Discover | Teach | Heal

27th Edition | June 2024 Dear Colleagues, The end of term means summer is finally here! We were excited to gather on May 18 at the UCI Bren Events Center to congratulate and celebrate with 100 School of Medicine graduates. Students were hooded by family, friends and faculty to signify their success in completing medical school and to honor their new journey as doctors as they head into residency. We wish them luck as they continue to grow in their roles as providers. Read More

UC Irvine to lead study of how DNA genetic variations might influence nicotine addiction A three-year, $1.19 million grant from the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program will allow University of California, Irvine researchers to explore how specific sections of DNA might influence nicotine addiction. Read More   Study reveals new brain ‘corner’ cells that encode environmental geometry UC Irvine, Stanford University and UC San Diego team up for breakthrough research in the brain’s spatial mapping system. Read More

Research shows importance of under-recognized genetic factor lipoprotein(a) in predicting heart disease in a large multiethnic U.S. population The cholesterol-like particle can help predict future cardiovascular disease. Read More   Novel stem-cell therapy continues to show promise for Parkinson's disease Clinical trial to restore dopamine production posts positive results 18 months after treatment. Read More

New study links sleep apnea severity during REM stage to verbal memory decline Novel findings among elders at risk for Alzheimer’s open the door to personalized interventions. Read More   UCI research team builds first tandem repeat expansions genetic reference maps Tool gives potential to expand insight into diseases, neurological disorders and cancers. Read More

UC Irvine-led research team discovers role of key enzymes that drive cancer mutations APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B offer potential new targets for intervention strategies.  Read More Scientists identify Alzheimer’s disease brain neural circuit alterations Study is the first to use a novel viral genetic tool to map neuronal circuit changes of the subiculum in Alzheimer’s disease.  Read More

Robert McCarron, DO, named 2024 Steinberg Institute Champion McCarron is the founding director for the UC Irvine Train New Trainers Primary Care Fellowship and the Train New Trainers Primary Care Training and Education in Addiction Medicine Fellowship. Read More   Kevin Beier, PhD, receives New Investigator Award in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research The three-year, $375,000 grant will support Beier’s research that explores if aging-related neuropathologies spread through neuronal synapses.  Read More

UCI researchers awarded a NIAMS T32 grant for PhD training This rigorous program will enable PhD graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to become translational researchers who seek to understand muscle biology and decipher the mechanisms of its dysfunction. Read More   Claire Henchcliffe, MD, DPhil, Named AUPN President Elect Henchcliffe has served on the Association of University Professors of Neurology (AUPN) executive council since 2021. Read More

PhD Student Alexa Tierno receives 2024 Latino Excellence and Achievement Award Tierno received the Excellence in Research and Health for the Latino Community Award at UCI's 7th Annual Latino Excellence and Achievement Awards Dinner in April.  Read More   PhD student Onwodi Ifejeokwu competes in the UC Grad Slam finals! Onwodi (left) was this year’s UCI Grad Slam winner for her presentation on “Kill the cancer: Spare the brain.”  Read More

School of Medicine Alumnus Isaac Opole '02 Named American College of Physicians (ACP) President Opole completed his graduate doctoral degree at UC Irvine in 2002 and his medical residency at the Kansas University Medical Center. Read More Office of Continuing Medical Education awarded accreditation with commendation This grants a six-year accreditation term, instead of the standard four years. Read More School of Medicine Spotlight Leonardo Alaniz, MD, entered medical school with a degree in finance, backed by two years of experience in the automotive industry as a successful district manager for General Motors and running his own dealership. Read More 2024 School of Medicine Research & Faculty Mentoring Award Recipients An awards ceremony is planned for June 13. Read More Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences Faculty Award Recipients The awards are uniquely intended to recognize the importance and impact of synergistic collaboration between members of the four College Of Health Sciences schools in advancing population health. Read More

Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care opens its doors Five-hundred patients were seen on the first day on UC Irvine campus. Read More   UCI Health celebrates transformational acquisition of four community hospitals Adding medical centers in Orange and Los Angeles counties extends the health system’s presence, advances UC Irvine’s mission to serve Californians. Read More

UCI's multifaceted approach to combating diabetes in the Latino/a community Advances made in key areas of prevention, research and treatment since inception of initiative in 2023. Read More   UCI Health and Sprinter Health collaborate to close care gaps in the community Partnership delivers fully covered in-home preventative care for Medi-Cal patients. Read More

Advancing CAR T-cell therapy UCI Health hematologic oncologist offers insights and analysis of the transformative treatments. Read More   UCI study finds certain types of surgery have better outcomes when performed by a colorectal specialist Two common abdominal procedures had fewer complications and mortalities when done by surgeons with specialty training. Read More

UCI Health unveils innovative central utilities plant at Irvine campus Facility advances health system’s sustainability goals, uses no carbon combustion or natural gas. Read More UCI Health team at 2024 Heart and Stroke Walk surpasses fundraising goal UCI Health participated in the 2024 Orange County Heart & Stroke Walk and raised nearly $24,000 in support of heart and stroke awareness. Read More UCI Health Eye Mobile preserves vision for kids in need Since 2015, more than 340,000 preschool and elementary students have been treated.  Read More

Apodaca: Climate change is driving worsening allergies RFK Jr. says he has a dead worm in his brain. What are these parasites and how common are they? Widening Racial Disparities Underlie Rise in Child Deaths in the U.S. Misplaced your keys? How to distinguish dementia from age-related memory loss F.D.A. approves antibiotic for increasingly hard-to-treat urinary tract infections What’s the right way to wean off antidepressants? New genetic database may help in better understanding Huntington’s An AI app claims it can detect sexually transmitted infections. Doctors say it’s a disaster Black Med Students: Third Annual Community Health Fair See All News June 19: Juneteenth Holiday July 4: Independence Day Holiday July 23: 2024 Community Lecture Series: Pediatrics  July 26–27: Third Annual Spine by the Sea Symposium Aug 6: 2024 Community Lecture Series: Diabetes Aug 9: White Coat Ceremony Aug 19–21: Center for Neural Circuit Mapping (CNCM) 2024 Conference See All Events UCI School of Medicine UCI Health SOMNews@uci.edu

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