Education
Subscribe to RSS FeedsNews releases
May 2013
UC Davis researchers receive grant to study neurodegenerative disease FXTAS
May 22, 2013 — Researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain have received a five-year, $3 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to conduct the first long-range study of the mental and psychological decline that accompanies the age-related neurological disorder fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, or FXTAS.
Fenton recognized for cancer research with the 2013 Joan Oettinger Memorial Award
May 15, 2013 — Joshua Fenton, a UC Davis associate professor of family and community medicine, is the recipient of the UC Davis School of Medicine’s 2013 Joan Oettinger Memorial Award for his research in cancer screening and prevention and his dedication to improving the quality of health-care services.
UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities receives $1 million grant from Covered California
May 15, 2013 — The UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities has received a $1 million grant from Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, to provide outreach and education to underserved populations about obtaining health insurance.
Hertz-Picciotto and Baumler receive 2013 School of Medicine Research Award
May 15, 2013 — UC Davis faculty members Irva Hertz-Picciotto and Andreas Baumler have been selected to receive the 2013 UC Davis School of Medicine Research Award.
Brodie is president-elect of American Neurotology Society
May 10, 2013 — Hilary Brodie, professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology, is the president of the American Neurotology Society. He began his term as president of the society May 1.
UC Davis researchers identify mechanism for controlling calcium influx in cells
May 8, 2013 — When brain cells are overwhelmed by an influx of too many calcium molecules, they shut down the channels through which these molecules enter the cells. Until now, the “stop” signal mechanism that cells use to control the molecular traffic was unknown. In the new issue of the journal Neuron, UC Davis Health System scientists report that they have identified the mechanism. Their findings are relevant to understanding the molecular causes of the disruption of brain functioning that occurs in stroke and other neurological disorders.
UC Davis radiation oncology chief leads development of new prostate cancer guideline
May 7, 2013 — Based on a major effort co-led by UC Davis prostate cancer expert Richard Valicenti, the nation’s leading urological and radiation oncology organizations today announced a new guideline for radiation therapy after prostatectomy.
Ubiquitous engineered nanomaterials cause lung inflammation, study finds
May 6, 2013 — A consortium of scientists from across the country has found that breathing ultrafine particles from a large family of materials that increasingly are found in a host of household and commercial products, from sunscreens to the ink in copy machines to super-strong but lightweight sporting equipment, can cause lung inflammation and damage.
UC Davis recognized as a top school for family medicine
May 3, 2013 — The American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) has recognized UC Davis School of Medicine as one of the nation’s top 10 schools for graduating medical students who go on to family medicine residencies.
UC Davis faculty awards reception set for May 14
May 3, 2013 — The Academic Senate and Academic Federation of UC Davis will come together on May 14 to present their highest faculty honors. Pain medicine specialist Scott Fishman and public health advocate Joy Melnikow of UC Davis Health System will be recognized for distinguished public service.
Mannis recognized for contributions to ophthalmology
May 2, 2013 — Mark J. Mannis, director of the UC Davis Eye Center, has been named to the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Wall of Fame.
April 2013
Commentary calls for greater transparency in highlighting social value of research
April 29, 2013 — In a commentary published in the May issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, UC Davis bioethicist Mark Yarborough proposes that more information about the social value of individual research studies be made available to patients during the informed consent process so they are more aware of the degree to which a study has the potential to improve health for all.
MIND Institute, Yale study finds abnormalities in the placentas of children at risk for autism
April 24, 2013 — A study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Yale University School of Medicine has found that more than 95 percent of the placentas of infants who are among those at the greatest risk for developing autism contained abnormal cells, called trophoblast inclusions, suggesting that the abnormality may hold promise as a very early marker for autism risk.
Health-care worker visits increase hepatitis B screening rates for Hmong Americans
April 23, 2013 — In the first study of its kind, lay health workers increased screening rates for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and knowledge about the disease among a group of Asian Americans, known as the Hmong, UC Davis researchers have found. The study appears online today in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Farmers market comes to UC Davis Health System
April 16, 2013 — UC Davis Health System launches a weekly farmers market on May 16, reflecting a national trend that expands access to fresh, locally grown produce sold directly to consumers.
