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19th Edition | June 2022 Dear colleagues, It was exciting to have our commencement ceremonies held this year in person.  Congratulations to all the new MDs, PhDs and Master’s students of the UCI School of Medicine Class of 2022! We applaud your resiliency, dedication and are proud of everything you have accomplished. Along with commencement festivities, we want to congratulate the award recipients of the School of Medicine Class of 2022. Also, please take a moment to congratulate the 2022 Institute for Clinical and Translational Science Pilot awardees! Read More

UCI researchers reveal possible molecular blood signature for suicide in major depression New approach integrates blood and brain data to identify potential blood biomarkers. Read More   UCI-led study could usher in new paradigm for drug discovery Impact of native lipids on rhodopsin signaling and regeneration opens door to GPCR drug discovery in native membrane environments. Read More

UCI participates in landmark study that reveals clearest genetic signals yet for schizophrenia risk This and another large genetic study point to similar genes and biological mechanisms that start to home in on the root causes of the severe psychiatric disorder. Read More   New study reveals how to rejuvenate the immune system of older adults, reducing their risk for infectious disease Results identify reason for why older adults are significantly more susceptible to infectious diseases Read More

Study finds that your genetic sex determines the way your muscle “talks” to other tissues in your body Research found that sex-specific circuits of muscle signaling to other tissues, and that the organs and processes muscle impacts are markedly different between males and females. Read More   Brain circuit responsible for cocaine withdrawal-induced anxiety and relapse-related behavior Research identifies potential target for therapeutic interventions. Read More

New UCI-led study lays foundation for establishing base editing as a one-time, durable treatment for inherited retinal degeneration Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is the most common cause of inherited retinal degeneration in children. Read More 2022 UCI School of Medicine Faculty Mentoring Awardees The School of Medicine Office of Academic Affairs is delighted to announce the winners and honorable mentions for the annual faculty mentorship awards, which recognizes excellence and innovation in mentoring at UCI School of Medicine — specifically in the domain of faculty mentoring other faculty. Read More 2022 UCI School of Medicine Annual Research Awardees The UCI School of Medicine Office of Research is delighted to announce the winners and honorable mentions of our second annual research awards to recognize research excellence and outstanding academic achievement. Read More

UCI professor wins prestigious Robert Koch Prize for groundbreaking research Phillip Felgner, PhD, shares annual award for contributions to creation of mRNA vaccines. Read More   National Academy of Sciences names two UCI faculty members as fellows Mathematician Svetlana Jitomirskaya, PhD, and vision researcher Krzysztof Palczewski, PhD, were both honored with the distinction. Read More

Charles Vega, MD, honored as Educator of the Year Dr. Charles P. Vega, was chosen as the 2022 Educator of the Year and his work highlighted by the City of Santa Ana as part of their 12th Annual Difference Makers Celebration. Read More   UCI students produce documentary on the Black birthing experience The film was made possible by the support of the UCI Office of Inclusive Excellence Spirit Grant awarded to Carol Major, MD. Read More

Selma Masri, PhD, receives 2022 Junior Faculty Research Award Selma Masri, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry was awarded the honor from the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR). Read More   Medha Pathak, PhD, recipient of 2022 Early Investigator Award The award was given by the Mechanobiology subgroup of the Biophysical Society. Read More

UCI assistant professor of medicine receives MERIT grant from the National Cancer Institute Nick Pannunzio, PhD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the UCI School of Medicine, has received a Method to Extend Research in Time Award from the NIH/National Cancer Institute Read More UCI California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) highlights Ursula Worsham, EdD Dr. Ursula Worsham is the interim Diversity Officer at the UCI School of Medicine. Read More School of Medicine student wins 2022 UC Big Ideas Grand Prize UCI fourth-year medical student Daniel Haik received the award for the development of a “SMART cookie” a community-based solution for iron-deficiency anemia in low-income countries. Read More PhD student receives National Science Foundation GRFP award Jacob Dohl is a second-year PhD student in Dr. M. Christina Kenney’s lab. Read More Q & A with Class of 2022 Graduate It was Andreea Dinicu’s love of medicine and passion for addressing healthcare inequalities that made UCI her top choice for medical school. Read More

Cell therapy: a new frontier in Parkinson's disease “Patients who are excited about this trial see it as something that looks more like a cure, something that can restore their abilities,” said Claire Henchcliffe, MD, DPhil. Read More   Improving sleep for patients with central sleep apnea UCI Health first in Orange County to offer only FDA-approved device for treatment. Read More

UCI Health awarded FACT accreditation for bone marrow transplantation and CAR T-cell therapy Orange County’s only adult hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy program provides life-saving treatment for blood-based cancers. Read More   UCI receives renewal as Orange County’s only federally designated comprehensive cancer center In recent years, the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center has nearly doubled the space available for laboratory research and increased by half the space for clinical research and care. Read More

UCI Health nationally recognized with an "A" Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade Orange County’s only academic health system has earned this biannual award 16 consecutive times Read More

F.D.A. approves Alopecia drug that restores hair growth in many patients Why pigment doesn’t always return in vitiligo Latest Research on Cannabis as a Treatment for Chronic Pain Remains Unclear Does Suicide Risk Show Up in the Blood? University of California puts teeth to science diversity pledge UCI celebrates COVID-19 vaccine scientists Vision Visionary: UCI’s acclaimed Donald Bren Professor of Ophthalmology, Kris Palczewski is blazing a trail of innovating research The one tip doctors swear by to stimulate collagen production in the body June 25 –  The 1st UCI Hypertension Symposium: Fundamental Concepts, Current Practice and Future Direction July 15 – Spine by the Sea Symposium June 26 – Physicians Education Day for Primary Immunodeficiency July 4 – Independence Day Holiday July 28 – ACOFPCA 46th Annual Convention and Medical Seminar Aug. 15-16 – UCI Center for Neural Circuit Mapping 2022 Conference See All Events UCI School of Medicine UCI Health SOMNews@uci.edu

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