SDSU to receive part of Prebys Foundation $7M emergency support for biomedical research
The university is among seven institutions in the region receiving $1 million each to provide general operating support aimed at retaining early and mid-career scientists, and to support key research programs.
As federal funding for medical and life sciences research faces deep and destabilizing cuts, Prebys Foundation is stepping in with a rapid response package totaling $7 million to defend San Diego’s biomedical research sector—one of the world’s leading innovation hubs.
Federal grants have historically provided nearly half of all medical research funding in the United States. This support has enabled transformative advances in drug discovery, fueled job growth, and secured America’s position as a global leader in the life sciences. In San Diego, the impact has been profound, home to internationally renowned research institutes, universities, and biotech startups that together make up a biomedical ecosystem unlike any other in the country.
“San Diego’s biomedical research institutions aren’t just world-class in reputation—they deliver real impact by tackling urgent problems and advancing the treatments and cures the world needs,” said Grant Oliphant, CEO of the Prebys Foundation.
“While we can’t match the scale of federal investment, we can respond with urgency to help prevent the loss of extraordinary talent and critical momentum. This is a defining moment, and philanthropy must rise to meet it.”
To address the immediate need, Prebys Foundation is awarding grants to seven anchor institutions. San Diego State University will receive $1 million in funding. The other institutions, all of which will receive $1 million, are:
- The La Jolla Institute for Immunology
- The Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- The Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Scripps Research
- University of California San Diego
The grants will provide general operating support aimed at retaining early and mid-career scientists at risk of being lost to the field, as well as supporting key research programs.
“This is not just about science—it’s about our economy, our global leadership, and the health of future generations,” said Oliphant. “This funding was an emergency allocation above and beyond our planned giving for the year. We urge other funders and stakeholders to join us in going above traditional spending allocations to help preserve the excellence and impact of San Diego’s life sciences community.”
