UCSF News

Strike Impacts Medical Services at UCSF

louise.chu — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:57:00 +0000

UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, which treat some of the most critically ill patients, has prepared for the two-day strike by working to reduce the number of patients in the hospitals by half.

Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research to Celebrate 15 Years

rbaker — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:15:00 +0000

A program that fosters basic science projects of potentially high impact that allow researchers to be creative, risky, and transformative is celebrating 15 years of discovery at UCSF.

Court Issues Injunction Limiting Strike at UC Medical Centers

rbaker — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:06:00 +0000

In response to a request filed by the California Public Employment Relations Board, a judge today issued an injunction limiting the number of union employees that may strike UC medical centers.

UCSF School of Medicine Sends Newly Minted Doctors into the World

rbaker — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:41:00 +0000

Marking a significant milestone in the lives of medical students, the UCSF School of Medicine conferred doctor of medicine degrees to the Class of 2013 during a commencement ceremony on May 16.

UCSF Seeks Nominations for Awards that Foster, Support Diversity

lisa — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:41:00 +0000

UCSF is requesting nominations for the Chancellor Diversity Awards highlighting the contributions individuals make in the advancement of disability service, diversity, GLBT leadership and women.

State Labor Board Seeks Injunction Regarding Union Strikes at UC Medical Centers

rbaker — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:40:00 +0000

The California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) will seek a temporary restraining order to curtail the number of striking employees by two University of California unions at UC’s five medical centers, the University learned late May 16.

Man Loses 200 Pounds With Surgery and Lifestyle Changes

rbaker — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:27:00 +0000

Unless you weigh more than 400 pounds, it’s difficult to imagine walking a mile in James Dials’ shoes. In fact, for most of his life, he couldn’t do that either.

App Helps Doctors, Students Learn to Diagnose Neurological Symptoms and Disease

rbaker — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:17:00 +0000

UC San Francisco has launched a new app for the Apple iPad that presents a novel approach to learning the neurological physical exam, a challenging series of assessments aimed at diagnosing neurological disorders in patients.

UCSF Scientists Use Human Stem Cells to Generate Immune System in Mice

rbaker — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Raising hopes for cell-based therapies, UCSF researchers have created the first functioning human thymus tissue from embryonic stem cells in the laboratory.

UC President Mark Yudof Outlines State of the University in Report

rbaker — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:47:00 +0000

University of California President Mark G. Yudof today presented the UC Board of Regents with a report that charted the significant changes of the past six years and offered a candid assessment of how UC is performing.

UCSF Recognizes 11 for Extraordinary Contributions

lisa — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:42:00 +0000

Chancellor Susan Desmond-Helllmann, MD, MPH, presented awards to 11 members of the UC San Francisco community for their extraordinary contributions to the University and beyond.

Scott Reeves Named to Advisory Council of National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education

rbaker — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Scott Reeves, PhD, director of the Center for Innovation in Interprofessional Education at UC San Francisco, has been named to the National Advisory Council of the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education.

Nobel Prize Rockets Stem Cell Program to New Heights

rbaker — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:27:00 +0000

Shinya Yamanaka's Nobel Prize for stem cell research brought fresh attention to something UCSF long ago sensed and seized: the promise of regeneration medicine for repairing or replacing damaged cells, tissues, and even whole organs.

Early Formula Use Helps Some Mothers Breastfeed Longer

rbaker — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:25:00 +0000

Researchers at UC San Francisco have found that giving small amounts of formula in the first few days of life to infants experiencing high levels of early weight loss actually can increase the length of time their mothers end up breastfeeding.

UCSF AIDS Walk Teams to Go for the Gold Again

rbaker — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:15:00 +0000

UC San Francisco, a frequent high-performing team at AIDS Walk San Francisco, will again for the gold – the honor given to the top fundraising organizations participating in the annual event.

UCSF Responds to AFSCME's Plans for Two-Day Strike

lisa — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:19:00 +0000

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union announced on May 10 that its patient care technical workers unit will strike on May 21 and 22 across the University of California system.

Awards Aim to Reduce Health Care Costs, Improve Quality at UCSF Medical Center

louise.chu — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:46:00 +0000

As part of efforts to reduce the cost of health care while also improving quality, the UCSF Center for Healthcare Value has announced winners of its "Caring Wisely" initiative.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Names Two UCSF Scientists as New Investigators

rbaker — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:23:00 +0000

Two UCSF scientists — brain researcher Michael Brainard, PhD, and cell biologist Dyche Mullins, PhD — have been selected to be Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators.

