong cadre of well-qualified awardees are still spending out their approach to biology in the future. individuals who are already moving grants. A review of the program will

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 13 The Next Five Years at BWF

As we enter 2020, BWF is initiating 3. What impact did the award have on One New Adventure: Climate Change its regular “terrain mapping exercise” the recipient? This metric can often and Human Health to both evaluate existing programs be difficult to assess, especially as BWF in collaboration with the National for continuing research and education a differentiator from those that did Academies of Sciences plans to embark investment, as well as to imagine new not receive the award. Career upon scoping activities around the areas emerging for substantial impact. advancement, high impact publica- many consequences of climate Data and ideas gathered from the tions, health impact, diversity change for human well-being. This program officers and associates, development, success in acquisition effort will be initiated with a two-day advisory committees and the Board of ongoing research support are meeting of experts to explore and of Directors will be assembled and all components of the evaluation. articulate emerging issues that could considered, and ultimately approved 4. Is there a strong sense the program provide critical new approaches to by the Board of Directors. Questions should continue to exist? This view mitigating this critical concern. The regarding current programs to be could be shaped by not achieving areas of discussion will include: considered for ongoing resource the above points, but also by allocation include: 1. Disease transmission in changing whether or not the problem has climates: How is vector function, 1. Did the program attract the interest been “solved” or more commonly, geographic range, and frequency and applications desired? such as with the CABS awards, of exposure being modified? other funders are now significantly 2. Was the quality of the applications 2. Extreme weather conditions and a represented in this space. at the high level expected by BWF? consequence of climate change:

14 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND As we enter 2020, BWF is initiating its regular “terrain mapping exercise” to both evaluate existing programs for continuing research and education investment, as well as to imagine new areas emerging for substantial impact.

weather-related disasters, hurricanes, this will allow up to eight scoping extreme heat or cold, flooding, air projects that the Academies will quality will all have consequences develop collaboratively with research John Burris, PhD acutely and chronically for human communities. These scoping projects President, BWF 2008 - 2019 health. will serve as a platform for BWF, as well as the Academies, to consider 3. Social dynamics and climate change: Louis Muglia, MD, PhD next steps in the vast climate change How will climate change conse- President, BWF 2020 - area as to which themes or approaches quences differentially impact those seem most relevant and aligned with in poverty, different geographies, BWF priorities. and mentally or physically disad- vantaged groups? We, at BWF, provide this framework 4. Climate change effect on nutrition: to not only to provide our history and crop quality, nutrient content, crop perspective, but also to utilize to seek production. your ideas as a scientific community for our incorporation in terrain mapping As an initial pilot investment, the and program implementation in our Fund will contribute $200,000 to next phase. Please send your com- encourage and promote activities ments to: [email protected] building upon this meeting at the National Academies. We anticipate

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 15 Annual Networking Meeting

Each year the Burroughs Wellcome Fund gathers the recent cohort of grant recipients at the Fund’s headquarters in Research Triangle Park, NC. This provides an oppor- tunity for introduction to the Fund’s staff and to peers and colleagues across scientific disciplines. The Fund invites past awardees to share their experience and discuss the scientific career path.

16 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND FISCAL YEAR 2019 Major Competitive Grant Awardees

Career Award at the Rodney Infante, MD, PhD Isaac M. Chiu, PhD David Rafael Martinez, PhD Scientific Interface University of Texas Southwestern Harvard Medical School University of North Carolina- Medical Center-Dallas Chapel Hill Steven Mark Banik, PhD Jun R. Huh, PhD Stanford University Michael George Kattah, MD, PhD Harvard Medical School Michaelle Ntala Mayalu, PhD University of California-San California Institute of Technology Ivaylo Ivanov, PhD Jennifer Ann Noelani Brophy, PhD Francisco Stanford University Columbia University Aaron Lavel Moye, PhD Corey Keller, MD, PhD Harvard University Leigh Knodler, PhD Fei Chen, PhD Stanford University Massachusetts Institute of Washington State University Diane LaVern-Lygette Nelson, PhD Robert M Samstein, MD, PhD Carnegie Mellon University Technology Kristin N. Parent, PhD Memorial Sloan-Kettering Víctor García-López, PhD Michigan State University Nancy Padilla Coreano, PhD Ashley Steed, MD, PhD Massachusetts Institute of Rice University John W. Schoggins, PhD Washington University Technology Livnat Jerby, PhD University of Texas Southwestern Massachusetts Institute of Santosha A. Vardhana, MD, PhD Medical Center-Dallas Brittany Louise Taylor, PhD Memorial Sloan-Kettering University of Pennsylvania Technology Kimberley D. Seed, PhD Cancer Center Christina K. Kim, PhD University of California-Berkeley Physician Scientist Andrew Sean Venteicher, MD, PhD Stanford University Randy Stockbridge, PhD University of Pittsburgh Institutional Award University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Joseph William Larkin, PhD Texas A&M University Doris Du Wang, MD, PhD University of California-San Diego Ellen Yeh, MD, PhD University of California-San University of California-Los Stanford University Jeffrey E. Markowitz, PhD Francisco Angeles Harvard Medical School Postdoctoral University of Chicago Sergey D. Stavisky, PhD Career Guidance Washington University Stanford University for Trainees Enrichment Program Osama M Ahmed, PhD Weill Cornell Medicine Jeffrey Robert Tithof, PhD American Society for Princeton University Physician-Scientist Academia University of Rochester Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Mark Wagner, PhD Cierra A Birch, PhD University of California-San Diego Student STEM Stanford University Boston University Enrichment Program Korey Brownstein, PhD Clemson University Career Awards for University of Chicago Aurora Fossil Museum Iowa State University Medical Scientists Alex J Guseman, PhD Communities In Schools of Jonathan R Brestoff, MD, PhD Ohio State University University of Pittsburgh Cape Fear Washington University Western University Nadia Herrera, PhD Duke University University of California-San Gaurav Das Gaiha, DPhil, MD Vanderbilt University McClintock Partners In Francisco Harvard Medical School Education (McPIE) Barbara Juarez, PhD Karuna Ganesh, MD, PhD Investigators in the North Carolina State University Memorial Sloan-Kettering University of Washington Pathogenesis of UNC Institute for the Environment Cancer Center Infectious Disease Andrew Kekupa’a Knutson, PhD Wei Gu, MD, PhD University of Hawaii Wake County Public School Theresa Alenghat, DVM., PhD System University of California-San University of Cincinnati Laramie Denise Lemon, PhD Francisco Emory University Western Carolina University Francis Alonzo, PhD Marie A Guerraty, MD, PhD Loyola University-Chicago University of Pennsylvania

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 17 Biomedical Sciences CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENTISTS The biomedical sciences provide a firm foundation for improving human health.But to advance biomedical science, we have to close gaps in research and the development of biomedical research talents.

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is committed to fostering the development of the next generation of academic research scientists. Through our Biomedical Sciences portfolio, we identify and invest in talent pathways and career development elements that best benefit the current needs of the biomedical research landscape.

Our major focus in this area is the scientists. The program was developed become established in academic Career Awards for Medical Scientists to seek novel and creative ideas to careers. (CAMS). Since 2007, the CAMS attract, train, and provide support for program has addressed the on-going MDs to launch a research career. CAMS is tailored for physician- need to increase and sustain the scientists who are still in a mentored, number of physician-scientists within non-faculty position such as a the ranks of biomedical researchers, Career Awards for residency, fellowship, or postdoc. The and to build synergy between basic Medical Scientists award provides $700,000 in funding research and clinical practice. BWF over five years for a physician-scien- believes that physician-scientists Physician-scientists offer unique tist to bridge the final years of their bring unique perspectives to solving perspectives that bridge real-world advanced postdoctoral or fellowship biomedical problems, given their dual practice with the lab bench: their training, and their early years of experience in clinical training and synergy of clinical training and research faculty service and independent hypothesis-based research. As such, thinking can bring new insights to research. the CAMS program was designed to solving biomedical challenges. We Our hope is to steer more physician- help medical doctors transition into need to increase the number of scientists towards tenure-track research careers, as they complete physician-scientists, keep them in academic appointment in basic postdoctoral fellowship training and research, and sustain their presence biomedical, disease-oriented, or early years of faculty service. among research communities and translational research, with at least institutional leadership. In 2017, the Physician Scientist 75-percent protected time for research Institutional Award was created to tap The Burroughs Wellcome Fund wants activities. We also seek out applicants an overlooked pool of potential research to help more physician-scientists whose specialties align with emerging

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 19 gaps in biomedical science, such as created programs with the intent to BWF helps researchers make those the interface of neuroscience and the increase opportunities for physicians trips. Our Collaborative Research practice of psychiatry. interested in a research career. Travel Grants (CRTG) provide up to $15,000 for domestic or international The Fund also created the Physician- travel for one year—helping investiga- Physician Scientist Scientist Resource Center tors and postdoctoral trainees to visit Institutional Award (bwfphysicianscientist.org) as a labs at other institutions to learn new means to curate important information research techniques, or to begin or To advance biomedical sciences, we pertaining to physician-scientists. continue research collaboration. have to narrow the gaps in developing biomedical research talents. Increasing CRTG funds can be applied towards and sustaining physician-scientists in Collaborative Research airfare, accommodations, meals, biomedical research careers will Travel Grant (CRTG) ground transportation, and other ensure the continued contributions of travel expenses—as well as lab supplies these unique talents and strengthen The Burroughs Wellcome Fund and other materials required for the our overall prospects for improving understands that science is a process visit. Researchers can make multiple human health. best shared. But often in biomedical visits to one collaborator or visit research, prospective colleagues or multiple collaborators. Those with In 2017, the Fund established the cutting-edge equipment are located doctorate-level training in the physical, Physician Scientist Institutional at distant institutions, and funding mathematical, or engineering sciences Award. Over two cycles, the Fund has limitations may preclude these are especially encouraged to apply. /// provided 10 grants for an investment exploratory, enriching visits. of $25 million to institutions that have

20 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND New ‘SLICE’ Tool Can Massively Expand Immune System’s Cancer- Fighting Repertoire

THE NEW CRISPR-BASED SYSTEM WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO NEXT-GENERATION TARGETED IMMUNOTHERAPIES By Jason Alvarez

Immunotherapy can cure some cancers they often can’t determine precisely “SLICE allows us to perform genome- that until fairly recently were considered which circuits they should rewire in wide screens in which we mutate every fatal. In addition to developing drugs order to fabricate a more potent gene in the genome to see which that boost the immune system’s immune system. genes have the biggest effect on the cancer-fighting abilities, scientists cellular behavior we’re interested in,” are becoming expert at manipulating Now, UC San Francisco researchers explained Alex Marson, MD, PhD, a patient’s own immune cells, turning have devised a CRISPR-based system associate professor of microbiology them into cancer-killing armies. But called SLICE, which will allow scientists and immunology at UCSF and co-senior cancers have tricks to evade attack, so to rapidly assess the function of each author of the new study. “We change scientists are racing to outmaneuver and every gene in “primary” immune one gene at a time in each cell and cancer and boost the effectiveness of cells—those drawn directly from see which change causes the cell to immune cell therapies. patients. The new method, described do what we want it to do. SLICE is in the Nov. 15 issue of Cell, provides the discovery engine that will point us Today’s scientists are skilled immune researchers with a powerful tool that towards pathways that we can repro- system engineers, but they’re working will guide their decision-making when gram to generate the most effective off of an incomplete blueprint: while determining how best to engineer next-generation cell therapies.” they know a great deal about how to immune cells to fight cancer and a reprogram immune cell pathways, host of other diseases. continued >

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 21 Alex Marson, MD, PhD, co-senior author of the study.

researchers obtained primary T cells to know if SLICE could help us find a Discovery Engine for from multiple human donors and way to help T cells overcome this Future Immune Cell deleted the genes that had been suppression.” Therapies found to inhibit replication. When these CRISPR-modified T cells were The researchers showed that SLICE As a proof of principle, the researchers cultured in the presence of cancer, can indeed be employed to invigorate tested whether they could use SLICE they exhibited a markedly improved suppressed T cells. Utilizing SLICE, to identify genes that make T cells—a cancer-killing capacity, demonstrating the researchers identified genes common type of immune cell —replicate that scientists could edit genes targeted by adenosine, an immuno- more effectively. This is especially identified by SLICE and turn ordinary suppressor found in tumor microenvi- important for cancer immunotherapy, T cells into a potent potential therapy. ronments, and found that deleting which employs artificially stimulated these genes allowed T cells to and engineered T cells to kill cancer. proliferate, even in the presence of So far, these therapies have only Outsmarting Cancer’s adenosine. been effective against certain malig- nancies, but scientists believe that Defenses “SLICE functions as a flexible platform that allows scientists to model the identifying genes that promote T cell But cancer has tricks of its own. interaction between immune cells and proliferation can make cancer immu- Cancer immunotherapy often fails the tumor microenvironment. We’ve notherapy available to a wider range because tumors thrive in so-called shown that SLICE can help research- of patients. microenvironments that are teeming ers identify genes that allow immune with compounds that suppress Using SLICE, the researchers were able cells to escape the immunosuppres- immune activity and prevent T cells to identify genes that promote T cell sive forces they encounter in these from realizing their full cancer-killing replication, and others that suppress it. microenvironments,” said Alan potential. Though some of these genes had been Ashworth, PhD, the E. Dixon Heise previously characterized using other “T cells seem to become ‘suppressed’ Distinguished Professor in Oncology discovery methods, many were entirely in tumor microenvironments,” said at UCSF, president of the UCSF new, demonstrating that SLICE could UCSF Health oncologist Julia Helen Diller Family Comprehensive reveal key regulators of proliferation Carnevale, MD, a Damon Runyon Cancer Center, and co-senior author that other methods failed to capture. Cancer Foundation fellow and co-first of the new study. author of the new study. “We wanted After identifying these genes, the

22 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

SLICE functions as a flexible platform that allows scientists to model the interaction between immune cells and the tumor microenvironment.

ALAN ASHWORTH, PHD

reprogram immune cells, thus boosting said Marson, who serves as scientific Discovery Engine for their therapeutic capacity. director of biomedicine at the UC Future Immune Cell Berkeley-UCSF Innovative Genomics Therapies SLICE also represents a major Institute, and is also affiliated with the advance over the current crop of Parker Institute for Cancer SLICE builds on a recent discovery tools that scientists use to study Immunotherapy, which funded the from the Marson lab. In July 2018, gene function. Though the existing new study. researchers in Marson’s lab reported methods—including RNA interference in Nature that they could deliver (RNAi) and a handful of CRISPR-based “Given the flexibility of this approach,” CRISPR-based gene-editing constructs approaches—have yielded important Marson said, “SLICE may one day into immune cells using electroporation, insights, their use is limited to cell lines help scientists to create personalized a technique in which cells are literally that often fail to capture the real-life immune cells with novel disease- shocked into absorbing molecules biology that researchers are most fighting properties.”/// from outside the cell. SLICE takes a interested in. Furthermore, SLICE hybrid approach, incorporating the could be used to interrogate regions Alex Marson holds a Career Award for best aspects of the Marson lab’s of the genome that don’t code for Medical Scientists from the Burroughs electroporation method alongside more proteins—a major advance over RNAi, Wellcome Fund. Additional authors on the conventional methods that employ which was limited to coding regions paper include Eric Shifrut, PhD, Victoria Tobin, Theodore L. Roth, Jonathan M. viruses to deliver components of the of the genome. Woo, Christina Bui, P. Jonathan Li, and CRISPR system. Once SLICE identifies Morgan Diolaiti, PhD. genomic targets, the electroporation- But most importantly, the potential based CRISPR method could be used applications for SLICE are not limited to re-engineer those targets and to what’s described in the new paper,

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 23 Career Guidance PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCHERS The Burroughs Wellcome Fund primarily invests in trainees and early-career investigators who have tremendous potential to become leaders and innovators in the biomedical sciences. However, we realize that the skills scientists need to transform from employment to professional success are not always taught at the lab bench.