Study finds physicians often receive no information about harmful effects of medicines
April 10, 2013 — More often than not, family doctors receive little or no information about the harmful effects of medicines during clinic visits by pharmaceutical sales representatives (“sales reps”), according to an international study involving physicians in the United States, Canada and France.
Growing Up Latino and Surviving to 25 slated for April 23
April 9, 2013 — “Growing Up Latino and Surviving to 25,” a panel discussion exploring the mental-health challenges faced by Latino youth in the United States, will be held at UC Davis on April 23 and moderated by award-winning journalist and host of the National Public Radio program “Latino USA" Maria Hinojosa. [en español]
Tian receives international investigator award for brain function studies
April 9, 2013 — Lin Tian, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at UC Davis School of Medicine, is one of 28 scientists worldwide awarded a 2013 Young Investigator Grant from the Human Frontier Science Program to better understand the complex mechanisms of living organisms.
Small molecule unlocks key prostate cancer survival tactic
April 9, 2013 — The most recent in a series of studies from a team at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has shown that a single molecule is at the heart of one of the most basic survival tactics of prostate cancer cells.
UC Davis neurosurgeons launch clinical trial for acute spinal cord injury
April 3, 2013 — Spinal surgeons at UC Davis Health System are enrolling individuals immediately following spinal cord injury in a multi-center clinical trial of an investigational compound that is being tested to determine whether it can protect and regenerate the spinal nerves after catastrophic injury.
UC Davis MIND Institute's Rogers receives prestigious Autism Centers of Excellence award from the NIH
April 2, 2013 — Autism researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute have received a prestigious $13 million award from the National Institutes of Health to establish an Autism Center of Excellence and Treatment Network, making the MIND Institute one of only nine such centers in the United States.
March 2013
UC Davis researchers discover how cells distinguish friend from foe
March 31, 2013 — Researchers at UC Davis have shown how the innate immune system distinguishes between dangerous pathogens and friendly microbes. Like burglars entering a house, hostile bacteria give themselves away by breaking into cells. However, sensing proteins instantly detect the invasion, triggering an alarm that mobilizes the innate immune response. This new understanding of immunity could ultimately help researchers find new targets to treat inflammatory disorders. The paper was published in Nature on March 31.
Opposites attract: How cells and fragments move in electric fields
March 28, 2013 — Like tiny, crawling compass needles, whole living cells and cell fragments orient and move in response to electric fields — but in opposite directions, scientists at the University of California, Davis, have found.
New insights into how genes turn on and off
March 27, 2013 — Researchers at UC Davis and the University of British Columbia have shed new light on methylation, a critical process that helps control how genes are expressed. Working with placentas, the team discovered that 37 percent of the placental genome has regions of lower methylation, called partially methylated domains (PMDs), in which gene expression is turned off. This differs from most human tissues, in which 70 percent of the genome is highly methylated.
Earl Wolfman, first Department of Surgery chair, dies at 86
March 26, 2013 — Earl Frank Wolfman, Jr., the first chair of the UC Davis Department of Surgery, died on March 3 in Elk Grove, Calif., at the age of 86.
Study shows that blocking an inflammation pathway prevents cardiac fibrosis
March 21, 2013 — New research from UC Davis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that blocking an enzyme that promotes inflammation can prevent the tissue damage following a heart attack that often leads to heart failure.
UC Davis study calls for research on the efficacy and safety of vena cava filters
March 19, 2013 — An evaluation of practice patterns in California hospitals showed a large variation in the use of metal devices called inferior vena cava filters, or VCFs, despite little evidence of their safety and effectiveness. Led by UC Davis physicians, the study demonstrated that patients in larger, urban and private hospitals with more than 400 beds were most likely to be treated with one of the metal devices, which are placed intravenously to prevent pulmonary embolism.
Highest percentage of UC Davis School of Medicine graduates in a decade pursue primary-care residencies
March 18, 2013 — Nearly half of the 107 medical students graduating from UC Davis in June will enter primary-care medicine residency programs, the highest percentage in more than a decade, demonstrating the school’s ongoing commitment to alleviating the nationwide shortage of providers in the specialty.
Researchers discover key biochemical step to heart failure, new therapies on horizon
March 12, 2013 — Some 5.8 million Americans suffer from heart failure, a currently incurable disease. But scientists at Temple University School of Medicine's Center for Translational Medicine and UC Davis Health System have discovered a key biochemical step underlying the condition that could aid the development of new drugs to treat and possibly prevent it.
