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Boyce Thompson Institute 533 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14853-1801 607.288.3554 Capacity Curiosity Capacity Curiosity Email: [email protected]

2018 IN REVIEW Discoveries Discoveries Boyce Thompson Institute 533 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14853-1801 607.288.3554 Capacity Curiosity Capacity Curiosity Email: [email protected]

2018 IN REVIEW Discoveries Discoveries LEADERSHIP

Capacity Curiosity OFFICERS Susan McCouch, Ph.D. Kira Sheinerman, Ph.D., M.B.A. Paul Chomet, Ph.D. Gregory J. Galvin, Chair Adjunct Faculty, Boyce CEO Ph.D. Paul Chomet, Vice Chair Thompson Institute DiamiR Biosciences Corp. Arthur Grossman, Staff Scientist, Carnegie David B. Stern, President and CEO Professor, Plant Breeding and Princeton, NJ Institution for Science Sophia A. Darling, MBA Treasurer Genetics Section, Managing Director, Vice President, Finance & Operations School of Integrative Plant Science Investment Banking Department of Plant Biology Adjunct Professor Stephanie Meyer, Vice President Cornell University H.C. Wainwright & Co. Advancement Ithaca, NY New York, NY Stanford University Department of Biology, Stanford, CA Amy Yanosh, Assistant Secretary, Executive Assistant Paula Mueller, Esq. Christine Smart, Ph.D. Managing Director & General Counsel Professor, Plant Pathology and Jacqueline Heard, Ph.D., M.B.A. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Parkview Wealth Management Plant-Microbe Biology Section Eric Lyons, Ph.D. Gregory J. Galvin, Ph.D. Chair New York, NY Director, School of Integrative Associate Professor Chairman and CEO, Plant Science CyVerse, BIO5 Institute Rheonix Inc., Ithaca, NY Jan Nyrop, Ph.D. Cornell University Associate Dean and Director The School of Plant Sciences Ithaca, NY University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Paul Chomet, Ph.D., Vice Chair Cornell Agritech Strategic Consultant, College of Agriculture and John W. Townsend Christine Smart, Ph.D. Advancing NRGene, St. Louis, MO Life Sciences President Geneva, NY J.W. Townsend & Company Jane Silverthorne** “I don’t know where these experiments are going Kathryn Boor, Ph.D. New York, NY Retired – Deputy Assistant Director discoveries Ronald P. Lynch Dean, Mary Opperman Directorate for Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Vice President, Chief Human David B. Stern, President and CEO National Science Foundation to lead… But the possibilities! I lay awake nights for a Life Sciences Resources Officer Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY Alexandria, VA Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Cornell University Ithaca, NY Charles H. Trautmann** sometimes, thinking about them.” - W.B. Thompson Discoveries healthier April Burke Department of Human Development President, Roy H. Park, Jr. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY *We are grateful for the dedicated world Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC President and CEO, service of Laura Philips (2006 through Washington, DC Park Outdoor Advertising of EMERITUS DIRECTORS 2018). She brought an unflagging New York, Inc. Evelyn Berezin, New York, NY*** passion and devotion for the BTI Lourdes Casanova, Ph.D. President and Chairman, Mary Clutter, Ph.D., Washington, DC mission, always imagining a brighter Senior Lecturer of Management Triad Foundation, Inc. Ezra Cornell, Ithaca, NY and more impactful future. Under her and Academic Director of Emerging Ithaca, NY Paul Hatfield, St. Louis, MO gracious leadership, BTI diversified and Markets Institute, Christian C. Hohenlohe, strengthened its board, maintained S.C. Johnson School of Management, Laura Philips, Ph.D.* Washington, DC an openness and thirst for new ideas Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Founder & CEO Robert M. Pennoyer, New York, NY and directions, and fostered a sense of Spheryx, Inc community and mutual engagement. Peter Cornelius, Ph.D. New York, NY SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD We are stronger for her belief in Managing Director Mary Lou Guerinot, Ph.D., Chair mentoring, growth and the possibilities AlpInvest Partners/The Carlyle Group Nancy Rawson, M.Sc., Ph.D. Ronald and Deborah Harris Professor of plant science. New York, NY Associate Director/Associate Member in the Sciences, Monell Chemical Senses Center Department of Biological Sciences Mary Lou Guerinot, Ph.D. ** BTI welcomes new Board member, Philadelphia, PA Dartmouth College Charles H. Trautmann and new Ronald and Deborah Harris Professor Hanover, NH in the Sciences Oliver W. Schulze Scientific Advisory Board member, Jane Department of Biological Sciences, Partner, Curo Pet Care Sir David Baulcombe, Ph.D. Silverthorne. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH San Francisco, CA Head of Department, Department of Plant Sciences *** Evelyn Berezin, Emeritus Director, Jacqueline Heard, Ph.D., M.B.A. University of Cambridge passed away in December. Venture Partner, Anterra Capital Cambridge, UK Boston, MA TABLE OF CONTENTS

With world Discoverypopulation predicted to reach nine billion by Improving a Minor Crop 6 2050, understanding the principles underlying agriculture is increasingly crucial. BTI faculty researchers are dedicated to making scientific discoveries that can speed the development Unlocking Secrets of of sustainable agriculture and healthier food an Ancient Relationship 7 production. BTI discoveries have the potential not only to help increase the food supply, but also to enhance the nutritional value of foods in developing worlds, to reduce the need Studying Insects for fertilizers and pesticides, and to produce to Save Citrus 8 cheaper vaccines.

