UCI School of Medicine News

Edition 3 | December 2018

Classes are well underway and the holidays are upon us. As we approach 2019, I am proud to share with you some of our most recent accomplishments.

First off, several of our researchers secured grants including Michael Demetriou who received a Cancer Moonshot grant for his cancer therapeutic, GlyTR technology. Medha Pathak was awarded an NIH director’s New Innovator grant for her work in human neural development. And, Daniele Piomelli received a NIDA award to study the long term effects of cannabis on adolescents. In addition, we made some exciting discoveries. David Lyon revealed that vision was restored in blind rats following a cell transplant, Mark Fisher identified a new cause of brain bleeds and Lisa Flanagan identified properties of stem cells that determine cell fate.

We expect a lot more exciting news in the coming year as our faculty has grown by more than 85 members this calendar year. Among them is world renowned vision scientist Krzysztof Palczewski who arrived in September with his team of 25 researchers and staff.
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Research Associates Honors Two Accomplished Investigators

Earlier this year, two esteemed investigators, Emiliana Borrelli, PhD, and Yama Akbari, MD, PhD, were recognized for their achievements by Research Associates, a community group that advances science through support for UCI School of Medicine explorations.
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	UCI researchers uncover evidence of restored vision in rats following cell transplant
	Researchers from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, have discovered that neurons located in the vision centers of the brains of blind rats functioned normally following fetal retina cell transplants, indicating the successful restoration of vision. The research was published today in JNeurosci, the Journal of Neuroscience. Read More


	Scientists reveal how rare gene mutation affects brain development and memory
	Researchers from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, have found that a rare gene mutation alters brain development in mice, impairing memory and disrupting the communication between nerve cells. They also show memory problems could be improved by transplanting a specific type of nerve cell into the brain. The findings were published in Neuron. Read More


	UCI-led research identifies properties of stem cells that determine cell fate
	Researchers from the University of California, Irvine have identified intrinsic cell properties that influence the fate of neural stem cells, affecting what type of brain cell they will form: neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes. This discovery could give scientists a new way to predict or control the fate of stem cells, improving their use in transplantation therapies. Read More


	UCI-led study reveals communication among organs, tissues regulating body’s energy
	An international research team led by the University of California, Irvine has identified a system of communication networks that exists among organs and tissues that regulate metabolism. Findings from their study provide, for the first time, a detailed “atlas” illustrating how the body creates and uses energy, and how imbalances in the networks may impact overall health. Read More


	UCI awarded $9M grant to determine the long-term effects of cannabis on adolescents and study the impact of cannabis across the lifespan
	The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, a 4-year, $9 million grant aimed at determining the long-term impact of cannabis exposure on the adolescent brain. Read More


	World-renowned vision scientist Krzysztof Palczewski joins UCI School of Medicine
	In September, the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine welcomed Krzysztof Palczewski, PhD, to the faculty of the Department of Ophthalmology and the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. Read More

Michael Demetriou awarded $3.4M NIH “Cancer Moonshot” grant to study cancer immunotherapy

UCI School of Medicine researchers, led by Michael Demetriou, MD, PhD, have been awarded a $3.4 million grant by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as part of the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative. The funding will support efforts to provide proof of principal data for an entirely new class of cancer killing immunotherapeutics.
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NIH Boot Camp Pays Dividends

UCI School of Medicine professor John Billimek, PhD, and assistant professor Medha Pathak, PhD, have both secured funding from the National institutes of Health, following their participation in the inaugural session of UCI’s NIH Boot Camp Program held in 2017.

This year, Pathak was awarded a $1.5M NIH director’s New Innovator Award and a 5-year NIH R01 grant totaling more than $6M to study the mechanical signals that influence the development, structure and function of the central nervous system. Pathak credits both of her wins to the NIH Boot Camp program.
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New cause of brain bleeds identified by UCI researchers

A team of researchers that includes UCI project scientist Rachita Sumbria, PhD, and UCI neurologist Mark J. Fisher, MD, have for the first time provided evidence that blood deposits in the brain may not require a blood vessel tear.

