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Leading neuroscientist and AI geneticist Anders Dale, Ph.D. named president of J. Craig Venter Institute and joins Board
La Jolla, California—April 2, 2025—The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) today announced the appointment of renowned neuroscientist and AI geneticist Anders M. Dale, Ph.D., as its new president and member of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Dale will report to JCVI Founder, CEO and Board Chair J. Craig Venter, Ph.D. and brings with him a team of 22 scientists and software engineers to manage key centers for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study and the HEALthy Brain and Child...
Researchers design tools to develop vaccines more efficiently for African swine fever virus (ASFV)
Rockville, Maryland—March 26, 2024—Researchers from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) have developed a reverse-genetics system for African swine fever virus (ASFV). This new system will aid researchers in developing vaccines and in studying the pathogenesis and biology of ASFV, a highly contagious, deadly viral disease affecting domesticated and wild pigs, especially prevalent in Africa,...
Center for Innovative Recycling and Circular Economy Symposium
Join us at JCVI for this invitation-only event, bringing together our global team to advance waste valorization and circular economy innovations. This team symposium will feature discussions on core research progress, collaborative strategies, and key technology developments, kicking off project collaboration. With a strong emphasis on sharing scientific knowledge and building collaboration within the consortium team members, the symposium will showcase cutting-edge research, data-driven...
Statement on cuts to National Institutes of Health funding
La Jolla, California—February 20, 2025—For more than 30 years, the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) has been at the forefront of biotechnological innovation and discovery. Our research relies on consistent grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies. This funding is crucial for the United States to keep its global scientific leadership position, and the consequences of disruptions or reductions would be catastrophic. Funding interruptions can...
Revolutionizing plastic waste management through biological upcycling
La Jolla, California—January 31, 2025—It is commonly understood that plastic waste is a tremendous problem. But how big of a problem? According to the U.N. Environment Programme, the world currently produces around 400 million metric tons of plastic waste per year—a number that is so far beyond human scale it is difficult to grasp. In terms of weight, yearly plastic waste is equivalent to about 73 million elephants or 40,000 Eiffel Towers. A significant portion of this waste is...
Risks of mirror bacteria
In this study we discuss the feasibility and potential risks of creating an alternative form of life called mirror bacteria. We call upon the broader scientific community and policymakers to engage in discussion and to implement guardrails to avert this potentially severe threat from unfolding. All known life in the natural world is homochiral — DNA and RNA are composed of right-handed nucleotides, and proteins are made from left-handed amino acids. Mirror versions of these and other...
Advocacy in Action: Effective Techniques for Shaping Science Policy
The American Society of Human Genetics will hold a workshop on “Effective Techniques for Shaping Science Policy,” led by J. Craig Venter Institute’s Anna Capria, October 16, 2024 at 12 PM EDT. Workshop details This workshop is for those passionate about human genetics who want to meaningfully impact the field through advocacy. You will gain foundational and practical skills to become an advocate, building on ASHG's ongoing efforts and highlighting available advocacy tools to the...
J. Craig Venter Institute awarded 5-year, $5M grant to lead Center for Innovative Recycling and Circular Economy (CIRCLE)
La Jolla, California—October 2, 2024—J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) has been awarded a 5-year, $5M grant to lead the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Innovative Recycling and Circular Economy (CIRCLE) through their Global Centers program. CIRCLE is an ambitious international partnership with funding agencies in the U.S., Canada, Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, jointly supporting use-inspired research addressing global challenges through the bioeconomy. JCVI...
Scientists discover molecular predictors of toxic algal blooms that pose health risk, ecological and economic harm
La Jolla, California—September 19, 2024—A team of researchers from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, and collaborators, have published a groundbreaking study on predicting harmful algal blooms (HABs) that contain high levels of the neurotoxin domoic acid. The study provides new insights into the mechanisms driving this type of HAB and offers potential solutions for predicting and mitigating their...
Prebys Introduces 2024 Grant Funding to Enhance Career Opportunities for Youth Across San Diego County
Background In 2023, The Conrad Prebys Foundation unveiled a strategic plan dedicated to enhancing community well-being by fostering purpose, opportunity, and belonging for every resident. This plan was shaped by over a hundred interviews and an extensive listening tour across the county. The Foundation invests in visual and performing arts, medical research, health care, and youth success, envisioning a future where San Diego County youth have their basic needs met while pursuing...