Enabling Farmers in the Developing World 10 More than BTI had BTI has 33,000 over acres have 128 been peer-reviewed 9,500 abandoned sq. ft. of Mission To advance and communicate scientific publications due to citrus in greenhouse greening scientific discovery in plant biology to improve President’s Letter 2 2018 space disease agriculture, protect the environment, and Board Chair Letter 3 devoted to research enhance human health Director of Research Letter 4 Faculty 5 Vision The Boyce Thompson Institute will be known internationally for research Research Highlights 6 excellence in plant biology and discoveries Technology Transfer 14 Chronic food deprivation that benefit society Education & OutreachBTI 16 reviewed 27 reached nearly BTI received nearly business partnerships Communications 17 $1.9 million in in 2018To view this report online, please821 philanthropic support Post Graduates 18 visit www.BTIscience.org. in 2018 million Alumni 19 Design by Iron Design; Photographypeople by Chris in 2017 Kitchen, Sheryl Sinkow, Dede Hatch, Christopher Philanthropy Knight (NextGen Cassava, International 20 Programs, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), John Wiley, Jotham Austin II, R. Financials 24 Howard Berg, Stephanie Zettl, Patricia Okubara, About the cover: BTI’s Guillaume Bauchet (left) with Ismail Pixabay, Shutterstock.com, Lukas Mueller, Jason Rabbi, a cassava geneticist from the International Institute Leadership 25 Koski/Cornell Brand Communications with of Tropical Agriculture, at a cassava research trial plot additional photography from BTI staff. Photos of Polly Burchfield and the NRCRI team provided. of the National Crops Resources Research Institute in Namulonge, Uganda. PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Dear Friends, opportunities. At the same time, behind every discovery is a scientist—or “Food security” refers to having adequate more often a team of scientists—who access to affordable, nutritious food, and themselves benefit from BTI’s unique was at the top of William B. Thompson’s and dedicated business and core facilities mind as the Institute was conceived support staff, whose services span nearly 100 years ago. It is, however, a project management to laboratory safety, deceptively simple concept because freeing researchers to focus on their culture, diet, political and emotional science. BTI’s advancement office and factors also play a role. outreach department engage the public, BTI, in keeping with its mission, focuses on alumni, budding scientists and educators the scientific needs behind improving food to involve them in our mission through security locally, nationally and globally. Our events, communications and internships. hope is that BTI discoveries will contribute Food security, like the climate change that to an integrated solution to a dynamic global overlays it, is a problem of our time. BTI challenge impacted by population growth, that is increasingly livening salads, jams and believes in being at the forefront of science migration and climate change. dessert choices. BTI partnered with Cornell that can help humanity both cope and thrive The way in which agriculture responds University and the Cornell Cooperative in the face of such challenges. By emphasizing to climate change will have much to say Extension to involve local farms and citizen collaboration across the institute, and by about future food security. One relevant scientists in groundcherry growth and allying with scientists across the campus and area in which BTI excels is plant response marketing trials. Simultaneously, a high-profile around the world, BTI is fully committed to to stress. For example, insect, bacterial and study in collaboration with Cold Spring Harbor making a difference. To find out more about fungal pathogens invade new territories demonstrated the ability to domesticate our accomplishments and plans, please as weather patterns change. Discoveries groundcherry through gene editing. These explore our report. about bacterial speck resistance in diverse new varieties are being designed to create new tomato species, unravelling the mysteries economic opportunities for farmers, while of how viruses and bacteria infect crops, providing the public with an attractive and and understanding how natural variation nutritious food option. contributes to species resilience, all have At BTI, discoveries are at the heart of our possibilities for further applications. mission, which must be connected to David Stern There is also a strong cultural connection those who can further their commercial President to food security, such as the desire to eat applications, to ultimately benefit society. BTI seasonally and locally. One exciting project in BTI has an outstanding team that manages 2018 involved groundcherry, a little-known licensing, partnerships and startups but highly nutritious relative of the tomatillo to provide space for entrepreneurial 2 FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

Dear Friends and Colleagues, for discovery. Oliver Schulze was Having served as instrumental in The first thing I would like to do at the end the chair of the arranging a private of a successful year at BTI is to thank my Sciencenter board, gathering at The predecessor, Laura Philips, for her outstanding I saw first-hand Knickerbocker Club leadership as Board Chair. Laura brought how Charlie’s work in New York City, business expertise, scientific acumen and inspired both our which provided thoughtful reflection to the BTI Board. Under local community the board and her leadership, the board grew in diversity, and the one million representatives depth and engagement, all to the benefit of people across the from the the Institute. I am also very grateful that Laura advancement country he touched has agreed to continue her involvement with office an by way of traveling BTI through our new Development Task Force. opportunity to exhibits. Charlie share BTI science is also a visiting The experience and expertise on the board with prominent scholar in Cornell’s is exceptional, and it became even more so New York Department of in 2018 when we added Mary Opperman and professionals. Charles Trautmann to our ranks. Both Mary and Human Development, and has served on Charlie possess exceptional resumes and have the boards of community organizations Research at BTI plays a pivotal role in many of strong ties to the greater Ithaca area. Mary is such as Engineers for a Sustainable World, the most pressing issues in agriculture and the VP and Chief Human Resource Officer for Ithaca Montessori School, Tompkins County human health, through both fundamental Cornell University, where she oversees 18,000 Area Development, and many more. research investigations and translational work faculty and staff across Cornell campuses in that leads to commercial opportunities. It is As BTI continues to diversify revenue streams, Ithaca, Geneva (NY), New York City and Qatar. my great honor to be elected to Board Chair of including the evolution of our internal Mary is a fellow of the National Academy of this amazing organization. development team, I’m proud to report the Human Resources, and in 2015 was named as board once again saw 100% of our volunteer one of Human Resource Executive magazine’s members donate to the annual fund. 2018 saw top 15 most influential women leaders in nearly $1.9 million in philanthropic support HR. She is also active on regional economic for the Institute, allowing BTI faculty to take development and local non-profit boards. on high-risk high-reward research topics, as well as enabling education, outreach and Charlie Trautmann recently completed a Greg Galvin communications initiatives. 26-year tenure as the Executive Director Chair, Board of Directors of the Ithaca Sciencenter. He is credited Though we are located in Ithaca, our roots with transforming a small-town science are in the New York City area, and we look museum into a nationally recognized center to grow those connections. Board member

3 FROM THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH

Dear BTI Community, workshop entitled, “Transforming Breeding through Integrated Data Management and “Food drives life, and the struggle for food Analysis.” Plant scientists, plant breeders is the struggle for life. This makes hunger and computational biologists from all over an economic issue, a national security issue, the globe gathered at BTI for a week-long and without a doubt a moral issue. Through intensive course featuring keynote innovation, we can help alleviate hunger and speakers, workshops and training sessions malnutrition today, but more than that we to ensure that science can speed up the can fulfill our responsibility to tomorrow.” — breeding process and bring hope of better Former US Secretary of State, John Kerry food security to many parts of the world. At BTI, we understand that food security— Another example of BTI’s potential to being able to feed a fast-growing world improve global food security is ongoing population with dwindling natural work in the Stern lab, which recently resources—is a major challenge that we published its success in engineering corn collectively face. This challenge sounds plants to increase the activity of a primary insurmountable at times, but it isn’t. enzyme in the photosynthetic pathway, William Boyce Thompson understood that institute that continues to generate results leading to improvements in growth. From food security is essential to the success at an amazing level of productivity. the fields of Iowa to the small farm plots of a of our species and of all the natural I had the distinct pleasure of becoming struggling African farmer, corn is a plant on world. He also understood that science- BTI’s new Director of Research at the which billions of people rely for food every day. based innovation is an important tool for beginning of 2018. It has been thrilling to be This is a great example of how basic research addressing this challenge. a part of the senior leadership team and to can be the bedrock for impactful innovation Understanding the biological processes oversee first-hand the Institute’s ongoing well beyond the lab. of plants is integral to the work that we scientific programs that continue to answer Thanks to all of you who have supported do at BTI. Our science covers a vast field of fundamental questions and drive innovation. BTI and who will continue to support BTI discovery from studying plants and their The excitement of scientific discovery fuels as we make important contributions to interactions with insects and other pests, to our endeavors, grounded by the aspiration to human welfare. investigating viruses and how they interact benefit society through plant science. with their hosts, to the study of small Although BTI is involved in many projects that molecule chemistry, and much more. In 2018, continue to make progress toward better BTI researchers authored 128 peer-reviewed food security, I will highlight just two of scientific publications reporting successful them. In October, BTI’s new Computational research results, including improved fruit Paul Debbie Biology Center (BCBC), along with Cornell Director of Research quality, higher yield and increased nutritional University and our Genomics Open Source Director of New Business Development value in crops. We are a relatively small Breeding Informatics Initiative (GOBii), hosted a BTI

