San Diego, CA
Daily Business Report: June 4, 2024, San Diego Metro Magazine
This county is California’s harshest charging ‘desert’
for eletric cars. Local activists want to change that
By Alejandro Lazo | CalMatters
Few places in California are as unforgiving for driving an electric car as the remote and sparsely populated Imperial Valley.
Only four fast-charging public stations are spread across the valley’s vast 4,500 square miles just north of the US-Mexico border, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That means if you’re Greg Gelman — one of only about 1,200 Imperial County residents who own an electric car — traveling almost anywhere is a maddening logistical challenge.
“It’s been, I won’t say a nightmare, but it’s been very, very, very inconvenient,” Gelman said on a recent afternoon as he charged his all-electric Mercedes-Benz at a charging station in a Bank of America parking lot in El Centro. “Would I do it again? No.”
California’s electric charging “deserts” like the Imperial Valley pose one of the biggest obstacles to the state’s efforts to combat climate change and air pollution by electrifying cars and trucks.
Experts say the slow installation of chargers in California’s remote regions could jeopardize the state’s phaseout of new gas-powered cars. Under the state’s mandate, 35 percent of sales of 2026 models must be zero-emissions, ramping up to 68 percent in 2030 and 100 percent in 2035.
Nestled in the desert in California’s far southeast corner, Imperial County ranks dead last in electric car ownership among California counties with populations of 100,000 or more, according to a CalMatters analysis of 2023 data. Only 7 out of every 1,000 cars are battery-powered there, compared with 51 out of every 1,000 statewide.
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Top Photo: A map shows the electric car charging stations that the nonprofit group Comite Civico Del Valle plans to build in the Imperial Valley. (Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters)
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Cubic awarded NAVAIR contract to provide live virtual and constructive training
Cubic Defense, the world’s leading provider of advanced air combat training, is awarded a contract modification with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to provide engineering support services for a demonstration in Guam, Valiant Shield ‘24.
“Cubic’s SLATE technology injects synthetic entities and computer-generated forces to bring the realism of the pacing multi-domain high-end threat environment to the live cockpits and operator consoles, said Paul K. Averna, VP and GM, Advanced Training Solutions for Cubic Defense. “Tomorrow’s fight will be different, and our Joint and Coalition operators deserve a fully vetted system that ensures combat readiness today”
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The unexpected connection between brewing and understanding turbulence
By Michelle Franklin | UC San Diego
In 1883 Osborne Reynolds injected ink into water in a short, clear pipe to observe its movement. His experiments showed that as the input water velocity increased, the flow went from laminar (smooth and predictable) to turbulent (unsteady and unpredictable) through the development of localized patches of turbulence, known today as “puffs.” His work helped launch the field of fluid mechanics, but, as experiments often do, it raised more questions. For example, why do these transitions between laminar and turbulent flows occur and how can the transitions be characterized quantitatively?
Although Reynolds was not able to find the answer, an international team of researchers, led by University of California San Diego Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics Nigel Goldenfeld and Björn Hof of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria have used statistical mechanics to solve this longstanding problem. Their work appears in Nature Physics.
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TrueCare and MiraCosta offer medical assistant scholarships
The Prebys Foundation has awarded a $500,000 two-year grant to TrueCare, a nonprofit healthcare provider in San Diego and Riverside counties, for an initiative to provide internships and support for students in the MiraCosta College Medical Assistant program. The new grant, which establishes an impactful partnership between MiraCosta and TrueCare, will provide paid internships and scholarships to encourage students to seek training for a career as a medical assistant. The grant funding stems from the Youth Health Career Pathways Investments initiative. This initiative empowers underserved youth by providing access to top-tier healthcare career training programs. By diversifying the healthcare workforce, we take strategic strides toward mitigating health disparities and enhancing healthcare accessibility for marginalized communities.
Rich Dicker, program director for the Medical Assistant program, said the grant will enable students who otherwise might not have been able to afford it to enroll. To be eligible, a student must be 16-26 years old, enrolled in the Medical Assistant program, and have faced issues with financial hardship.
Scripps research scientists uncover new molecular drivers of Alzheimer’s
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 5.8 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, in part because scientists do not yet have a full understanding of what causes the disease. But a new study from Scripps Research is shedding light on the molecular drivers that could contribute to Alzheimer’s progression.
In the study, published in Advanced Science on May 21, 2024, the researchers used a new technique for studying single, living brain cells affected by Alzheimer’s disease. By measuring the electrical activity of single neurons and the protein levels within those neurons, the scientists discovered new molecules linked to Alzheimer’s. The hope is these molecules could be targeted by drugs to treat or slow the progression of the neurodegenerative disease in the future.
Close collaboration among Scripps Research’s professors, including clinical neurologist Stuart Lipton, MD, PhD, protein expert John Yates, III, PhD, and bioinformaticist Nicholas Schork, PhD, (who is also the deputy director and distinguished professor of quantitative medicine at The Translational Genomics Research Institute, or TGen) enabled the scientists to develop this biotechnology feat.
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Cure unveils U.S. biotech industry Benchmark Report 2024
Cure, a healthcare innovation campus in New York City, unveiled results from Ready, Set, Growth! Biotech Benchmark Report 2024 at the 2024 BIO International Convention in San Diego. Cure conducted this highly anticipated assessment of the biotech industry in partnership with the Deerfield Institute, a division of Deerfield Management Company. The stakeholders surveyed included company founders and CEOs, managing directors, investors, scientists, and more.
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America open call for abstracts for 2025 event
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA), the industry’s premier solar, storage, and EV charging infrastructure event, is now accepting abstracts for speaking opportunities at the conference to be held Feb. 25-27, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego. The Intersolar & Energy Storage North America conference and expo connects installers, developers, utilities, technology providers, policy makers, and other key stakeholders through innovative programming, networking events, and exhibits that maximize learning and facilitate business.
Aethlon Medical prepares for Phase 1 Cancer Treatment studies
Aethlon Medical, Inc., a medical therapeutic company focused on developing products to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases, provided the following update on its planned phase 1 safety, feasibility and dose-finding clinical trials of its Hemopurifier in patients with solid tumors who have stable or progressive disease during anti-PD-1 monotherapy treatment, such as Keytruda or Opdivo. Aethlon Medical is a medical therapeutic company focused on developing the Hemopurifier, a clinical stage immunotherapeutic device which is designed to combat cancer and life-threatening viral infections and for use in organ transplantation
Psylo announces first close on $8 million series seed financing
Psylo, a leading biotechnology company focused on the development of next-generation neuroplastogens, announced at the BIO Conference in San Diego the successful first close toward an $8 million USD Series Seed financing. This funding will accelerate the advancement of PSYLO-100X, the company’s flagship non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonist, poised to revolutionize the treatment of depression and other mental health disorders.
PriceSmart releases 2023 Environmental and Social Responsibility report
PriceSmart Inc., operator of 54 warehouse clubs in 12 countries and one U.S. territory, announced the publication of its fiscal year 2023 Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR) report. The comprehensive report provides information on PriceSmarts commitment to sustainability and positively impacting communities and the environment. Through detailed insights into the company’s programs and initiatives, the report describes PriceSmart’s dedication to fostering environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and strong corporate governance across its operations.
Neurocrine Biosciences announces publication of pediatric study
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. announced that the primary study results from its CAHtalyst Pediatric Phase 3 study investigating crinecerfont for the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine online edition and will appear in a future print issue of the journal. The CAHtalyst Pediatric Phase 3 global registrational study was conducted in 103 participants. Over 95 percent of participants completed the 28-week double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment period of the study with minimal missing data.
