Two of La Jolla’s iconic industries, science and surfing, united Aug 14-15 for the second year for cancer research, camaraderie and fundraising.
Blending research and recreation, the annual Legends of Science and Surfing two-day event brought cutting-edge breakthroughs and wave-riding talent to La Jolla Aug 14 and 15 to raise funds for ongoing cancer work.
The tradition to intertwine the two seemingly disparate ideas began two years ago, when the Legends of Science Industry and Academia Oncology Symposium was added to the established Legends of Surfing Invitational, now in its 33rd year.
“Surfing is so ubiquitous around here,” said Diane Simeone, MD, director of the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. “It’s just part of the fabric of our community.”
And so is cancer, “the number one leading cause of death in San Diego,” Simeone said, with many surfers themselves at risk for melanoma due to sun exposure.
When Simeone took on the director role at Moores in 2024, she aimed to add a research component to the surfing invitational, as both scientists and surfers “aspire for excellence in their respective domains,” she said.
“We’re all enmeshed in the same community,” Simeone said, adding Legends is “a really impactful thing for our community. … You want to be part of a community where you help.”
The symposium, held Aug 14 at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, convened leading experts from academia, biotechnology and industry to discuss breakthroughs in cancer prevention, early detection, precision oncology, artificial intelligence and drug discovery.
The schedule featured sessions on how the deployment of AI is impacting cancer; new advances in early detection of cancer and more.
“We want to shift the focus to picking up early cancer,” said Simeone, herself a specialist in pancreatic cancers, “so it can be a blip on the radar, and … people can go on and live their lives.”
The symposium’s keynote speaker was Kevan M Shokat, PhD, a UC San Francisco researcher, recipient of the 2026 Rell Sunn Award and a pioneer in developing therapies against KRAS, a mutated gene found in nearly 30% of cancers and previously believed to be undruggable.
Shokat’s “remarkable” work is now having “profound effects” on cancer treatment, Simeone said.
The symposium will also highlight local discoveries, as the biomedical research mesa in La Jolla, which Simeone calls “Biotech Beach,” is “very collaborative,” producing many of the new oncology drugs available in the US.
The synergistic nature of the various renowned La Jolla biomedical institutions is perhaps the most unique in the country, Simeone said.
The next day at Scripps Pier, legendary surfers joined cancer survivors, physicians, scientists and supporters for a fundraiser benefiting cancer research, advancing the Moores Cancer Center’s mission to transform cancer prevention, detection and care.
“Philanthropy is part of the vision,” Simeone said. “That’s always been a focus.”
To date, Legends has raised more than $13 million for Moores, one of just 58 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States and the only one in the San Diego region.
The surfing invitational included surfing achievement and innovation awards, a performance by local band Seapoodle and more.
Legends is bigger than the sum of its parts, however, Simeone said.
“It’s just about bringing people together, sharing information, thinking about ways we can have the most impact.”
