• Inder Verma a professor at the Salk Institute, led a team of researchers in a study that found brain cancer cells can turn themselves into blood vessel cells to counter treatment therapies. Researchers discovered that glioblastoma cells (the most common and deadly form of brain cancer) were able to morph into blood vessel cells when doctors tried to deprive them of oxygen — a common form of treatment for brain cancer. The flexibility of the cells ensured that they would survive as they would continue to be supplied with the necessary nutrients. “This surprising effect of anti-angiogenic therapy with drugs such as Avastin tells us that we have to rethink glioblastoma combination therapy,” Verma, said in a recent statement. “Disrupting the formation of tumor blood vessels is not enough; we also have to prevent the conversion of tumor cells into blood vessels cells.” • La Jollans Gayle Tauber and Jan Tuttleman, who co-founded Women Give San Diego, a donor circle of the Women’s Foundation of California, announced the organization’s first granting cycle since its launch in 2009. The group chose three grantees to receive $46,000 over a period of two years. Just in Time for Foster Youth, an organization that helps young women in the transition from foster care to independent adulthood, Dress for Success, which assists low-income women with career building and life management, and Supportive Parents Information Network (SPIN), which promotes self-sufficiency through money management, were the three organizations chosen to receive the grants.”We are so pleased by the progress and success of Women Give San Diego over our first year,” Tuttleman said. “The impact of our granting to these great San Diego organizations will be felt far and wide. They will not only improve the lives of women and girls in our community, but will also give them the ability to help their families and, by extension, strengthen their communities. We welcome anyone who wants to join our organization and help us make a difference in the lives of women and girls in San Diego.” • Dr. Tess Mauricio opened the doors to her new clinic, Dr. Tess Dermatology and Cosmetic Center in La Jolla on Jan. 27. The center is the newest addition to Mauricio’s dermatology centers, which include a clinic in Scripps Ranch and a surgery center in Escondido. Mauricio will provide medical and cosmetic dermatology services in the new center. “I’m very proud to announce the opening of our La Jolla center,” she said. “We’ve helped so many people in San Diego with our Scripps Ranch and Escondido centers. Expanding to La Jolla will allow us to service those living in the coastal areas and globally.” Mauricio is a board-certified dermatologist and a graduate of the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University School of Medicine. • La Jollan attorneys Michael Amon and Michael Rosen were elevated to principals at the law firm Fish & Richardson. They were among 16 attorneys promoted to principal throughout the firm’s ten U.S. offices. Amon will continue to focus his practice on patent infringement and business litigation. He received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2002, his M.A. in international business administration from the University of San Diego in 2001, and his B.S. in biology from Trinity University in 1995. Rosen will continue to focus his practice on IP litigation in the areas of medical devices, computer software, telecommunications, consumer electronics and biotechnology. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2003 and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 1999. Both also serve as adjunct professors of law at the University of San Diego School of Law, where they teach patent litigation.
