San Diego Biomedical Research Institute

“Form 990, its accompanying schedules and statements, and its corresponding stateinformation return are reviewed by the Board of Directors in advance of filing.Trustees have ample opportunity to ask questions and confirm their understanding andacceptance of the returns.”

“All decisions made by the Board of Directors are reviewed and assessed vis-a-vis theorganization's conflict of interest policy to determine any potential and/or actualconfilcts of interest. Interested trustees recuse themselves from discussion andvoting on any matter where a conflict of interest is determined to exist.”

“The process for determining the compensation of the CEO includes review andapproval by the Board of Directors, review of comparability data, andcontemporaneous substantiation. The Board of Directors' decision, inthis regard, is documented in the board minutes.”

“The process for determining the compensation of other officers and key employees includs review and approval by the Board of Directors, review of comparability data, and contemporaneous substantiation. The Board of Directors' decision, inthis regard, is documented in meeting minutes.”

“The institute makes its governing documents, conflicts of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Multiple Sclerosis:Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating autoimmune disease in which immune cells travel to the brain and spinal cord and destroy the protective coating that surrounds nerve fibers. Without the protective coating nerves are unable to send messages to different parts of the body and this causes an array of disorders including numbness in hands and feet, muscle weakness, fatigue, and blurred vision. It is estimated that there are 2.3 million people with MS worldwide. The goal of our cutting-edge research at SDBRI is to identify ways to manipulate and strengthen blood vessels so that the cells that cause multiple sclerosis (MS) are unable to enter the brain. In particular we seek to understand how the integrity of blood vessels in the brain is regulated by: (i) proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that surround cells, and (ii) environmental stimuli such as mild hypoxia. By understanding these mechanisms, we can design new therapeutic approaches aimed at increasing blood supply and reducing vascular leak, thereby making blood vessels better equipped to protect against neurological damage. A Staff Scientist from Bangladesh and a Postdoctoral Fellow from Nepal received salary & benefits while being trained at SDBRI in cellular, molecular and biochemical techniques to learn how blood vessels can be strengthened and repaired and how we can use that information to stop and reverse MS. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: SYSTEMATIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE):SLE is caused by the immune system as it attacks the bodys tissue. Although there is a clear genetic predisposition to SLE, environmental factors also contribute to disease development. Ongoing work at SDBRI is focused on how genetic factors combine with virus infection and silica inhalation to cause SLE. It is hoped that understanding how the combination of these elements contribute to the development of SLE will provide information that can be used to develop therapies that block these interactions and the resulting disease. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: Parkinsons Disease:Parkinsons disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population over the age of 60. In the U.S. alone about 50,000 new cases are reported annually. It is believed that PD is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Scientists at SDBRI are working on the idea that allergic reactions represent an important environmental component in making people more susceptible to the development of PD. If this is true, components of the allergic response might be used as novel therapeutic targets to prevent PD or reduce its progression.”