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News Archive - Biological Sciences

Discovery Offers New Genetic Pathway for Injured Nerve Regeneration

January 25, 2018

Researchers on the hunt for genes involved in regenerating critical nerve fibers came away with a surprise: The discovery of a new genetic pathway that carries hope for victims of traumatic injuries—from stroke to spinal cord damage. Although no cures exist for many nervous system injuries, if the damaged neurons do not die, “there is hope to find ways to make them stronger and help them regrow,” said senior author Yishi Jin.

Worldwide Importance of Honey Bees for Natural Habitats Captured in New Report

January 10, 2018

An unprecedented UC San Diego study integrating data from around the globe has shown that honey bees are the world’s most important single species of pollinator in natural ecosystems and a key contributor to natural ecosystem functions. The report weaves together information from 80 plant-pollinator interaction networks.

Pesticides and Poor Nutrition Damage Animal Health

December 19, 2017

The combined effects of pesticides and a lack of nutrition form a deadly one-two punch for animals, new research shows for the first time. Researchers studied how honey bees fared with exposure to pesticides and limited nutrient sources, scenarios found in agricultural areas. They were surprised to find that bee deaths increased by up to 50 percent more than they expected.

New UC San Diego Chapter Sends LGBT+ Delegates to oSTEM Conference

December 14, 2017

For the first time, a delegation of faculty and students from the University of California San Diego attended the annual Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM) National Conference to promote greater involvement of LGBT+ community in STEM fields.

Scientists Identify Promising New Approach for Immune System Defense against Cancer

December 11, 2017

Researchers have identified a promising new strategy to fight infections and cancer. They uncovered a novel function for a protein known as “Runx3” that is key to the development of killer T cells—immune cells important for fighting infections and cancer. The researchers believe Runx3, if properly directed, could be combined with other approaches to help T cells recognize and destroy tumor cells and enhance vaccine efficacy.

32 UC San Diego Professors Named Most Influential in Their Fields

December 6, 2017

Thirty two faculty members at the University of California San Diego are among the world’s most influential researchers in their fields, based on their publications over the past decade.

Three UC San Diego Professors Named Recipients of 2018 Breakthrough Prize

December 3, 2017

Two full-time University of California San Diego faculty members — Don Cleveland, who studies fundamental cellular mechanisms in the search for new treatments for diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and James McKernan, a mathematician who investigates algebraic geometry and multivariate polynomials — are recipients of the 2018 Breakthrough Prize, along with Joanne Chory, a plant biologist at Salk Institute for Biological Studies and adjunct professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at UC San Diego.

Six UC San Diego Professors Named 2017 AAAS Fellows

November 20, 2017

UC San Diego professors Michael Burkart, Catherine Constable, Richard Gallo, William Gerwick, Miroslav Krstic and Lorraine Pillus have been awarded the distinction of fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the largest general science organization in the United States and publisher of the journal Science.

A New Strategy for Prevention of Liver Cancer Development

November 14, 2017

Primary liver cancer is now the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and its incidences and mortality are increasing rapidly in the United Stated. In late stages of the malignancy, there are no effective treatments or drugs. However, an unexpected finding made by a team of University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers sheds light on the development of a new strategy for prevention of liver cancer.

Researchers Discover New Pathway for Handling Stress

November 6, 2017

Researchers at the University of California San Diego studying how animals respond to infections have found a new pathway that may help in tolerating stressors that damage proteins. Naming the pathway the Intracellular Pathogen Response, or “IPR,” the scientists say it is a newly discovered way for animals to cope with certain types of stress and attacks, including heat shock.
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