4 BTI FACULTY

GARY BLISSARD CARMEN CATALÁ How do viruses interact The making of a fruit: What are the with insects? processes involved in fruit formation?

MICHELLE HECK ZHANGJUN FEI How do pathogens commandeer How can scientists access and use plants and insects to promote their massive amounts of plant own transmission? genomics data?

JIM GIOVANNONI MARIA HARRISON What is the genetic basis of fruit How do plants form symbiotic ripening and nutritional quality? associations with fungi to access More than phosphate from the soil? BTI had BTI has 33,000 acres have GEORG JANDER DANIEL F. KLESSIG over 128 been How do plants defend themselves What are salicylic acid’s roles at the peer-reviewed 9,500 against insect herbivory? crossroads of plant and human health? abandoned scientific publications sq. ft. of due to citrus in greenhouse greening FAY-WEI LI GREGORY MARTIN 2018 space disease What are the evolutionary and genetic How do bacteria infect plants and devoted to factors that shaped plant diversity? how do plants defend themselves research from attack?

LUKAS MUELLER ERIC J. RICHARDS How can genomics contribute to How does the three-dimensional improved crop breeding? organization of the genome within the cell affect gene activity? Chronic

FRANK SCHROEDER DAVID STERN food deprivation Which biogenic small molecules How can combining genetics and Big BTI reviewed 27 reached nearly BTI received nearly control development and aging? Data help us understand and improve business partnerships $1.9 million in photosynthesis? in 2018 821 philanthropic support in 2018 JOYCE VAN ECK million How can biotechnology create people in 2017 better crops?

5 LAB REPORTS

Food Security for a staple. First and foremost, the tiny fruit’s Improving a current genetic makeup hinders large-scale Changing Planet Minor Crop production. However, using the genome-editing tool CRISPR, Joyce Van Eck’s group may As we enter 2019, Earth’s population continues As researchers work tirelessly to support have found a path to correct some undesir- to explode, the climate continues to change our current staple crops, there are some able characteristics to make mass production and natural resources remain limited. Disruptive who are trying to create new ones from ex- more realistic. weather patterns can result in challenging isting minor crops. Such is the case in Joyce growing conditions for crops, in terms of both Van Eck’s lab at BTI, where work on the CRISPR holds great promise for rapid improve- abiotic stresses like suboptimal temperature and largely unknown groundcherry is producing ment of orphan crops such as groundcherries rainfall, and biotic stresses like new pests that have hope there could soon be a new addition to because they often have weedy, unmanage- expanded their reach. On top of these difficulties, a produce section near you. there is only so much acreage on which to grow food, and a limited amount of phosphorus for The groundcherry (Physalis fertilizing these crops. pruinosa) is approximate- ly the same size as a cherry For many people who are not fortunate enough to tomato, but with a live in food-secure regions, it can be difficult to find much sweeter, enough calories for survival, let alone to find healthy, tropical-tast- “We feel nutritious food. Even for those who are fortunate ing flavor. there is potential The fruit enough to live in a region where there is plenty of for these to become a food, thousands of people’s lives are impacted by is also a agricultural diseases that are decimating crop yields. power- specialty fruit crop and house in to be grown on a larger More than 100 years ago, William Boyce Thompson terms of scale in the US,” said understood that new discoveries and applications nutri- Joyce Van Eck, assoc- in plant science would be essential to supply the tional world with nutritious food under exactly such value. iate professor circumstances. Thanks to his foresight, researchers Packed at BTI. at BTI continue to make tremendous progress with Vitamin towards helping solve some of these problems. C, Vitamin B, In the past year, BTI researchers have made key beta-carotene, phy- By closely observing her tosterols and antioxidants, groundcherry plant, this discoveries that could lead to more nutritious crops, plus anti-inflammatory and citizen-scientist is helping decreased use of synthetic fertilizers, increased yield make the crop more suitable medicinal properties, the and less crop damage by disease. for farmers. groundcherry might just be the next superfood. able growth habits and low crop productivi- While the groundcherry offers plenty to be ty similar to their wild ancestors. Leveraging excited about, there are hurdles to over- knowledge gained from experience with model come before it can become a grocery store crops—such as the tomato—can lead to ap-

6 proaches to improve plant architecture, flower production, fruit size and more. Unlocking Secrets

To learn more, the Van Eck lab enlisted the help of an Ancient of farmers across New York State and local Relationship citizen-scientists to be part of a special project. Volunteer farmers obtained groundcherry Relationships between different species can Understanding the relationship seeds from the Van Eck group, planted the take many different forms, such as predator between burclover and its seeds at their farm, and monitored their prog- and prey, parasite and host, or competitors symbiotic fungi could help reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers. ress. Citizen-scientists—some of whom were battling for resources. While the interactions recruited through local organization partners occurring above ground garner much of the like the Ithaca spotlight, there are also peaceful collabora- lab partnered with BTI’s Fei lab to sequence Children’s Gar- tions happening below the surface. It is these the genome of Diversispora epigaea, a spe- den, Cayuga Na- mutually beneficial relationships that are the cies of mycorrhizal fungus, and its endobac- ture Center and focus of Maria Harrison’s lab at BTI. teria. A paper describing Cornell Botanic the genomes, as well Gardens—con- The Harrison lab continues to be a leader in “This research as the results of ducted similar research on mycorrhizal symbiosis. For comparative experiments. The hundreds of millions of years, these could ultimately have genomic and results provided fungi have formed symbiotic rela- applications that lead to evolutionary the group with tionships with plant roots to deliver analyses, was the reduction of synthetic information to crucial nutrients to the plant in ex- published in help guide their change for lipids and carbohydrates. fertilizer usage,” said the research subsequent ef- Understanding this natural partner- journal New forts to improve Maria Harrison, William ship could ultimately lead to a reduc- Phytologist the groundcher- tion in the use of phosphate fertilizers H. Crocker Professor in 2018. ry’s potential to in the agricultural industry. at BTI. be produced on a This work gen- larger scale. A potentially crucial aspect of the plant–fun- erated fundamen- gi symbiotic relationship is the additional tal insights into the In our fight to symbiotic relationships that the fungi have co-evolution of the fungus and produce more with bacteria. Despite their importance to its endobacteria, and could also lead to new nutritious food agriculture and plant science research as a hypotheses about their co-evolution with the for a rapidly whole, genomic information about mycor- plants whose roots they colonize. These ideas accelerating rhizal fungi and their symbiotic bacteria have will be of great value to plant scientists, and population, de- been relatively sparse, thus hindering our may ultimately help lead to a solution for a veloping crops understanding of their biology and evolution. world that could run out of chemical fertiliz- once thought to be inadequate for large-scale ers before the end of the century. production could be a key to success. In the To shed some light on this network of mu- case of the groundcherry, don’t judge it by its tually beneficial relationships, the Harrison size; judge it by its potential.

