Updated:
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute was founded in 1976 as an independent nonprofit biomedical research organization. It receives major support...
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute was founded in 1976 as an independent nonprofit biomedical research organization. It receives major support from donors including T. Denny Sanford and Malin Burnham. The institute allocates 4.8 percent of assets to private equity and holds an endowment portfolio advised by Goldman Sachs. Confirmed holdings include ownership stakes in micro-gRx Incorporated and Camino Pharma. Activities center on the United States with primary operations in California and collaborative research through the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. The organization employs 600 professionals at its La Jolla campus. It sponsored the Molecular Medicine of Lipids symposium in October 2024. Adjacent structures include the Prebys Foundation, which has provided over $78 million in grants. Governance links the endowment directly to the institute's scientific mandate rather than external family succession or club structures.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1976
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
La Jolla
Corporate office
10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Principals
David A. Brenner
President and CEO
Donald Kearns
Board Chair
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute?
David A. Brenner serves as President and CEO. The endowment portfolio is 85 percent managed by Goldman Sachs.
What asset classes receive allocations?
Private equity accounts for 4.8 percent of assets. The endowment also holds municipal bonds and other fixed income positions.
Does the institute make direct investments in companies?
Yes. Holdings include ownership in micro-gRx Incorporated and Camino Pharma, both biotechnology startups.
Where does the institute conduct research?
Primary operations are at the La Jolla campus in California. It also participates in the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine with UC San Diego and other partners.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on endowments & foundations?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: