Daily Business Report-July 29, 2020
In recognition of Mrs. Dianne L. Bashor’s generosity, SDSU will name the field at the new Aztec Stadium Bashor Field. (Photo courtesy of SDSU)
Donations to San Diego State University
top $127 million in fiscal year 2019-20
By Tobin Vaughn | SDSU NewsCenter
Gift commitments to San Diego State University totaled $127,255,503 in the 2019-20 fiscal year, an increase of nearly 10 percent from the previous year despite an economic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Figures for the year ending June 30 were announced by SDSU Vice President of University Relations and Development Adrienne Vargas and represent a second consecutive year of fundraising growth.
Topping the list of gift recipients were SDSU Athletics, which received $33.6 million from donors, and KPBS, with gifts totaling $30.85 million. Total donations to Academic Affairs, which encompasses the university’s programs across all colleges, the library and SDSU Imperial Valley, were almost $50.8 million.
The largest single donation to SDSU in the past year was from San Diego philanthropist Dianne L. Bashor, who pledged $15 million toward construction of the new stadium that will be part of SDSU Mission Valley. In recognition of her generosity, SDSU will name the field at the new Aztec Stadium Bashor Field.
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MTS police chief to depart as agency
pulls back enforcement push
MTS’s board earlier this year began dialing back the aggressive enforcement ramped up on Guaderrama’s watch, including soaring fare evasion ticketing that disproportionately affected low-income riders.
Voice of San Diego
The architect of the Metropolitan Transit System’s bolstered enforcement will be retiring at the end of next month.
MTS announced Monday Police Chief Manny Guaderrama, who ran the agency’s security and enforcement efforts for five years after spending three decades at the San Diego Police Department, will retire on Aug. 28.
News of his retirement comes amid a significant change in direction at an agency that on Guaderrama’s watch dramatically cracked down on quality of life crimes including fare evasion.
New board leaders including Chairman Nathan Fletcher and City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery, who chairs the agency’s public security committee, have called for the agency to consider a less punitive approach. MTS is also pursuing an outside, third-party review of the agency’s policies and practices that could reshape its enforcement posture.
Now Fletcher and Montgomery are set to lead a national search for Guaderrama’s replacement.
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Scientists identify a new drug target
for dry age-related macular degeneration
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have shown that the blood protein vitronectin is a promising drug target for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), also holds implications for Alzheimer’s and heart disease, which are linked to vitronectin.
“Our findings suggest that vitronectin, which is shaped like a sticky propeller, orchestrates the formation of the spherical deposits that accumulate and cause dry AMD,” says Francesca Marassi, Ph.D., director of the Cancer, Molecules and Structures Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys and senior author of the study. “With this information, we can look for drugs that prevent the deposits from forming and help people retain their sight for as long as possible.”
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Warner Bros.’ gaming division
setting up development office in Carlsbad
The interactive gaming division of Hollywood studio Warner Bros. plans to set up shop in an office and retail complex under construction in Carlsbad.WB Games has leased 10,870 square feet at State Street Commons, a retail and office complex under construction at 2742-2752 State St. The 22,000-square-foot project is set for completion by year’s end.
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U.S. News & World Report ranks
Scripps hospitals No. 1 in San Diego
The combined medical programs of Scripps Green Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla rank No. 1 in the San Diego region for the fourth year in a row and are among the best in the nation in seven specialties, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Hospitals list, which was released Tuesday.
The annual U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, now in their 31st year, recognize the nation’s top 50 hospitals that excel in treating patients with the most challenging health care needs. For 2020-2021, U.S. News evaluated hospitals in 16 specialties and ranked the nation’s top 50 hospitals in 12 of those specialties based largely on hard data.
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BioTheryX announces
$35 million Series D financing
BioTheryX Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company harnessing the power of protein modulation to treat difficult diseases, announced it has closed a $35 million Series D financing. The round was led by MSD Partners L.P.
In addition to general corporate development purposes, proceeds from the financing will be used to accelerate the timeline of the BTX-A51 Phase 1 clinical trial through the addition of clinical sites beyond Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, continue IND-enabling studies for therapeutic candidates utilizing both PHMs and PHM-based PROTACs (proteolysis targeting chimeras), and support more rapid development of the company’s pre-clinical pipeline.
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General Atomics selected for further
Skyborg Vanguard development
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) announced the recent award of a contract by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center for the Skyborg Vanguard Program.
Skyborg is an autonomy-focused capability that aims to integrate attritable, autonomous unmanned aircraft with open mission systems to enable manned-unmanned teaming. According to the center press release, this program will provide a “game-changing capability to the warfighter.”
“We appreciate the opportunity to continue work on the Skyborg Vanguard program,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “We are always looking for innovative, affordable ways to significantly increase USAF capabilities that address new mission challenges.”
GA-ASI was one of four companies selected for further support to the program. These initial awards establish a vendor pool that will continue to compete for up to $400 million in subsequent delivery orders under the Skyborg Vanguard Program.
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Sean Gaffney promoted to partner at
Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson
Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson LLP, a commercial real estate law firm, has promoted Sean Gaffney to partner. Gaffney, who joined CGS3 as senior counsel in 2019, is based in the firm’s San Diego headquarters.
With over 20 years of litigation experience, Gaffney has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in all phases of trial work and alternative dispute resolution relating to California real estate law, including distressed assets and workouts, claims arising from failed real estate transactions and development projects; landlord/tenant disputes; corporate, partnership and LLC governance disputes; construction and property management insurance coverage disputes; construction defect and delay claims; and eminent domain and public/government construction claims.
Gaffney was previously a member of the commercial litigation group at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP in San Diego, where he worked for eight years. Prior to that, he practiced with San Diego-based Sullivan Hill and with the boutique litigation firm Davidovitz & Bennett LLP in San Francisco.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of San Diego and earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
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S.D. Women’s Week Leadership Conference Goes Global
New virtual format with no boundaries features Daymond John, Linda Cureton, Ed Smart, Amy Trask
San Diego Women’s Week, celebrating 11 years of inspiring, empowering and connecting women is now virtual with leadership events for all ages and professions. Attendees enjoy virtual networking, keynote speakers, panel discussions, and more, all wrapped around creative solutions to everyday issues affecting leaders in the workplace and in their daily lives.
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 26 – Friday, Aug. 28, 2020
WHO: Keynotes for 2020 Leadership conference include:
- Daymond John from Shark Tank: Powershift, Transform Any Situation, Close Any Deal, and Achieve Any Outcome.
- Linda Cureton, Former CIO – NASA: Managing and Leading in a Tough Environment.
- Ed Smart, Father of Elizabeth Smart: Two Miracles, and Standing up for Yourself.
- Amy Trask, Former NFL Team Executive – Los Angeles Raiders: Leadership Vulnerabilities.
WHERE: Wednesday – Virtual Women and Wine 6-7:30 p.m.
Friday – Virtual Leadership Conference 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Click here for complete list of speakers and additional details.
