October 4, 2013
LA JOLLA, CA—The Board of Trustees of the Salk Institute is pleased to announce the election of Elizabeth Keadle as its newest member.
Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Keadle is an alumna of the Institute who, while a student at the University of California San Diego, worked in the Peptide Biology Laboratory with Salk scientist Wylie Vale. Starting as a volunteer, she was hired to work on several research projects including the corticotropin-releasing factor project.
Following this formative experience at Salk, Ms. Keadle entered the biotech business community, eventually joining Pharmacia AB, the Swedish biotech supply company, where she rose to key technical and business leadership positions. It was during this time that Ms. Keadle became involved in the start-up and launch of the local biotech company, Invitrogen Corporation. The business quickly grew to become the world’s largest biotech research supply company and went public in 1999. Years later, Invitrogen was renamed Life Technologies and was sold in 2013 to Thermo-Fisher for $13.6B.
An ardent supporter of the important science conducted at the Institute, Ms. Keadle is a longtime Symphony at Salk sponsor and also created an endowment in support of the Vale lab in perpetuity. She recently established the Wylie Vale Chair as a lasting legacy to honor the late scientist, which is currently held by Paul Sawchenko, Professor and Head of Salk’s Laboratory of Neuronal Structure and Function.
“Not only has Liz’s extraordinary generosity impacted and furthered our research in many ways, but she has also made a tremendous difference in the lives of countless young scientists by her support of the Institute’s programs over the years,” says Salk President William Brody. “We are delighted that she has joined the Salk Board of Trustees.
About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the world’s preeminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probe fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment. Focused both on discovery and on mentoring future generations of researchers, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of cancer, aging, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and infectious diseases by studying neuroscience, genetics, cell and plant biology, and related disciplines.
Faculty achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including Nobel Prizes and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, M.D., the Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark.
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