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LUNCHEONS

Social Hour - 11:00    Lunch - 12:00

SIR Branch 35 meets for lunch every 3rd Wednesday at the IFES Portuguese Hall.

IFES Portuguese Hall
432 Stierlin Rd just east of Shoreline
Mountain View, CA 94043-4622
VIEW MAP and request directions
650-967-2759

If you will miss a lunch, please let the Branch know
CALL 650-823-0702 or E-MAIL sir35notify[AT]gmail.com

Usually there are over 250 members and guests at the lunch meetings. From 11 to 12 there is an opportunity to mingle and share conversation and a drink from the honor bar. At noon we move into the main dining area. There the fellowship continues at tables of 8. The best tables are kept unreservable to encourage getting to know other members.

Meeting 

November 16, 2011
Speaker: Dr. Robert Booth, CEO, Virobay, Inc.
Subj.: Human DNA - The Molecule That Determines Much of Our Life and Destiny

Dr. Booth will describe how DNA functions and its role in allowing life to continue. Although the double helix structure of DNA has been known for more than 50 years, the specific sequence of DNA was only discovered about 5 years ago. Since that time, a wide range of discoveries have been made that allow us to understand what makes humans human and also provides us with insights into the causes of a number of diseases. As a result of these discoveries, a number of new diagnostics have emerged and a number of new therapies have been developed. Despite these great advances, there are still many mysteries which surround the role of DNA, and its functions appear to be much more complicated than anyone imagined.

Since May 2010, Dr. Booth has been the CEO of Virobay, Inc., a company he founded in 2006. Virobay seeks to to develop new therapies for the treat- ment of pain and autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Booth is also a member of the Board of Directors of Pharmacyclics, a company developing novel therapeutics for oncology. In addition, he is a board observer at Galleon Pharmaceuticals, Chairman of Galleon’s Science Advisory Board and a member of the Scientific Advisory Boards of ShangPharma, a contract research organization in China, and of Elcelyx, a company focused on diabetes and obesity.

Robert Booth received his Ph.D. and B.Sc. from the University of Lon- don in the field of biochemistry.


Formal activities begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of God Bless America. Then we have a delicious lunch. After lunch comes the introduction of guests and the induction of any new members. Then our own choral group, the Trail Birds lead us in singing several old favorites. They cap this with an amusing musical introduction written each month for the day's speaker. These presentations, always excellent, run 35 - 45 minutes, including Q&A, and meetings adjourn by 1:30 to 1:45 pm.. Past topics, in addition to those since 2000 which are described in more detail on the pages noted below, have included:
  • A report on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
  • The latest developments in urology
  • An update on the Globalstar satellite communications system
  • Football and a discussion of leadership by Coach John Ralston
  • A review of the Stanford Linear Accelerator program.
  • Astrology and Space Exploration
  • The Securities Market Now and Future
  • Backwards into Battle-by a WWII Tailgunner
  • Consumers' Exploiters by Tom Vacar of Channel 2
  • NASA's Search for Life on Mars
  • Football's Quarterbacking, Coaching, Special People by Joe Kapp
  • Japanese Surrender - Tokyo Bay 1945

See descriptions of upcoming and recent programs - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2010 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2009 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2008 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2007 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2006 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2005 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2004 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2003 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2002 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2001 - click here.

See descriptions of programs from 2000 - click here.


Note: There is a SEARCH button at the top of each page on this site. It allows you to look for a specific word or phrase in any of the pages. This can be useful for finding prior programs, speakers, topics, etc.
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