Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
#26 in Institutes and Centers
26Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
26
35
Rank in
Research Capabilities
30
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
16
Rank in
Market Translation
La Jolla, CA
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute ranks 26th among biomedical institutes in the Cure Innovation Index and is based in La Jolla, California. Its profile reflects a balance between discovery science and clinical translation, with particularly strong standing in market translation relative to its peer category. Research capabilities and entrepreneurial readiness occupy a mid-range position. The institute holds a Clinical and Translational Science Award, supports faculty-led clinical trials, and offers an MSTP (MD-PhD) program, a combination that ties discovery research to both clinical application and the next generation of physician-scientists.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute ranked below average for Research Capabilities, a measure of the foundational infrastructure and resources that enable an institution to conduct high-quality, innovative science. Out of the factors in this category, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute ranked below average for Entrepreneurial Readiness, a measure of whether the institution has built a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and whether faculty are engaged in and incentivized toward commercial activity. Out of the factors in this category, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute ranked above average for Market Translation, a measure of how effectively a research institution moves scientific discovery out of the lab and into real-world clinical and commercial applications. Out of the factors in this category, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute fared best in Health Impact.
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Cure Innovation Index Methodology
From a pool of more than 6,000 institutions, the top 303 were ranked using two dozen indicators — from scientific foundation and lab infrastructure to patents, products, and partnerships — drawn from more than a dozen federal and commercial databases, an original audit of all institutions, and surveys of more than 3,300+ scientists, industry leaders, and biomedical experts.
Insights From the Cure Innovation Index
Explore by Category
Innovation isn't a single moment — it's an entire ecosystem. The Index evaluates institutions across two dozen indicators, grouped in three core domains that reveal the full picture of what it takes to turn groundbreaking science into real-world impact.
