The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute

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The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute

The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology Scripps.ufl.edu/. Our inventions can be licensed through UF Innovate.

The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology explores the molecular basis of health and disease and translates discoveries into new ways of improving lives. We're part of the top-5 ranked University of Florida, and home to the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, based at Scripps Research. Visit our website to learn about discoveries, even

ts, symposia, career and internship openings and partnering opportunities. www.facebook.com/UFInnovate/

06/05/2026

They say the is everywhere, and this week, for two intensive days, the gators brought the swamp to The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute in Jupiter.
We were thrilled to host the University of Florida Alumni Association Board of Directors for their 2026 summer meeting.
More than 40 people came from near and as far away as Mexico City, Los Angeles and Annapolis, Maryland, to learn about our scientists’ research, and discover how collaborations across the UF system are bringing hope to longstanding medical challenges like Alzheimer’s, cancer, viral diseases, ALS, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and more.
The UFAA board members heard talks from Matthew Disney, Ph.D., and Courtney Miller, Ph.D., as well as UF Innovate's Director of Ventures Jackson Streeter, M.D., who made the case for a UF venture fund to seed new UF-linked startup companies. Then the board members toured the institute’s unique robotic drug discovery system, saw its natural products collection and met a student working to find a better way to treat HIV infections.
UFAA President Rebecca Brock passed the torch to President-Elect Gordon Glover, and left with a snazzy thank you gift for her incredible service to the organization – a custom purse festooned with gators. Thank you, Rebecca, and thank you, UFAA!

06/04/2026

We love seeing our interns go on to launch great science careers!

Congratulations to former intern Kaiya Pringle, who was selected to participate in the US HIV Cure Academy this spring. Pringle has been working at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute with Associate Professor Mauricio Martins, Ph.D., on gene therapy approaches to HIV, through the NIH Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program. Previously, she interned with Associate Professor Laura Solt, Ph.D., through our Summer Undergraduate Research Program.

Next for Pringle? She’s been accepted into Emory University’s immunology program. Helping launch great science careers is a key part of our mission, so we’re thrilled to see Kaiya’s success!

If you'd like to learn more about the educational opportunities at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, visit our website: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/education/

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

05/22/2026

We had a wonderful day celebrating the impact of Dr. Herbert Wertheim, generous benefactor of the University of Florida's UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering in Gainesville and the The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute in Jupiter.
On the occasion of Dr. Wertheim’s 87th birthday, the institute’s lobby was transformed into “Herbie’s Yacht Club,” where Dr. Wertheim delighted in the reveal of a new lobby video screen. The clever video featured his trademark red hat bouncing across all of the UF programs he has impacted.
Later, Maria Gutierrez Martin, UF’s vice president for Advancement, presented Dr. Wertheim with a UF nautical flag festooned with the name of his vessel. He was celebrated with speeches of appreciation from CFO James Lapple and chemistry Chair Matthew Disney, Ph.D. Later, Dr. Wertheim met privately with the Wertheim fellows, the many biomedical research and engineering scholars his gifts support.
Joining the festivities were Katherine McMillan of Dr. Wertheim’s staff, and engineering college leadership including Jennifer Andrew, Ph.D., Idalis Villanueva Alarcón, Ph.D., and Mark Tehranipoor.
Truly a day to celebrate the profound impact Dr. Wertheim has had on research and education!

05/14/2026

What can dogs teach scientists about cancer treatment?

Researchers at the University of Florida and The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute are working together to uncover new drug candidates by studying cancers shared by both humans and dogs.

“By comparing drug responses across canine and human cancer cell lines, we can identify shared therapeutic strategies that will benefit both species,” said Elizabeth Maxwell, DVM, a surgical oncologist at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville.

Using advanced robotic screening technology, scientists are analyzing how canine and human cancer cells respond to thousands of compounds in search of promising therapies for melanoma, osteosarcoma and other cancers.

