Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies

What it reported doing in 2013

Other program services include the following: multiple sclerosis: multiple sclerosis national research institute (the "ms institute") is a division of tpims devoted to studying the causes, diagnosis, and possible treatments for ms, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. Our world-renowned scientists conduct the research needed to understand and treat this disease so that ms patients may return to living healthy and disease-free lives. Ongoing research includes studies to understand the causes of ms, the development of treatments for ms, and the design of novel strategies for the development of vaccines against ms which may hold the promise of a cure. Funding for the ms institute is provided primarily through generous donations from the public.AIDS & other infectious diseases: infectious diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi that can be spread from person to person. These diseases are the world's most important health problem, as they kill more people worldwide than any other single cause. In the u.s. Alone, the cost of treating infectious diseases is $120 billion each year. Diseases that were once thought under control are re-emerging because of global travel and migration patterns, and new disease-causing agents, or pathogens, are emerging all the time. In the last 35 years, there have been at least 30 new pathogens described, including HIV.our scientists are discovering a new way to make an HIV vaccine that teaches the immune system to ignore the decoys laid down by HIV. They are also understanding how viruses can remain dormant for decades and do no harm to our bodies, until they are suddenly triggered to ramp up an attack. In addition, scientists are understanding the immune response to smallpox vaccines, to aid in the design of better vaccines, understanding how viral and secondary bacterial infections interact to escalate from manageable infections to life-threatening illnesses, and understanding how to generate a protective immune response to the leishmania parasite, to aid in developing new vaccines. Funding for infectious disease research is provided by the national institutes of health, bill & melinda gates foundation, various corporate research contracts, and generous donations from the public.outreach and education: the goal of tpims' outreach and education program is to educate the public, teachers and students regarding the importance of scientific research and all that it has to offer. Tpims aspires to inspire future scientists, teachers and the public throughout the Florida research coast and in san diego, California. The main components of the program are:- exploration day at torrey pines institute- internships for students and teachers- enhancing science curriculum in the area through teacher workshops, career day and science fairs- collaborations with the private sector on sponsored research and other projectsin addition, tpims works closely with the community in port st. Lucie and throughout Florida as part of its outreach efforts. This includes collaborations with many colleges, universities and other research institutes throughout the area.diabetes: diabetes is a life-long disease that affects more than 23 million americans, and occurs because the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or because our bodies cannot use insulin efficiently. Insulin is necessary for cells to take up glucose to use for energy, and when they cannot do so glucose builds up in the bloodstream. This is dangerous as high blood glucose can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening complications. The two main forms of diabetes are type i and type ii which have different causes.there is no cure for diabetes, and research must focus on replacing the insulin-producing cells, stopping the immune system from attacking the new insulin-producing cells, or finding ways to help cells use insulin more efficiently. Our scientists are understanding how genetic factors control the onset of type i diabetes, disco

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 49.8%; rating input score 50
• Program expense ratio: 86.5%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $524.63 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: 86.2%; rating input score 86; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 90%; rating input score 90; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 42.4%; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.1; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.15; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 12.7%; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: 16.6% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings