LA JOLLA, Calif. and ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute Board of Directors (trustees) announced today that John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D. has accepted the position of Head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development and member of the Corporate Executive Committee. Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., president of Sanford-Burnham, will assume all leadership responsibilities on an interim basis.

"John has led Sanford-Burnham through a decade of tremendous success and growth, particularly in translational research, and we wish him the best as he moves to a new stage of his career," said M. Wainwright Fishburn, Jr., chairman of Sanford-Burnham's Board of Trustrees. "We have a strong foundation for continued growth, and we have complete confidence in Kristiina's ability to lead through the management transition."

Added Dr. Reed, "I am grateful to have led Sanford-Burnham over the past decade, especially in the growth of the Institute's work in translational research. While I am sad to be leaving the Institute, I look forward to the potential for collaborations in the future between the two organizations. I am confident in the financial strength of the Institute following the strongest year of grant revenue in its history, as well as in Dr. Vuori's ability to lead through the time ahead. We have worked side-by-side in leading Sanford-Burnham, so she is uniquely qualified to guide a smooth transition and continued excellence."

Under Dr. Reed's leadership, Sanford-Burnham, which is headquartered in La Jolla, Calif., opened a second research campus as part of the Medical City created at Lake Nona, in Orlando, Fla. In addition, the Institute ranked number one worldwide for scientific impact, as measured in citations per publication, in the field of biology and biochemistry for the decade of 1999-2009. It also became the third-largest recipient of NIH funding among all laboratory research-based organizations in the nation, and second most efficient in innovation, based on patents issued per grant dollars awarded. In 2010, the Institute received its largest single donation of $50 million from T. Denny Sanford, for whom the Institute was renamed. Following the management transition, Dr. Reed will retain his association with the Institute through an adjunct professor appointment.

"This institute has become a world-leader in research and early-stage drug discovery, with Dr. Reed overseeing the expansion of our research centers and collaborations with industry, research and government partners," said Malin Burnham, Honorary Trustee of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. "We are very proud of our accomplishments during the past decade under John's leadership."

Added T. Denny Sanford, "I recognized the strength of this institute at the time of my donation in 2010, and I continue to have the utmost confidence in its future and direction. I look forward to further growth under the leadership of Dr. Vuori and the Institute's Board of Trustees."

Dr. Vuori is president of Sanford-Burnham, director of Sanford-Burnham's National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center, the Pauline & Stanley Foster Presidential Chair and Jeanne & Gary Herberger Leadership Chair in Cancer Research. Her research at Sanford-Burnham is primarily focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer metastasis in order to find methods to prevent this process that accounts for more than 90 percent of cancer deaths. She was appointed to the faculty of Sanford-Burnham in 1996, director of Sanford-Burnham's NCI-designated Cancer Center in 2006 and has been the Institute's president since April 2010.

"Sanford-Burnham's ability to combine outstanding basic research with competency in drug discovery is the Institute's biggest differentiator in the non-profit world," said Duane Roth, vice chairman of Sanford-Burnham's Board of Trustrees. "These capabilities that Drs. Reed and Vuori have built in partnership offer several unique and exciting opportunities for the Institute in the future."

About Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute is dedicated to discovering the fundamental molecular causes of disease and devising the innovative therapies of tomorrow. The Institute consistently ranks among the top five organizations worldwide for its scientific impact in the fields of biology and biochemistry (defined by citations per publication) and currently ranks third in the nation in NIH funding among all laboratory-based research institutes. Sanford-Burnham utilizes a unique, collaborative approach to medical research and has established major research programs in cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and infectious, inflammatory, and childhood diseases. The Institute is especially known for its world-class capabilities in stem cell research and drug discovery technologies. Sanford-Burnham is a U.S.-based, non-profit public benefit corporation, with operations in San Diego (La Jolla), California and Orlando (Lake Nona), Florida. For more information, news, and events, please visit us at sanfordburnham.org.

Media Contact:
Ian Stone or Tony Russo
Russo Partners
Tel: +1 619-308-6541
ian.stone@russopartnersllc.com
tony.russo@russopartnersllc.com

SOURCE Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute