The three institutes are located at Gladstone's new research facility adjacent to the Mission Bay campus of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While independent, Gladstone is formally affiliated with UCSF, and Gladstone investigators hold university appointments and participate in many university activities, including the teaching and training of graduate students.
Primary research efforts at the J. David Gladstone Institutes focus on three of the most important clinical problems of modern times: cardiovascular disease, AIDS, and neurodegenerative disorders. Cardiovascular disease, the nation's leading killer, claims the lives of over one million Americans each year. Despite more effective treatments, AIDS remains a leading cause of death in the United States. Worldwide, more than 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and more than 21 million have died as a direct result of HIV infection. Alzheimer's disease, the most recent focus of investigation by Gladstone scientists, is the fourth leading cause of death in adults, affecting four million Americans. The realization of the impact of these diseases on world health infuses Gladstone scientists with a sense of purpose and urgency.
Each institute is organized around research units consisting of scientists, postdoctoral researchers, research associates, and students. This structure is designed to accommodate small groups of scientists who work together closely but who also benefit from collegial interactions with other research groups. Collaborations among staff members with various areas of expertise create a stimulating environment that fortifies the scientific lifeblood of the organization.
Each institute receives expert input on the progress of its science from an advisory board of distinguished scientists. The scientific advisory boards provide a twofold service in reviewing the quality of the research and in advising the president, directors, and trustees.
The work of the scientific staff at all three institutes also extends beyond the laboratory to the wider community. The mission of the institutes includes the education of graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scientists; specialized training for practicing physicians; and educational outreach to the local and extended community.
The J. David Gladstone Institutes is the product of the wisdom and hard work of many individuals. The first was J. David Gladstone himself, a Los Angeles real estate entrepreneur. At the time of Mr. Gladstone’s death in 1971, the southern California real estate market was just beginning to flourish. His estate was left almost entirely for medical education and research.
Gladstone's Trustees have also played a very large role in its success. The original Trustees, all of whom had known or worked closely with Mr. Gladstone, were Richard S. Brawerman, his attorney and the executor of his estate; Richard D. Jones, his real estate attorney; and David Orgell, his cousin and confidant. When Mr. Orgell died in 1987, he was succeeded by Albert A. Dorman, a southern California executive with experience in managing large organizations. In 2004, Mr. Brawerman became Trustee Emeritus, and Andrew S. Garb, a southern California attorney who had served as legal counsel to the trust for 23 years, assumed the duties of Trustee.
The Gladstone Advisory Council provides expert and strategic advice to the president, trustees, and scientific faculty. The council members have executive experience in biotech, venture capital, philanthropy, finance & investments, and other fields providing a resource for intellectual and financial support of Gladstone's scientific research.
Although Mr. Gladstone's estate was relatively modest (approximately $8 million) by later standards, the Trustees recognized its potential for growth and, through their resourceful management, increased its worth severalfold within the first decade. From the beginning, the decisions of the Trustees had profound and positive effects on the research organization that evolved. They continue to manage and enlarge the assets of the J. David Gladstone Institutes and to oversee their use. The Trustees are greatly assisted by the Executive Offices of the J. David Gladstone Institutes, located in Irvine, California, where Mr. Richard Hille, executive director, and Mr. Hal Orr, chief financial officer, play major roles in managing the assets of the Institutes. Dr. Robert W. Mahley serves as the president of the J. David Gladstone Institutes.
About The Institutes