Spotline to showcase innovative solutions at DIA 2024 in San Diego
Spotline, Inc., a leader in cutting-edge enterprise solutions for the life sciences industry, is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming Drug Information Association (DIA) 2024 Global Annual Meeting in San Diego. The event will take place from June 16-20, 2024, at the San Diego Convention Center. Spotline Inc. will be showcasing its latest innovative products. These groundbreaking solutions are designed to enhance efficiency and streamline processes for organizations utilizing the Veeva Vault platform.
Illumina appoints Everett Cunningham to chief commercial officer
Illumina Inc., a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, announced the appointment of Everett Cunningham as chief commercial officer (CCO), effective June 10. Cunningham will be responsible for building, guiding, and managing the company’s global commercial organization. He brings extensive commercial experience across the healthcare tech, life sciences, and pharmaceutical industries. Most recently, Cunningham served as chief commercial oficer at Exact Sciences, where he oversaw the company’s marketing, sales, and customer service functions.
Navigate BioPharma Services announced launch of new assay
Navigate BioPharma Services, Inc., a specialty laboratory offering high-quality, innovative precision medicine solutions and bioanalytics for clinical development and diagnostic applications, launched a new assay for quantifying pharmacodynamic markers of radioligand therapies in tumors. The development of this assay was presented in a poster titled “Quantifying pharmacodynamic markers of radioligand therapies (RLTs) in tumor by multiplex immunofluorescence and automated quantitative analysis (AQUA) algorithms” at the American Association for Cancer Research 2024 Annual Meeting held in San Diego.
Shionogi expands global infectious disease and antimicrobial research operations
Shionogi & Co. Ltd. announced the company is responding to the urgent global need for additional antimicrobial research and development by establishing its first discovery laboratory in the U.S., in San Diego. The Shionogi Qpex Lab will expand the existing R&D facility for Qpex Biopharma Inc., a Shionogi Group Company, with a new state-of-the-art discovery laboratory at the SD Tech by Alexandria mega campus in San Diego. In 2023, Qpex was acquired by Shionogi Inc., a New Jersey-based subsidiary of Shionogi.
Inocras and Massive Bio forge groundbreaking alliance
Inocras, a leading AI-driven whole genome testing company, and Massive Bio, a cutting-edge AI-driven clinical trial matching platform provider, have joined forces to set a new standard for cancer patient care. This strategic collaboration leverages Inocras’s expertise in whole genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics alongside Massive Bio’s advanced AI technology for clinical trial matching, with the shared mission of enhancing personalized care for cancer patients.
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.
The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.
The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.
Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.
The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.
Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.
Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.
“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.
The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.
Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.
“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.
Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.
Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.
Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.
“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”
Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.
“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.
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The Fund for Science and Technology, a new private foundation, granted Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego $15 million for ocean science Tuesday.
FFST, funded by the estate of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, was started in 2025 with a commitment to invest at least $500 million over four years to “propel transformative science and technology for people and the planet.”
“Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego is pushing boundaries for exploration and discovery across the global ocean,” Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said. “This visionary support from the Fund for Science and Technology will enable Scripps researchers to advance our understanding of our planet, which has meaningful implications for communities around the world.”
The grant, the largest of its kind since Scripps joined UCSD in 1960, will go toward research in three areas: monitoring of environmental DNA and other biomolecules in marine ecosystems, adding to the Argo network of ocean observing robots, and enhancing the study of ocean conditions beneath Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, often referred to as the “Doomsday Glacier.”
Scripps Institution of Oceanography has used Argo floats for more than two decades to track climate impacts in our oceans. NBC 7 meteorologist Greg Bledsoe reports.
“The Fund for Science and Technology was created to support transformational science in the search of answers to some of the planet’s most complex questions,” said Dr. Lynda Stuart, president and CEO at the fund. “Scripps has a long tradition of leadership at the frontiers of ocean and climate science, and this work builds on that legacy — strengthening the tools and insights needed to understand our environment at a truly global and unprecedented scale.”
Scripps Director Emeritus Margaret Leinen will use a portion of the grant in her analysis of eDNA — free-floating fragments of DNA shed by organisms into the environment — in understudied parts of the ocean to collect crucial baseline data on marine organisms, according to a statement from Scripps.