The researchers found that brain endothelial cells, the cells that line blood vessels of the brain, have the capacity for engulfing red blood cells and depositing them outside the blood vessels and into the substance of the brain, without requiring a disruption of the vasculature.
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Components of leaf extract prove highly effective at preventing life-threatening seizures

Researchers in the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine have discovered the molecular basis for a therapeutic action of an ancient herbal medicine used across Africa to treat various illnesses, including epilepsy.
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UCI researcher receives NIH director's New Innovator Award

University of California, Irvine neuroscientist Medha Pathak, PhD, an assistant professor of Physiology & Biophysics at the UCI School of Medicine, was awarded a prestigious National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award from the NIH Common Fund’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research program.
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	Grad student Jessica Flesher receives Gazzaniga Family Medical Research Award
	Graduate student Jessica Flesher is the 2018 recipient of the Gazzaniga Family Medical Research Award. Flesher was selected based on her impressive research accomplishments, her leadership and volunteerism in the area of cancer awareness, her enthusiasm for discovery and her scientific promise. Read More


	Grad Day 2018
	The UCI School of Medicine Grad Day celebrates the research being done by our MS and PhD students and provides a forum for students to share their work-in-progress with faculty, mentors, colleagues, donors and other supporters. The event builds research community visibility and collaboration and gives a glimpse into laboratory productivity. Read More


	Class of '68 Celebrates 50 Years and White Coat Endowment
	Dean Michael J. Stamos honored the Class of '68 as they celebrated their 50th anniversary during a ceremony in October. "You are an integral part of the UCI School of Medicine's roots," he said. "And, therefore, inextricably linked to everything that follows." Read More


	PRIME-LC Milestones and Celebrations
	The UCI School of Medicine's Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) has reached a milestone. This year they enrolled their 15th cohort of students. Read More


	A Curriculum in Human Kindness
	The HUMAN KINDNESS curriculum began at here at UCI School of Medicine three years ago and is the first of its kind in the country. While other schools of medicine do have an emphasis on medical humanities, UCI is the only school, to actually create a curriculum specifically around human kindness. Read More


	LEAD-ABC Program Now Live
	UCI School of Medicine is proud to announce the development of our new mission-based program called Leadership Education to Advance Diversity - African, Black and Caribean (LEAD-ABC). Read More

Emeritus Professor Roger L. Crumley, MD, Lectures in Europe

Roger L. Crumley, MD, emeritus professor and former chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, will be delivering a number of invited guest lectures in Europe this fall.

The first, titled, “Laryngeal Synkinesis in Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Paresis,” was given November 9 at the Neurolaryngology Workshop held at the University of Jena, (Universitats-Klinikum) in Germany. The workshop is sponsored by the European Laryngological Society.


	More than 800 screened for cervical cancer by UCI medical mission to East Africa
	Eleven second year UCI medical students traveled for a month to Mwanza, Tanzania in July to conduct three unique clinical programs. Read More


	UCI Health/Armed Forces Trauma Center Partnership
	On October 3, Dean Michael J. Stamos, Dr. Michael E. Lekawa and Richard Gannotta welcomed several members of the U.S. Armed Forces to the UCI Medical Center to celebrate the signing of a unique UCI Health/Armed Forces Trauma Center Partnership agreement. Read More

UCI Health listed among America’s Best Hospitals for 18th consecutive year

For the 18th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has recognized UC Irvine Medical Center as one of “America’s Best Hospitals.” The annual rankings recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients and this year highlights the excellence of UCI Health programs in gynecology, No. 20, and urology, No. 33, among similar programs nationally.
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There's new hope of not only delaying, but reversing symptoms of dementia

Stephen H. White, PhD, Named Among 2018 AAAS Fellows

Doctors hope AI colonoscopies could help save lives

27 Common Anti-Aging Tips You Should Forget Immediately

December 13 – Pathology Jeopardy! Round 7

December 14 – The Role of Neuromuscular Ultrasound

December 17 – Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

January 8 – Department of Medicine Grand Rounds Distinguished Speaker Series

See All Events

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