UCSF News Office

Tissue tension regulates tumor progression

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:34:32 -0800

UCSF scientists have shown for the first time that the rigidity of a tissue can induce cancer. The research team identified an enzyme that is crucial for regulating tissue stiffness and demonstrated that the enzyme can turn abnormal but non-malignant breast tissue into tumors, according to a study published in “Cell” online.

Schizophrenia gene’s role may be broader, more potent, than thought

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:01:50 -0800

UCSF scientists studying fruit flies have uncovered a new function for a gene whose human equivalent may play a critical role in schizophrenia.

UC launches institute to address global health’s $75 billion impact on California

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:59:30 -0800

Global Health represents more than a $75 billion impact on the California economy, according to a report by the newly formed University of California Global Health Institute. The report was released today during a conference on the importance of global health to California.

Killing in war associated with PTSD and behavioral and adjustment problems

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:47:22 -0800

In a study of 1,200 veterans of the Vietnam war, those who reported taking a life in combat had a higher incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder, violent behaviors, trouble with daily functioning, and other psychological problems than those who did not, even decades after their war experience.

UCSF Medical Center & UCSF Children’s Hospital change visitor policy to limit spread of H1N1 flu

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:21:09 -0800

UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Children’s Hospital are implementing a temporary change to their visitor policy due to a recent increase in cases of H1N1 flu and the potential for the virus to spread.

UCSF forum launches UC Global Health Institute, reports state impact

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:53:21 -0800

UCSF Global Health Sciences and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will host a public forum titled, “A Center of Excellence for Global Health: Why Global Health Matters to California.” The event will focus on the future of U.S. and California leadership in global health and the release of a report on the multi-billion-dollar impact of global health on California.

Federal stimulus funds support studies geared to improving HIV care and prevention

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:32:02 -0800

UCSF HIV researchers have received two NIH grants of $1 million each to study the use of web-based, patient controlled personal health records to improve health and HIV prevention outcomes for HIV positive patients.

Physical education key to improving health in low-income adolescents

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:59:50 -0800

School-based physical education plays a key role in curbing obesity and improving fitness among adolescents from low-income communities, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Berkeley.

Heart disease effects perceived as more acute by people with PTSD

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:09:40 -0800

In a study of 1,022 men and women with heart disease, those with post-traumatic stress disorder perceived the effects of their disease as more burdensome and disabling than did those without PTSD, even when their actual heart health was no worse by objective measures.

Aga Khan University & UCSF form partnership to help underprivileged

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:29:45 -0800

UCSF and the Aga Khan University signed a memorandum of understanding today to advance their common goal to promote equitable human advancement and social justice in the less privileged parts of the world.

UCSF diabetes, brain tumor stem cell grants to drive development of therapies

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:08:01 -0800

Two teams of UCSF scientists have received grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to advance their stem cell based strategies for treating diabetes and brain tumors. The intent of the grants is for teams to file new drug applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within four years, driving potential therapies toward clinical trials.

UCSF and Gladstone Institutes among best places to work in academia

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:19:37 -0800

UCSF and the UCSF-affiliated J. David Gladstone Institutes have been named among the top 10 best places to work in U.S. academia, according to 2009 survey results announced today by “The Scientist” magazine. The magazine ranks UCSF as the second best academic work setting and the Gladstone Institutes as sixth.

$6.5 million gift to UCSF from Irwin and Joan Jacobs for head and neck cancer research

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:27:19 -0800

Philanthropists Irwin and Joan Jacobs of La Jolla, CA are giving a $6.5 million gift to UCSF for head and neck cancer research. It is believed to be the largest private, U.S. gift for research supporting this disease.

Seed fund for UC bioscience companies launches at Mission Bay

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:28:00 -0800

The California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3) is collaborating with a newly launched $7.5 million fund to provide startup capital for University of California bioscience entrepreneurs and a long-term endowment for QB3.

Media briefing: UCSF police respond about officer death

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:50:17 -0800

The UCSF Chief of Police will hold a media briefing regarding the vehicular death this morning of UCSF Police Officer Edson Veloro, offering comments on Detective Veloro’s outstanding service to UCSF. A limited status report will also be available on the condition of Police Dispatcher Art Dragon, who was also in the accident and was admitted to San Francisco General Hospital early this morning.

UCSF wins consumer choice award for San Francisco hospitals

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:05:50 -0800

UCSF Medical Center has been named the winner of the 2009-2010 “Consumer Choice Award” for hospitals in San Francisco by the National Research Corporation, a major healthcare performance research firm. Local consumers rated UCSF as the number one choice for quality healthcare among all hospitals in San Francisco.

PTSD increases risk of death one year after surgery

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:16:52 -0800

A study conducted by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco offers evidence that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder have a significantly lower survival rate one year after surgery than veterans without the diagnosis, even though the veterans with PTSD were seven years younger on average.