Genetic Test Helps Predict Risk of Prostate Cancer Recurrence

rbaker — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:55:00 +0000

A genetic test that measures cell cycle progression — an indicator of how rapidly cancer cells are growing and dividing — can be a useful tool for predicting who will have a recurrence of prostate cancer, according to researchers at UCSF.

Free Health Screening Gives High School Athletes Peace of Mind

rbaker — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:42:00 +0000

Lowell High School football player Jacky Tang went through a barrage of medical tests at UCSF’s PlaySafe Cardiac Physicals, an interdisciplinary clinic designed to detect underlying medical abnormalities in young athletes and prevent sudden death.

Cell Therapy Promise Highlighted at UCSF Symposium

louise.chu — Thu, 09 May 2013 01:19:00 +0000

UCSF recently convened experts to discuss cell therapies, which have already saved children and adults from leukemia in clinical trials after other drugs failed them.

New Prostate Cancer Test Improves Risk Assessment

rbaker — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:21:00 +0000

A new genomic test can help predict whether men are more likely to harbor an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to a new UCSF study.

Imaging Technique Could Help Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

rbaker — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:28:00 +0000

A new application of an existing medical imaging technology could help predict long-term damage in patients with traumatic brain injury, according to a recent UCSF study.

Chancellor’s TEDMED Talk Promotes Patient Empowerment

louise.chu — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:01:00 +0000

UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann sees a future in which health care consumers drive treatments and innovation, sharing that vision in a recent TEDMED talk.

Human Brain Cells Developed in Lab, Grow in Mice

rbaker — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:44:00 +0000

A key type of human brain cell developed in the laboratory grows seamlessly when transplanted into the brains of mice, UCSF researchers have found.

Epilepsy Cured in Mice Using Brain Cells

rbaker — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:38:00 +0000

Epilepsy that does not respond to drugs can be halted in adult mice by transplanting a specific type of cell into the brain, UCSF researchers have discovered, raising hope that a similar treatment might work in severe forms of human epilepsy.

Great Manager Profile: Georgina Lopez

rbaker — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:53:00 +0000

Great Managers must balance a complex array of needs and priorities, people and processes, program goals and financial constraints. It takes a unique blend of talents to do this well. And Georgina Lopez is a natural.

OME 2013 Yields Pilot Proposals to Advance Precision Medicine

louise.chu — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:36:00 +0000

Top leaders in government, science, technology, business and academia came together at OME 2013 to not just discuss precision medicine, but develop strategies for making it a reality within the next decade.

UC Medical Centers Will Expand Palliative Care With $1M Grant

rbaker — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:09:00 +0000

The University of California is leveraging its expertise to enhance patient care at UC medical centers systemwide, awarding a $1 million grant to expand specialized care for seriously ill patients.

Annual Prom Gives Teen Patients a Night of Glamour Away from Hospital Bed

louise.chu — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:57:00 +0000

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital recently held its annual teen prom, as part of its programs to ensure that each child's developmental and emotional needs are met during their hospital stays.

Precision Medicine National Campaign Launched at OME Summit

rbaker — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:19:00 +0000

At the OME Precision Medicine summit at UCSF, attendees launched a social media campaign to engage the nation in an effort to transform medicine as we know it. The MeForYou.org campaign aims to engage the public in addressing a key roadblock to advancing precision medicine.

MeForYou Campaign Rallies Public to Join Push for Precision Medicine

louise.chu — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:08:00 +0000

UCSF is embarking on a public awareness campaign that focuses on how precision medicine can impact each person. What if you could ensure a healthier future for someone you love?

Tick-Borne Lone Star Virus Identified through New Super-Fast Gene Sequencing

rbaker — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:52:00 +0000

The tick-borne Lone Star virus has been conclusively identified as part of a family of other tick-borne viruses called bunyaviruses, which often cause fever, respiratory problems and bleeding, according to new research led by scientists at UC San Francisco (UCSF).

'Science Equals Service' in UCSF Alumni Weekend Message

louise.chu — Thu, 02 May 2013 23:19:00 +0000

Through its work in health and science, UC San Francisco is driven by a public mission to serve in ways that have the greatest impact on humanity, the chancellor highlighted in her welcome message at the second annual UCSF Alumni Weekend.

