National Foundations Advance Research at UC San Diego with Philanthropic Support

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• Jade Griffin - [email protected]

Topics covered:

• Philanthropy and Giving

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At the University of California San Diego, scientific and medical discoveries begin with bold ideas. From decoding the complexities of human health to understanding the changing planet, UC San Diego researchers are tackling some of society's most pressing challenges. But behind every breakthrough is a critical driver: research funding.

In recognition of today's uncertain research funding landscape, two national foundations have recently provided philanthropic support to UC San Diego. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the W. M. Keck Foundation each made separate awards with the goal of enabling UC San Diego researchers - many in the early stages of their career - to explore high-risk, high-reward ideas with the potential to transform lives.

"UC San Diego is at the forefront of scientific and medical discovery, and philanthropic support is critical to sustaining research across fields ranging from medicine to the environment," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "We are grateful to the Moore and Keck foundations for their visionary support, which empowers researchers to translate novel ideas into meaningful advances that will positively impact the world."

Recent support from both foundations benefited researchers and postdocs in areas of campus including the Halıcıoğlu School of Data Science and Computing, Jacobs School of Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, School of Physical Sciences and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Sustaining Momentum in a Changing Funding Landscape

Recent support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation highlights the urgency of investing in the scientific workforce, particularly at critical career stages.

As research universities nationwide face tightening budgets, the Moore Foundation launched a $55 million Postdoctoral Fellowship Commitment to help sustain the pipeline of scientists-in-training. The initiative, which provided $2.5 million to UC San Diego, supports more than 400 postdoctoral researchers across 30 U.S. universities, with funding distributed across a wide range of scientific fields.

"Universities are experiencing budget cuts which are drastically curtailing funding for postdocs," said Aileen Lee, president of the Moore Foundation. "As funding for science becomes increasingly constrained, philanthropy plays a crucial role in fueling innovation and discovery. We invest where science can make long-term, measurable change and in the talented people whose ideas will shape the future."

This one-time infusion of funding will support 19 early-career researchers at UC San Diego and ensure that they can continue their promising work at a pivotal time in their careers. The support will be designated for postdocs from a range of natural science disciplines involved in research on topics such as the study of stars and planetary systems, the development of genetic tools in ticks and the ways beneficial microbes can degrade plastic waste.

Accelerating Breakthrough Science

Complementing this investment in people, separate support from the W. M. Keck Foundation is advancing bold, early-stage research ideas across UC San Diego.

The foundation awarded $1.4 million in bridge funding to sustain a diverse portfolio of high-impact basic science projects ranging from investigating viral toxins as potential therapeutic targets in infectious disease to exploring how ocean acidification alters collective behavior in fish populations.

The Keck Foundation's support is particularly critical for early- and mid-career faculty and their research teams, including doctoral students. The funding is designed to bridge funding gaps and prevent promising ideas from stalling.

For more information on the impact of philanthropy on research discoveries at UC San Diego, please visit ucsd.edu/behind-every-breakthrough.

About the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Gordon and Betty Moore established the foundation to create positive outcomes for future generations. In pursuit of that vision, we advance scientific discovery, environmental conservation, and the special character of the San Francisco Bay Area.

About the W. M. Keck Foundation

The W. M. Keck Foundation was established in 1954 in Los Angeles by William Myron Keck, founder of The Superior Oil Company. One of the nation's largest philanthropic organizations, the W. M. Keck Foundation supports outstanding science, engineering and medical research. The Foundation also supports undergraduate education and maintains a program within Southern California to support arts and culture, education, health and community service projects.