Graduate programs classically provide practical approaches to prepare The program provides one-year PhD trainees with deep knowledge, scientists for career transitions, grants up to $50,000 for academic hands-on experience, and the ability through our Career Guidance for institutions, professional societies, to ask meaningful questions and find Trainees (CGT) award. We want to and other nonprofit organizations to answers to them. But for many assess approaches that help trainees demonstrate affordable projects that employers, the most desirable job acquire and hone the skills expected help individual scientists assess their candidates also have experience of knowledgeable workers and personal growth and effectively managing projects and people; the institutional leaders. We also want to pursue career paths. capacity to think independently, with help scientists find their optimal path initiative and entrepreneurialism; and within the research landscape— BWF aims to advance innovative advanced practice in communicating whether as principal investigators, in proposals that have the potential to be clearly about complex ideas. non-tenure track positions, in indus- deployed on a larger scale. An idea trial careers, or in scientific careers should augment the basic “PhD-level” Yet, emphasis on this comprehensive away from the bench. skills already offered by institutions— mentoring approach may fall short in by helping research trainees discover some research training environments. and match their skills and interests At the same time, students, postdocs, Career Guidance with potential employers, or by and mid-life career-changers often for Trainees providing them the tools to critically report frustrations in attempting to assess their vocational strengths with translate their full skill set to tasks To give research professionals the professional options./// within and beyond the academic realm. professional guidance they deserve, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund The Burroughs Wellcome Fund invests conducts the CGT award. in pilot projects that demonstrate

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 25 Diversity in Science ENRICHING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH WITH NEW VOICES AND FACES The Burroughs Wellcome Fund believes that racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity is essential to the process and advancement of scientific innovation, academic discourse, and public service. In 2012, we launched the Diversity in Science program with the specific goal of supporting underrepresented minority trainees in biomedical research.

Molding a diverse research community Postdoctoral Opportunities for the PDEP mentor begins with mentoring diverse talents. to develop and provide mentoring To address this foundational issue, Enrichment Program resources at their home institution, BWF has created the Postdoctoral to increase the research productivity BWF created the PDEP to support early Enrichment Program (PDEP) to and long-term career success of the career scientists and engineers of support early career scientists and postdoctoral fellow. Examples include Latino, Native-American, Pacific engineers of Latino, Native-American, career guidance discussions, Island, and African-American descent, Pacific Island, and African-American research management trainings, or through training and mentoring descent. The grant provides postdoc- professional development in grant support. PDEP awards a total of mentor pairs in the United States and writing, communication, and other $60,000 over three years to postdoc- Canada with funding to enhance skills demanded of future principal mentor pairs in biomedical or medical research productivity and career investigators. research, who are citizens of the counseling resources—to help United States or Canada, and hosted early-career scientists develop as Opportunities for the PDEP mentor at a degree-granting institution in the independent investigators. to attend an annual meeting of PDEP United States or Canada. mentors hosted by the Burroughs The Burroughs Wellcome Fund makes Wellcome Fund. Funding through PDEP supports personal investments in biomedical participation in the following activities: research and careers. Enriching Opportunities for the PDEP postdoc- mentor pair to participate in a national biomedical and medical research with Opportunities for the PDEP postdoc- peer network of underrepresented new voices and faces is simply funda- toral fellow to enhance their research minority postdoctoral scholars to mental to the BWF ethos of supporting productivity. Examples include travel foster inter-institutional collaboration researchers who hold promise for and attendance to workshops, courses, and greater community engagement./// creative, original, and unique solutions and trainings in new techniques; or to biomedical problems. meetings and events that launch new collaborations and knowledge transfer.

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 27 An Interview with Rossie Clark-Cotton

FINDING A COMMUNITY THROUGH THE FUND’S GRADUATE DIVERSITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM Interview by Russ Campbell

Rossie Clark Cotton is a fifth-year I was able to use for travel, so the When GDEN convened a group of PhD student in cell biology at Duke award would have been valuable for students here at Duke for a regional University in Durham, N.C and a 2016 that but it wasn’t something I needed. Graduate Diversity Enrichment Howard Hughes Medical Institute I primarily used the funding for Networking event in March to talk Gilliam Fellow. She studies how yeast microscopy, for exploratory experiments. about funding opportunities through cells track chemical signals. In 2017, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, I was she applied for and received the Like I said, the networking opportuni- asked to participate. I met Dr. George Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s Graduate ties were the most valuable. I had the Langford [former BWF Board of Diversity Enrichment Program grant. opportunity to meet with other grant Directors member] and that was very The Fund was piloting the program to recipients, beginning at the Burroughs nice. I was the only graduate student focus on underrepresented minority PhD Wellcome Fund new awardee network- who was on the panel so that was a biomedical students in North Carolina. ing event. I was able to expand my really nice learning opportunity. After taking a year off, the Fund is network and meet other underrepre- running the program again. In this sented minorities in science. I received What advice would you give students brief chat Ms. Clark-Cotton describes more exposure than I would have looking to apply for grants? the benefits of the awards and how received otherwise. One thing is that you don’t lose her persistence paid off when it came Then, when BWF organized the anything by applying. to other fellowship opportunities. Graduate Diversity Enrichment When I was a first year graduate What was the biggest benefit of the Network (GDEN), I was asked to be a student, I applied for a fellowship Graduate Diversity Enrichment student representative. I had the oppor- and I didn’t get it. In large part it was Program award? tunity to gather with faculty, staff, and administrators from different institutions because I didn’t ask anyone to help I might be unusual in that the biggest serving diverse populations. It’s me and I didn’t know anything about benefit for me was actually not the important to have student advocates the process. I had only been in money but the networking opportunities. at the table to provide insight on the graduate school for a few months I have an HHMI Gilliam fellowship that student experience and perspective. and I didn’t know how to write a good scientific proposal. I submitted it and

28 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND DIVERSITY IN SCIENCE

Rossie Clark Cotton

I didn’t get it. I emailed them and asked for a personal story, some might be Getting someone to help with the if they could send me the comments looking for leadership efforts, and scientific piece and getting help with on my review. I noticed that the some might be looking for involvement the personal statement is invaluable reviewers didn’t agree on everything. in established organizations or because I think almost every applica- programs. I started thinking about tion will ask for some variation on that. One of them thought that I did a good ways to capture all those particular job of describing how I would further elements that any individual reviewer I discovered that the people who can the mission of the fellowship and one might be attentive to and looking for give you the best feedback on the of them thought I had not done a good in a statement. You never really know science aren’t necessarily the same job of that at all. I realized that a great who’s going to be looking for what. as the people who give you the best deal of success with those kinds of feedback on the personal statement. applications is the luck of the draw. So you are suggesting that prospec- tive applicants should ask for help and I found a resource office at Duke that I realized it did not say something write broadly appealing statements… gave me good feedback on how to bad about me. It was a very selective make my personal statement better fellowship and something like 96 Yes. For the second fellowship and how to really frame myself as percent of the applicants did not get application I wrote, I was established in someone who would contribute to the funded. I didn’t really feel bad about it a lab by then and I asked my advisor mission of the organization sponsoring once I realized the odds. for help and he gave me a lot of really the fellowship. valuable feedback. I realized that as I figured out how not to internalize the an incoming graduate student it’s My bottom line response is that it’s rejection and I started thinking about hard to know what a person who is useful to apply to fellowships. Don’t it a little more practically. I used the going to read these applications is worry if you get rejected because you reviews to see what sort of informa- looking for. I needed somebody with can learn a lot from the process and tion that would help me in another a background in reading these things that information will help you with application. I found out how to write a to help me understand what makes a future application submissions. If you statement that would appeal broadly compelling application. do get it, it’s great./// to reviewers. Some might be looking

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 29 Infectious Diseases ANSWERING PERSISTING QUESTIONS ON THE MECHANISMS AND NATURE OF HUMAN PATHOGENS Investigations into infectious diseases have been in the Burroughs Wellcome bloodline for more than a century, ever since Henry Wellcome established his first tropical disease laboratory in the Sudan in 1902. Today, we still need new answers to fundamental questions on human infectious diseases.

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund began Investigators in the own expertise to daring, multidisci- supporting an Infectious Disease plinary approaches blending the programs in 1981, when it began Pathogenesis of biochemical, pharmacological, funding modern molecular approaches Infectious Disease immunological, and molecular. to understanding what have been called the great neglected diseases— How do human hosts handle infectious We encourage proposals explaining malaria, the pathogenic fungi, and challenge? How can we shed light on how specific pathogens—be they of human parasites—that affect people the interplay between human and bacterial, viral, fungal, eukaryotic, or in countries around the world. Then, microbial biology, and explain how other physiologies—interact with the as more institutions focused their human health can be damaged by human body to damage human attention to the prevention and these encounters? health. What affects the outcomes of treatment aspects of these diseases, these encounters? How do coloniza- To answer these persisting questions, BWF shifted its aim towards the tion, infection, commensalism, and we need to be daring in our investiga- research questions and angles still other relationships play out at levels, tions into the mechanisms and nature in dire need of investigation. from molecular interactions to of human pathogens. systemic ones? Since 2000, we have directed our Through our highly competitive PATH resources through our Investigators in BWF wants to give these accomplished award, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease investigators the freedom and flexibility provides $500,000 over a period of (PATH) award. PATH encourages to pursue daring avenues of inquiry and five years for investigators at the seasoned investigators at the assistant higher-risk research projects—and assistant professor level to study professor level to explore how specific advance their careers as innovators pathogenesis. pathogens—be they of bacterial, viral, in infectious disease research. /// fungal, eukaryotic, or other physiologies PATH seeks investigators still early in —interact with the human body to their careers, who want to apply their damage human health.

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 31 PATH Awardees Join Forces to Fight War on Flu

By Marla Broadfoot

When the Burroughs Wellcome Fund “These results were both surprising Crossing Paths created the Investigators in the and satisfying in that they show that Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease evolution isn’t something that just The two met early in their careers, when (PATH) award nearly two decades ago, happens in the drawers of the history Bloom was still a postdoc under David one of its defining principles was to museum or a classroom textbook,” Baltimore and Hensley was starting move past the metaphor of “war” said Victoria McGovern, the senior his own lab. At first, they connected against infectious diseases. No longer program officer overseeing the PATH over shared interests: Hensley studied did it make sense to limit thinking program. “It’s something that’s rapidly how the human immune system around the relationship between host affecting the natural history of our recognizes flu, while Bloom was and microbe as a battle between us interactions with flu and probably all interested in how the virus evolves and them. Microbes could be our kinds of other microbes.” to escape that immunity. After they allies as well as our adversaries, and were granted PATH awards—Bloom wiping them out could do more harm The findings were the culmination of in 2015 and Hensley in 2016—their than good. a years-long collaboration between paths began to cross even more. At the University of Washington’s Jesse one point, they began discussing ways But with a pair of recent publications Bloom and the University of to get members of their labs to interact from PATH awardees, the war is back Pennsylvania’s Scott Hensley. They with each other. on. The two publications provide suggest that only by joining forces startingly detail of an evolutionary arms can scientists hope to outsmart one “One thing that Seattle has that race taking place between the flu of the smartest viruses on the planet. Philadelphia doesn’t is lots of outdoor virus and the human immune system. things to do,” joked Bloom. After some

32 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Scott Hensley Jesse Bloom

searching, a graduate student in his nothing better than including grad “It was a cool idea because it basically lab found a ski lodge perched on the students and postdocs. They’re the made the labs get together and solve crest of Snoqualmie Pass, right ones who are the closest to the a problem, how to cook the meal for outside Seattle, that was affordable cutting edge on any given day.” 30 people,” said Hensley. during the off-season. The retreat was structured to provide As PATH investigators, Bloom and S’mores and Science plenty of time for science and plenty Hensley each had access to $1,000 a of time for socialization. Each day year to invite other awardees to give For two days, about thirty undergrads, started with a series of informal a seminar at their home institution. technicians, graduate students, and 15-minute science talks given by the Rather than use the money for a postdocs bunked in the looming and members of each lab. Those talks single speaker’s travel, they decided light-filled lodge. Before their labs were followed by various indoor and to pool their resources and fly even arrived, Bloom and Hensley outdoor activities, including games in Hensley’s entire lab to Seattle. were already conspiring on ways to the basement and hiking in the nearby get them to collaborate. They created wilderness. One afternoon the entire “This has been a creative and unex- teams with members from each of group hiked a section of the Pacific pected use of this funding mechanism,” their labs to handle meal prep in the Crest Trail, posing for pictures near said McGovern. “Since the whole lodge’s commercial scale kitchens. rocky outcroppings and pools of purpose of these funds is to get The teams began emailing each other blue-green water. scientists out there and talking to weeks before the retreat to plan the each other, we think there is probably meals and buy ingredients. continued >

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 33 After much bonding and brainstorming, the scientists jotted down bits of their shared ideas on a giant sheet of butcher paper.

“Just like with conferences, some of eral of those worthwhile ideas. The for many people, the actual immune the best stuff came from informal first question they tackled was a response is very narrowly focused on talks over beer or hiking,” said Hensley. longstanding one in the field of viral a specific part of the virus. immunology. The flu virus has an After much bonding and brainstorm- amazing ability to mutate, making “I think that’s incredible,” said Bloom. ing, the scientists jotted down bits of tiny tweaks to its structure to evade “We found that different people’s their shared ideas on a giant sheet of the immune system’s defenses. immunity is focused in different ways, butcher paper. Many of those ideas However, the human immune system meaning that they may be more turned into experiments, and now is amazing too. It can make a slew of protected or more susceptible to papers. antibodies that target many different whatever strain is circulating. It also parts of the flu virus, and it seems means that as the virus is evolving, “One of the lessons that I took away unlikely that a single mutation could there may be new mutations that are from that butcher paper is that you escape them all. Why, then, do millions strongly favored while the virus is can write things down and make of people succumb to the flu every flu replicating in one person, but that plans, but the key thing is that there’s season? are no longer favored when the virus people who are on the ground doing jumps to another person. It presents this work that talk to each other and Lee used a new technique, called a lot of interesting evolutionary believe they are worthwhile ideas to deep mutational scanning, to map implications.” actually pursue,” said Bloom. how mutations to the virus affected its recognition by antibodies circulat- ing in the serum of 16 different study The year of the rabbit A Ground War volunteers. They were surprised to find that though the human immune The findings jibed with Hensley’s After the retreat, graduate students system can potentially make an previous research, which suggested Juhye Lee from Bloom’s lab and Seth astronomical number of antibodies, that each of us harbor different types Zost from Hensley’s lab pursued sev- of antibodies because we have

34 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Just like with conferences, some of the best stuff came from informal talks over beer or hiking.

SCOTT HENSLEY

encountered different types of flu With more research, such knowledge would need to target a region of the viruses in our lives. “I was born in could be used for more than just a virus that doesn’t change from the late seventies, and my immune parlor trick. It could be parlayed into season to season. Not surprisingly, system was probably primed or population models that predict how that idea was discussed during the educated with viruses from the late the flu virus will evolve and circulate joint lab retreat. seventies and early eighties,” said throughout the population, making it Hensley. “I have a different sort of possible to more accurately pick Again, Zost and Lee joined forces, immune repertoire compared to which flu vaccine strains to produce this time combining Zost’s curation of someone who was born in the 90s, for the next flu season. human sera with Lee’s computational because their immune system was techniques to map exactly where exposed to different viruses.” Because the flu virus changes so antibodies latch onto flu viruses. rapidly, new batches of the flu vaccine They identified one antibody, from Hensley said the impact of immune have to be formulated and administered one individual, that targeted a history is so strong that it might be every year. Having a universal flu vac- conserved region of the virus. As a possible to one day predict people’s cine, like we have for the measles or result, the antibody was effective susceptibility to the flu simply by the mumps, could save a lot of against several strains of the flu. asking their birthday, like a Chinese headaches and a lot of lives. But to horoscope for infectious diseases. create a universal vaccine, researchers continued >

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 35 Successful collaborations like this one make it easier to get new ones going, because people see it’s a productive route to work together.

