The Salk Institute is a nonprofit biomedical research organization that conducts research into the fundamental principles of life. The institute's research focuses on a range of areas, including cancer, neuroscience, aging, and plant biology. The Salk Institute was founded in 1960 by Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine, and is located in La Jolla, California. The institute is home to more than 850 researchers and staff, including 11 Nobel laureates.