News Archive - School of Medicine

Novel Molecular Dynamics Captures Atomic-level Detail of CRISPR-Cas9 Activity

Using a novel molecular dynamics method capable of capturing the motion of gyrating proteins at time intervals up to one thousand times greater than previous efforts, a team led by UC San Diego researchers has identified, for the first time, the myriad structural changes that activate and drive CRISPR-Cas9, the innovative gene-splicing technology that’s transforming the field of genetic engineering. SDSC’s ‘Comet’ supercomputer was used to helps break the “millisecond barrier” for complex biological simulations.

Harnessing Cancer’s Methylation Footprint for More Precise Diagnosis and Prognosis

In a new study, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues in Xijing Hospital and Sun Yat-sen Cancer Center in China, report that DNA methylation can provide effective markers for at least four major cancers, not only correctly differentiating malignant tissues from normal, but also providing information on prognosis and survival.

UC San Diego Partners with Janssen to Research New Approaches to Treat Metabolic Diseases

University of California San Diego School of Medicine has entered a five-year strategic partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, to discover meaningful treatments for metabolic diseases.

Radiation Therapy Vital to Treating Brain Tumors, but It Exacts a Toll

Radiation therapy (RT) using high-energy particles is a common and critical component in successfully treating patients with brain tumors but it is also associated with significant adverse effects. In a new study, researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that irradiation can cause broader adverse effects, altering the structural network properties in impacted brains and perhaps contributing to delayed cognitive impairments observed in many patients following brain RT.

Review of Appendix Cancer Cases Finds Over Diagnosis

Lesions of the appendix are being over diagnosed as invasive cancer, report University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers in a paper published June 7 in the journal PLOS ONE.

Cancer Cells Send Signals Boosting Survival and Drug Resistance in Other Cancer Cells

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that cancer cells appear to communicate to other cancer cells, activating an internal mechanism that boosts resistance to common chemotherapies and promotes tumor survival.

Do Obese Children Need to Attend Treatment to Lose Weight?

One-third of American children are overweight or obese. Family-based treatment (FBT) has been considered the best model for the treatment of obese children as it provides both parents and children with education and behavior therapy techniques but is provided mainly in a hospital setting. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found that parent-based therapy (PBT) has similar outcomes to FBT and could be more cost-effective.

Losing Sleep Over Climate Change

Unusually warm nights can harm human sleep, researchers show, and the poor and the elderly are most affected. Rising temperatures could make sleep loss more severe.

Researchers Studying Century-Old Drug in Potential New Approach to Autism

In a small, randomized Phase I/II clinical trial (SAT1), researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine say a 100-year-old drug called suramin, originally developed to treat African sleeping sickness, was safely administered to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who subsequently displayed measurable, but transient, improvement in core symptoms of autism.

New Brain Mapping Tool Produces Higher Resolution Data During Brain Surgery

Researchers have developed a new device to map the brain during surgery and distinguish between healthy and diseased tissues. The device provides higher resolution neural readings than existing tools used in the clinic and could enable doctors to perform safer, more precise brain surgeries.