JESSE BLOOM

“The real trick is figuring out why that They hope to do another joint retreat Citations: person developed that type of immu- next year, perhaps hosting one every Lee JM, Eguia R, Zost SJ, Choudhary S, nity,” said Hensley. “If we could figure two to three years. Wilson PC, Bedford T, Stevens-Ayers T, Boeckh M, Hurt A, Seema Lakdawala SS, that out, then we could start thinking Hensley SE, and Bloom JD. Mapping about developing new vaccines that McGovern said that as more people person-to-person variation in viral mutations are harder for the flu virus to defeat.” have grown to appreciate the value of that escape polyclonal serum targeting collaboration, other PATH awardees influenza hemagglutinin. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/670497 have begun holding their own joint Zost SJ, Lee J, Gumina ME, Parkhouse K, The next retreat retreats. Henry C, Wilson PC, Bloom JD, and Hensley SE. Identification of antibodies Lee and Zost, who are first authors of “I think collaboration has always been targeting the H3N2 hemagglutinin receptor important, because of its ability to binding site following vaccination of humans. their respective papers, have now doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/675272 graduated. But other collaborations play one axis against another, like continue between the Bloom and biochemistry and genetics, or in this Hensley labs, with more exciting case, computational biology and results in the offing. “Successful immunology,” said McGovern. “That’s collaborations like this one make it always been true, but it is especially easier to get new ones going, true now because the problems we because people see it’s a productive are bigger than any one scientist or route to work together,” said Bloom. discipline.” ///

36 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 37 Interfaces in Science INVESTING IN CROSS-TRAINED RESEARCHERS TO MAKE TRANSDISCIPLINARY BREAKTHROUGHS

38 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND The biological sciences are changing. Advances in genomics, quantitative structural biology, modeling of complex systems, and nanotechnology have opened up new realms of research especially for ambitious investigators with backgrounds in physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering who want to explore these new frontiers of biology. The promise of an exciting research career at this scientific interface is undeniable.

In recognition of the vital role such await again. We are investing in cross- CASI grants are open to researchers cross-trained researchers will play trained researchers who can navigate in the U.S. and Canada. The program in furthering biomedical science, the this interface of sciences—so they can provides $500,000 over five years— Burroughs Wellcome Fund is making make transdisciplinary breakthroughs as well as job placement mentoring and major investments in early-career for the benefit of human health. professional networking resources— researchers with undergraduate and to help early-career researchers graduate training in the physical, bridge their advanced postdoctoral chemical, or computational sciences. Career Awards at the training with their first three years of Scientific Interface faculty service. BWF has formed the Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI) Possibilities at the interface of Through CASI, the Fund hopes to award to catalyze the future careers biological, physical, computational, encourage scientists and engineers of these creative, transdisciplinary and engineering sciences have never whose pre-doctoral work in chemical, talents. We believe that their unique been more exciting. Biomedical physical, mathematical, and compu- perspective and expertise—and their researchers are now blending tech- tational fields now prepares them to career potential as faculty members nologies and inspirations transcending make grand leaps as postdoctoral and and institutional leaders—will spark varied disciplines—giving us toolkits, faculty researchers in biomedicine. Past the exploration of toolkits, lenses, and lenses, and machinery previously awardees have explored programming machinery previously unimaginable in unimaginable, and with the potential paradigms for controlling robotic biomedical research. to advance human health. human limbs; imaging techniques to resolve intercellular dynamics or neural From cell theory to DNA, great leaps The Burroughs Wellcome Fund wants circuit function; biomagnetic matrices in the biological sciences have always to cultivate investigators who are for stem cell cultures; chemical and resulted from advances in how pushing the frontiers of these exciting evolutionary bases of circadian researchers detect, visualize, and possibilities. To do so, we have formed rhythms; spatiotemporal controls of manipulate the mechanisms of life. the CASI program as a career catalyst embryonic tissue arrangement; and for creative, cross-trained researchers many other scientific interfaces./// We now stand at a new frontier where in biomedicine and biophysics. great changes in biological sciences

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 39 FOCUS on Science

EXCERPT FROM FOCUS IN SOUND #21: INTERVIEW WITH ARIANA ANDERSON Interview by Ernie Hood

Ariana, in your capacity as PI and everyone gets a pill but they don’t effects of the placebo. Now we are Director of the Laboratory of know what it is. So that means the doing this in a few ways. The first way Computational Neuropsychology, placebo response is actually operating we’re doing it is we’re using brain you’ve led several other important within people receiving a medication. imaging. We are looking at drug projects over the last few years. I’d like So you have this very powerful effect studies of people who have received to hear about all of them, starting with that is trying to compete with the medication, before and after. The your research related to the placebo effects of an active drug, and it’s also medication they might have received effect. That’s a fascinating area that very noisy. So it’s hard for us to tell might be an active medication or it has been crying out for elucidation, whether a change is due to a drug or might be a sham one, and we are and I understand your research is the placebo effect within people, and trying to identify whether or not there designed to also aid the drug devel- it’s hard to discriminate between are these brain changes that are opment process. Tell us more… active and inactive medications specific to receiving a placebo pill, because of that. and whether or not there’s what The placebo response is one of the changes look like they happen just biggest problems in developing new What we are trying to do is we are because someone is getting treated drugs, and the reason for this is that trying to use multiple measurements in general. If we can measure these when drug trials are instituted, to assess and identify and control the different components of the placebo

40 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND INTERFACES IN SCIENCE

What we are trying to do is use electronic medical records to automatically calculate risk of diabetes. So clinicians can know whether or not that person needs to be screened using all of the available information.

ARIANA ANDERSON, PHD

response, then we can identify whether because one in four people with information. Now our past worked or not these placebo components are diabetes don’t know that they have it, showed that people who are at risk affecting the drug outcome. And and oftentimes they don’t figure out for diabetes have different features in that’s what we are trying to do in our they have it until they have some electronic medical records that go far brain imaging research. horrible complication of it. For exam- beyond the basic information. So for ple, someone might have just blurry example, if you have a history of high You’ve also had great success in eyes and tingling skin, and they will blood pressure, that is a risk factor. using electronic medical records and completely ignore it. Then they might But then there’s also a bunch of other data mining to create new detection go to the doctor later because they risk factors that you would expect. So algorithms for diabetes screening. have a sore on their foot that doesn’t for example, if you have bacterial How does that work? heal, and they’ll figure out that they infections, that might be another risk have some form of gangrene, because factor for diabetes that we didn’t Normally diabetes risk assessment it’s a complication of diabetes. So know about before, that we could use only looks at a few different pieces of oftentimes, people with diabetes don’t to increase your risk of needing a information to identify whether or not find out they have it until they have diabetes screening. Now what we’re people might be high risk. So these some major complication or require actually doing with this project, since may be things like age, it might be hospitalization. One of the most we published our first paper, is we’re your BMI; it might be your gender expensive parts of diabetes isn’t trying to extend this to major psychi- and perhaps ethnicity. However, we actually treating the disease; it’s atric disorders. So for example, know that there is a wealth of infor- treating the complications that come people with schizophrenia are more mation that’s collected when you go from it, especially when it’s not likely to have diabetes, based on both to the doctor. We have, for example, managed. And you can’t manage genetic risk and the medications they how long you’ve been a patient, how disease that you don’t know that you are taking. So what we’re trying to do many medications you’re taking, what have. with our medical records here at UCLA other diagnoses you might already and throughout the UC system, is we have, whether or not you have What we are trying to do is trying to are creating new screening algorithms hypertension—this variety of informa- use electronic medical records to for diabetes that are intended for tion that we believe can help better automatically calculate risk of diabe- people with psychiatric disorders. assess and better predict whether or tes. So clinicians can know whether These people are the ones who are not someone is likely to have diabetes. or not that person needs to be at the highest risk for psychiatric Now this is an important problem screened using all of the available disorders from many different factors, continued >

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 41 Ariana Anderson, PhD, Director of the Laboratory of Computational Neuropsychology in the Medical Psychology-Neuropsychology Division, UCLA

but also they are the people who are conditions early on. Another example that you have risk factors for strokes, most likely to not have reliable contact is your work on early prediction of but it also means that there are with the medical community other cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s problems with your vascular system, than seeing a psychiatrist. So we’re disease, vascular dementia, and your vascular compliance, that leads making a tool that psychiatrists can other neurocognitive disorders. Fill to you basically being a bit slower in use to automatically assess whether us in on how you’ve been developing processing and responding to infor- or not the person needs to be screened that aspect, which is what actually mation. So what we are doing is we for diabetes, given that they’re on a helped you get the NIA grant I are using functional MRI to look at variety of medications for mood, and mentioned… the hemodynamic response—how did given that they probably have genetic your blood flow respond when you, likelihood of already having it. When people think of dementia, they for example, are thinking of some- often think of Alzheimer’s disease. thing, when you’re seeing an image Well Ariana, it’s so interesting that However, there is vascular dementia, of something? And we’re finding out your work in computational neuro- which is the second-leading cause of that the pattern of this response can psychology seems to focus on being memory impairment in older adults. predict whether or not you’re having able to detect and predict various Now vascular dementia can mean memory issues above and beyond,

42 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND INTERFACES IN SCIENCE

When people think of dementia, they often think of Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is vascular dementia, which is the second-leading cause of memory impairment in older adults.

ARIANA ANDERSON, PHD

for example, how many years you At UCLA, we are also interested in interventions that are being imple- went to school, or your age or the social outcomes. So for example, mented in prisons actually are ethnicity or socioeconomic status. many people who have mental health effective in reducing violence and So these actual patterns you see in issues might end up in the prison helping outcomes in reducing stress vascular responses may indicate that system. We’re interested in finding among prison staff, for example. /// you’re having already some sort of out how we can look at different cognitive problems that are caused interventions, and whether or not To listen to the full interview, visit FOCUS not by, for example, the typical they might be effective, for example, in Sound on iTunes at https://podcasts. plaques and tangles, but just caused for reducing violence in prison and apple.com/us/podcast/focus-in-sound/ id835115630 by vascular issues. So vascular for reducing recidivism. So I work health can determine cognitive ability closely with an organization called early on. It’s an early marker for BetaGov. It’s a collaboration between cognitive problems. NYU and UCLA where we’re looking at how to do these real-time interven- Tell us about your project related to tions. How do you implement these prison violence… trials to judge whether or not these

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 43 Regulatory Science KEEPING GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS APACE WITH BIOMEDICAL ADVANCES The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines “regulatory science” as the science of developing new tools, standards, and approaches to assess the safety, efficacy, quality, and performance of FDA-regulated products.

But regulatory science itself is an underserved area of research. National policies and regulations on new biomedical therapies should be supported by state-of-the-science data—yet given the pace of innovation and fiscal realities, agencies often lack the resources to fully address each and every emerging regulatory question.

Academic researchers can help Burroughs Wellcome Fund will IRSA offers investigators up to agencies meet this demand. continue its encouragement of $500,000 over five years to develop Recognizing the need and the regulatory science—keeping innovative and implementable solutions opportunity, the Burroughs Wellcome government regulations apace with to regulatory questions. Applications Fund has made Regulatory Science biomedical advances. are open to U.S. and Canadian among its major initiatives for funding. citizens or permanent residents who have a faculty or adjunct faculty Our Innovation in Regulatory Science Innovations in Regulatory appointment at a North American Award (IRSA) specifically funds Science Award degree-granting institution. academic investigators to assess the safety and efficacy of new therapies. Regulations in biomedical therapies Applicants must explain how their We seek investigators who can exist to balance public benefit with research will have direct implications leverage their multidisciplinary informed risk. Appropriately, these for regulatory policy—including the expertise and institutional resources national policies and regulations strategy and timeline for an agency towards new methodologies or should be supported by state-of-the- to receive and consider the findings approaches for vetting novel therapies art science data and evidence. in their regulatory decision-making, —and produce timely knowledge and as well as any potential pitfalls and evidence that can directly assist U.S. But given the pace of innovation and the major validation steps required. and Canadian agencies in making fiscal realities, agencies often lack the regulatory decisions. resources to fully address each and Beyond this, the possibilities are as every emerging regulatory question. limitless as the frontier of medical Regulations in biomedical therapies therapies. We invite collaborations exist to balance public benefit with To help the Food and Drug and talents spanning mathematics, informed risk, and the demand for Administration (FDA) and other U.S. computer science, applied physics, informed policymaking is as limitless and Canadian agencies close this medicine, engineering, toxicology, as the frontier of medical therapies. gap, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund epidemiology, and systems pharma- To advance biomedical science and created the IRSA. cology, and any other field spanning its promise for public good, the biomedical, biophysical, and biosta- tistical disciplines. ///

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 45 Keeping Genetic Engineering Localized

RESEARCHERS ARE DEVELOPING A SO-CALLED “DAISY-CHAIN” GENE-DRIVE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES CONTROLS FOR GENETIC ENGINEERING OF CERTAIN POPULATIONS By Helen Knight | MIT Media Lab

Genetic engineering tools that spread and that can spread malaria, dengue, These types of concerns could genes within a target species have and the Zika virus. Gene drives could significantly delay, if not altogether the potential to humanely control also be used to control invasive species prevent, the safe testing and intro- harmful pests as well as eradicate such as rodents that can threaten the duction of the technology. parasitic diseases such as malaria. survival of native animals.

The tools, known as gene drives, However, previously described A Gene Drive System ensure that engineered organisms versions of gene drives based on the with In-built Controls transmit desired genetic variants to CRISPR genome editing system have their offspring. These variants could the potential to spread far wider than Now, in a paper published today in the ensure, for example, that the organisms their intended local population—to Proceedings of the National Academy only produce male offspring, or affect an entire species. The affects of Sciences, researchers at MIT and sterile females. could also spread across international Harvard University describe a gene boundaries, potentially leading to drive system with in-built controls. In this way, gene drives could be disputes between countries where no used to exterminate insects such as prior agreement had been made. The CRISPR-based drive consists of mosquitoes that carry pathogens, a series of genetic elements arranged

46 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND REGULATORY SCIENCE

Researchers at MIT and Harvard University describe a gene drive system with in-built controls. The CRISPR-based drive consists of a series of genetic elements arranged in a so-called daisy chain.

KEVIN ESVELT, PHD

in a so-called daisy chain, according to In this way, a small number of geneti- Medical School, led the modelling and Kevin Esvelt, an assistant professor cally-engineered organisms could be the molecular biology experiments of media arts and sciences and head released into the wild to spread the designed to ensure the system is of the Sculpting Evolution research daisy-drive within the local population, evolutionarily stable, respectively. group at the MIT Media Lab who and then stop when programmed to. co-led the research. “If the world is to benefit from new “We’re programming the organism to gene-drive technologies, we need to One link within the daisy-drive system do CRISPR genome editing on its be very confident that we can reverse encodes the CRISPR gene editing own, within its reproductive cells, in it and contain it, both theoretically system itself, while each of the other each generation,” Esvelt says. and via controlled tests,” Church says links encode guide RNA sequences. These guide sequences tell the “Many of the applications of gene CRISPR system to cut and copy the A Collaborative Effort drives involve islands and other next link in the chain, Esvelt says. geographical isolations, at least for Esvelt developed the system in initial tests, including invasive species Adding more links allows the daisy collaboration with George Church, and Lyme disease,” he noted. “It would drive system to spread for additional a professor of genetics at Harvard be great if these highly motivated generations within the population. Medical School, visiting professor at local governments can do tests that the Media Lab, and a senior associate do not automatically affect adjacent “Imagine you have a chain of daisies, member at the Broad Institute of MIT islands or mainlands. The daisy-chain and at each generation you remove and Harvard. Co-first authors drives offer this.” the one on the end. When you run Charleston Noble and John Min, out, the daisy chain drive stops,” both graduate students at Harvard The research suggests that for every Esvelt explains. 100 wild counterpart, releasing just continued >

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 47 C B A Generations 0 1 2 3 4

CRISPR

Edited DNA

Guides

C B A

Previous Gene Drive Daisy-Chain Gene Drive Previous gene-drives contained everything A daisy-chain gene drive separates the information needed they needed to copy themselves in one piece to copy itself and scatters it across the organism’s genome. of DNA. But these had the potential to spread None of the components can drive themselves but they are far wider than their intended local population— connected in a linear daisy-chain. Element C helps B to to affect an entire species. drive. And element B helps A to drive.

one engineered organism with a of rodenticides, which can also harm localization will let each community weak 3-link daisy-drive system, once people and predator species, Esvelt make decisions about its own per generation, should be enough to says. environment, without forcing those edit the entire population in about decsions on others. two generations—roughly a year in a fast-reproducing insect. That com- An Alternative to According to Professor Luke Alphey, pares with existing systems that must Self-propogating head of arthropod genetics at The release at least as many organisms Pirbright Institute in the UK, self- as are already present in a local Systems propagating drive systems can population, and sometimes 10 or 100 spread rapidly through target popula- In 2014, Esvelt and his colleagues times as many. tions. However, such drive systems first suggested that CRISPR-Cas9 are also thought likely to spread to all could be used in gene-drive systems, The process could take several years connected populations of the target and he has felt a moral responsibility in species that reproduce more species—which is desirable if you to develop an alternative to self-prop- slowly, such as mice, but would be want to modify the entire species, agating systems, he says. “Ideally, more humane than the existing use undesirable if you do not, he says.

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Daisy-drives potentially provide a means to get much of the benefit of this type of gene drive [self-propogating], while constraining spread and also limiting persistence of the gene drive even in the target population.

LUKE ALPHEY, PHD

“Daisy-drives potentially provide a work on the use of daisy-drives in In addtition, the researchers are also means to get much of the benefit of mosquitoes. investigating this technology for use this type of gene drive, while con- in nematode worms, microscopic straining spread and also limiting Esvelt and the Sculpting Evolution creatures that reproduce every three persistence of the gene drive even in group are also beginning to explore days. This will allow them to carry out the target population,” Alphey says. the possible use of this technology to laboratory-based evolutionary “That is likely to be highly desirable heritably immunize white-footed mice, studies of the daisy-drive engineered when one wants to affect one popu- the primary reservoir of the bacteria organisms, with the goal of ensuring lation but not another of the same responsible for Lyme disease in North the systems cannot become species, perhaps affecting an invasive America. They are also setting up a self-propagating. /// pest population but not populations of research collaboration to explore the the same species in its native range.” use of daisy-drives in Cochliomyia, also known as the New World screwworm, a Alphey was not involved in the initial parasitic fly that produces larvae that daisy-drive research, but is now eat the living tissue of warm-blooded collaborating with Esvelt, including animals, causing considerable suffering.

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 49 Reproductive Sciences NOURISHING NEW RESEARCH INTO PARTURITION SCIENCE The action of birth is shrouded in elegant complexity. It is the culmination of biomedical chain reactions, cellular differentiation, and other physiological, behavioral, and environmental mechanisms. Individually, they are measurable—together, much remains a mystery.

For years, the Burroughs Wellcome attract new investigators towards this For a medical phenomenon with such Fund has recognized reproductive area of research. grave health and social consequences, sciences as an undervalued and little is known about preterm birth and underfunded area of research. Via The triggers and factors of birth—how- its causes. The Burroughs Wellcome our ad hoc grants, we provided ever shrouded and complex—can impart Fund intends to change this through early-career development funding for mortal and lasting impacts on human its Preterm Birth Initiative. reproductive scientists and for OB/ life and well-being. The Burroughs GYN physician-scientists. Wellcome Fund intends to rally new Through this competitive award, BWF talent and new approaches to explore provides sole- or multi-investigator In 2008, we began to formally invest these mysteries—nourishing new teams up to $500,000 over a four-year in Reproductive Sciences as a major research into parturition science. period. Principal investigators must funding program. Today, our focus is be postdoctoral fellows in their final to seek new ideas and partnerships two years of training, or hold a faculty to increase research into human Preterm Birth Initiative appointment at a degree-granting parturition. institution in the U.S. or Canada. As part of our mission to support Principal investigators must be The program’s first efforts were a underserved fields of biomedical citizens or permanent residents of series of biannual conferences on research, the Burroughs Wellcome the U.S. or Canada. preterm birth research. Together with Fund has created a grant to stimulate the March of Dimes, the Burroughs new insights into the mechanisms We want awarded teams to consider Wellcome Fund hosted the Biannual underlying spontaneous preterm birth. approaches in both basic and trans- Symposium on Preventing Prematurity lational research, linking expertise in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Despite medical and technological within and outside of reproductive advances, the rate of preterm births science. Molecular and computational Our Reproductive Sciences program in the United States remains higher approaches such as genetics and is currently headlined by the Preterm today than 20 years ago. Approximately genomics, immunology, microbiology, Birth Initiative, an award aimed to 12 percent of births in the U.S. are evolutionary biology, mathematics, increase our understanding of the considered preterm, and many engineering, and other sciences should mysteries and mechanisms of spon- physiological and behavioral health be interwoven with insights from more taneous preterm births—the leading problems can be attributed to preterm traditional aspects of parturition cause of neonatal morbidity and delivery. Worse, preterm birth is research such as maternal-fetal mortality in children. Through these currently the leading cause of neona- medicine, obstetrics, and pediatrics. /// awards, BWF hopes to invigorate tal morbidity and mortality in children. multidisciplinary collaborations and

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 51 Study suggests simple way to predict preterm births Photo: Bryce Vickmark

TEST OF CERVICAL MUCUS MAY REVEAL PREGNANT WOMEN’S RISK OF GOING INTO LABOR TOO EARLY By Anne Trafton | MIT News Office

Up to 18 percent of babies born mucus from women who delivered Ribbeck worked on the study with worldwide arrive before they are their babies before 37 weeks was Michael House, an associate professor full-term, defined as 37 weeks of very different from that of women at Tufts University School of Medicine. gestation. About 1 million of those who delivered later. MIT postdoc Kathryn Smith-Dupont is babies do not survive, and those who the first author of the paper, which do can face developmental problems This type of analysis could offer an appears in the Sept. 4 issue of such as impaired vision or hearing, easy way to calculate the risk of early Scientific Reports. defects in the heart or lungs, or labor, potentially allowing doctors to cognitive impairments. try to intervene earlier to prevent preterm births. Barrier to Infection Currently there is no reliable way to predict whether a woman with a “Our prediction is that we might be Ribbeck’s lab at MIT investigates the normal pregnancy will go into labor able to identify risk for preterm birth distinctive chemical and mechanical before 37 weeks. However, a study ahead of time, before labor sets in,” properties of mucus, and how those from MIT offers a new approach to says Katharina Ribbeck, an associate properties help it to perform many evaluating this risk, by analyzing the professor of biological engineering at critical roles as part of the body’s first properties of cervical mucus. The MIT and the senior author of the study. line of defense against infection. researchers found that cervical “Diagnostic tools for this are missing.”

52 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES

Our prediction is that we might be able to identify risk for preterm birth ahead of time, before labor sets in. Diagnostic tools for this are missing.

KATHARINA RIBBECK AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING AT MIT AND THE SENIOR AUTHOR OF THE STUDY

Several years ago, Ribbeck began For the new study, she and her Doctors were able to halt labor in exploring whether changes in cervical colleagues decided to investigate the these women, and the samples were mucus might play a role in preterm mucus’s permeability to small particles. taken after they were stabilized. They births. Between 25 and 40 percent of Mucus is formed from polymers all ended up giving birth before 37 early births are believed to be caused known as mucins, and the composition weeks. by infections that occur when microbes and arrangement of these mucins reach the uterus through the cervical determine how porous the gel is. The researchers tested the ability of plug, which is made of mucus and negatively charged spheres about 1 normally blocks access to the uterus. The researchers collected samples micron in diameter to travel through from two groups of patients. The the mucus, and found a small but In a study published in 2013, Ribbeck low-risk group included pregnant statistically insignificant difference found that cervical mucus from women who came in to their doctors’ in porosity between the high- and pregnant women at high risk of early offices for routine visits around 30 low-risk samples. They then decided labor was mechanically weaker and weeks and ended up giving birth to do the same test with charged more elastic than that of low-risk after 37 weeks. The high-risk group peptide probes, which are small pregnant women. included women who went into labor enough to avoid getting stuck in the early, between 24 and 34 weeks. mucus network but are sensitive to

continued >

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 53 Preterm birth is one of the biggest issues we face in child and baby health care around the world. It’s an enormous burden to individuals and families. We sorely need a way to identify risk because all of the tools that we have now don’t work very well.

ERROL NORWITZ CHAIRMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER

the biochemical modifications of the mucus may be less able to retain Risk analysis mucus. With these peptide probes, helpful immune system components the researchers found a significant such as antibodies or antimicrobial Currently, the most common way to differences in mucus permeability peptides, which would normally help try to predict the risk of preterm birth and adhesiveness: The peptides were to combat infection. is to measure the length of the cervix, able to pass through samples from but although a shortened cervix is high-risk women much more easily. “Mucins display all sorts of immuno- correlated with higher risk, there are logically active factors that you may also many cases where a shortened This suggests that cervical mucus also lose when the adhesive properties cervix does not lead to preterm birth. from women at high risk for early change,” Ribbeck says. Another test involves measuring labor, for reasons not yet known, levels of fetal fibronectin, a material She suspects that this loss of adhe- may be more susceptible to invasion that essentially “glues” the fetal sion might be caused by changes in by potentially harmful bacteria and membranes to the uterine wall, in molecular structure of the mucins, in microbes, making it more likely that vaginal secretions. However, this is particular, changes in the number those women will experience an not a completely reliable predictor, and types of sugar molecules that infection that leads to preterm birth, and furthermore, women can deliver comprise part of their structure. Ribbeck says. In addition, the altered preterm when both cervical length and fetal fibronectin are normal.

54 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES

“There’s no currently well-accepted Gynecology at Tufts Medical Center, Through studies of the chemical universal test,” says Smith-Dupont. who was not involved in the research, composition of the altered mucus, “The pathophysiology and mecha- says the new study is an innovative Ribbeck also hopes to develop new nisms of preterm birth are extremely approach to combating a problem that ways to restore the normal function complex, and what works to assess has so far proven intractable. Identifying of the mucus. “If the mucus is thinner one patient may not work for another.” women at high risk, and potentially or less adhesive than it naturally is, giving their babies the chance to remain then we can begin to think about Ribbeck anticipates that cervical in utero for even a few extra days, factors to add so that we improve its mucus testing could be done early could make a big difference, he says. barrier properties,” she says. in pregnancy, as part of a routine screen that would reveal whether a “Preterm birth is one of the biggest The research was funded, in part, by woman was at high risk of preterm issues we face in child and baby the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Preterm birth. (This test would determine risk health care around the world. It’s an Birth Initiative, the National Institutes from infection, but not from other enormous burden to individuals and of Health, and the National Institute potential causes of early labor.) families,” Norwitz says. “We sorely of Environmental Health Sciences. /// need a way to identify risk because Errol Norwitz, chairman of the all of the tools that we have now don’t Department of Obstetrics and work very well.”

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 55 Science Education EMPOWERING NORTH CAROLINA’S CHILDREN WITH SCIENTIFIC POTENTIAL At the heart of all that we do to support biomedical science in the U.S. and Canada, one particular ideal drives our intentions: establish relationships and invest in the person. It is this same philosophy that drives our decision to invest in science education in North Carolina.

When the Burroughs Wellcome Fund added opportunities to experience and Technology Education Center became a fully independent, philan- critical thinking and the excitement (SMT). Since 2004, this non-profit thropic foundation in 1994, we of discovery—by investing more than organization has amplified our goal established our headquarters in the $3 million annually for schools, of advancing meaningful STEM Research Triangle of North Carolina— organizations, and institutions to opportunities in our classrooms— a powerhouse of scientific innovation create and deliver science education centralizing materials, equipment, and in the Nation and the world. In making activities outside the classroom. professional development resources North Carolina our home state, we also for educators to easily access. recognized our responsibility to invest n Through our Career Awards for in the people and community here. Science and Mathematics Teachers, Empowering North Carolina’s children we look for proven public school with scientific potential—that is how Looking at the Fund’s own strengths teachers in North Carolina whose we believe the Burroughs Wellcome and looking at the Research Triangle’s vision and effort for STEM access Fund can best give back to our home academic advantage—a microcosm in their community serve as shining state. We can harness the financial of the disparity and potential present examples—and we further buoy and material resources of our many throughout the Tar Heel State—our that teacher’s influence and established partnerships to improve imperative was clear. Our science impact with a $175,000 grant for public policy, teacher training, the education investment begins with North salary, supplies, and professional informal science community, and Carolina’s students and educators. development opportunities. scientist-educator collaborations. We can invest in individual educators The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is proud n Through our Promoting Innovation whose natural talents can ignite that to invest in Science Education as one in Science and Mathematics awards, one student’s curiosity and engage of its major programs. Our goal is to we want to give public school them in the scientific process. establish relationships and invest in teachers with ingenious, classroom- individual access to STEM education ready ideas for stimulating STEM If we are successful in these invest- —science, technology, engineering, learning the chance to put their ments, we will have imparted an even and mathematics—for communities in ideas into play—with one-time greater gift for North Carolina: that all 100 counties of North Carolina. grants up to $4500 for materials, our children, regardless of their equipment, and training. future career path, have the science n Through our Student Science literacy to participate fully in civic Enrichment Program, we are giving n Finally, we founded the North life—and advance the potential of our K-12 students in North Carolina Carolina Science, Mathematics, state and our Nation.

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 57 Student Science $60,000 per year for three years for manufacturing relies on a workforce the creation and implementation of inspired and mentored by a special Enrichment Program after-school, weekend, or summer cadre of equally hardworking (SSEP) science programs. professionals: the science and math educators in our public schools. As part of our Science Education SSEP recipients are limited to non- initiative, the Burroughs Wellcome profit institutions within North Carolina, In our support of science education Fund wants to empower North such as colleges, museums, zoos, as in North Carolina and in all of our Carolina’s children with scientific well as public and private schools philanthropic activities, the Burroughs potential. This means supporting the and community groups. Proposed Wellcome Fund is guided by one good work of talented, licensed programs must be designed in particular ideal: establish relationships educators in our K-12 schools—but it consideration of school curricula; and invest in the person. also means connecting our students implemented by well-trained staff; and with STEM enrichment opportunities structured with learning objectives Just as we prioritize the development outside the schoolyard. and post-participation assessments. of individual scientists, we also created an award program that Fortunately, some of the best univer- enhances the professional develop- sities, museums, and scientific Career Awards ment of a promising science or organizations in the Nation are right for Science and mathematics educator to reward the in North Carolina—and they are ideal best teachers to inspire our children partners for SSEP. Mathematics Teachers in the classroom. (CASMT) The Burroughs Wellcome Fund The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is created SSEP specifically to fund and North Carolina has one of the Nation’s proud to recognize through CASMT support out-of-school STEM activities top scientific economies. And our mid-career, K-12 teachers in North for K-12 students in North Carolina. continued competitiveness in research, Carolina public schools who have SSEP awards provide up to medicine, technology, agriculture, and proven their command of science or

58 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND SCIENCE EDUCATION

mathematics subject matters, demon- greater teaching community and required to implement the new strated outstanding consistency and empower the scientific potential of equipment or curriculum. success in pedagogy, and are ready North Carolina’s children—those are to emerge as mentors and innovators our ultimate reasons for investing in The grant cannot go towards basic within the STEM community of our North Carolina’s best science and classroom technology equipment state. math educators. such as laptops and projectors, nor can it be used for field trips and These star teachers are awarded guest speakers. $175,000 over a period of five years Promoting Innovation As part of our Science Education to support their professional develop- in Science and ment, augment their equipment initiative, the Burroughs Wellcome needs, and supplement their public Mathematics (PRISM) Fund wants to empower North salary. Awardees are also encouraged Carolina’s children with scientific The Burroughs Wellcome Fund to reach beyond their school to build potential. We want to see more created the Promoting Innovation in collegial learning communities within students engaged in innovative Science and Mathematics (PRISM) their district or region, and to develop lessons and activities that spark their grant to help North Carolina public strategies for their personal growth enthusiasm and guide them through school teachers create exciting, as teaching professionals and critical inquiry—positive experiences hands- on learning experiences in leaders of practice. that help instill a life-long hunger for class or after school. science and math learning. /// Our belief in “investing in the person” The award provides up to $3,000 for ensures that each award has life one year to cover the costs of equip- beyond any single grant. That creative, ment, materials, and supplies for original, and unique ideas will continue instructional use—with an additional to rise throughout an awardee’s $1,500 if additional training is career—and in turn, strengthen the

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 59 Inner Banks STEM Center

A CONVERSATION WITH ALVIN POWELL Interview by Russ Campbell

After he retired from a 30-year were no YMCAs, no Boys and Girls physical fitness components are career in the FBI, Alvin Powell retired Clubs, no Police Athletic League required in most of those jobs. So, to Washington, North Carolina in Activities. We did not have that we covered all the bases. A lot of the Beaufort County. Now he is the enrichment component. So that when kids, particularly in the lower income founder and director of the Inner Banks I was in the FBI, I had an opportunity brackets do not think about the STEM Center. This is an excerpt from to go to flight school and learn how consequences of bad decisions an interview with Mr. Powell from the to fly. I met some really neat people in growing up as a middle school aged audiocast, #whystem. the science and technology commu- kid. When they do achieve academic nity. When I retired from the FBI as an success, sometimes their background You say you’re retired, but you’re very agent and a pilot, I thought one of the checks don’t come out well and they active, and you’re very active in the ways I could give back to the commu- aren’t able to get the job. So, they will STEM community. How did you get nity would be to get involved with sometimes turn to adverse, negative involved with STEM? some kind of science, technology, opportunities like joining gangs, hate engineering, and math program to groups, extremist groups and things Since I grew up in Washington, D.C., get kids at the middle school level at like that. We felt like a STEM program where we did not have exposure—at least interested in this environment. in this area was a target rich opportu- least in my section of Washington, nity to expose kids at a very early D.C.—to science and technology We chose aviation and boating age before they started developing programs, youth programs... there because background checks and negative life skills. It would also show

60 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND SCIENCE EDUCATION

We decided to put a STEM program in place to make it fun, but yet to slip in the intellectual learning component and start getting them interested (not intimidated) in taking science and math courses so that when they graduate they will have met professionals in the science and technology ranks.

