La Jolla News Nuggets: Toy donations, medical news, pastry chef, Athenaeum schedule

Geppetto’s Toys owners participate in donated toy shopping event

La Jolla residents Brian and Danielle Miller, owners of Geppetto’s Toys, which has a location in La Jolla, played an instrumental role in a recent shopping experience that provided 200 needy families with toys to give their children for the holidays.

The shopping event was organized by Jewish Family Service of San Diego in collaboration with interfaith partners and other community members.

Families enrolled in Jewish Family Service programs were treated to a two-hour private shopping experience Dec. 8, with some toys and supplies donated by the Millers, who also wrapped presents for shoppers. Families were invited to select two toys and two stuffed animals per child 12 or younger.

The toys and supplies were donated by Geppetto’s, Temple Adat Shalom, Temple Solel, Jewish Women’s Foundation, Daniel Fefferman and Define Real Estate, Toys for Tots and Target.

Geppetto’s hosted a toy drive Dec. 4 at its stores in the Carlsbad Forum and Del Mar Highlands Town Center and matched each donated toy.

UC San Diego study ties genes to microbiome health

The gut microbiome — made up of trillions of microbes in the digestive tract — is vital for digestion and overall health. Diet and medication shape these microbial ecosystems, but the contribution of genetics has been more difficult to ascertain.

But a new study of rats led by researchers at UC San Diego in La Jolla and the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona has determined that the composition of the rat gut microbiome is shaped not only by a rat’s own genes but also by the genes of those it lives with.

In humans, only two genes have been reliably linked to gut bacteria: the lactase gene, which influences milk-digesting microbes and determines whether adults can digest milk, and the ABO blood‑group gene, which affects microbes through unknown mechanisms. More gene‑microbe associations likely exist but have been difficult to identify.

Though genes don’t jump among individuals, microbes can. The study, published Dec. 18 in Nature Communications, says some genes favor certain gut bacteria that can spread through close social contact.

By demonstrating that genetic influences can be coupled with gut microbe transmission, the work reveals a novel mechanism in which the genetics of one individual can ripple through an entire social group, altering the biology of others without changing their DNA, according to the researchers.

Given increasing evidence that the gut microbiome plays an important role in health, if similar effects are found in humans, it could mean that genetic influences on disease risk may have been substantially underestimated in past studies, researchers say.

La Jolla neuroscientist lands in National Academy of Inventors

La Jolla-based neuroscientist Stuart Lipton was recently named a National Academy of Inventors fellow, recognizing his “significant impact on the innovation ecosystem, economic development and society.”

Lipton is a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Scripps Research and co-founding director of its Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center.

Lipton’s work at Scripps Research includes investigation of molecular pathways, which ties into the goal of preventing damage associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. He also is responsible for developing and patenting the drug memantine, one of two medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

Lipton’s induction as an NAI fellow will take place at the academy’s 15th annual conference June 1-4 in Los Angeles.

New Salk study explores why adult brains swap flexibility for stability

In a process scientists call neural plasticity, age can cause the brain to be less adaptable. But the root cause of the change from flexibility to stability was unknown.

A new study from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla says astrocytes — star-shaped support cells that help shape neural circuits — are a key player in the process. By releasing the protein CCN1, astrocytes signal the brain to stabilize circuits and decrease plasticity.

The findings were released in the scientific journal Nature on Dec. 17.

Salk researchers believe CCN1 could be a target to help boost learning and memory, offer insight on treating post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, and help in cases when the brain needs repairing after a stroke or trauma.

La Jolla immunologist to receive $243K for cancer research

Postdoctoral fellow Yi-Tsang Lee of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology will receive the Cancer Research Institute’s Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship. The three-year, $243,000 fellowship will help fund research intended to improve cancer immunotherapies.

Such immunotherapies harness some of the body’s best fighters, called CD8+ T cells, to kill tumor cells. However, when T cells enter a tumor, they can develop a problem called T cell “exhaustion” and stop working.

Lee seeks to help scientists counteract T cell exhaustion, and his new project will focus on NFAT, a protein that directs how T cells do their jobs.

Lee aims to develop a new tool that may help reveal where the complexes formed by NFAT and other proteins bind on the genome and how they drive T cell exhaustion.

Uncovering such details could lead to therapies to help counteract the problem.

George’s at the Cove names new pastry chef

La Jolla restaurant staple George’s at the Cove announced a new pastry chef Dec. 22.

Joining the team is Zach Schneider, former pastry chef at Deckman’s North at 3131 in North Park. Anna Adams, who previously served in the role at George’s, left “to pursue other opportunities,” according to a news release.

Adams served as pastry chef since June 2024 but had worked at George’s since 2015.

Athenaeum announces 2026 exhibition schedule

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla announced its 2026 exhibition schedule, with the following events taking place at 1008 Wall St.

• “Dar(r)en Bader”: Saturday, Jan. 24, to Saturday, April 25, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23. The exhibition will pair San Diego artists Daren and Darren Bader.

• Coralys Carter and May-ling Martinez: Saturday, May 2, to Saturday, July 25, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1.

• 34th annual Juried Exhibition: Saturday, Aug. 1, to Saturday, Oct. 10, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 31.

• Sylvia Fernandez: Saturday, Oct. 17, to Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16.

For more information, visit ljathenaeum.org/upcoming-exhibitions.