7 LAB REPORTS

Studying Insects to Save Citrus

Pouring a glass of orange juice to accompany breakfast is a morning routine for many…or at least it is for now. Having a glass of OJ may soon occur with much less frequency because a vicious bacterium has hijacked a tiny insect to spread devastation across citrus-growing regions in the U.S. and around the world.

The bacterial culprit, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), resides within the Asian citrus psyllid, More than 33,000 which is an insect about the size BTI had BTI has of a sesame seed. The bacteria over acres have 128 been are sucked up when a psyllid peer-reviewed 9,500 abandoned feeds on an infected scientific publications sq. ft. of due to citrus in greenhouse greening tree, and then rep- 2018 space disease licate inside the “We want to devoted to insect and infect This orange suffers from citrus greening disease, research understand the which is currently devastating the U.S. citrus industry. healthy trees as insect’s immune system the psyllid feeds lieved to be infected, mune system reacts to the bacteria in hopes as deeply as possible so throughout a grove. as well as a growing of curbing its ability to spread. Chronic The end result is citrus that we can identify new ways number of trees in Kruse and Ramsey used tiny needles to take food deprivation greening, also known as to reduce transmission of California, Texas and BTI reviewed 27 reached nearly BTI received nearly blood samples from over 300 psyllids, and business partnerships huanglongbing. Trees with CLas by these insects,” said other citrus-grow- $1.9 million in looked at the differences in blood proteins in 2018 821 philanthropicthis disease support are unable to Angela Kruse, a graduate ing states. To in 2018 between infected and uninfected insects. They million get enough nutrients from combat this disease, student in Michelle found that the blood proteins most affected people in 2017 the soil, thus causing their researchers Angela Heck’s lab at BTI. by CLas help insects fight bacterial infections leaves to turn yellow, young Kruse and John Ramsey and increase fat metabolism. By adding to their twigs to die back, and fruit to from Michelle Heck’s lab knowledge of the insect’s immune response remain small, green and unsuitable for at BTI dipped into the psyllid’s to the bacteria, Angela and John hope these sale. After only a few years, the trees die. blood and, in doing so, extracted insights could help develop strategies for con- new discoveries that could help plant scien- trolling the spread of citrus greening. Currently, every citrus tree in Florida is be- tists better understand how the insect’s im-

8 While you may find yourself thinking the elimination of OJ from Boosting your breakfast routine wouldn’t be the end of the world, the same sentiment is not shared by those maintaining family farms across Photosynthesis Florida. In that state alone, citrus greening causes about $1 billion As the world’s population increases, we of damage and eliminates thousands of jobs each year. A popula- will not be able to feed everybody just by cultivating more land. Indeed, more than tion struggling to one-third of Earth’s 150 million km of feed itself can ill surface land area is already dedicated to afford to lose a ma- agriculture, and much of the remaining jor crop like citrus, acreage is unsuitable for raising food. and BTI’s Heck lab Thus far, many solutions to grow more is part of a large food with less land have involved chemical effort that hopes to BTI President David fertilizers, pesticides or intensive irrigation, which Stern and Coralie can harm the environment and human health. David bring this epidemic to Salesse-Smith, one Stern’s lab at BTI has come up with a clever solution an end. of his lab members, engineered corn to that may increase crop yield without the negative improve crop yields. impact of traditional methods. Psyllids, an insect the size of a sesame seed, spread the David and Coralie Salesse-Smith, a researcher in bacteria that causes citrus his lab, inserted genes into corn that increased greening disease. the expression of two proteins: Rubisco, which incorporates carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into molecules that become sugars, and RAF1, which helps build Rubisco. As a result, the plants received a boost to their photosynthetic machinery, making them grow taller, weigh more and mature faster

BTI faculty member than unmodified corn. Michelle Heck and The Stern lab hopes to see similar results in other Angela Kruse, one of her lab members, plants that have similar biochemical pathways, such are working to as millet. The Rubisco/RAF1 method could also be combat the disease. combined with other strategies to turbocharge photosynthesis, which is a major global target to improve agriculture.

If the greenhouse results obtained by the Stern lab translate to the field, then new strains of crops could be developed with similar characteristics, with the hope that more rapid and robust growth will translate to a higher yield per acre, ultimately helping to feed a growing population in a more sustainable way.

9 IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY

“Collaboration” is one of BTI’s core values that is easy to see in our researchers’ efforts to improve food security in a time when global undernourishment is on the rise.

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, the number of people facing chronic food deprivation reached nearly 821 million in 2017, which is 10.9% of the global population. After decreasing for decades, these numbers have been increasing since their nadirs in 2014, when just under 784 million—or 10.7% of the global population—were Enabling technologies undernourished. The rates are highest for farmers in in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has a 23.2% undernourishment rate. food-insecure With the world population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, understanding the principles underlying agriculture is regions increasingly crucial. William Boyce Thompson awakened to this notion 100 years ago when he joined the American Red Cross on a relief mission to Russia during the country’s civil war. He came to believe that agriculture, food supply and social justice are linked, and that world stability depends on access to adequate food.

Col. Thompson’s epiphany still holds true today and drives BTI’s efforts to speed the development of sustainable agriculture and healthier food production. The Institute’s researchers work toward this goal through basic research, as well as through the implementation of new breeding paradigms, such as genome-based breeding methods. These new breeding methods require advanced databases that encourage research collaborations among international plant science research institutions.

Purchasers in Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania buy cassava roots from marketers.

