News
04/11/2024
Your Brain on Genetics
There’s nothing like seeing new perspectives through the study of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Dr. Daniel Geschwind — without getting too philosophical, he promises — is ready to explain why.
07/18/2023
Biobank study reveals disease risk, heath care use among LA's diverse population
A new study of UCLA Health's large genetic biobank is giving researchers new insights into the disease risks faced by the region's diverse communities and their access to health care.
06/07/2023
Precision health symposium addresses advances, challenges
Daylong conference focused on diagnosing and treating pediatric genetic conditions.
05/12/2023
Stanford Medicine Named Winner of the 2023 Hearst Health Prize in Partnership with the UCLA Center for SMART Health
Daylong conference focused on diagnosing and treating pediatric genetic conditions.
05/01/2023
Hearst Health Prize Judges to Headline Panel Discussion at UCLA Health Data Day
UCLA Center for SMART Health convenes national experts to address key issues in healthcare data science.
05/04/2023
California Center for Rare Diseases at UCLA named a ‘Center of Excellence’ in national collaborative organization
UCLA's Center joins the National Organization for Rare Diseases to improve care, advance research, and increase awareness.
04/30/2023
UCLA’s expansion of digital registry advances efficient and representative research
UCLA researchers are expanding their digital registry for depression research recruitment beyond campus into the greater Los Angeles area.
03/20/2023
Identifying rare genetic diseases and helping to reinvent modern medicine
Stanley Nelson, MD, has been named the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Endowed Chair in Translational Genomics.
02/01/2023
Precision Oncology Data Registry May Perpetuate Health Disparities
Researchers have uncovered racial and ethnic disparities in a widely used precision oncology data registry, which may impact study validity and generalizability.
01/11/2023
The UCLA ATLAS Community Health Initiative: Promoting precision health research in a diverse biobank
The UCLA ATLAS Community Health Initiative (ATLAS) has an initial target to recruit 150,000 participants from across the UCLA Health system with the goal of creating a genomic database to accelerate precision medicine efforts in California.
09/12/2022
UCLA Leverages Genomic Data to Support Health Equity, Precision Medicine
Researchers are analyzing data from the UCLA ATLAS Precision Health Biobank to advance personalized and precision medicine for underrepresented populations.
Large medical centers in urban areas, like Los Angeles, care for a diverse patient population and offer the potential to study the interplay between genetic ancestry and social determinants of health. Here, we explore the implications of genetic ancestry within the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) ATLAS Community Health Initiative—an ancestrally diverse biobank of genomic data linked with de-identified electronic health records (EHRs) of UCLA Health patients.
02/07/2022
Former faculty member gives UCLA $10 million to advance ocular genetics research
A gift from Dr. Bronwyn Bateman will establish a new center at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute.
10/04/2021
UCLA raises $611 million in 2020–21, supporting students and advancing critical research
Donors during the past year hailed from all 50 states and 72 nations; nearly 95% of gifts were less than $10,000.
06/24/2021
UCLA study reveals how immune cells can be trained to fight infections
By better understanding the dynamics of a key immune signaling molecule, scientists may be able to 'hack' the immune system to strengthen it.
06/16/2021
UCLA Health receives $4.8M NIH grant to improve genetic estimates of disease risk in diverse populations
UCLA Health will receive a $4.8 million grant from The National Institutes of Health to develop methods that will improve genetic risk estimates – polygenic risk scores – for specific diseases in people from diverse populations and mixed ancestries.
02/22/2021
'Brain' organoids grown in lab mature much like infant brains
A new study from UCLA and Stanford University researchers finds that three-dimensional human stem cell-derived 'mini brain' organoids can mature in a manner that is strikingly similar to human brain development.
02/11/2021
UCLA Health receives $29 million gift to establish center in precision genomic medicine
The Ginsburg Center builds on teamwork among scientists and physicians to advance research, enhance patient care for genetic conditions.
01/12/2021
Cancer researchers awarded grant to study genomic alterations in prostate cancer
Paul Boutros, PhD, Robert Reiter, MD, and Huihui Ye, MD, MS, of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have received the 2020 Prostate Cancer Foundation Special Challenge Award to help improve the understanding of prostate cancer biology and identify new ways to help prevent, diagnose, prognose and treat lethal prostate cancer.