ALVIN POWELL PRESIDENT INNER BANKS STEM CENTER

them that no matter what their race, in the intellectual learning component at science and technology because color, creed or socio-economic and start getting them interested (not they may have been discouraged. By situation, that education—not violence intimidated) in taking science and math us exposing them to this type of —is the key to improving their quality courses so that when they graduate program, we’re changing their of life. they will have met professionals in the mindset. And quite a few of our kids, science and technology ranks. They extensively though the grants that One of the questions that we’re will have met some of us who are we’ve had from the Burroughs asking ourselves at the Burroughs pilots and law enforcement, engineers, Wellcome Fund, have allowed us to Wellcome Fund and at the North technologists and what have you. And expose kids to some pretty unique Carolina Science Math and Technology we will have given them the self- technology arenas. And they are now Education Center is, “Why STEM?” esteem, courage, and confidence to changing their minds about what they What is it about STEM that enhances feel that with proper training and want to do with their future. the educational opportunities for discipline and time management they students? can start working on a STEM career What kinds of things are you offering? or at least those educational classes That’s a great question. Most of the STEM is a broad spectrum. It means so that when they graduate from high job predictors indicate that employ- a lot, and depending on who you talk school, they will have a definite ment for kids when they get older will to it could mean agriculture, it could be pattern of thought—and not be be in the STEM field—whether that’s science... so you have to first define intimidated to look at a science and engineering, science, technology, what are you going to lock into. You technology career. allied health and what have you. Very can’t be to everyone under the STEM few jobs now don’t require some The best way to do that is not two arena. Because of the area where basic technological savvy. So what weeks before they graduate from we’re located, we are in close proxim- we were trying to do is to expose high school. But it’s to start getting ity to military bases, aviation facilities, some of these kids, who may be their mindset and self-esteem and a boating community, and some fine intimidated by math, chemistry, confidence in place as a middle academic facilities with engineering science—not because they can’t do it school aged kid. We have found too programs, we decided to focus on intellectually, but they have just been that when you work with kids who are two things that we thought would turned off because of peer pressure at risk, and not necessarily because capture the kids intellectually. ...And and things of that nature. of their race or their diversity situation, then cause them to be interested in but also because of their socio-eco- learning how these things float or fly. We decided to put a STEM program nomic status, that their peers do not We locked into aviation i.e.: the in place to make it fun, but yet to slip necessarily encourage them to look aerospace community and boating.

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 61 We’re going to expose the kids to the confidence to take more courses that may or may not cause them to want them to get involved with aviation or boating, but at least they can see how science and technology plays a part in their everyday life...

ALVIN POWELL

Recently we’ve also drilled down on the when they are about to leave high once we’ve hooked them, then they health component because health is school. That was kind of the reason want to learn more. That’s how we’ve always been a part of our program. why we chose aviation and boating chosen those three areas but we’ve But now, through the courtesy of a because most kids, whether you’re 7 also flipped in life skills to emphasize grant from the local community or 70, have some interest in airplanes the physical fitness component and hospital Beaufort Hospital, we’re flying overhead or a cool boat passing also the ability to pass a background going to start putting together a risk by and we found that has been very check as the kids get older and try to assessment program. And then we’re successful in capturing a kid’s interest. qualify for some of these jobs. going to add a youth workforce We hope, as you can see in the preparedness initiative so we can banners in the background, once kids How has the Burroughs Wellcome start looking at the holistic kid and see airplanes and actually climb onto Fund Student STEM Enrichment not just STEM without an end goal. an F-15 or KC135 or Harrier Jet or Program enhanced your efforts here Helicopter they will hopefully ask how at the Inner Banks STEM Center? We’re going to expose the kids to the it operates or what does it take to fly In a nutshell, we could not have done it confidence to take more courses that that or design it—or work on it. may or may not cause them to want without it. The SSEP program started them to get involved with aviation or And the same concept with the boating. financially supporting us in 2015. We boating, but at least they can see The kids get a chance to go on some were incorporated in 2012 and we how science and technology plays a pretty cool boats some of which are started here at the Washington Warren part in their everyday life and then they owned by the US Coast Guard, then Airport and it was a one week summer can see how staying physically fit, some of the kids are asking what camp program and we funded the making their life decisions will cause does it take to qualify to operate the program through donations. But them to graduate or go into high boat, to work on it, to design it. So once we were able to put together school with a proper mindset. Then, that’s just what causes what we call our mindset on what we thought the they will be more career-oriented the “intellectual bait trap” to work. So, program would be—specific focuses,

62 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND INFECTIOUSSCIENCE EDUCATION DISEASES

strategic plan—we were fortunate into reality had it not been for the change our philosophies but still enough to write our first grant for the SSEP. Then we were fortunate keeping within the same STEM SSEP in 2015. And once we were enough to get a renewal grant that concept had it not been for the awarded that grant, we were funded will fund us for 2018-2019-2020. flexibility that the Burroughs for the year 2015, 2016, and 2017 Wellcome Fund grant and personnel and that enabled us to go from a one So we are constantly refining, tweak- —I can’t say how much I enjoy talking week program to expand our program ing, and modifying the funds without and working with the folks in your to a very novel and innovative four exceeding the bottom line as we deal agency that have been supportive week program and several afterschool with operational challenges. We try to and nurturing as we modify, tweak, programs. So it was like going from address what seems to be the most and try to improve our impact on the rags to riches, a dream come true. innovative science and technology kids in this area. /// We would have never been able to programs. We would never be able to expand and put some of our dreams keep up with the times, or be able to

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 63 SMT Center Annual Report

SEPT 2019 – AUGUST 2020

The North Carolina Science, from the i3 grant to provide science Public Instruction, the SMT Center Mathematics, and Technology kit refurbishing and distribution has developed an updated STEM Education Center (SMT Center) continues. In the past year, the School Progress Rubric to be used by was incubated by the Burroughs partnership focused on sustainability schools as a strategic planning tool Wellcome Fund in 2002. Since then and financials planning efforts as well for implementing a high-quality STEM it has served as a convener and as workshops that deepen the school. It is designed to help school catalyst for STEM education across understanding of inquiry-based teams reflect on the current state of North Carolina. The SMT Center takes instructional practices and student- their work, create sustainable plans, a broad view of STEM referring to it centered learning. Twelve multi-day experiment with innovations, deter- as Strategies that Engage Minds® workshops have been held that have mine next steps, and track their that provides students with an resulted in nearly 1,000 teachers progress. Schools, using the rubric, education that is relevant to real trained to implement at least one STC can apply to be designated as a world situations. (Science and Technology Concepts) STEM School of Distinction. The first Unit in their classrooms. version of the rubric has been used A partnership between the SMT as a template in numerous states and Center, the North Carolina Inquiry Working with the Friday Institute for the expectation is this rubric will Collaborative Network (NCICN) and Educational Innovation, Golden Leaf continue to be utilized nationally. the six North Carolina school districts Foundation and the N.C. Dept. of

64 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND SCIENCE EDUCATION

Through sponsorships, leading sessions at various conferences and membership on boards and advisory committees, the SMT Center and BWF continue to shape the agenda around STEM education in North Carolina.

UNC-Charlotte and the SMT Center membership on boards and advisory received funding from the Army committees, the SMT Center and Education Outreach Program and BWF continue to shape the agenda Battelle to support STEM student around STEM education in North research in rural areas of eastern and Carolina. The NC STEM Ecosystem western N.C. This program is designed which is led by the SMT Center and to build the capacity of high school BWF connect formal education and teachers to support student research extended learning organizations, through Saturday academies for business and industry, museums and teachers and students. The targeted science centers, STEM professionals population for the program is students and grant makers with the goal of that are underrepresented in STEM, providing STEM opportunities across low income, rural, would-be first-gen- the state./// eration college or military dependent.

Through sponsorships, leading sessions at various conferences and

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 65 Science and Philanthropy

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund makes noncompetitive grants for activities and career development opportunities for scientists that fall outside of our competitive award programs, but are closely related to our targeted areas.

We place special priority on working with nonprofit organizations, including government agencies, to leverage financial support for our targeted areas of research, and on encour- aging other foundations to support biomedical research. Proposals should be submitted to BWF by email. Mailed requests should be no more than five pages.

Applicants should describe the focus of the activity, the expected outcomes, and the qualifications of the organization or individuals involved; provide certification of the spon- sor’s Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt status; and give the total budget for the activity, including any financial support obtained or promised. Proposals are given careful preliminary review, and those deemed appropriate are presented for consideration by BWF’s Board of Directors.

66 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND Report on Finance

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s investments totaled $751.2 million at August 31, 2019, the end of our fiscal year. BWF’s primary financial goal is to pursue an investment strategy that will support annual spending needs and maintain a constant real level of assets over the long term. To achieve this goal, a high percentage of our investments are placed in strategies that derive the bulk of their returns from exposure to U.S. and interna- tional capital markets. Hence, fluctuations in BWF’s investment results will be due largely to variability in capital market returns. BWF’s investment policies are devel- n Fixed income assets had a market managers. In the U.S. large capital- oped with the recommendations and value of $131.4 million. The sector’s ization equity sector, the managers review of the Investment Committee, target allocation was 22 percent, were Brown Advisory; LSV Asset which is appointed by and reports to and actual holdings stood at 17.5 Management; and Martingale Asset BWF’s Board of Directors. The percent. Management. BMO Asset Management, committee, which meets three times Loomis Sayles, Bridge City Asset n Cash equivalent assets had a market a year, has seven voting members, Management and Essex Investment value of $9.7 million. The sector’s including five representatives from Management managed U.S. small target allocation was 3 percent, outside BWF and two representatives capitalization equities. Camden Asset and actual holdings stood at 1.3 of our board. The board’s chair, BWF’s Management; C.S. McKee; Rimrock percent. president, and BWF’s vice president for Capital Management; Barings; and finance also serve on the committee n Alternative assets had a market Amundi Pioneer were the fixed income as nonvoting members. value of $140.2 million. The sector managers. Capital Guardian Trust did not have a target allocation, Company; Hardman Johnston Global As part of BWF’s investment strategy, and actual holdings stood at 18.7 Advisors; Acadian Asset Management; we have established “allocation targets” percent. The maximum permitted and Hansberger Growth Investors —that is, percentages of our total allocation to alternative assets managed international equities. BWF assets to be invested in particular stood at 20.0 percent at cost. also held investments in five venture asset classes. Investment managers capital funds: Intersouth Partners V The total market value of BWF’s hired by BWF pursue more focused and VI, Spray Venture Funds I and II investments decreased by $37.9 mandates within each sector. As of and Mission Ventures II. Winston million, or 4.8 percent, from the end the end of the fiscal year, BWF’s Partners managed a fund of equity of the previous fiscal year. This asset mix and market values were: oriented hedge funds. Blackrock decrease in assets was due mainly to n U.S. large capitalization equity assets Alternative Advisors managed a fund poor returns for world equities in the had a market value of $163.8 million. of absolute return strategies. Hamilton fourth quarter of 2018. BWF’s total The sector’s target allocation was Lane Advisors managed three funds investment return before investment 25 percent, and actual holdings of private equity strategies and three management fees for the fiscal year stood at 21.8 percent. private debt strategies. Dyal Capital was +1.0 percent. The U.S. large managed a private equity fund. n U.S. small capitalization equity assets capitalization equity sector returned Neuberger Berman managed an had a market value of $112.1 million. +7.2 percent, the U.S. small capital- insurance linked strategy. Finally, the The sector’s target allocation was ization equity sector had a -12.1 Fund internally managed a diversified 18 percent, and actual holdings percent loss, the international equity portfolio of mainly passive investments stood at 14.9 percent. sector lost -0.7 percent for the fiscal which was named the Tactical Portfolio. year, and fixed income produced a n International equity assets had a The Tactical Portfolio included +8.5 percent result. market value of $194.0 million. The investments in U.S. equities, interna- sector’s target allocation was 32 As of August 31, 2019, BWF employed tional equities and global bonds. percent, and actual holdings stood 16 marketable securities investment at 25.8 percent.

68 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND REPORT ON FINANCE

Statements of Financial Position AUGUST 31, 2019 AND 2018 (All dollar amounts presented in thousands)

2019 2018 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,479 $ 1,838 Investments 746,832 788,201 Accrued interest and dividends receivable 1,383 1,461 Other assets 142 100 Property and equipment, net 7,163 7,351 Total assets $ 760,999 $ 798,951

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Transactions payable, net $ 2,639 $ 1,714 Accounts payable and other liabilities 1,227 1,019 Excise tax payable 551 1,504 Deferred federal excise taxes 2,259 2,680 Unpaid awards 114,802 103,876 Total liabilities 121,478 110,793 Unrestricted net assets 639,521 688,158 Total liabilities and net assets $ 760,999 $ 798,951

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 69 Statements of Activities AUGUST 31, 2019 AND 2018 (All dollar amounts presented in thousands)

2019 2018 REVENUES Interest and dividends, less investment expenses of $3,079 and $3,382 in 2019 and 2018, respectively $ 8,417 $ 8,075 Net realized gain on sale of investments 15,725 45,372 Total revenues and realized gains $ 24,142 $ 53,447

EXPENSES Program services $ 45,111 $ 39,699 Management and general 6,061 7,598 Total expenses before net unrealized appreciation and deferred federal excise tax 51,172 42,297 Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments, net of provision for deferred federal excise tax benefit / (expense) $421 and $(465) in 2019 and 2018, respectively (21,607) 22,476 Change in net assets (48,637) 28,626 Net assets at beginning of year 688,158 659,532 Net assets at end of year $ 639,521 $ 688,158

70 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND Grants Index

BWF makes all grants to nonprofit organizations. For most of the programs, the name of the individual on whose behalf the grant is made is listed first, the title of the award recipient’s project is listed second, and the name of the organization that received the money is listed third.

For programs that may have coaward recipients, the award recipients and their organiza- tions are listed first, followed by the project title. For grants made directly to organizations and not on behalf of an individual, the name of the organization is listed first, followed by the title of the project or a brief description of the activity being supported.

In addition to making competitive awards, BWF makes noncompetitive grants—Ad Hocs —for activities that are closely related to our major focus areas. These grants are intended to enhance the general environment for research in the targeted areas.