Funded by $340,000 in UF grants, the collaboration highlights the growing role of comparative medicine in cancer research, where discoveries in one species may help improve treatment options for another.

Read the full story here:
https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/2026/05/07/dogs-and-humans-help-cancer-drug-discovery/

05/13/2026

“Stay curious, stay adaptable and never underestimate the power of mentorship.”

That was the message delivered by physician-scientist Joe GN "Skip" Garcia, M.D., director of the Center for Inflammation Science and Systems Medicine at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, to the University of Florida’s doctoral Class of 2026 during this spring’s commencement ceremony.

Speaking directly to graduates preparing to enter the next chapter of their careers, Garcia reflected on his own unexpected path into research and the mentors who helped shape his journey. He encouraged students to embrace uncertainty, continue learning and lead with purpose as science and medicine rapidly evolve through advances in artificial intelligence, precision medicine and emerging technologies.

The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute in Jupiter, Florida, is home to two distinguished doctoral programs: The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, operated by Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, and the University of Florida Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences.

To watch Garcia’s keynote address, visit: https://news.ufl.edu/2026/04/garcia-speech/

05/09/2026

Scientists use some fun and fascinating tools to make their discoveries, such as flow cytometry. What's that?

Imagine a microscopic highway where cells zip along single file. As they pass by, we hit them with LASERS. By watching how the light bounces off, we can tell what type of cells are passing, how big the cells are, how much "stuff" is inside, and more. We even use glowing dyes to label specific cells or their components, lighting them up like neon signs.

This method is essentially fluid dynamics, optics, biology and computer science all in one. It allows us to analyze thousands of cells per second. At The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, we offer more than a dozen high-tech scientific core services to area researchers and life science businesses.

Learn how you can access flow cytometry on our Jupiter, Florida campus:
https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/cores-and-technologies/flow-cytometry/

04/28/2026

For "outstanding lifetime contributions to natural products chemistry," and "significantly improving medicine and human health," with RNA-targeting innovations, two prestigious awards go to Wertheim UF Scripps scientists Ben Shen, Ph.D., and Matthew Disney, Ph.D. Read about the awards here: https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/2026/04/27/chemists-honored-for-natural-products-and-rna-innovations-that-changed-science/

04/23/2026

The inaugural Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis Symposium brought together lung disease researchers and clinicians at our Jupiter campus this week, sharing discoveries and research on a life-threatening condition that affects millions globally.

The symposium highlighted emerging science and fostered new connections aimed at accelerating the development of better therapies.

Event organizer Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia, M.D., director of the Center for Inflammation Science and Systems Medicine at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, said his hope is that the conference will accelerate progress toward much-needed better treatments.

"There's massive unmet medical need in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and primary progressive fibrosis. There are treatments, but they are not well-tolerated by patients, and there is a lot of premature mortality," he said.

Speakers included some of the leading researchers and physicians in the field: Robert Kaner, M.D., from Weill Cornell Medicine; Jack Elias, M.D., from Brown University; Naftali Kaminski, M.D., of Yale School of Medicine; Takis Benos, Ph.D., from the University of Florida, and Ivan Rosas, M.D., from the Baylor College of Medicine.

Read more about the center and its work to address inflammatory lung and other diseases, here:

https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/departments/centers-and-specialties/center-for-inflammation-science-and-systems-medicine/

The event was sponsored by Aqualung Therapeutics, a company founded by Dr. Garcia.

04/17/2026

Understanding biology requires advanced tools and great expertise.

Scientists at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute work closely with our Genomics Core to gain the insights about gene expression and mutations needed to target incurable diseases.

From whole transcriptome sequencing to single-cell analysis, our Genomic Core experts use state-of-the-art tools to gather the data needed to accelerate discovery. They provide guidance on sample preparation, sequencing strategies and data generation.

Their expertise is available to outside researchers as well. Explore how you can access our Genomics Core for your next project:
https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/cores-and-technologies/genomics-core/

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120 Scripps Way
Jupiter, FL
33458

Telephone

+15612282000

Website

https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/

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