12/16/2020
Researcher receives Young Investigator Award to investigate new stromal biomarker for prostate cancer
Dr. Jeremie Calais, assistant professor of nuclear medicine and theranostics in the department of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, is one of 26 researchers to be named a 2020 Young Investigator by the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
12/07/2020
Researchers create framework to help determine timing of cancer mutations
UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers studying cancer evolution have created a framework to help determine which tool combinations are best for pinpointing the exact timing of DNA mutations in cancer genomes.
11/16/2020
UCLA Health-Regeneron Genetics Center research collaboration: Closing in on personalized medical care for patients throughout California
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 16, 2020) – UCLA Health has entered into a collaborative research agreement with the Regeneron Genetics Center (RGC) to provide whole exome sequencing for 150,000 UCLA Health patients.
10/26/2020
UCLA researchers study genetics' role in COVID-19 susceptibility, severity
The scientists were brought together by their shared belief that genetics could be a key to finding better approaches to the pandemic.
07/03/2020
How the body regulates scar tissue growth after heart attacks
A single protein may determine the size of scars, scientists say. Larger scars heighten the risk of future death from heart failure.
06/22/2020
NBA star and alumnus Kevin Love to fund chair in psychology
The former Bruins basketball player has committed $500,000 through his foundation — matched by a $500,000 UCLA Centennial Term Chair Match.
06/11/2020
UCLA Health's Dr. Clara Lajonchere elected Chair of the California Precision Medicine Advisory Council
Dr. Clara Lajonchere, deputy director of the Institute for Precision Health at UCLA Health, has been elected chair of the new California Precision Medicine Advisory Council.
06/10/2020
Reprogramming of immune system cures child with often-fatal fungal infection
A unique approach developed at UCLA suggests a possible path toward treatments for other types of severe infection.
06/04/2020
Some types of prostate cancer may not be as aggressive as originally thought
Research brief: Findings from a UCLA study indicate some men may not require the intensive treatment they have traditionally received.
12/20/2019
No difference in results when surgeries are performed by U.S.- or foreign-trained surgeons
Research brief: There were no differences in outcomes for common surgical procedures between surgeons trained at foreign medical schools or the United States.
12/03/2019
UCLA launches new master's degree in genetic counseling in fall 2020
Degree program will help meet the rising demand for specialists trained to guide patients facing complex genetic disorders.
08/08/2019
Study identifies 69 genes that increase the risk for autism
The findings highlight the importance of learning how genetic variants or mutations are passed from parents to children affected with autism.
06/20/2019
At UCLA Health Data Day, collaboration takes center stage
The event showcased the data analytics and computing capabilities available for researchers, analysts and stakeholders across campus to advance medical research and the delivery of care.
08/01/2019
Study identifies genetic differences that may increase risk of obesity, diabetes
A Finnish study that included researchers from UCLA harnessed the DNA from nearly 20,000 people to identify genetic mutations that may increase the risk of diabetes, high cholesterol and other diseases and conditions.
05/30/2019
UCLA Health adopts Microsoft Azure to accelerate medical research and improve patient care
UCLA Health is deploying Microsoft cloud computing services to enable UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine to synthesize vast amounts of clinical and research data to speed medical discoveries and improve patient care
02/25/2019
Lab-grown mini tumors could help identify personalized treatments for people with rare cancers
Developed by UCLA scientists, the technique uses robots to simultaneously screen hundreds of different treatments.
01/30/2019
UCLA-led team uncovers critical new clues about what goes awry in brains of people with autism
Changes in RNA editing play an important role in the disorder, scientists find.
12/03/2018
UCLA researchers discover genes tied to dementia in key early step toward new therapies
The study is the most comprehensive published effort to date to identify the source of neurodegeneration across species.
11/16/2018
UCLA cell study reveals how head injuries lead to serious brain diseases
The life scientists have provided the first cell “atlas” of the hippocampus — the part of the brain that helps regulate learning and memory — when it is affected by traumatic brain injury.
10/15/2018
Childhood trauma, depression linked to higher risk of longer-term fatigue in breast cancer survivors
The findings may help to offer better solutions for preventing and managing fatigue.