10 More than

BTI had BTI has 33,000 over acres have 128 been peer-reviewed 9,500 abandoned scientific publications sq. ft. of due to citrus in greenhouse greening 2018 space disease devoted to research Enabling technologies Chronic food deprivation BTI reviewed 27 reached nearly BTI received nearly business partnerships $1.9 million in in 2018 821 philanthropic support million in 2018 people in 2017

11 IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY

PART I: Despite these benefits, cassava has drawbacks that make it difficult to ______improve via traditional plant breeding techniques. Specifically, many cassava varieties flower infrequently, and they often do not produce Cassava many seeds when they do flower. These traits cause additional hurdles for a breeding process that has historically taken about five years. One database created in Lukas With the sequencing of the cassava genome in 2012 came the potential Mueller’s lab is for breeders to perform crosses based on genomic data without Cassavabase. The having to wait years to see how well the roots grow. Launched in 2013, database was made Cassavabase is specifically designed to be a database for breeders. possible thanks to Thanks to its ease-of-use and an engaged breeder community, the funding by Cornell database now contains information on more than 3 billion genetic University through a marker scores, as well as over 10 million phenotypic data points on how grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and is a collaboration plants have performed in the field. with partners such as the International Institute of Tropical Today, using genomic selection enabled by Cassavabase, cassava Agriculture, the National Root Crop Research Institute in Nigeria, the breeders have shortened the breeding cycle to as little as one year, National Crops Resources Research Institute in Uganda, and others in helping them speed the development of cassava strains with positive Tanzania, Brazil and Colombia. traits, such as resistance to cassava brown streak disease and high Although native to Latin America, cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an dry matter content. However, this would not have been possible extremely important staple crop in Africa, without the willingness to collaborate second only to maize. Indeed, about 500 among the network of partners—from million Africans—or about 40% of the funders and research institutions to continent’s population—consume the farmers and scientists. starchy root every day. PART II: Cassava holds potential to become a ______staple crop in even more countries as climate change renders land unusable because of changing temperature and Yams, Bananas and rainfall patterns. The woody shrub has Sweet Potatoes low input requirements, is resistant Mueller’s lab has created three more to drought, is able to grow in marginal databases that are designed to help soils, and its roots are able to remain Upper left: An example of the symptoms of edible even when left in the ground for cassava brown streak disease under field a few years. conditions at Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute, Lake Zone Agriculture Research institute, Mwanza. Left: A woman carries bananas, an important staple crop in East Africa. 12 Below: The Cassava Breeding Team at the National Root Crops Research Institute Nigeria. Bottom: BTI researcher Alex Ogbonna with Dr. Brigitte Uwimana, the lead Banana Molecular Breeder at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Uganda. breeders develop improved crops for food- tricky. This hurdle has insecure regions: Yambase, Sweetpotatobase hampered the discovery and Musabase. They are all similar to of the genetic, molecular Cassavabase in that they include associations and physiological basis of between genotypes and phenotypes, and are key agronomic traits. In easy for breeders to use. November 2018, members of Zhangjun Fei’s lab at BTI Yams—tubers of the genus Dioscorea—are published the sequence an especially important staple crop in West of two of sweet potato’s Africa, where more than 50 million tons are diploid relatives and produced each year. Unfortunately, pests resequencing data for 16 and diseases can reduce yam yields by up sweet potato varieties to 80%. Traditional breeding methods take commonly used in African about nine years to develop a new variety breeding programs. Once of yam. Yambase holds the same promise as the data are entered into Cassavabase to help shorten this breeding Sweetpotatobase, they will regions. Cassavabase has already helped period and speed the release of yams that have help facilitate genome-enabled breeding of reduce the breeding cycle from five years improved characteristics. For example, Ph.D. the tuber by partners like the International to one year, and Yambase, Sweetpotatobase student Alex Ogbonna is using genetic markers Potato Center (CIP) in Peru. and Musabase have the potential to lead to to shorten the tuber’s breeding cycle, and to similar reductions for yams, sweet potatoes develop yams with higher yield, starch content Banana is another important staple crop and bananas, respectively. Ultimately, these and resistance to yam mosaic virus (YMV). in East and Central Africa but many strains are seedless, which makes them difficult to databases will enable breeders to more quickly While cassava and yam are full of high-calorie cross-breed and highly susceptible to disease. improve crops’ traits such as yield, nutritional carbohydrates and can help feed the growing Musabase is a database for breeders that value, disease resistance and drought population, they contain few nutrients and is focused on strains that are important to tolerance, and thus help provide food security will thus need to be supplemented with the continent, with most data coming from in parts of the world that need it the most. vitamin-rich foods. Sweet potato (Ipomoea breeding programs in Uganda (NARO Kwanda batatas), in particular, could help fight Vitamin and IITA Sendusu) and Tanzania (IITA Arusha). A deficiency, which affects 40% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa and is a leading cause of CONCLUSION: blindness and premature death. The crop is ______also frequently devastated by pests like the sweet potato weevil. Real-world benefits Improving sweet potato traits is difficult All four of these databases are prime examples because it has six copies of each chromosome, of how BTI researchers are creating digital which makes sequencing its genome very tools that benefit farmers in food-insecure

13 TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Gregory Martin’s lab is making discoveries that could be used to develop tomato strains that are resistant to bacterial speck.

team has been instrumental Drumming up in pursuing projects that New Business could have a positive impact on advancing agricultural technologies. In 2018, a The American writer and naturalist Joseph few such notable projects Krutch once wrote, “Technology made large included: populations possible; large populations now make technology indispensable”. • The discovery of new resistance genes in BTI scientists are explorers. They seek and tomato for protection open up new areas of research, making from newly emerging important discoveries along the way. Helping varieties of bacterial to translate these discoveries into practical pathogens applications is an important part of BTI’s • The development of new mission and the Institute’s new strategic plan ways to grow beneficial that was put into place in May. This work is fungi that have positive Along with traditional technology managed by the Technology Transfer team, associations with many plants, including development and commercial partnering for which 2018 was a year of expansion and food crops. These methods could lead to projects, another aspect of BTI’s new strategic re-imagining. decreased fertilizer use, thus improving plan focuses specifically on technology BTI brought Erica Fishel on board to become food production and limiting the development through starting new companies the new Director of Technology Transfer. environmental impacts of farming based on BTI technology. To help facilitate Along with strong technical knowledge of these and other new business development • The development of new naturally derived plant biology and a Ph.D., Erica brings years of projects, the Institute created a new position, compounds to protect agricultural crops technology transfer and patent law experience Director of New Business Development, a from numerous diseases, as well as the to the Institute. Kelli Monce also joined as a position taken on by Paul Debbie, BTI’s former first successful field trials with these technology transfer specialist. In her new role, Director of Technology Transfer. compounds in wheat Kelli manages our technology transfer and intellectual property data, which are essential • The development of new strategies to to a successful program. fight the citrus greening epidemic, which is ravaging the U.S. citrus industry When BTI opened its doors in 1924, William Boyce Thompson and his advisers were keenly • The development of “turbocharged” aware of the importance of food security to corn plants by increasing the amount the stability of populations and human health. of the photosynthetic rate-limiting This awareness is more acutely felt today enzyme Rubisco than ever before, and the Technology Transfer

14 New business ventures provide great opportunities for BTI researchers and volunteers to bring their insights to private sector Exciting New Ventures projects.

Ascribe Bioscience Inc. – This Ithaca-based startup focuses on novel seed coatings with natural small molecules to improve agricultural production in several important crop species. In 2018, the NSF recommended phase I SBIR funding for the new company, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded a patent that protects the underlying technology (U.S. Patent No. 10,136,595). In 2019, this new company will be moving into the McGovern Family Center for Venture Development, a life sciences business incubator on the Cornell University campus.

EffectorRx Inc. – This new company is focused on using BTI- patented technology to improve the production of proteins in plants, such as vaccine antigens and other proteins valuable to the pharmaceutical industry. Many proteins are difficult or impossible to produce in plants, and this technology could help overcome this hurdle. The Institute’s Technology Transfer team has engaged a large agricultural biotechnology company to set up a pilot project to test this new technology.

15 EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

SUMMER INTERNS BY THEEngaging COMMUNITY THE NUMBERS AND EDUCATORS For 18 years, BTI’s PGRP summer internship program has engaged a diverse population of undergraduate and high school students 2018 saw increased engagement with the public through local to support their entry into STEM careers. After collaborations. Fay-Wei Li thrilled 110 families at the Ithaca crunching 14 years of data, we now have the Sciencenter’s Wicked Plants exhibit opening. In December, the metrics to show our success. Of the 199 Sciencenter’s “After Dark” cocktail party-style program featured summer interns over the past 14 years: seven faculty and lab members who displayed their research and 44% 95% inspired conversation around the importance of plant research for 44% identified as 95% of intern alumni food security and human health. The community alsoidentified learned more as 44%of intern alumni 95% about groundcherries and bryophytes when the Li and Van Eck labs under-representedidentified as of internare currently alumni under-represented are currently are currently attended the Judy’s Day Festival at the Cornell Botanic Gardens. minoritiesunder-represented in a STEM field minorities 44%minoritiesin a field in a95% field Members of the Jander lab travelled to the NYC Cornell Center for in sciences STEM STEM in sciences 44% identifiedin sciences as 95% of intern alumni Material Research to train 40 high school teachers on how to utilize a identifiedunder-represented as of intern alumni are currently under-represented are currently new classroom kit, using wallflowers and aphids to educate students minorities in a STEM field about pest resistance. Members of the Heck lab shared their citrus minorities in sciences in a STEM field greening and aphid research with 50 students from Southern Cayuga in sciences School district during an elementary school tour. 36% 60% were first-generation 36% college36% students wereof interns first-generation were 60% 60%female (onlywere tracked first-generation since 2010) INTERNSHIPSummer PROGRAMof interns were of interns collegewere students college students (only tracked since 2010)36% 36% female were first-generation(only tracked since 2010) BTI hosted 23 undergraduate students as part of the NSF and USDA- 60% female60% were first-generation of interns were college students supported Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP), eight donor- of interns were college students (only tracked since 2010) supported high schoolers, and a Triad Foundation-supported Science female female (only tracked since 2010) Communications Intern for a summer of research and education. For 55% were from almost two decades, the summer internship program has significantly small colleges impacted the 55% with few research lives of more were from opportunities55% than 200 55% small colleges were from participants. were from 55% with few researchsmall colleges smallwere from colleges opportunitieswith few researchsmallwith fewcolleges research opportunities Group photo of the 2018 Summer Intern withopportunities few research 16 Cohort at the annual PGRP Symposium. opportunities SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS

Science Communication Communicating intern Serena Stern presents SCIENCE her analysis of Art@BTI, a public outreach event held Science communication remains a at the Institute. INTERN SPOTLIGHT critical component of the BTI mission, Emmanuel Gonzalez helping build public support and awareness of the Institute’s work and science in general,

Emmanuel spent his summer in the Giovannoni as well as enhancing collaborations and relationships with funders. BTI continued efforts Lab researching cold tolerance in tomato to push Institute research into the mainstream conversation through a variety of tactics hybrids. Emmanuel has a strong interest including digital media, media relations, video production and community engagement. in botany that intersects with his love of The year began with a visit to Washington, D.C. to meet the communications teams of the photography outside of the lab. National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. These meetings 44% 95% helped BTI communicators develop deeper collaborations, while offering funders identified as of intern alumni compelling stories to share with the policymakers who determine their budgets. under-represented are currently minorities in a STEM field With donor support, live streaming capacities were enhanced in 2018, enabling the in sciences production of high-quality, engaging live broadcasts that reached an international audience. Broadcasts included the BTI Computational Biology Center symposium, the 2018 summer intern symposium, several faculty seminars, and a day of scientist interviews on Giving Tuesday.

2018 also marked the first year with a donor-supported Science Communications summer intern embedded within the Plant Genome Research Program. Serena Stern, a Cornell 36% undergraduate student, gained hands-on experience with the Institutional were first-generation 60% “I wanted communications team. She produced science articles, managed social media college students of interns were channels, produced a documentary-style video, and had one-on-one (only tracked since 2010) to gain the skills to female become a scientist and interviews with several professional science communicators. eventually use them to 2018 also featured more Art@BTI, with works by photographer Nancy bring about good to human Ridenour and fiber artist Sarah Gotowka. Ithaca-area friends of the and plant life. My passion for Institute and Cornell’s Alliance for Science were able to to attend a screening of the film Food Evolution at Cinemapolis, which was plant science has greatly 55% followed by an enthusiastic panel discussion. In the autumn, the Institute were from evolved and strengthened; held a Flash Science event in which researchers were challenged to share small colleges this is my chosen their work for a general audience in three minutes or less. with few research career path.” opportunities 17 POST GRADS

Postgraduate Society: Annual Retreat PGS’s annual symposium, themed “High-End Research Meets Tech- Fostering community and Transfer: How Small Molecules Can Change Our World,” took place at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and featured eight speakers from professional development academia, industry and the investor community. The symposium Led by a committee of graduates, postgraduates, and technicians, the included a poster session, lunch and happy hour, which helped improve PGS organizes a successful mentor program and events where members communication between the BTI research community and industry. interact scientifically and socially to sharpen research, communication and networking skills. Mentoring Program The PGS Mentorship Program aims to provide professional Guest Speakers development resources for members interested in diverse scientific PGS hosts a variety of speakers who provide new perspectives on research careers by connecting mentees with mentors in their chosen career and the opportunity to network within lecture settings, as well as during fields. In 2018, PGS paired six sets of mentees/mentors based on both meals or happy hours. 2018 featured two distinguished lecturers, Cyril the mentees’ academic and professional goals and the mentors’ career Zipfel (University of Zurich, Switzerland) and Jennifer Nemhauser (University experience. of Washington). Seminars called “PGS Fests” typically are given by BTI/ Cornell scientists or visiting scholars in residence with an aim of cross- Professional Development Workshop fertilizing communication and interaction among labs across the campus. PGS organized a professional development workshop, “Understanding In 2018, PGS Fest speakers included Buz Barstow (Cornell Department of the Visa process,” to assist both international employees and U.S. Biological and Environmental Engineering) and Angela E. Douglas (Cornell citizens who might hire international scientists in the future. The Departments of Entomology and Molecular Biology and Genetics). workshop featured two talks, one with BTI’s Denise VanDyne and Lori Dempsey, and one with David Wilks, an immigration attorney from Ithaca law firm Miller and Mayer.