For full audited financials visitbwfund.org/annualreport Program Summary AUGUST 31, 2019

Awarded Net Amount Paid Percentage of of Cancelled Total Paid BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES Career Awards in the Medical Sciences $ 8,690,000 $ 8,421,813 Physician-Scientist Institutional Award 12,500,000 2,500,000 Research Travel Grant 299,132 299,132 Ad Hoc 1,046,000 751,000 Total $ 23,180,132 $ 11,971,945 34%

DIVERSITY IN SCIENCE Graduate Diversity Enrichment Program $ 52,500 $ 12,500 Postdoctoral Enrichment Program 859,869 979,870 Ad Hoc 40,000 45,000 Total $ 952,369 $ 1,037,370 3%

INFECTIOUS DISEASES Career Guidance $ 283,346 $ 239,835 Investigators in Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease 5,558,011 5,682,133 Ad Hoc 1,082,938 1,053,938 Total $ 6,924,295 $ 6,975,906 20%

INTERFACES IN SCIENCE Career Award at the Scientific Interface $ 4,089,570 $ 4,329,671 Ad Hoc 170,500 300,500 Total $ 4,260,070 $ 4,630,171 13%

POPULATION SCIENCES Curriculum Development in Quantitative Thinking $ – $ 225,000 Institutional Program Unifying Population and Laboratory-Based Sciences – 2,388,870 Ad Hoc 3,000 3,000 Total $ 3,000 $ 2,616,870 7%

72 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANTS INDEX

Program Summary AUGUST 31, 2019

Awarded Net Amount Paid Percentage of of Cancelled Total Paid REGULATORY SCIENCE Innovation in Regulatory Science Awards $ 2,500,788 $ 1,850,788 Ad Hoc 120,000 90,000 Total $ 2,620,788 $ 1,940,788 6%

REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES Preterm Birth Initiative $ 3,000,000 $ 1,125,000 Total $ 3,000,000 $ 1,125,000 3%

SCIENCE AND PHILANTHROPY Ad Hoc $ 348,290 $ 414,290 Total $ 348,290 $ 414,290 1%

SCIENCE EDUCATION Career Award for Science and Mathematics Teachers $ 875,000 $ 465,000 PRISM Award – – Student STEM Enrichment Program 1,644,558 2,170,510 Ad Hoc 3,425,025 1,794,025 Total $ 5,940,083 $ 4,429,535 13%

GRAND TOTAL $ 46,584,027 $ 35,141,874 100%

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 73 Biomedical Sciences

Career Awards for Robert M Samstein, MD, PhD Joseph Carrion, PhD Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hofstra University School of Medicine Medical Scientists Cancer Center Immunogenicity of Chun-An Chou, PhD Jonathan R Brestoff, MD, PhD Homologous Recombination Defects Northeastern University Washington University and Response to Immunotherapy Role of Cell-to-Cell Transfer of Ashley Steed, MD, PhD Rebecca C. Christofferson, PhD Mitochondria in Regulating Metabolism Washington University Louisiana State University Gaurav Das Gaiha, DPhil, MD Regulation of Host Immunity via Heather A. Clark, PhD Harvard Medical School Microbially-derived Metabolites Northeastern University Using Network Theory to Suppress Santosha the Latent HIV-1 Reservoir Ke Du, PhD Santosha A. Vardhana, MD, PhD Rochester Institute of Technology Karuna Ganesh, MD, PhD Memorial Sloan-Kettering Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Erik Engeberg, PhD Cancer Center Investigating metabolic susceptibilities Florida Atlantic University Emergence of Regenerative Plasticity of exhausted T-cells Amal Isaiah, MD, PhD in Metastasis Stem Cells Andrew Sean Venteicher, MD, PhD University of Maryland-Baltimore Wei Gu, MD, PhD University of Pittsburgh Adrian Jinich, PhD University of California-San Francisco Uncovering drivers of immortality in Weill Medical College of Cornell Modeling Pathogen Cell-free DNA human CNS tumors University Dynamics in Acute Infections Doris Du Wang, MD, PhD Jesse Vincent Jokerst, PhD Marie A Guerraty, MD, PhD University of California-San Francisco University of California-San Diego University of Pennsylvania Using adaptive neurostimulation to The interplay between cardiomyocyte understand and enhance motor skill Louis Kang, MD, PhD FOG2 and HIF pathway in Coronary learning in Parkinson’s Disease University of California-Berkeley Microvascular Disease Oleg K. Karaduta, MD Rodney Infante, MD, PhD Collaborative University of Arkansas for Medical University of Texas Southwestern Research Travel Grant Sciences Medical Center-Dallas Regulation of Cancer Cachexia Ernesto Abel-Santos, D.Phil., PhD Budhachandra Khundrakpam, PhD Wasting by a Tumor-Adipose- University of Nevada-Las Vegas McGill University Hypothalamic Axis George W. Agak, PhD KiBum Lee, PhD Michael George Kattah, MD, PhD University of California-Los Angeles Rutgers University University of California-San Francisco Yoko Miyamoto Ambrosini, D.V.M., PhD Patty J. Lee, MD A20 and ABIN-1 cooperatively Iowa State University Duke University preserve intestinal integrity Manuela Aseye Ayele Ayee, PhD Michael G. Lerner, PhD Corey Keller, MD, PhD Dordt College Earlham College Stanford University Closing the loop: development of real- Wadie F. Bahou, MD Jianing Li, PhD time, personalized brain stimulation New York University University of Vermont

74 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANTS INDEX

Steven Alexander Lopez, PhD Maha Saber, PhD Physician Scientist Northeastern University University of Arizona Institutional Award Diane LaVern-Lygette Nelson, PhD Texas A&M University Carnegie Mellon University Grigoriy Sereda, PhD University of South Dakota University of California-Los Angeles Dao Nguyen, MD McGill University University of Chicago Argel Aguilar Valles, PhD Washington University Zakaria Orfi, PhD Carleton University University of Montreal Weill Cornell Medicine Physician- Kai-tak Wan, PhD Scientist Academnia Erica Cho Brown Peters, PhD Northeastern University University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Tomas Pluskal, PhD Meni Wanunu, PhD Massachusetts Institute of Technology Northeastern University Elizabeth Marie Ransey, PhD Duke University Kate Lynn White, PhD University of Southern California Barbara Rivera, PhD McGill University

Career Guidance

Career Guidance for Trainees

American Society for Pharmacology and Breadth of Knowledge in Math Preparing well rounded scholars and Experimental Therapeutics Sciences PhD Students at Clemson Coaching for Career Development via University Western University the ASPET Mentoring Network Market validation Laboratory and Iowa State University Business Training Boston University Graduate Students Gaining Practical Training Opportunities To Augment Experience Through Short-Term Vanderbilt University Learning (TOTAL) Team Consulting Projects Data Science Essentials: Transitioning Biomedical Scientists Clemson University Ohio State University from the Bench to the Cloud Math in Medicine: Developing Depth Researcher, Mentor, and Teacher:

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 75 Diversity in Science

Graduate Diversity Enrichment Program

DUKE UNIVERSITY Blanca Victoria Rodriguez Shenee Chantel Martin Characterizing the association of RNA Examining the molecular consequences Alejandro Antonia with bacterial membrane vesicles and of sleep disruption in Alzheimer’s Host-Directed Therapy to Circumvent their delivery to host cells disease onset and progression Immune Evasion by Leishmania major UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA- Kia Zolee Perez-Vale Dalton Nathaniel Hughes CHAPEL HILL Defining the molecular mechanisms Network Dynamics of Negative and underlying apical-basal polarity Positive Valence Systems in Decision LaKeya Charmaine establishment and morphogenesis Making Hardy Using STALs to exploit CD22 on peanut-specific memory B cells to Ricardo Rivera-Soto Luis Alexander Navarro induce tolerance Characterizing the role of the PI3K/ Guided Adsorption of Protein- Akt/mTOR pathway in KSHV- Bottlebrush Hybrids for Functional Juanita Limas associated malignancies Surface Coatings A Novel Way of Blocking Origin Licensing and Recapitulating Early Tamara Vital Estefany Yamilet Reyes Oncogene Activation Exploring the mechanism underlying a Mechanism to evade host immunity small molecule inhibitor of chromatin by Mucorales fungi accessibility

Postdoctoral Enrichment Program

Osama M. Ahmed, PhD Barbara Juarez, PhD Aaron Lavel Moye, PhD Princeton University University of Washington Harvard University Neural Mechanisms underlying Establishing the pathophysiology of Role of epithelial-mesenchymal cross Locomotor Modulation of Complex gating charge mutations in neuronal talk during early-stage lung cancer Behavior dysfunction and behavioral disruption Diane LaVern-Lygette Nelson, PhD Cierra A. Birch, PhD Andrew Kekupa’a Knutson, PhD Carnegie Mellon University University of California-San Diego University of Hawaii Mechanisms of Molecular Regulation of PAR4 expression and Regulation of the hypoxic response by Transport in Drug-loaded Water-in- function by F2RL3 methylation chromatin factors in the mouse heart Perfluorocarbon Emulsions

Korey Brownstein, PhD Laramie Denise Lemon, PhD Nancy Padilla Coreano, PhD University of Chicago Emory University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Discovery of Defense Metabolites and Links between chromatin status and Neural circuits underlying social Their Regulatory Effects in Plants 3’ end mRNA processing dominance in mice

Alex J. Guseman, PhD David Rafael Martinez, PhD Brittany Louise Taylor, PhD University of Pittsburgh University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania Cataracts, a blinding attraction Defining Zika virus-specific neutralizing Therapeutic Potential of Extracellular between crystallin proteins and disease-enhancing IgG responses Vesicles for Tendon Injury Repair and Maintenance Nadia Herrera, PhD Michaelle Ntala Mayalu, PhD University of California-San Francisco California Institute of Technology Investigating the role of ESX-1 in Cell- Modeling and Implementation of Paradox- Cell communication of Mycobacteria ical Signaling Components in Bacteria using Control Theoretic Techniques

76 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANTS INDEX

Infectious Diseases

Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Theresa Alenghat, DVM., PhD Leigh Knodler, PhD Randy Stockbridge, PhD University of Cincinnati Washington State University University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Dietary regulation of innate intestinal Remain confined or break free? The molecular physiology of long- immunity Intracellular niche selection by Gram- range electrical communication in negative bacteria bacterial biofilms Francis Alonzo, PhD Loyola University-Chicago Kristin N. Parent, PhD Ellen Yeh, MD, PhD Deciphering how bacterial pathogens Michigan State University Stanford University evade innate immunity Enter the goliaths: structure and Targeting an ancient endosymbiosis function of giant virus entry in modern-day parasites Isaac M. Chiu, PhD mechanisms Harvard Medical School Neuronal regulation of influenza virus John W. Schoggins, PhD infection University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center-Dallas Jun R. Huh, PhD Genetic dissection of innate immune Harvard Medical School pathways that modulate viral infection Maternal gut bacteria, viral infection and neurodevelopmental disorder Kimberley D. Seed, PhD University of California-Berkeley Ivaylo Ivanov, PhD The impact of fluctuating microenvi- Columbia University ronments on phage-bacteria interac- Regulation of mucosal infections by tions in the human intestinal tract innate lymphoid cells

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 77 Interfaces in Science

Career Awards at the Scientific Interface Steven Mark Banik, PhD Livnat Jerby, PhD Sergey D. Stavisky, PhD Stanford University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stanford University Reprogramming proteins for targeted Deciphering immune evasion mech- Brain-computer interfaces to actualize degradation and intracellular trafficking anisms in cancer with single-cell the movements and speech of people technologies with paralysis Jennifer Ann Noelani Brophy, PhD Stanford University Christina K. Kim, PhD Jeffrey Robert Tithof, PhD Stanford University University of Rochester Fei Chen, PhD Simultaneous molecular activity Experimentally-validated simulations Massachusetts Institute of Technology recording and transcriptomics of of cerebrospinal fluid flow through Genomic tools for understanding brainwide neural ensembles the brain’s perivascular network spatial and dynamic organization of biological tissues Joseph William Larkin, PhD Mark Wagner, PhD University of California-San Diego Stanford University Víctor García-López, PhD Patterning microbial populations Computations, recurrent dynamics, Rice University through collective dynamics and learning in the cortex-cerebellum Molecular machines target, disrupt circuit underlying skilled behavior cell membranes, and kill cancer cells Jeffrey E. Markowitz, PhD and resistant bacteria Harvard Medical School Resolving the neural mechanisms of reinforcement learning through new behavioral and optical technologies

78 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANTS INDEX

Regulatory Science

Innovation in Regulatory Science Award Jessica Myers Franklin, PhD Christoph Hornik, MD, PhD Meghan Moran, PhD Harvard University Duke University Johns Hopkins University Evaluating the validity of real world Real world data to support pediatric Innovative methods to inform regulatory data for regulatory decision-making drug labeling action on tobacco product marketing through replication of randomized controlled trials Mona Jarrahi, PhD University of California-Los Angeles Brigitte Gomperts, MD, PhD High-throughput detection of carcino- University of California-Los Angeles genic aflatoxins in agricultural food Developing a screen to test the toxicity products through terahertz pulsed of new and emerging tobacco products imaging on the airway epithelium

Reproductive Science

Preterm Birth Initiative Nima Aghaeepour, PhD Mala S. Mahendroo, PhD Aleksandar Stanic-Kostic, MD, PhD Stanford University University of Texas Southwestern University of Wisconsin-Madison Multiomics Modeling of the Medical Center-Dallas Novel Innate Lymphoid Cells in Immunological Clock of Pregnancy Defining the Spatio-Temporal Drivers Preterm Birth of Cervical Remodeling in Pregnancy Adrian Erlebacher, MD, PhD and Parturition University of California-San Francisco Epigenetic regulation of labor onset Carole R. Mendelson, PhD University of Texas Southwestern Joanna Halkias, MD Medical Center-Dallas University of California-San Francisco Fetal-Maternal Signaling in the Harnessing immune regulatory mech- Initiation of Labor anisms to target the fetal inflammatory response in preterm birth

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 79 Science Education

Career Awards for Science and Mathematics Teachers Casandra S. Cherry Justin Jones Sallie Senseney Phillips Middle Ansonville Elementary School Mountain Heritage High School Edgecombe County Schools Anson County Schools Yancey County Schools

Renata Crawley Beverly Owens West Marion Elementary School Kings Mountain Middle School McDowell County Schools Cleveland County Schools

Student STEM Enrichment Program Aurora Fossil Museum McClintock Partners In Education UNC Institute for the Environment IMAGINE-NC: Integrating Pathways Summer Science Camp STEM Experiences in the Lab and Mathematics and Geology in Field (SELF) for Robeson Early Eastern North Carolina North Carolina State University College High School Students Programmed Robotics in the Catawba College After-School Makerspace: Wake County Public School System Girls on outdoor Adventure for A Four-County Initiative Exploring STEM Careers Leadership and Science (GALS) North Carolina State University Western Carolina University Communities In Schools of Cape Fear CRECER: Cultivating Research PEARO: Providing Equitable Access STEM After School Experiences with Community to Robotics Opportunities Engaged Roots Duke University Ignite: Empowering Students through STEM Education

80 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANTS INDEX

Ad Hoc

Biomedical Sciences Society for Neuroscience Duke University Medical Center Support for Trainee Professional Support for a Physician-Scientist Career Development Development Awards Training Summit for MD-PhD and American Physician Scientists Post-Graduate Physician-Scientist University of Colorado-Boulder Association (APSA) Training Program Directors Support for the Single Molecule Support for APSA’s 2018-2019 Biophysics meeting Gordon Research Conferences Mentorship Program Expansion Support for the Gordon Research University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill American Society for Cell Biology Conference on Membrane Protein Support for the 8th Annual Oliver Support for the Minorities Affairs Folding Smithies Nobel Symposium Committee and Women in Cell McGill University Faculty of Medicine Biology Committee Annual Meeting University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Support for the Canadian Medical Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Baylor College of Medicine Hall of Fame Center Support for the Alexander R. Matzuk Support for the UNC Lineberger University of Toronto Faculty of 2019-2020 speaker series and Comprehensive Cancer Center 43rd Medicine meeting support in lieu of honorarium Annual Symposium: Dysregulated Support for 2018 Clinician for CAMS advisory member Martin Signaling Pathways in Cancer: Investigator Trainee Association of M. Matzuk, MD, PhD Insights into Novel Mechanisms and Canada (CITAC) Annual General Federation of American Societies for Therapeutic Approaches Meeting Experimental Biology Support for the FASEB summer Medical Sciences Diversity in Science research conference on The Biology American Foundation for Suicide of Cilia and Flagella Prevention Duke University Support for the Inaugural Graduate International Society for Antiviral Support for AFSP’s 2019 mission to Diversity Enrichment Networking Research save lives and bring hope to those Event Support for the 2019 ISAR Gertrude affected by suicide in lieu of honorar- Elion Memorial Lecture Award and ium for CAMS advisory committee Society of General Physiologists 32nd International Conference on member Sarah H. Lisanby, MD Support for the Society of General Antiviral Research Physiologists 2019 Annual Symposium American Physician Scientists Keystone Symposia Association (APSA) University of Connecticut Health Center Support for 2019 underrepresented Support for the American Physician Support for a new National Roundtable early career scientist travel awards Scientists Association (APSA) 15th on Black Men and Black Women in and fellows program Annual Meeting Medicine, Engineering, and Science