08/07/2018
UCLA Health joins nationwide clinical trial for acute myeloid leukemia
The precision-based medicine approach will allow people with newly diagnosed leukemia to have immediate access to new treatments that are in development.
11/08/2017
UCLA helps many to live long and prosper
Through collaboration across campus and across disciplines, UCLA has improved the medical prognosis of millions of people in the past 10 years.
09/11/2017
New University of California Cancer Consortium to tackle state’s second leading cause of death
The alliance of five UC medical centers will conduct clinical trials and study precision medicine, population health science, best practices in harnessing big data to improve health and political engagement for public benefit.
07/06/2017
Changes in brain regions may explain why some prefer order and certainty, UCLA behavioral neuroscientists report
Why do some people prefer stable, predictable lives while others prefer frequent changes? Findings of a study may hold answers to this question.
05/02/2017
Dean of David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA discusses her top priorities
Dr. Kelsey Martin, who recently was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, is the first woman dean of UCLA’s medical school, and she is among only a handful of women leading a medical school in the United States.
03/07/2017
UCLA scientists show how to amplify or stifle signals for immune responses
Manipulating the stiffness or softness of T cells could help doctors harness the immune system to control disease.
12/22/2016
Study provides roadmap to more personalized cancer treatment
UCLA-led research found people with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and a certain genetic mutation have improved survival when given a drug in combination with standard therapies.
11/16/2016
Dr. Owen Witte receives award for distinguished biomedical research
The award, established in 1974, honors outstanding biomedical research related to health and disease that has contributed to the substance of medicine.
09/15/2016
UCLA researchers use stem cells to grow 3-D lung-in-a-dish
The laboratory-grown tissue can be used to study diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which has traditionally been difficult to study using conventional methods.
06/28/2016
UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute receives $69.6 million grant from NIH
The UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute, a research partnership of UCLA, Cedars–Sinai Medical Center, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and the Los Angeles...
06/09/2016
Using big data, scientists discover biomarkers that could help give cancer patients better survival estimates
People with cancer are often told by their doctors approximately how long they have to live, and how well they will respond to treatments, but what if there were a way to improve the...
05/11/2016
Celebrity poker event to benefit UCLA Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
More than 600 guests are expected to attend “Dealing for Duchenne,” a star-studded Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament and silent auction to raise money for the Center for Duchenne Muscular...
07/20/2015
UCLA to join $30 million nationwide search for biomarkers for autism
Researchers at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and Fielding School of Public Health are participating in a new nationwide, multi-center study of preschool and school-aged children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to identify non-invasive biological markers — or biomarkers — that could help physicians diagnose and track ASD as well as assess treatments in autism patients.
03/03/2015
UCLA researchers devise new method to identify disease markers, a key step toward personalized medicine
UCLA life scientists have created an accurate new method to identify genetic markers for many diseases — a significant step toward a new era of personalized medicine, tailored to each person’s DNA and RNA.
05/28/2015
1 in 5 women with breast cancer don’t know about test results that might help them avoid chemo
UCLA-led study finds that Hispanic women are twice as likely to have unnecessary treatment
04/06/2015
Income inequality affects who gets an underutilized test for breast cancer
UCLA-led study shows that economic factors may influence the adoption of new technologies
12/16/2014
Big data in biosciences and health care is focus of new UCLA research center
A new research institute at UCLA may eventually provide doctors with tools to more accurately tailor medicines for individual patients, which could both improve quality of care and minimize the side effects associated with today’s medicine.
07/01/2014
UCLA awarded $7 million to unravel mystery genetic diseases
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is one of six institutions nationwide chosen by the National Institutes of Health to join the agency's efforts to tackle the most difficult-to-solve medical cases and develop ways to diagnose rare genetic disorders.
06/19/2014
UCLA scientists identify link between stem cell regulation and the development of lung cancer
UCLA researchers led by Dr. Brigitte Gomperts have discovered the inner workings of the process thought to be the first stage in the development of lung cancer. Their study explains how factors that regulate the growth of adult stem cells that repair tissue in the lungs can lead to the formation of precancerous lesions.