UC Irvine School of Medicine

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38th edition | November 2025

Dear Colleagues,

It’s hard to believe the fall season is already upon us. As we settle into the new academic year, I remain immensely proud of our community’s unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence.

Despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding federal funding, our researchers have continued to make groundbreaking discoveries, securing competitive grants and producing transformative results.

Cameron Carter, MD, Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

Cameron Carter, MD, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, has been elected to the NAM, one of the nation’s highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. He was chosen for his pioneering work in cognitive neuroscience and psychiatry.
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	CIRM Awards UC Irvine Neuroscientist Another $2 Million for Huntington's Disease Research
	Leslie M. Thompson, PhD, plans to use stem cell-based models to map how the defective Huntington’s protein interacts with other proteins and RNA across different cell types. Read More


	Study Identifies a New Approach to Protect the Brain During Radiation Therapy
	Protecting the brain from the harmful side effects of cranial radiation therapy could preserve the quality of life for many brain cancer survivors who experience trouble with memory and concentration. Read More


	Discovery at the Intersection of Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease
	In a new video, Elizabeth Head, PhD, and Elizabeth Andrews, a PhD candidate, walk you through their recent discovery into how women with Down syndrome might experience faster progression of Alzheimer's disease than men. Read More


	A Passion for Immunology Sparks Biotech Innovation
	Learn what put alumna Melanie Matheu, PhD, on the road to launching two biotech startups in 10 years and how she’s leveraging novel technology to develop life-saving therapeutics. Read More


	Researchers Patent Formula to Block the Transition from Acute to Chronic Pain
	Daniele Piomelli, PhD, led a study that revealed a molecular mechanism that controls the transition from acute to chronic pain, resulting in a patent application for “compositions” to prevent that transition. Read More


	Sanjay Gupta Shares Insight into Acupuncture from Richard E. Harris, PhD
	It Doesn’t Have to Hurt, a new book by Sanjay Gupta, includes insight into acupuncture, drawing on expertise from Richard E. Harris, PhD, and his decades of research into integrative medicine. Read More

In Memoriam: Robert H. Bartlett, MD

Robert H. Bartlett, MD, a former professor in the Department of Surgery, known as the "Father of ECMO," passed away on Oct. 20, 2025, after a prolonged illness.
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	From Muscle Regeneration Research to Youth Outreach, PhD Candidate Olga Jaime Advances Science
	Olga Jaime, in addition to conducting research that could one day help our bodies regenerate damaged skeletal muscle, is paying it forward as a volunteer for STEM-education outreach programs. Read More


	The Stanley Behrens Fellowship Paves the Way for Future Scholars, Scientists & Trailblazers
	Behrens’ endowments ensure students receive more than financial aid; they gain mentorship, meaningful research opportunities and a foundation for future success. Read More


	Medicine Meets Micro-Gravity
	Jonathan Steller, MD, is co-developing a space medicine, engineering and design program at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. Read More


	Inspiring Tomorrow’s Scientists
	The Muscle Biology and Disease Research Center and the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center hosted a science day event for kids aged 5–18. Read More


	Thousands take the Anti-Cancer Challenge, Raising over $1 million
	The ninth annual event, held Oct. 11 on the university campus in Irvine, raised more than $1.1 million for critical research. Read More


	Achieving a Brilliant Future
	UC Irvine celebrated the successful close of its Brilliant Future campaign on Saturday, Oct. 4 – coinciding with the university’s 60th anniversary. The five-year campaign surpassed its $2 billion goal by almost half a billion dollars. Read More


	Listening to Veterans: Study Links Agent Orange Exposure to Increased Cancer Risk
	Helen Ma, MD, an assistant professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, partnered with the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center on the largest study to date examining Agent Orange exposure and lymphatic cancers. Read More


	Where Compassion Meets Action: UC Irvine and Illumination Health + Home
	Each November, Homelessness Awareness Month shines a light on the human side of housing insecurity and reminds us that lasting solutions require collaboration. Read More