Health Sciences

UC San Diego Health Sciences schools, institutes and centers are at the forefront of discovery and transformation.

The Latest

Molecular Homing Beacon Redirects Human Antibodies to Fight Pathogenic Bacteria

With the threat of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens growing, new ideas to treat infections are sorely needed. Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences report preliminary success testing an entirely novel approach — tagging bacteria with a molecular “homing beacon” that attracts pre-existing antibodies to attack the pathogens.

Boosting the Body’s Natural Ability to Fight Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, and widespread antibiotic resistance has led to urgent calls for new ways to combat them. Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences report that an experimental drug that stabilizes a protein called HIF-1alpha protects human bladder cells and mice against a major UTI pathogen. The drug might eventually provide a therapeutic alternative or complement to standard antibiotic treatment.

3D Human Skin Maps Aid Study of Relationships Between Molecules, Microbes and Environment

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences produced 3D maps of molecular and microbial variations across the body. These maps provide a baseline for studies of the interplay between the molecules that make up our skin, our microbiomes, our personal hygiene routines and other environmental factors. The study, published March 30 by PNAS, may help further our understanding of the skin’s role in human health and disease.

Mark Harrison Appointed CFO of UC San Diego Health Sciences

Mark Harrison has been appointed as the new chief financial officer (CFO) for UC San Diego Health Sciences, effective March 23, 2015. As CFO, Mark will collaborate with university leadership to ensure the strong financial health of the globally-recognized UC San Diego Health Sciences enterprise, overseeing a budget of more than $2.4 billion.

UC San Diego and Perdana University Partner to Advance Medical Education and Research

Officials of the University of California, San Diego and Perdana University in Malaysia have announced a plan to collaborate on further development of the Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine (PUGSOM). UC San Diego was chosen from among the top schools of medicine in the United States to lead this initiative.

Pictured Together for the First Time: a Chemokine and its Receptor

Researchers at University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Bridge Institute at the University of Southern California report the first crystal structure of the cellular receptor CXCR4 bound to an immune signaling protein called a chemokine. The structure answers longstanding questions about a molecular interaction that plays an important role in human development, immune responses, cancer metastasis and HIV infections.