Consortium FAQ
How does the Sanford Consortium operate? The Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine is a California non-membership, non-profit corporation and a 501(c)(3) exempt organization. It operates as a “collaboratory”: it brings five world-class research institutions – the Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, The Scripps Research Institute, the University of California, San Diego, and La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology – together under one roof to pursue funding to support collaborative research projects that will advance understanding of stem cells. Researchers will work side by side inside this facility to conduct multi-disciplinary stem cell research and translate discoveries into clinical cures.
What is a Collaboratory? The best available definition of “collaboratory” comes from Wikipedia: “A collaboratory, as defined by William Wulf in 1989, is a ‘center without walls, in which the nation’s researchers can perform their research without regard to physical location, interacting with colleagues, accessing instrumentation, sharing data and computational resources, [and] accessing information in digital libraries’” (Wulf, 1989).
How will this facility benefit San Diego? The Sanford Consortium will strengthen San Diego's leadership position in the global life sciences industry. Each of the five institutions has research strengths which, when combined, has the potential to create a synergistic research enterprise. This synergy would also allow for effective translation of research into clinical cures and therapies for debilitating diseases and disorders. In addition, it will provide training opportunities and resources for young scientists and improve the state and local economy as more grant and philanthropic dollars flow into the region. Businesses in the area will also expand as discoveries are translated into effective marketable therapies.
Who are the key researchers? Do any of these researchers stand to profit from this project? A number of researchers from the partner institutions are involved in this work, including Dr. Evan Snyder (The Sanford Burnham Institute), Dr. Fred "Rusty" Gage (The Salk Institute), Dr. Martin Friedlander (The Scripps Research Institute) and Dr. Larry Goldstein (University of California, San Diego), and Dr. Anjano Rao (LIAI). As with any research, inventors of new techniques or therapies do stand to gain financially from their inventions. However, the partner institutions all have well-defined and transparent technology transfer and conflict of interest procedures in place. The disclosure and management of all inventions will be in accord with patent law and the policies and procedures of the employing institution.
Given that the institutions routinely collaborate, why do we need this special arrangement? Past collaborative efforts have not allowed researchers to share a space and interact in this same fashion. This arrangement allows for the synergistic exchange of ideas, equipment and expertise in this area of study. Additionally, the formal collaboration will result in a greater ability to attract grants and charitable contributions that might not otherwise come to the region.
When was the Sanford Consortium launched? The Sanford Consortium was launched on March 17, 2006, when the chief executives of its original four collaborating organizations – the Burnham Institute, the Salk Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, and UC San Diego – signed a formal agreement to establish an independent, non-profit consortium dedicated to stem cell research. La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology joined as the fifth organization on October 27, 2011.
How much did the Collaboratory cost, and how was it funded? The total cost to construct and equip the Collaboratory is $127 million. Development of the project began in 2007 and was led by a partnership between Lankford & Associates and Phelps Development. In May 2008, the consortium, known then as the San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, received a $43 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state agency created to disburse $3 billion in funding from Proposition 71, the stem cell research ballot measure approved by voters in 2004. In September 2008, the project received a $30 million donation from philanthropist T. Denny Sanford of South Dakota. In recognition of his generous gift, the consortium was renamed the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine.
Can any of the funding be used to conduct research on human reproductive cloning? No. Such research is specifically prohibited under Proposition 71.
Can I make donations to the Sanford Consortium? Yes, details are available on the Capital Campaign section of the Web site.
How large is the building and the site of the “Collaboratory,” and how was the land obtained? The Sanford Consortium’s Collaboratory is a 150,000-square-foot building located on a 7.5-acre site that is proximal to all five participating institutions. The University of California (UC), in an act of generosity that was directed by UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox and UC President Mark Yudof, has granted the Consortium a 52-year ground lease at $1 per year. UCSD has an option to purchase the Collaboratory and leasehold interest at a price equal to the amount of the outstanding indebtedness on the Collaboratory, plus the amount of the Facility Grant that the Consortium would be required to repay to CIRM, if any. Upon termination of the Ground Lease, title to the Facility will pass unencumbered to UCSD.