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Oct 10, 2023
University of California, Irvine researchers awarded $2.4 million 'Fast Track' grant to develop a novel cancer immunotherapy treatment
The University of California, Irvine, has been awarded a $2.4 million ‘Fast Track’ Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to further develop a highly novel cancer immunotherapy treatment. The project, a joint grant with GlyTR Therapeutics Inc, will build upon work at UCI originally funded by the President Biden Cancer Moonshot Program.
Sep 26, 2023
Unlocking the Potential of T Cells: A New Breakthrough in Chronic Infections and Cancer
Assistant Professor Roberto Tinoco and his UC Irvine research team have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the vital role of a protein called High Mobility Group Box 2 (HMGB2), which was recently published in Nature Communications.
Sep 19, 2023
UCI awarded $2.4 million grant to study potential treatment for cancer-related cognitive impairment
UCI has been awarded a five-year, $2.4 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to evaluate the augmentation of brain-derived neurotropic factor to alleviate cancer-related cognitive impairment. This multi-PI project translates findings from past human studies conducted by Alexandre Chan, Pharm.D., M.P.H., principal investigator and chair and professor of clinical pharmacy practice, into the laboratory, with the goal of evaluating the feasibility of enhancing the BDNF protein as a potential strategy for mitigating chemobrain. The study is being conducted in partnership with Munjal Acharya, M.S., Ph.D., associate professor of anatomy and neurobiology.
Sep 14, 2023
UC Irvine’s Dr. Shawn Griffin and CSU Fullerton Student Gloria Castañón Researching Health Disparities in Hispanic Populations; Connected Through Cancer Health Equity Research Partnership (CHERP)
Two Orange County universities have partnered to explore cancer disparities in the area, and for Castañón and University of California, Irvine’s Dr. Shawn Griffin, the program has provided a chance to conduct research they feel passionately about.
Sep 05, 2023
Beating lung cancer at the genetic root
Michelle Helm’s lung cancer journey began as a frustrating, frightening ride through multiple misdiagnoses. Then she found UCI Health specialists who wouldn’t accept the worst-case scenario other doctors had painted for her. Today, the Mission Viejo parenting coach says she is thriving because she was referred to the lung cancer specialists at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she benefited from their arsenal of advanced therapies and surgical expertise.
Aug 23, 2023
‘TeamNeush’ mobilizes to fight young woman's cancer
In February 2022, Neusha Raffijandi was diagnosed with advanced bile duct cancer. Her family encouraged her to go to the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, which has experts in all types of disease. There, she met UCI Health medical oncologist Dr. Jennifer B. Valerin, who specializes in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers.
Aug 16, 2023
UC Irvine-led study links low-dose radiation to higher cancer risk
“We wanted to strengthen the scientific basis for radiation protection by directly studying settings where low-dose exposures occur,” said corresponding author David Richardson, Ph.D., professor of environmental and occupational health with UCI’s Program in Public Health. “Understanding those associations is essential to inform decisions about medical and commercial uses of ionizing radiation, exposure limits for the public, and workers.”
Aug 01, 2023
Associate Professor Claudia Benavente featured on Chilean TV show
Claudia Benavente, UCI associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, was recently featured on the Chilean TV show “Pasaporte Ciencia” (“Science Passport”) as one of the Chilean scientists conducting important research in various countries around the world. The host, Cristian Hernandez, and his team traveled to campus for the interview. “The initial challenge for the production was to prove they could create a show with gender parity, and I immediately saw the value in the opportunity to bring science closer to the average person,” Benavente said. “The show touches on our experiences from training to the work we currently do, which, in my case, is searching for cures for childhood cancer.”
Jul 24, 2023
Bridging the Gap: Latinx Children with Cancer, Culturally Appropriate Support for Families
Fortier’s work has shown that the pain management treatment of Latinx children – and their outcomes – are too often inadequate when compared to non-Latinx white children. Besides the immediate impact of not assisting a child in need, researchers have found that there are long term consequences to poorly managed pain that amplify health inequities for Latinx patients when they are adults including changes in their physiological responses to pain and avoidance of preventive healthcare to support wellness.
Jun 22, 2023
Breakthroughs offer hope for vitiligo patients
In 2018, Dr. Anand K. Ganesan (above left) opened a vitiligo specialty practice lab at the UCI Health Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic, hoping to find new therapies to reverse the disfiguring skin disorder. Now, the lab has produced a topical cream called ruxolitinib, the first therapy approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration that restores pigment in vitiligo patients. The FDA also recently gave breakthrough device approval for RECELL®, a one-time therapy using the patient’s healthy cells to stimulate lasting repigmentation in stable vitiligo.