18 ALUMNI

New Resources for BTI Alumni Alumna Spotlight: Erica Fishel Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Erica was once a summer PGRP intern In 2018, the opt-in BTI Alumni Network reached 150 members. Four in Haiyang Wang’s lab. After earning alumni visited the Institute for presentations and workshops, and her Ph.D. from Washington University six participated in the PGS mentor program, providing resources and in 2013, she found her passion at the guidance to their early-career counterparts. Anyone who has worked at intersection of plant biology, law and BTI can learn more at BTIscience.org/alumni. entrepreneurism while working for an Resources intellectual property law firm. She soon As the Alumni Network grows, so does the suite of resources for became the Director of Technology members. The new alumni listserv hosts discussions about career Transfer at Donald Danforth Plant opportunities and potential collaborations. The quarterly BTI Biome Science Center in 2014, and returned to BTI as the Director of newsletter highlights alumni, resources and opportunities specific to Technology Transfer in 2018. “I am delighted to return ‘home’ and the alumni community. The BTI Alumni Directory allows members to help transition technologies from the bench to the marketplace,” connect with peers from their days at the Institute. BTI is proud of the says Erica. transformative work being accomplished by researchers at the Institute and alumni elsewhere, and hopes that these platforms provide more Remembering Alumni: opportunities for BTI alumni to grow professionally and stay connected. Dr. Eleanor Storrs “Polly” Burchfield helped to advance chemical analyses Recognition at BTI from 1958 to 1962 and passed In spring 2019, BTI will recognize and honor away in May, at the age of 92. She three accomplished individuals at the inaugural Community worked with her husband Dr. Harry round of Alumni Recognition Awards. Keep in Burchfield, operating the Analytical touch with BTI to learn more! Services Lab. Together, Polly and Harry wrote Biochemical Applications of Gas Chromatography. After leaving BTI, Alumni Polly earned her Ph.D. and later became Professional involved in armadillo research. Her team’s discovery that armadillos Updates development Network serve as models for leprosy research was a major breakthrough. Polly will be remembered as one of BTI’s successful women in science and a mentor to students of her time.

Recognition Opportunities

19 DONOR SUPPORT & GIVING

You help to plant the seeds of discovery BTI is grateful to the following individuals and organizations whose generosity makes the research and programs at BTI possible.

$10,000 & Over Laura Philips & John Elliott AJ Bouchie & Kelly White Gene Mattison & Nancy Ray American Endowment Foundation Phytochemical Society of Janet Buckley Joseph & Heike Rubinstein Ron & Shelley Cooper North America Maria Bulis Johanna & Russell Sample Christian C. & Nora R. Hohenlohe Nancy E. Rawson Kathy Carroll Andrew & Rosemary Sciarabba Rheonix, Inc. Carolyn W. Sampson Mike Carroll Kayle & Delanie Sickler Oliver Ward Schulze Charles T. Schulze Luke & Greta Colavito David & Libbie Silberman David & Karen Stern Kira & Felix Sheinerman Jeannie & Walt Cottrell Christine Smart Triad Foundation, Inc. The Botanical Society of America Timothy Devarenne Amber Smith Tompkins Trust Company Chris DiRienzo Richard & Mildred Staples $5,000 - $9,999 Kathryn W. Torgeson Entrepreneurship at Cornell Randy Strauss Legacy Foundation of John & Kate Townsend Aly & John Evans Gert Streissle Tompkins County United Soybean Board Facebook Peter Ten Eyck Paul H. & Carol M. Hatfield Darryl Farber Charlie & Nancy Trautmann Foundation $500 - $999 Felix Fernandez-Penny Aurora Ulbing

Dean Kathryn Boor & Hartmut Foerster Cynthia Ulbing $1,000-$4,999 Dr. Martin Wiedmann Vanessa & John Wyatt Greenlee Charles & Jane Walcott Altman Foundation Xuemei Chen Ryan Gutierrez James & Kathy Wellman Agava Sophia & Nick Darling Gerald Hamil Fred A. (Ben) Williams Patti & Owen Baynham Paul & Dorothy Debbie Keith Hannon & Casey Keller April Burke In-Kind Giving Zhangjun Fei & Xuemei Tang Larry Heller & Norma Goldberg Drs. Lourdes Casanova Ron & Shelley Cooper Erica Fishel Bart Holland & Soumitra Dutta Cinemapolis Bob & Johanna Granados Jay Jacobson Cayuga Landscape Edible Arrangements Ithaca Robert & Roberta Kohut Jean Jagendorf Drs. Paul Chomet & Brenda Lowe Ithaca Marriott Downtown Lynn Bradley Leopold Joseph & D’Maris Dempsey Peter Cornelius on the Commons Stephanie Meyer & Jose Andres Charitable Gift Fund Corteva Agriscience Red Feet Wine & Spirits Alan & Anne Renwick Peter Kopp Council on Undergraduate Charles T. Schulze Melissa & Eric Richards Laboratory Products Sales (LPS) Research Sciencenter Donald & Marcia Slocum Terry & Cathy Lauver Peter Cousins Visit Ithaca Marisa & Eric Lyons Machi Dilworth Wegmans Up to $499 Vlado Macko Duane Morris YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County Amazon Smile Susan & Gregory Martin EJ Gallo Winery Azeus Convene Daniel & Jean McPheeters Greg Galvin Cynthia Adams Jay & Deborah Miller Philip & Anette Goelet Designations Kraig & Dolores Adler Anne Simon Moffat Education and Outreach Mary Lou Guerinot & Rob McClung Charles & Kathy Arntzen Kelli Monce Events Jacqueline Heard Holly & Don Beermann Michael Moore PGS Stephen & Elizabeth Howell Evelyn Berezin Mary & Kip Opperman Research Ithaca Garden Club BorgWarner Morse Systems Paypal Giving Fund PSRN Plant Summit Paula Mueller Rae & Pat Bottino Aditi Rambani STEM Scholarships 20 2018 SUSTAINERS BTI received nearly $1.9 million in philanthropic support in 2018