Michigan State University Association for Clinical and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Support for URM undergraduates to Translational Science Support for the 4th Annual Diversity attend the 2019 SSR meeting Support for the Translational Science in STEM Conference meeting

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 81 Infectious Disease American Society of Tropical Georgetown University Medicine and Hygiene Support for the Emerging Artemisinin Career Development Support for the American Committee Resistance Workshop Children’s Science Center of Molecular, Cellular and Gordon Research Conferences Support for the Children’s Science Immunoparasitology (ACMCIP) Support for Gordon Research Center in Fairfax, Virginia in lieu of Scientific Program at the November Conference on Tropical Infectious 2019 honorarium to Dr. Maryrose 2019 Annual Meeting Diseases: From Innovation to Global Franko for CGT AC service Boston Children’s Hospital/ Health Solutions Graduate Career Consortium Harvard Medical School Gordon Research Conferences Support for the Graduate Career Support for a seminar to be presented Support for the 2019 Viruses and Consortium’s 2019 Annual Meeting by Dr. Nan Yan at Harvard Medical Cells Gordon Research Conference Creating Clarity and Community: A School Conference for Leaders in Graduate Canadian Association Gordon Research Conferences and Postdoctoral Career and of Postdoctoral Scholars Support for the 2019 Physical Professional Development Support for the 2018 Canadian Virology Gordon Research Conference University of Chicago Association of Postdoctoral Scholars Gordon Research Conferences Support for a GREAT Group Meeting Annual General Meeting Support for the Gordon Research Pre-Conference Workshop focused Cornell University Conference (GRC) Phagocytes meeting on Institutional Efforts to Optimize Support for funds to support the Mentoring Relationships for Graduate Gordon Research Conferences organization and running of the 2019 Students and Postdoctoral Scholars Support for the Malaria Gordon Burroughs Wellcome Fund Research Conference “Becoming Faculty” workshop General Gordon Research Conferences Cornell University College of Aegean Conferences, Inc. Support for a meeting on the Veterinary Medicine Immunology of Fungal Infections as Support for the 5th International Support for the 3rd National Conference on Model Hosts part of a Gordon Research Colloquium for Combined DVM/PhD Conference (GRC) and Gordon American Society for Microbiology Biomedical Scientists Research Seminar (GRS) Support to sponsor graduate trainees Federation of American Societies for and post-doctoral fellows in experiences Gordon Research Conferences Experimental Biology Support for the Gordon Research to increase their understanding around Support for the FASEB Microbial the profession of microbiology in 2019 Conference on Salmonella Biology Pathogenesis: Mechanisms of and Pathogenesis American Society for Virology Infectious Disease Scientific Support for the American Society for Research Conference Gordon Research Conferences Virology 2019 Annual Meeting Support for the 2019 Gordon Genetics Society of America Research Conference on Microbial American Society of Tropical Support for the 30th biennial Fungal Adhesion and Signal Transduction Medicine and Hygiene Genetics Conference Support for the 67th Annual Meeting

82 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANTS INDEX

Hospital for Sick Children Pennsylvania State University Trustees of the University Support for the International Support for the 2019 Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania Symposium on the Problems of Parasitology Conference (PAraCon) Support for Torres/Cadwell/Shin/ Listeriosis (ISOPOL) conference Brodsky Joint Host-Pathogen Saint Louis Science Center Interaction Research Retreat Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Support in lieu of 2019 honorarium to Support for the C.C. Wang Prize in Dr. Thi Nguyen for CGT AC service Tufts University Molecular Parasitology Support for the Burroughs Wellcome Stanford University Fund course Becoming Faculty: a Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Support for the Microbiology & short course on launching a scientific Support for the Biology of Parasitism Immunology Wednesday Seminar career (BoP) course at the Marine Biological Series: Michael Diamond Laboratory University of California-Berkeley Stanford University Support for seminar visit of Sunny Memorial Sloan-Kettering Support for the Microbiology & Shin, PhD Cancer Center Immunology Wednesday Seminar Support for PATH awardee Michael Series: Alexander Ploss University of California-Davis Shiloh, MD, PhD, to present a semina Support for the 12th annual Biology Stanford University and Mathematics in the Bay Area Memorial Sloan-Kettering Support for the Microbiology & (BaMBA) Conference Cancer Center Immunology Wednesday Seminar Support for a joint lab meeting for the Series: Manuela Raffatellu University of California-Merced laboratories of Dr. Robert Cramer and Support for the eighth Advanced Dr. Tobias Hohl Stanford University Lecture Course on Human fungal Support for the Microbiology & pathogens (HFP): molecular mecha- Midwinter Conference of Immunology Wednesday Seminar nisms of host-pathogen interactions Immunologists Series: Stephen Beverley and virulence Support for the 58th Annual Midwinter (John Boothroyd) Conference of Immunologists Poster University of California-San Diego Session Sponsorship Stanford University Support for PATH awardee, Igor Support for the Microbiology & Brodsky, Ph.D., to present a seminar National Academy of Sciences Immunology Wednesday Seminar Support for the National Academies’ Series: Raphael Valdivia University of California-San Diego Meeting of Experts on “Emerging (Denise Monack) Support for the Helminth Parasite Issues in Climate Change and Human Molecular Toolbox Travel Awards Health” in 2019 Stanford University Support for the Microbiology & University of California-San Francisco New York University School of Medicine Immunology Wednesday Seminar UCSF Microbial Pathogenesis Support for CABS Awardee Thomas Series: Stacy Horner Seminar Series: Igor Brodsky, PhD Bernhardt, PhD of Harvard University (Justin Sonnenburg) to present a seminar at New York University of California-San Francisco University Stony Brook Foundation Support for the 22nd Bay Area Support for the ICB&DD 13th Annual Microbial Pathogenesis Symposium Symposium, “Frontiers of Infectious (BAMPS) Disease Control”

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 83 University of California-Santa Cruz University of Pennsylvania University of Virginia Support for the Bacterial Locomotion Support for the Molecular Support for the 2019 Mid-Atlantic and Signal Transduction 2019 Parasitology Meeting (MPM) Faculty Microbial Pathogenesis Meeting Conference Retreat: Reimagining Parasitology for the next 30 years University of Washington University of Colorado School Support for the meeting of Medicine University of Pennsylvania School of “ImmunoSkamania – Envisioning the Support for the 2019 International Veterinary Medicine future of Immunology” Meeting – Parasitic Helminths: New Support for BWF-HHMI partnership Perspectives in Biology and Infection veterinary student training program University of Wisconsin-Madison fellow Sabina Hlavaty Support for BWF PATH Fellow Adam University of Minnesota College of Lauring, MD, PhD to present a Veterinary Medicine University of Texas Health Science seminar Support for BWF-HHMI partnership Center-San Antonio veterinary student training program Support for the meeting on Molecular Vanderbilt University School fellow Kristin Snyder Helminthology-An integrated approach of Medicine Support for PATH awardee, Aimee University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill University of Texas Southwestern Shen, PhD, to present a seminar Support for Daniel B. Stetson, PhD, Medical Center-Dallas University of Washington, to present Support for PATH awardee, Peter Vanderbilt University School a seminar Turnbaugh, PhD, to present a seminar of Medicine Support for PATH awardee Catherine University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill University of Texas Southwestern Blish, M.D., Ph.D. to present a seminar Support for Julie Pfeiffer, PhD, Medical Center-Dallas University of Texas Southwestern Support for a seminar presented by Washington University Medical Center, to present a seminar Arturo Casadevall Support for the Gordon Research Conference on Staphylococcal University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill University of Texas Southwestern Diseases Support for Gregory F. Sonnenberg, Medical Center-Dallas PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine, to Support for PATH awardee Christina present a seminar Stallings, PhD to present a seminar Interfaces in Science

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill University of Texas Southwestern American Institute of Chemical Support for Harmit Singh Malik, PhD, Medical Center-Dallas Engineers Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Support for Denise Monack, Ph.D to Support for the Regenerative Center, to present a seminar present a seminar Engineering Society

University of Pennsylvania University of Toledo American Psychological Foundation Support for the 23rd annual Woods Support for the Midwest Microbial Support for the Scholarships to Hole Immunoparasitology Meeting Pathogenesis Conference (MMPC) Enhance and Empower Diversity (SEED) program

84 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANTS INDEX

American Society of Gene International Society for Population and & Cell Therapy Cellular Therapy Support for the 22nd Annual Meeting Support for the 2019 Annual Laboratory Sciences and Outstanding New Investigator Scientific Meeting American Civil Liberties Union Symposium Foundation, Inc. Johns Hopkins University Payment in lieu of honorarium for Biophysical Society Support for Reception for Dr. Julie C. Mitchell for service on the Support for Burroughs Wellcome Robophysics: Physics Meets Burroughs Wellcome Fund Quantitative Fund’s sponsored programs at the Robotics Session and Statistical Thinking in the Life 63rd Annual Meeting Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sciences Advisory Committee Carnegie Mellon University Support for junior travel fellowships Doctors Without Borders USA, Inc. Support for the 9th International to the Fluids and Health 2019 Payment in lieu of honorarium for Workshop on Statistical Analysis of Conference Claudia Neuhauser, PhD for her work Neural Data (SAND9) New York University on the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Computational and Systems Support for Information Processing in Quantitative and Statistical Thinking in Neuroscience (Cosyne) Single Cells / Summer Workshop the Life Sciences Advisory Committee Support for the 2019 meeting North Carolina State University Georgia Tech Research Corporation Support for the Joint Department of Regulatory Science Support for the Quantitative Biomedical Engineering student Arkansas Research Alliance Biosciences Hands-On Modeling CYBATHLON 2020 Team Out of the Support for the 2019 Global Summit Workshop Gait for Regulatory Science Gordon Research Conferences Regents of the University of Michigan Health Research Alliance, Inc. (HRA) Support for the Biomaterials and Support for the Annual National General support for 2019 Tissue Engineering Gordon Research Institutional Research and Academic Seminar (GRS) Development Awards Conference LaunchBio, Inc. Support for LaunchBio, Inc. work- Human Vaccines Project Society for Biomaterials shops in regulatory sciences for life Support for Scientific Symposium: The Support for Travel Fellowships science entrepreneurs in 2019 Future of Vaccine and Immunotherapy University of Pennsylvania Development – Towards an Artificial MidSouth Computational Biology and Support for the 3rd “Bottom Up Cell Intelligence Driven Model of the Bioinformatics Society (MCBIOS) Biology” special interest subgroup at Human Immune System Support for the 3rd Annual Massive the American Society for Cell Biology Analysis Quality Control Society 2018 meeting Conference

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 85 National Academy of Sciences Society for the Study of Reproduction North Carolina Community Support for the Forum on Support for SSR’s 52nd Annual Foundation/North Carolina Network Regenerative Medicine in 2019 Conference: Beyond Possible: of Grantmakers Remarkable Transformation of Support for 2018-19 National Academy of Sciences Reproductive Biology Support for the Forum on Drug North Carolina Community Discovery, Development, and University of Missouri-Columbia Foundation/North Carolina Network Translation School of Medicine of Grantmakers Support for the 2019 RSDP Scholar Support for 2019-20 New York Stem Cell Foundation Dinner and Executive Committee Support for the New York Stem Cell Meeting North Carolina State University Foundation (NYSCF) 2019 Annual Support for the project titled Translational Stem Cell Research University of Missouri-Columbia “Transitioning to Implementation of a Conference School of Medicine Pilot North Carolina Science, Support for the 2018-2019 RSDP Technology, Engineering and Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Seed Grant Phase II Scholars Mathematics Policy Fellowship” Medicine International Society (TERMIS)-Americas University of Missouri-Columbia Open Notebook Support for the TERMIS-AM Annual School of Medicine Support for the fellowship program Conference and Exhibition Support for RSDP scholar research and the “Best of TON” book proposal related expenses 2018-2019 Open Notebook Reproductive Sciences University of Texas Health Science Support for Science Storytellers Center-Houston Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Support for Reproductive Scientists Sigma Xi, The Scientific Support for the 2019-2021 sessions for Women’s Health meeting entitled: Research Society of the Frontiers in Reproduction from Preconception to the Cradle Support for Tools for Communicating course Science (Sessions Track at Sigma Xi’s Annual Meeting) Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Science and Philanthropy Support for the Frontiers in Sigma Xi, The Scientific Reproduction (FIR) 22nd Annual Communications Research Society Symposium American Association for the Support for the Science Communicators of North Carolina Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Advancement of Science Support for the Mike McClure Support for the 2019 AAAS Mass University of California Museum Scholarship for Frontiers in Media Fellows Program of Paleontology Reproduction 2019 Center for Excellence in Support for the Coalition for the Health Care Journalism Public Understanding of Science Society for Reproductive Investigation Unconference Support for SRI 66th Annual Support for Health Journalism Scientific Meeting: “From Innovation National Academy of Sciences World Federation of Science Journalists to Impact” Support for the Science Communication Support for the 2019 World Initiative: Advancing Science Conference of Science Journalists Communication Research and Practice

86 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANTS INDEX

General Philanthropy Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Science Policy Support for marine equipment, American Institute American Academy of Arts supplies and repairs of Biological Sciences and Sciences Support for the 2019 AIBS Council Morgridge Institute for Support for a new intiative in the Meeting: “Beyond Specimens” Research Foundation biomedical sciences that will increase Support for travel grants for the involvement of biomedical scien- Association for Women in Science tists, including physician-scientists Support for renewal of the Burroughs researchers at the Morgridge Institute for Research Wellcome Fund-AWIS Partnership dues National Academy of Sciences Support for the workshop titled Canadian Association of National Humanities Center Beyond Despair: Next Steps in “Understanding the Current and Postdoctoral Administrators Environmental Humanities Future Roles of Staff Scientists in Support for the annual conference Biomedical Research” National Postdoctoral Association Council on Foundations Queen’s University Support for 2019 Support for the 17th Annual Conference Support for the Conferences on Fight for Sight Inc. Statistics, Science and Public Policy North Carolina Community Support for the 2019 Weisenfeld Stony Brook Foundation Reception at the Association for Foundation/North Carolina Network of Grantmakers Support for Assessing Scientists’ Research in Vision and Opthamology Willingness to Engage in Science Conference Support for N.C. Network of Grantmakers Communications Communication Food and Environment Reporting North Carolina Community Network (FERN) Special Award Support for the Gastropod Coverage Foundation/North Carolina Network Council for Entrepreneurial of Biomedical Research of Grantmakers Support for the Communications Development Foundation Center Training Initiative – Phase 1 Support for the 35th Anniversary Support for 2018-19 Engine of Innovation event PEAK Grantmaking Friends of Sir M.B. Davis Jewish Support for 2019-2020 Environmental Mutagenesis and General Hospital Genomics Society Support for the Lady Davis Institute Teach For America Eastern Support for the symposium: The Distinguished Lectures 2018-2019 North Carolina Mechanisms of Genome Maintenance: Supporting Racial Equity Institute at A Tribute to Paul Modrich Friends of Sir M.B. Davis Jewish Teach For America Eastern North General Hospital Carolina Residency Grantmakers for Education Support for the Distinguished Support for 2019-20 Lectureship Series University of Wisconsin-Madison Suppport for the microscopy Heart Of Los Angeles Youth Inc. HHT Foundation International outreach effort Support for promoting education, Support for travel awards to the 13th including health and science, to HHT International Scientific Conference students ages 6-24 in underserved areas of Los Angeles, through the HOLA afterschool program in order to prepare them for post-secondary education

