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Vijay Ramani Named to Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ List
Ramani is featured for co-inventing sci-Plex, a new technique that enables high-throughput chemical screening using single-cell RNA-sequencing as a read-out.
CRISPR-Resistant Viruses Build ‘Safe Rooms’ to Shield Genomes from DNA-Dicing Enzymes
After phages infect bacteria, they construct an impenetrable “safe room” inside of their host, which protects vulnerable phage DNA from antiviral enzymes. This compartment, which resembles a cell nucleus, is the most effective CRISPR shield ever discovered in viruses.
‘Supergrowth’ Challenges Established Science of Cell Growth
Research shows that after cells are subjected to certain stressful treatments, they appear to gain a new “superpower” that allows them to grow twice as fast as normal — a feature the authors call “supergrowth.”
In Down Syndrome Mouse Model, Scientists Reverse Intellectual Deficits with Drugs
Using standard animal model of Down syndrome, scientists were able to correct the learning and memory deficits associated with the condition with drugs that target the body’s response to cellular stresses.
Researchers Halt Spread of Breast Cancer by Blocking Metastasis-Promoting Enzyme
In a breakthrough with important implications for the future of immunotherapy for breast cancer, UCSF scientists have found that blocking the activity of a single enzyme can prevent a common type of breast cancer from spreading to distant organs.
UCSF Tops US News Global University Rankings in 9 Research Areas
Now in its sixth year, the Best Global Universities rankings focus on schools’ academic research and reputation.
‘Missing’ Virus Detected in Dozens of Children Paralyzed by Polio-Like Illness
Research team has detected the immunological remnants of a common seasonal virus in spinal fluid from dozens of patients diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). The findings provide the clearest evidence to date that AFM is caused by an enterovirus (EV) that invades and impairs the central nervous system.
‘Short Sleep’ Gene Prevents Memory Deficits Associated with Sleep Deprivation
The UCSF scientists who identified the two known human genes that promote “natural short sleep” have now discovered a third, and it’s also the first gene that’s ever been shown to prevent the memory deficits that normally accompany sleep deprivation.
Three UCSF Researchers Win NIH Grants for High-Risk, High-Reward Research
The NIH has awarded grants to Faranak Fattahi, Alexander Pollen, and Vasanth Vedantham to pursue highly innovative and unusually impactful biomedical research.
David Julius Receives $3M Breakthrough Prize for Work on Pain Sensation
Julius received the prize “for discovering molecules, cells, and mechanisms underlying pain sensation.”
Scorpion Toxin That Targets ‘Wasabi Receptor’ May Help Solve Mystery of Chronic Pain
Researchers discovered a scorpion toxin that targets the “wasabi receptor,” which they think it can be used as a tool for studying chronic pain and inflammation, and may eventually lead to the development of new kinds of non-opioid pain relievers.
