Instituto de Investigación Beckman

• Joseph T. Holden (1983–1993) ^{[ 7 ]}
• John Steven Kovach (1993–2000) ^{[ 8 ] [ 9 ]}
• Arthur Riggs (2000–2007) ^{[ 10 ] [ 11 ]}
• Richard Jove (2008–2012) ^{[ 11 ] [ 12 ]}
• David Horne, (2012–2014, director interino)
• Steven T. Rosen (2014–2023) ^{[ 4 ]}
• John Carpten (2023-) ^{[ 13 ]}

Researchers associated with the Beckman Research Institute are credited with starting the biotechnology industry.^[5]Keiichi Itakura and Arthur Riggs, with Genentech scientist Herbert Boyer, were the first to develop human recombinant gene products. Their techniques were used to successfully create synthetic somatostatin in E. coli, the first expression of a human protein in bacteria, in 1977. The techniques and tools of genetic synthesis were standardizable and applicable to many similar problems. The group successfully reported the expression of human insulin in bacteria by 1978.^[14]

Barry Forman identified the first new steroid-like hormone in 30 years, androstanol, a hormone with a different mechanism of action from others, that may be useful in treatment of diabetes.^[15][16]

Fouad Kandeel leads clinical trials testing the use of islet transplantation to treat patients who are incapacitated by severe type 1 diabetes.^[17]

Bart Roep leads immune intervention strategies (including gene therapy, stem cell therapy and bone marrow transportation) with the ultimate goal to cure type 1 diabetes.

Arthur Riggs went on to work with Shmuel Cabilly on "fundamental technology required for the artificial synthesis of antibody molecules", since used to create "smart" cancer drugs.^[18][19] Riggs has been associated with the institute in several ways, including as director of the Beckman Research Institute from 2000 to 2007, now director emeritus.

Gerd Pfeifer was able to prove a definitive link between smoking and lung cancer, by demonstrating genetic damage in lung cells, caused by a chemical in cigarette smoke.^[20][21]

The Beckman Research Institute has partnered with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation in the Health of Women Study (HOW), a long-term cohort study tracking the health of women via online and mobile platforms. It will study both women who have and who do not have breast cancer. The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation hopes to recruit one million women volunteers to become part of its participating "Army of Women".^[22][23][24]

Hua Eleanor Yu y su grupo están estudiando la relación de STAT3 con las células cancerosas y el sistema inmunitario, y desarrollando posibles tratamientos farmacológicos para atacar las células tumorales. ^{[ 25 ] [ 26 ]}

John Rossi ha trabajado en tratamientos para el linfoma relacionado con el SIDA , el cáncer de páncreas y el cáncer de hígado . ^{[ 27 ]} Fue el primer investigador en utilizar ARN para bloquear el progreso del virus que causa el VIH/SIDA mediante la degradación del virus del VIH dentro de las células infectadas. ^{[ 27 ]} Está involucrado en un trabajo en curso con David DiGiusto y otros para desarrollar sistemas inmunitarios resistentes a la enfermedad mediante el trasplante de células madre y progenitoras resistentes al VIH-1 modificadas genéticamente. ^{[ 28 ]} Con John Zaia y otros, Rossi ha trabajado en vectores lentivirales para administrar terapia génica basada en ARN. Este enfoque combina la terapia con células madre y la terapia génica para administrar moléculas de ARN que pueden bloquear los genes que el virus del VIH/SIDA utiliza para infectar las células inmunitarias. ^{[ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ]} John Zaia también está investigando la posibilidad de que la quimioterapia contra el cáncer pueda perturbar los reservorios del VIH, lo cual tiene relevancia para las intervenciones terapéuticas para curar el VIH. ^{[ 33 ]}