BTI is fortunate to receive support from a very special community Memorials & Tributes of committed, long-term donors, and we recognize this loyalty In Honor of with our utmost gratitude. The following individuals and Mary Clutter organizations have given gifts over the course of 10 or more years, Machi Dilworth and/or give recurring monthly, quarterly or payroll deduction gifts, Aarav Bakshi showing dedicated support of BTI’s mission. Many have also given Aditi Rambani the gifts of time and guidance, and will forever leave their mark on In Memory Of the Institute. Edward H. Buckley Janet Buckley $100,000 & Over Up to $19,999 Christian C. & Anonymous A. Carl Leopold Nora R. Hohenlohe Charles & Kathy Arntzen Lynn Bradley Leopold Triad Foundation, Inc. Patti & Owen Baynham*

James & Terry Byrnes Leonard & Sylvia Weinstein $50,000-$99,999 Mary E. Clutter David & Libbie Silberman Philip & Anette Goelet Luke & Greta Colavito Robert & Roberta Kohut Paul H. & Carol M. David Fernandez & Cayuga Hatfield Foundation Landscape Co., Inc Charles T. Schulze Zhangjun Fei & Xuemei Tang* Carolina Schulze Bob & Johanna Granados David & Karen Stern Ryan Gutierrez* Stephen & Elizabeth Howell $20,000-$49,999 Robert & Roberta Kohut Laura Philips & John Elliott Lynn Bradley Leopold Carolyn W. Sampson Susan & Gregory Martin Kelli Monce* Mr. & Mrs. Roy H. Park, Jr. Robert M. Pennoyer Dominick Recckio* Alan & Anne Renwick Donald & Marcia Slocum Every effort Richard & Mildred Staples has been made to ensure the Kathryn W. Torgeson accuracy of these Lori A. Van Dusen lists. If we have Fred A. (Ben) Williams unknowingly made an error, please notify * Recurring Donors the development office.

21 2018 LEGACIES

W.B. Thompson Living Legacy Society Legacy Spotlight: Evelyn Berezin BTI recognizes living individuals who have expressed BTI Emerita board member and former board chair Evelyn Berezin intent to remember BTI in their estate plans or passed away on December 8, 2018, at the age of 93. Evelyn led an with other methods of planned giving. Through inspiring life, achieving many significant accomplishments in a their generosity and foresight, W.B. Thompson fledgling computer industry; for example, she built the first true Living Legacy donors help to secure the future word processor, and she founded and led a company, Redactron. of the Institute. BTI would like to thank them for She was also announcing their commitment to BTI, and appreciate a remarkable them in their continued generosity and passion for leader, and BTI the Institute’s mission. If you have included BTI in was fortunate for your plans, please let us know. her board service from 1994 to 2010. Brian & Claire Federici Evelyn continued David & Karen Stern supporting BTI by making annual Legacies Remembered gifts for 22 years, including in 2018. The memories of the following deceased individuals, She will be missed. who, over the course of the Institute’s history, have included BTI in their estate plans, will endure through Every effort has been made to the work being done to honor W.B. Thompson’s vision ensure the accuracy of these lists. If we have unknowingly for the future. made an error, please notify the development office. Charles & Margaret Abell John & Magdolna Bank Evelyn Berezin Anthony (Andy) Grefig John & Mayfred Hirshfeld George & Helen Kohut George & Elizabeth McNew William Boyce Thompson

22 PHILANTHROPY DONOR SPOTLIGHT

A new “development” Despite the Institute’s philanthropic origins, BTI’s active, consistent pursuit of philanthropy is fairly new—and growing. It is an exciting time to invest in BTI science because every gift makes a noticeable difference at this early stage of our philanthropic program. Gifts support potentially groundbreaking discoveries, STEM careers and a greater awareness of science.

An Independent Affiliate While affiliated with Cornell University and located on campus, BTI is an independent, non- profit research institution. We are fiscally separate and rely on our own endowment, grants, collaborations and philanthropy for revenue. We do not receive revenue from Cornell’s fundraising or endowment.

Why is philanthropy important? Grants are highly restricted to specific project needs. Gifts from people like you help fund everything from internal competitive funding programs for innovative research projects not yet covered by grants (i.e., pursuing those “Eureka!” moments), to enriching post graduate training and educational programs such as internships and community or teacher outreach initiatives.

Support science your way! Jean McPheeters There are many ways to make a gift to BTI. You can make a gift to the annual fund, to the Jean McPheeters “is in awe” of the work of endowment, or we can work with you to designate your gift toward a program or initiative BTI scientists and is especially delighted by of your choosing. We have worked with individuals, financial advisors, donor advised funds, the PGRP summer internship for high school foundations, associations, clubs and businesses to identify meaningful and impactful and college students. She believes that opportunities for support. To get started, please contact us today by calling 607-288-3554 BTI helps to grow the next generation of or emailing [email protected]. You can also visit BTIscience.org/give to make a secure scientists. Jean also enjoys Art@BTI, which online contribution. features artist presentations blended with a talk by a scientist. Though she has very little science training, she and her husband, Dan, believe in science as a way of understanding and exploring the universe and solving problems such as disease, food insecurity and climate change.

23 FINANCIALS

2018 New Grants (Total award less subcontracts)*

Government National Science Foundation $1,626,124 31% Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency $ 701,014 13% United States Dept. of Agriculture $ 417,719 8% National Institute of Health $ 417,000 8%

Corporate, Foundation & Other Foundation funding $1,862,711 36% Other funding $ 145,607 3% Corporate funding $ 60,000 1% --————————————————————————————————————————————— TOTAL $5,230,175 * unaudited

Source of Funds (Income)

US Government $ 7,546,000 47% Institute endowment $ 3,560,000 22% New York State $ 1,790,000 11% Foundations $ 2,124,000 13% Other private sources $ 657,000 4% Unrestricted revenues $ 382,000 3% --————————————————————————————————————————————— TOTAL $16,059,000

Use of Funds (Expenses)

Research $12,038,000 75% Administration $ 1,857,000 12% This is an unaudited financial Research support $ 1,120,000 7% report. This audited report Equipment & facility $ 121,000 1% will be available in June, Non-research $ 291,000 2% 2019. Please contact BTI’s Development $ 270,000 1% Development department at Communications $ 295,000 2% [email protected] or (607) Education & Outreach $ 67,000 <1% --————————————————————————————————————————————— 254-3554 if you would like to TOTAL $16,059,000 review the audited report.

24 LEADERSHIP

2018 IN REVIEW Discoveries Discoveries