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 87 Science Education Johnston County Early North Carolina Science College Academy Teachers Association Special Award Support for professional development Support for the 2019-20 Conference North Carolina Association activities North Carolina Society of Hispanic for Biomedical Research Mooresville Graded School District Professionals Support for Bridging the Gap: Uniting Support for the professional develop- Support for the TuPortalSTEM iniative North Carolina K-16 STEM Education ment activities on behalf of Lindsay North Carolina State University North Carolina Department Smith, BWF CASMT finalist, for the Foundation of Public Instruction 2019-20 school year Support for Diversity in Leadership: a Support for the Burroughs Wellcome Mount Olive College 2019-2020 BWF-Kenan Fellowship Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Support for STEM on the Green Year Program North Carolinas Northeast Economic Movement of Youth Development Foundation Science Education Support for the NC STEM Mentoring Support for the STEM East Coalition Ecosystem: 2019 E2 Summit Support Afterschool Alliance Support for the STEM West Regional National Association of Academies RE-Brand NC Education Ecosystem – VISTA Member Support of Science Support for the project titled “Shifting Support for the American Junior the Conversation: Future Focused Alexander Central High School Academy of Sciences to host pre- Schools Led by Future Focused Support for professional development college STEM leaders at the annual Leaders” activities on behalf of Rebecca Dupuis, AAAS meeting finalist for the BWF CASMT Award Robbins Elementary School North Carolina Museum Support for professional development Boys & Girls Club of the Sandhills of Natural Sciences opportunities on behalf of Kimberly Support for the STEM Enrichment Support for RACE 2.0 Exhibit Build Collazo, BWF CASMT finalist, for the Summer Camp Out and Purchase 2019-20 school year

Catawba County Schools North Carolina School of Science University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Support for Scaling STEM West and Mathematics Foundation Support for the 2018-2019 CASMT Duke University Support for the North Carolina STEM Evaluation Support for the BOOST 2019 Hall of Fame Gala University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Field Trips North Carolina School of Science Support for the visit of astronauts EducationNC and Mathematics Foundation Charlie Duke and Mae Jemison to General support Support for the Burroughs Wellcome visit the Triangle Fund Endowment for Student Research, Mentorship, and Innovation University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill at the second North Carolina School Support for North Carolina DNA Day of Science and Mathematics campus for visits by local scientists to high in Morganton, North Carolina school classrooms throughout the state

88 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANTS INDEX

Wake STEM Early College North Carolina Alliance for School North Carolina State University High School Leadership Development 2020 National Science Olympiad Get a Grip: Creating Soft Robotic Support for the expansion of the Tournament Grippers via Self-folding by Infrared North Carolina Inquiry Collaborative Activation Network Professional Engineers of North Carolina Education Foundation Wilkes Early College High School North Carolina Association for Support for the North Carolina Future Support for professional development Biomedical Research City Competition activities on behalf of Kelly Pipes, Support for Bridging the Gap 2018 BWF CASMT Award finalist, for the and 2019 STEM Education Public School Forum of 2019-20 school year Conference North Carolina Support for the North Carolina North Carolina Chamber Foundation International Science Challenge SMT Support for the North Carolina BattelleEd ORG Chamber Conference on Education Research Triangle Institute Support for the STEMx North and Workforce Support for the North Carolina Large Carolina State Participation District Math and Science North Carolina Department of Collaborative James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Public Instruction Educational Leadership and Policy Support for the NC STEM Schools of University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Foundation Distinction Recognition Program Foundation Support for the project titled Support for the North Carolina “Supporting College and Career North Carolina School of Science STEM Calendar Readiness in North Carolina” and Mathematics Foundation Support for the North Carolina University of North Carolina- North Carolina Alliance for School Student Academy of Science Wilmington Support for the Fourth Annual PK-12 Leadership Development Delegation to the AAAS/AJAS Support for Digital Leadership Annual Meeting STEM Education Conference Institute for Superintendents North Carolina Science Fair North Carolina Alliance for School Foundation Leadership Development Support for the 2019 North Carolina Support for the Aspiring Science and Engineering Fair Superintendent Program North Carolina Science Fair North Carolina Alliance for School Foundation Leadership Development Support for the North Carolina Support for the Next Generation Science and Engineering Fair Superintendent Development Program Capacity Building Grant

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 89 Advisory Committees

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund Biomedical Sciences Sarah H. Lisanby, MD uses advisory committees for Director, Division of Translational CAREER AWARDS FOR Research each competitive award program MEDICAL SCIENTISTS Director, Noninvasive Neuromodulation to review grant applications and Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and make recommendations to BWF’s Derek Abbott, MD, PhD (Co-Chair) Pathophysiology Branch Arline H. and Curtis F. Gavin National Institute of Mental Health Board of Directors, which makes Professor of Medicine the final decisions. We select Department of Pathology Elizabeth McNally, MD, PhD members of these committees for Case Western Reserve University Elizabeth J Ward Chair and Director, their scientific and educational Center for Genetic Medicine Leslie J. Berg, PhD Northwestern University Feinberg expertise in the program areas. Professor, Department of Pathology School of Medicine In addition, BWF uses a financial University of Massachusetts Medical advisory committee to help in School Heather C. Mefford, MD, PhD Associate Professor, Pediatrics developing and reviewing the Chester W. Brown, MD, PhD Division of Genetic Medicine St. Jude Chair of Excellence in Genetics BWF’s investment policies. This University of Washington committee is appointed by and Professor of Division Chief of Genetics Department of Pediatrics W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD reports to the Board of Directors. University of Tennessee Health Cornelius Abernathy Craig Professor Science Center of Medicine and Biochemistry Director, Division of Hematology Paul Buckmaster, DVM, PhD and Oncology Professor Vanderbilt University Medical Center Deptartment of Comparative Medicine Stanford University Upinder Singh, MD Division Chief, Infectious Diseases Kathleen H. Burns, MD, PhD and Geographic Medicine Professor of Pathology and Oncology Associate Professor, Departments of Director, Physician Scientist Training Internal Medicine, Microbiology and Program Immunology Deputy Director for Research and Stanford University School of Medicine Programs, Department of Pathology Johns Hopkins University School of Barry Sleckman, MD, PhD Medicine Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Kathleen Caron, Ph.D. (Co-Chair) Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell Professor of Cell Biology & University Physiology and Genetics Chair, Dept. of Cell Biology & Physiology John York, PhD University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Natalie Overall Warren Professor and Chair Seth Field, MD, PhD Department of Biochemistry Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism University of California-San Diego

90 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH Mahalia S. Desruisseaux, MD Blanton S. Tolbert, PhD TRAVEL GRANTS Associate Professor of Internal Professor Medicine(Infectious Diseases) Case Western Reserve University Matthew Redinbo, PhD Yale University School of Medicine Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry Kelsey Martin, MD, PhD Infectious Diseases University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Dean for the David Geffen School INVESTIGATORS IN THE of Medicine Professor of Biological PATHOGENESIS OF INFECTIOUS Keith Weninger, PhD Chemistry and Psychiatry and DISEASE Associate Professor, Department Biobehavioral Sciences of Physics University of California-Los Angeles Blossom Damania, PhD North Carolina State University Professor of Microbiology Louis J. Muglia, MD, PhD & Immunology and Vice Dean John York, PhD President and CEO for Research Natalie Overall Warren Professor Burroughs Wellcome Fund of Biochemistry University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Chair, Department of Biochemistry Maurizio Del Poeta, MD Vanderbilt University School of Diversity in Science Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine POSTDOCTORAL ENRICHMENT Genetics & Microbiology PROGRAM Stony Brook School of Medicine PHYSICIAN-SCIENTIST INSTITUTIONAL AWARD Joey V. Barnett, PhD Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD Professor Professor, Department of Medicine, Emery N. Brown, MD, PhD Vanderbilt University Molecular Microbiology, Pathology Warren M. Zapol Professor & Immunology of Anaesthesia Kami Kim, MD (Chair) Washington University School Harvard Medical School/ Professor of Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital University of South Florida Edward Hood Taplin Professor Katherine A. Fitzgerald, PhD of Medical Engineering and George M. Langford, PhD Professor, Department of Medicine Professor of Biology Computational Neuroscience University of Massachusetts Medical Dean Emeritus of the College of Arts Massachusetts Institute of Technology School and Sciences David N. Cornfield, MD Syracuse University Akiko Iwasaki, PhD Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor HHMI Investigator in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine Carla Mattos, PhD Professor of Immunobiology, and Professor Professor, by courtesy, of Surgery Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Northeastern University Stanford University Biology Yale University School of Medicine Gina R. Poe, PhD Terence S. Dermody, MD Professor Vira I. Heinz Professor and Chair of Denise Kirschner, PhD University of California-Los Angeles Pediatrics Professor of Microbiology Professor, Department of and Molecular Genetics Microbiology and Immunology Michael Summers, PhD University of Michigan School University of Pittsburgh School HHMI Investigator Professor of of Medicine of Medicine Chemistry and Biochemistry Physician-in-Chief and Scientific Director University of Maryland, Baltimore Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh County of UPMC

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 91 Harmit S. Malik, PhD (Chair) Interfaces in Science Linda Petzold, PhD Member, Division of Basic Sciences Professor, Department of Computer & HHMI Investigator CAREER AWARDS AT THE Science and Department of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research SCIENTIFIC INTERFACE Mechanical Engineering Center University of California-Santa Barbara Anne Churchland, PhD Eric G. Pamer, MD Associate Professor, Neuroscientist Matthew R. Redinbo, PhD Director, Duchossois Family Institute Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Chair, Department of Chemistry University of Chicago Departments of Chemistry, Todd Coleman, PhD Biochemistry, Microbiology and Professor of Bioengineering Barbara Papadopoulou, BPharm, Genomics University of California-San Diego PhD, FCAHS University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Professor of Microbiology and Adrienne L. Fairhall, PhD Director, Division of Infectious Aviv Regev, PhD Associate Professor Diseases and Immunity Chair of the Faculty and Core Member Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics CHU de Quebec Research Center Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University of Washington Laval University School of Medicine Brent R. Stockwell, PhD Loren Frank, PhD Eric Skaar, PhD, MPH Associate Professor Biological Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Director, Vanderbilt Institute Sciences and Chemistry Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Early Career Scientist of the Howard Professor Inflammation (VI4) Hughes Medical Institute University of California-San Francisco Ernest W. Goodpasture Professor Columbia University Vice Chair for Basic Research Robert E. Kass, PhD Shyni Varghese, PhD Chief, Division of Molecular Maurice Falk Professor of Statistics Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Pathogenesis and Computational Neuroscience Mechanical Engineering & Materials Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Statistics, Machine Science and Orthopaedic Surgery Learning, and the Center for Neural Vanessa Sperandio, PhD Duke University Basis of Cognition Professor of Microbiology and Carnegie Mellon University Biochemistry Regulatory Science University of Texas Southwestern Cato T. Laurencin, MD, PhD Medical Center University Professor INNOVATION IN Director, Institute for Regenerative REGULATORY SCIENCE E. John Wherry, PhD Engineering & the Raymond Professor of Microbiology and Sandy Allerheiligen, PhD and Beverly Sackler Center for Director, Institute of Immunology Senior Vice President of Health Biomedical, Biological, Physical University of Pennsylvania Perelman Economics & Education and Engineering Science School of Medicine Certara University of Connecticut Health Center David Acheson, MD Alison Marsden, PhD President and CEO Associate Professor The Acheson Group, LLC Stanford University Robert Califf, MD Vice Chancellor for Health Data Science Duke University Health System

92 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Andrea Leonard-Segal, MD Hyagriv N. Simhan, M.D., M.S. STUDENT STEM Associate Clinical Professor Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology, ENRICHMENT PROGRAM of Medicine and Reproductive Sciences George Washington University Executive Vice Chair, Obstetrical Yolanda Comedy, Ph.D. School of Medicine Services American Association for the Director, Patient Care Delivery Advancement of Science Christy L. Shaffer, PhD Innovation and Technology, UPMC General Partner, Hatteras Venture Connie Locklear University of Pittsburgh School Division of Indian Education Partners of Medicine Managing Director, Hatteras Discovery Public Schools of Robeson County Jerome F. Strauss, III, M.D., Ph.D. Alastair J.J. Wood, MD (Chair) Eric D. Packenham Professor of Obstetrics Principal Investigator, GEAR UP Professor of Medicine and and Gynecology, Human Pharmacology Grant, US Department of Education and Molecular Genetics Senior Lecturer, Utah State University Weill Medical College of Cornell Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University and Physiology and Biophysics Celestine Pea, PhD Partner, Symphony Capital, LLC Virginia Commonwealth University STEM Education Consultant

Reproductive Sciences Jeffrey A. Whitsett, M.D. Steve Saucier Co-Director, Perinatal Institute President PRETERM BIRTH INITIATIVE Chief, Section of Neonatology, Carolina Aviation Museum Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology Susan Fisher, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati Children’s William Franklin Scott Sr. Professor Hospital Retired, High School and Middle Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology School Principal and Reproductive Sciences University of California-San Francisco Science Education Marco Zarate President and Co-founder Louis J. Muglia, M.D., Ph.D. (Chair) CAREER AWARDS FOR SCIENCE North Carolina Society of Hispanic President and CEO AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS Professiona Burroughs Wellcome Fund David Marsland Amy P. Murtha, M.D. Science Content Specialist Chair, Department of Obstetrics, Discovery Education Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Angela Quick, EdD University of California-San Francisco RTI International

D. Michael Nelson, M.D., Ph.D. Honorable Bobbie Richardson, EdS Virginia S. Lang Professor North Carolina General Assembly and Vice Chair Former Director of Exception Children Department of Obstetrics Vance County Schools (retired) and Gynecology Washington University School of Medicine

2019 ANNUAL REPORT 93 Board of Directors and Staff

Board of Directors Executive Staff Finance Programs Brenda Andrews, PhD Louis J. Muglia, MD, PhD Ken Browndorf Debra J. Holmes President and CEO Senior Asset and Senior Program Associate Emery N. Brown, MD, PhD Accounting Manager Scott Schoedler Alfred Mays Terence S. Dermody, MD Vice President, Finance Jennifer Caraballo Program Officer Brian Druker, MD Accountant Victoria McGovern, PhD Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD Communications Senior Program Officer Information Technology Wendell Lim, PhD Russ Campbell Kelly Rose, PhD Senior Communications Officer Sammy Caraballo Program Officer Kelsey Martin, MD, PhD (Chair) Systems and Web Engineer Melanie Scott Louis J. Muglia, MD, PhD Facilities and Wendell Jones Senior Program Associate Lauretta Reeves, CFA, AWMA Administration Technology Coordinator and Database Specialist Christine Seidman, MD Muno Sekhon Brent Epps Program Associate Jenny Ting, PhD Facilities Administrative Meetings Assistant Rolly L. Simpson Jr. Honorary Member Barbara Evans Administrative Meeting Senior Program Officer Philip R. Tracy Glenda H. Gilbert Senior Manager, Facilities Assistant Tiffanie Taylor and Administration Lori Hedrick Program Associate Betsy Stewart Meeting Professional Kendra Tucker Administrative Assistant Senior Programs Assistant and Data Specialist Program Contact Information

Biomedical Sciences; Career Guidance; Diversity in Science; Communications/Media Reproductive Sciences Infectious Diseases; Science Education Russ Campbell Population and Laboratory Rolly Simpson Alfred Mays Senior Communications Officer Senior Program Officer Based Sciences Program Officer [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Victoria P. McGovern, PhD Debra Holmes Senior Program Officer Tiffanie Taylor Program Information Senior Program Associate [email protected] Program Associate [email protected] [email protected] The most up-to-date Muno Sekhon information about our pro- Senior Program Associate grams, including complete [email protected] Interfaces in Science; application information, can Regulatory Science; be found on our website at Translational Research www.bwfund.org. Kelly Rose, PhD Program Officer [email protected]

Melanie B. Scott Senior Program Associate and Database Specialist [email protected]

94 BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND

21 T. W. Alexander Drive P. O. Box 13901 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3901 919.991.5100 @bwfund www.bwfund.org