UCSD / SIO, La Jolla

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, just the place for cerebral types.

The Salk Institute is a private, non-profit, research organization located in La Jolla.

Scientists here are dedicated to fundamental research in biology and its relation to health, studying such challenging problems as the organization and operation of the brain, the control of gene activity, and the molecular origins of cancer, AIDS, and other diseases. In addition, studies in plant biology are aimed at improving the quantity and quality of the world's food supply.

Jonas Salk, M.D., founded the Institute in 1960 with a gift of land from the City of San Diego and the financial support of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. The Institute was recently ranked number one worldwide in both of these major areas; molecular biology & genetics, and the neurosciences.

The majority of its laboratories are housed in two architecturally prominent buildings designed specifically for the pursuit of scientific research by the well-known modernist architect Louis I. Kahn. The stark concrete, temple-like, Salk Institute, completed in 1967, has drawn architectural students from around the world ever since.

Docent-led architectural tours of The Salk Institute are conducted:
Monday through Friday at 11:00am and 12:00pm.

The Institute is closed on weekends. For tour information and reservations, call
(858) 453-4100, ext. 1200.


Jonas Salk (1914-1995)
Jonas Salk's last years were spent searching for a vaccine against AIDS. He died on June 23, 1995 at 80 years of age.

Street Address:
10010 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, California 92037-1099

Information about the Salk Institute was obtained from their web site at:
Salk Institute

UCSD. What a life. Four years spent studying on the beach in La Jolla. The University of California at San Diego is actually an outstanding school. I have a lot of friends who went to undergrad here, so I spent some time on the campus. This is a picture of the library.