More than 2,000 attendees gathered for a slate of events at UCSF last weekend under the theme of service.

UCSF Creates Center for Digital Health Innovation, Names Director to Lead It

rbaker — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:27:00 +0000

UCSF is creating a Center for Digital Health Innovation to lead the transformation of health care delivery and discovery into the era of individualized precision medicine.

Beloved UCSF Professor Dan Lowenstein Delivers Inspirational Last Lecture

rbaker — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:26:00 +0000

The Last Lecture belongs to a venerable academic tradition designed to answer a single question: “If you had but one lecture to give, what would you say?”

Tech, Health, Policy, Finance Leaders to Launch Precision Medicine Initiatives

louise.chu — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:56:00 +0000

More than 150 of the nation’s top innovators will convene this week in a summit at UCSF that aims to leverage science and technology to transform health and medicine as we know it.

Genetic Mutation Linked with Typical Form of Migraine

rbaker — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:39:00 +0000

A UCSF-led research team has identified a genetic mutation that is strongly associated with a typical form of migraine. The discovery could lead to more effective therapies for people with this condition.

NIH and FDA Officials Join UCSF Chancellor to Talk Precision Medicine

lisa — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:57:00 +0000

UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann joined Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, and Peggy Hamburg, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, to talk about precision medicine in the lead up to the OME Precision Medicine Summit at UCSF.

Discovery Reshapes Understanding of Embryonic Development

louise.chu — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:37:00 +0000

New research conducted at UCSF sheds lights on how fingers and toes are formed in the womb, a finding likely to fundamentally reshape biologists' understanding of how cells communicate to each other during development.

Antidepressants Linked with Increased Risks After Surgery

rbaker — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:44:00 +0000

Some of the most widely prescribed antidepressant medications are associated with increased risk of bleeding, transfusion, hospital readmission and death when taken around the time of surgery, according to an analysis co-led by UCSF.

Aggressive Surgery for Nonfatal Skin Cancers Might Not Be Best for All Elderly Patients

rbaker — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:23:00 +0000

Surgery is often recommended for skin cancers, but older, sicker patients can endure complications as a result and may not live long enough to benefit from the treatment.

Chancellor Highlights Value of Academic-Industry Partnerships in Boosting Scientific Research

louise.chu — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:42:00 +0000

Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH

The pharmaceutical industry gets a bad rap for having a corrupting influence on clinical trials, but that perception undermines the many scientific breakthroughs that have come from industry-backed research, according to UC San Francisco’s chancellor.

Three UC San Francisco Scientists Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

louise.chu — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:29:00 +0000

Three UCSF scientists have been selected to join the 2013 class of one of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies for top scholars, scientists, writers, artists and civic, corporate, and philanthropic leaders.

Innovative Health Coalition Creates Model for Community Health

louise.chu — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:28:00 +0000

UCSF is a part of a broad coalition called San Francisco Health Improvement Partnerships (SF HIP) that’s been tackling health disparities across the city's diverse population.

UCSF to Highlight Public Service at Alumni Weekend

rbaker — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:24:00 +0000

UC San Francisco will welcome about 2,000 graduates and friends to the 2013 Alumni Weekend on April 25 through April 27.

Nearly Half of Adolescents Lack a Patient-Centered Medical Home

louise.chu — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:04:00 +0000

Adolescence is a unique period of change when many mental health disorders are known to first emerge, yet nearly half of adolescents are lacking coordinated and continuous health care that could identify symptoms early, according to a new UCSF study.

Muscle Repair After Injury Helped by Fat-Forming Cells

rbaker — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:35:00 +0000

UCSF scientists have discovered that muscle repair requires the action of two types of cells better known for causing inflammation and forming fat.

Molly Cooke Named President of American College of Physicians

lisa — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:42:00 +0000

Molly Cooke, MD, FACP, a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco, has been named President of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the nation’s largest medical specialty organization.

Molly Cooke, MD

Smoking from Hookah Not a Harmless Alternative to Cigarettes

rbaker — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:31:00 +0000

Smoking tobacco through a hookah is gaining popularity among the college crowd, but UCSF researchers have found that hookah smoke contains a different – but still harmful – mix of toxins than cigarettes.