Experts issue call to reconsider screening for breast cancer and prostate cancer

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:22:12 -0800

Twenty years of screening for breast and prostate cancer – the most diagnosed cancer for women and men – have not brought the anticipated decline in deaths from these diseases, argue experts from the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in an opinion piece published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association.”

Kaiser, UCSF awarded $25 million from NIH to build resource for genetic research

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:49:02 -0800

The Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have been awarded $24.8 million over two years by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a new resource for studying disease, health, and aging.

Five UCSF scientists named to Institute of Medicine

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:10:26 -0800

Five UCSF faculty scientists are among the 65 newly elected members to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), part of the National Academy of Sciences. Election to IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. The new members were announced today (Oct. 12, 2009) at the IOM annual meeting.

“Women, Violence and HIV” symposium at UCSF on October 12

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:51:18 -0800

Presentation by Ambassador Stephen Lewis, co-director, AIDS-Free World and U.N. special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa (2001-2006), follow by panel discussion and reception. Lewis will be introduced by UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH.

UCSF to lead new NIH-funded consortium for studying immune disorders

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:30:26 -0800

The University of California, San Francisco has been designated to lead a new consortium that will study a group of severe immune disorders known as primary immunodeficiencies and aims to improve treatment for these often life-threatening diseases. The Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium comprises 13 centers throughout the United States and has a $6.25 million funding commitment over five years from the National Institutes of Health.

Actress Kathleen Turner to visit UCSF for overview of arthritis research

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:55:31 -0800

Actress Kathleen Turner will visit the research labs of the Rosalind Russell Arthritis Center at UCSF to gain a better understanding of the impact of autoimmune diseases and to learn firsthand about ongoing UCSF research for potential therapies.

Prion study reveals first direct information about the protein’s molecular structure

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:23 -0800

A collaboration between scientists at Vanderbilt University and the University of California, San Francisco has led to the first direct information about the molecular structure of prions. In addition, the study has revealed surprisingly large structural differences between natural prions and the closest synthetic analogs that scientists have created in the lab.

News conference with new UCSF Nobel laureate: Watch the video

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:25:58 -0800

UCSF's Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD, addressed the media during a news conference at the Mission Bay campus on Oct. 5, held in recognition of the announcement that she received the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

News conference this morning: UCSF scientist wins Nobel Prize

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:10:32 -0800

Scientist Elizabeth H. Blackburn, PhD, 60, of the University of California, San Francisco was named today (Oct. 5, 2009) to receive the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

UCSF scientist receives Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:43:52 -0800

Molecular biologist Elizabeth H. Blackburn, PhD, 60, of the University of California, San Francisco, today was named to receive the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

UCSF Orthopaedic Institute at Mission Bay opens for patients, research and education

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:00:02 -0800

Opening today at Mission Bay, the UCSF Orthopaedic Institute is a major new center that is the most comprehensive location in the Bay Area for outpatient treatment, research and training in musculoskeletal conditions, injuries and sports medicine.

UCSF to host kick-off event for Macy’s tree lighting with Barry Zito

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:00:39 -0800

Kick-off event for the 20th annual Macy’s Christmas Tree Lighting benefiting UCSF Children’s Hospital. The celebration will feature a visit from Honorary Chair and San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito, as well as face painting, refreshments, and elves to entertain young patients. Great photo, audio and video opportunities.

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with mental health diagnoses use more VA medical services

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:50:47 -0800

In a study of nearly 250,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, those who were diagnosed with mental health disorders used non-mental health medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs at significantly higher rates than those without mental health disorders.

Media tour: grand opening of new UCSF Orthopaedic Institute

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:01:53 -0800

UCSF is celebrating the grand opening of its new Orthopaedic Institute, a major new facility for treating patients and translational research.

Estrogen link in male aggression sheds new light on sex-specific behaviors

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:24:53 -0800

Territorial behavior in male mice might be linked to more “girl-power” than ever suspected, according to new findings at UCSF. For the first time, researchers have identified networks of nerve cells in the brain that are associated with how male mice defend their territory and have shown that these cells are controlled by the female hormone estrogen.

Cardiac stem cell trial seeks to treat some heart attack patients

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:56:20 -0800

Researchers at UCSF Medical Center have begun enrollment for an early-stage clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an adult stem cell therapy for patients who have just experienced their first acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack. The trial is part of a multi-center national study.

Revolutionary statewide UC collaboration targets breast cancer

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:30:47 -0800

The University of California is launching an unprecedented statewide collaboration for breast cancer patients with the goal of revolutionizing the course of their care by designing and testing new approaches to research, technology and health care delivery.

