This book tells the story of the founding and development of a remarkable research institute, primarily from the scientists’ view but with enough context to validate its earned reputation as a research powerhouse. The Institute’s origin as "La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation" is told by the Founders’ daughter Nina Fishman. Its evolution from modest beginnings to a major research organization unfolds in interviews with scientists who spent major parts of their careers at the Institute. Their enterprise–competing for grant funding, conducting groundbreaking science, and training new scientists–built the Institute’s success. Much of the success of the early Institute and its staff members was the result of the unique organization and structure of shared resources, which allowed individual laboratories to pursue technically advanced research, thereby making them highly competitive in their fields. This is also an "only-in-America" story, a story of how the highly competitive research funding allocated by the U.S. Congress, and supplemented by individual donors, can make it possible for a group of dedicated scientists to build a successful research Institute. We, the authors, hope this book will share what it was like to work in this extraordinary place, with people doing things that had never been done before, and hopefully inspire others to pursue paths that ultimately make a difference. We have donated our work to The Fishman Fund at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.