“In many regions, we know very little about the microbial communities that form the base of the ocean food web or that make deep sea ecosystems so unique,” Leinen said. “Without data, we can’t predict how these communities are going to respond to climate change or what the consequences might be. That’s a vulnerability — and this funding will help us begin to address it.”
Using autonomous samplers that can collect ocean water for eDNA analysis, as well as conventional sampling, scientists will use tools to “reveal the biology of the open ocean and polar regions.”
According to Scripps, the international Argo program has more than 4,000 floats that drift with currents and periodically dive to measure temperature, salinity and pressure. Standard floats can record data up to depths of 2,000 meters (6,560 feet), while newer Deep Argo floats can dive to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet).
The grant funding announced Tuesday will allow for Scripps to deploy around 50 Deep Argo floats along with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory.
Sarah Purkey, physical oceanographer at Scripps and Argo lead, said this leap forward in deep ocean monitoring comes at a crucial time because the deep sea has warmed faster than expected over the last two decades.
Thwaites Glacier is Antarctica’s largest collapsing glacier and contains enough ice to raise global sea level by roughly two feet if it were to collapse entirely. According to Scripps, prior expeditions led by scientist Jamin Greenbaum discovered anomalously warm water beneath the glacier’s ice shelf — contributing to melting from below. Greenbaum now seeks to collect water samples and other measurements from beneath Thwaites’ ice tongue to disentangle the drivers of its rapid melting.
This season’s Antarctic fieldwork will “test hypotheses about the drivers of Thwaites’ rapid melt with implications for sea-level rise projections,” the statement from Scripps said.
“The ocean holds answers to some of the most pressing questions about our planet’s future, but only if we can observe it,” said Meenakshi Wadhwa, director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and vice chancellor for marine sciences at UCSD. “This historic grant will help ocean scientists bring new tools and approaches to parts of the ocean we’ve barely begun to explore.”
The Jewish community in Southern California is sharing their fears and hopes following the weekend’s strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on Israel, U.S. military bases and other targets in the Middle East.
The exchange of missiles in the Middle East is having a devasting effect on Iran’s defense capability, but retaliatory strikes in the region are taking a toll.
“Weapons of enormous capacity that are targeting civilian areas,” said Elan Carr, CEO of Los Angeles-based Israeli American Council.
Carr says toppling the Iranian regime, taking out its nuclear capabilities and freeing the Iranian people from this oppressive rule should have been done decades ago.
“This is about seeing the most evil regime, the world chief state sponsored terrorism to no longer have the ability to do what it’s been doing,” Carr said.
Sara Brown, regional director of the American Jewish Committee, said the U.S. and Israel are concentrating strikes on Iran’s missile sites and military industrial complex. Iran’s retaliatory strikes are focused on many civilian targets.
“We are hearing from our partners from around the region, who are terrified,” Brown said. “Across the Middle East right now, I think there is a tremendous amount of fear, but also hope and also resolve.”
AJC is the advocacy arm for Jewish people globally. Many members and partner groups are in harm’s way. Brown says the risk is great, but the potential reward is world changing.
“That Iranian people will get to choose leadership for themselves, that we will finally see a pathway forward for peace across the Middle East,” Brown said.
If wars of the past hadn’t produced lasting peace, then why now? Carr says Iran’s nuclear capabilities are destroyed and Iran’s military and proxies are weakened after Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 Hamas ambush.
“No more terrorist network throughout the Middle East. Think of what that could mean. Think of the normalization we could see,” Carr said.
President Donald Trump expects fighting to last several weeks. Some critics are concerned about a drawn-out conflict that could spread.
Carr is not convinced.
“Who is going to enter a war against the U.S. and Israel? Russia is plenty busy. China has no interest in jeopardizing itself this way,” Carr said.
Besides the six Americans killed as of Monday night, government officials say 11 people were killed in retaliatory strikes in Israel.
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