UCSF Announces Expanded BreastCancerTrials.org Website

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:56:44 -0800

The nation’s only clinical trial matching service dedicated exclusively to breast cancer—BreastCancerTrials.org—is now upgraded with new features, greatly expanding access and ensuring privacy for all who want the latest information about research studies and how to enroll. Cancer patients, survivors and those who are at risk now have a free, easy-to-use resource that custom matches them to clinical trials specifically targeted to their personal health profiles. BreastCancerTrials.org empowers patients with knowledge, opens the door to hope and paves the way for future cures.

Universal screening lowers risk of severe jaundice in infants

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:40:09 -0800

Screening all newborns for excessive bilirubin in the blood can significantly decrease the incidence of severe jaundice which, in extreme cases, can lead to seizures and brain damage, according to researchers at UCSF Children’s Hospital and Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research in Oakland, CA.

UCSF scientists awarded NIH research awards encouraging innovation

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:44:31 -0800

Seven UCSF scientists have received research awards from the National Institutes of Health under an initiative designed to encourage innovative, risk-taking investigations.

Private umbilical cord banking not cost-effective, UCSF research shows

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:31:13 -0800

Private cord blood banking is not cost-effective because it costs an additional $1,374,246 per life-year gained, according to a new analysis by UCSF researchers. The research team also concluded that private cord blood banking is cost-effective only for families with a child with a very high likelihood of needing a stem cell transplant.

In terms of physical limitations, people in pain seem decades older than their actual ages

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:33:04 -0800

People in pain have the same degree of functional limitation as people who are pain-free but two to three decades older, according to a study of more than 18,000 older Americans led by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco.

UCSF names Sam Hawgood as new dean of School of Medicine

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:45:11 -0800

The University of California, San Francisco has named Sam Hawgood, MBBS, as dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs. The appointment was reported today to the UC Board of Regents. It is effective immediately.

Photoswitches shed light on “burst swimming” in zebrafish

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:44:53 -0800

A new way to select and switch on one cell type in an organism using light has helped answer a long-standing question about the function of one class of enigmatic nerve cells in the spinal cord.

UCSF scientists illuminate how microRNAs drive tumor progression

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:04:29 -0800

UCSF researchers have identified collections of tiny molecules known as microRNAs that affect distinct processes critical for the progression of cancer. The findings, they say, expand researchers’ understanding of the important regulatory function of microRNAs in tumor biology and point to new directions for future study and potential treatments.

San Francisco forum aims to open dialogue on incontinence

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:26:27 -0800

UCSF and the National Association For Continence (NAFC) are holding a public workshop on October 3 to help women understand how they can control and treat incontinence. Even though urinary incontinence can be improved in eight out of 10 cases, fewer than half of those with bladder problems ever talk about the condition with their health care professionals, according to the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research.

UCSF researchers program cells to be remote-controlled by light

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:00:23 -0800

UCSF researchers have genetically encoded mouse cells to respond to light, creating cells that can be trained to follow a light beam or stop on command like microscopic robots.

First stem cell clinical trial for treating brain’s “communication highway” to begin

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:00:55 -0800

UCSF researchers are set to begin a Phase I clinical trial in collaboration with StemCells, Inc. to test the safety and preliminary effectiveness of using neural stem cells to treat children with a rare, fatal form of a brain disorder known as Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD). Currently, there are no effective treatments for the fatal forms of the disease, which affects males that inherit a single defective gene.

Prions found in feces of deer asymptomatic for chronic wasting disease

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:15:22 -0800

Scientists have discovered that deer asymptomatic for a fatal brain condition known as chronic wasting disease excrete the infectious prions that cause the disease in their feces. The finding, they say, suggests a plausible explanation for transmission of the disease among deer and, possibly, elk and moose in the environment.

Researchers restore missing protein in rare genetic brain disorder

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:00:47 -0800

UCSF researchers have successfully used protease inhibitors to restore to normal levels a key protein involved in early brain development. Reduced levels of that protein have been shown to cause the rare brain disorder lissencephaly, which is characterized by brain malformations, seizures, severe mental retardation and very early death in human infants.

New research strategy for understanding drug resistance in leukemia

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:29:23 -0800

UCSF researchers have developed a new approach to identify specific genes that influence how cancer cells respond to drugs and how they become resistant. This strategy, which involves producing diverse genetic mutations that result in leukemia and associating specific mutations with treatment outcomes, will enable researchers to better understand how drug resistance occurs in leukemia and other cancers, and has important long-term implications for the development of more effective therapies.

Special event focuses on abundant life through faith, health & community

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:12:50 -0800

UCSF is sponsoring a one-day symposium to support African American faith-based organizations in promoting good health through health ministries.

Study reveals benefit of adult stem cells for acute lung injury

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:21:07 -0800

UCSF scientists have demonstrated that adult human mesenchymal stem cells reverse the effects of injury in a novel human lung preparation in the lab. The finding, they say, could lead to the development of stem cell therapies for patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, conditions that presently have a high rate of mortality and no pharmacological treatments.