Study to examine mental-health effects of Mexican parents' deportation on their American children
March 12, 2013 — How the deportation of undocumented Mexican migrants affects their American-born children, who are faced with either going with their parents to Mexico or remaining in the land of their birth without them, is an issue of paramount importance as the nation engages in discussion of comprehensive immigration reform ― and is the subject of groundbreaking new research by The University of Texas, Austin, UC Davis Health System and the National Institute of Psychiatry, Mexico. [en español]
U.S. News & World Report ranks UC Davis School of Medicine among nation's best
March 12, 2013 — U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Davis School of Medicine among America's best medical schools for the quality of its educational programs in primary care and research. The news magazine's annual listing appeared today on the publication's website and will be published in its 2014 guidebook, “America's Best Graduate Schools.”
Large study finds that physician gender does not affect patient-care costs or mortality
March 11, 2013 — Female doctors’ patients do not use health-care services more or die less frequently than patients treated by male doctors, a prospective, observational study by researchers at UC Davis Health System has found.
New firearms law and mortality study fails to guide next steps
March 6, 2013 — In an invited commentary, Garen Wintemute, an emergency medicine physician and director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis, discusses important limitations of a new firearms and crime study linking firearms laws with lower firearm-related deaths.
Rogers honored for "Breaking the Glass Ceiling"
March 5, 2013 — Sally J. Rogers, UC Davis professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, was honored on Monday during the Breaking the Glass Ceiling Awards of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. The awards celebrate the successes of California women in breaking barriers in the fields of science, technology, the arts, the judiciary and beyond. The ceremony was part of the Assembly’s celebration of Women’s History Month during the Floor Session.
February 2013
A new role for microglia
February 26, 2013 — In a surprise breakthrough, researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and their colleagues have found that microglia remove healthy neural progenitor cells (NPCs) through phagocytosis to control neuron production during brain development. This newly discovered mechanism keeps neuron numbers in check, preventing brain overgrowth. The discovery could open up new avenues for brain research and lead to therapies for a variety of neurological conditions.
Neurobiologist Paul Patterson to give lecture on gut-brain-immune connections in autism
February 25, 2013 — Neurobiologist Paul Patterson, the Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, will discuss “Gut-Brain-Immune Connections: Modeling an Environmental Risk Factor for Autism,” during the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
Carmichael receives $100,000 grant to study vascular brain disease, Alzheimer's
February 21, 2013 — Beginning in midlife, heart disease leads to subtle blood-flow problems in the brain that develop insidiously, gradually damaging neurons and contributing to cognitive decline. Knowledge of clinically silent blood-flow problems in the brain has led to the “healthy heart, healthy mind” hypothesis that preventing or treating heart disease also may help prevent age-associated cognitive decline.
First-year student wins Virginia Toombs, M.D. Memorial Scholarship
February 20, 2013 — Karina Chavez, a first-year student at the UC Davis School of Medicine, is the 2012-13 recipient of the Virginia Toombs, M.D. Memorial Scholarship.
Mushroom-supplemented soybean extract shows therapeutic promise for advanced prostate cancer
February 20, 2013 — A natural, nontoxic product called genistein-combined polysaccharide, or GCP, which is commercially available in health stores, could help lengthen the life expectancy of certain prostate cancer patients, UC Davis researchers have found.
First-year student wins Julita A. Fong Scholarship
February 19, 2013 — A first-year student has been named as the winner of an annual scholarship provided to women medical students at the UC Davis School of Medicine.
Pharmacologist to test new therapy for protecting diabetics from heart failure
February 15, 2013 — A UC Davis pharmacologist has been awarded a two-year, $95,000 Innovation Award from the American Diabetes Association to find out if blocking the pancreatic hormone amylin can reduce diabetic heart failure.
Gershwin honored by international immunology association
February 12, 2013 — UC Davis researcher M. Eric Gershwin has been recognized with the first Vasco da Gama Award for Explorations in Autoimmunity by Medinterna Association, an international organization dedicated to improving therapeutic strategies for immune-system diseases.
Gun violence prevention experts call for more physician involvement
February 11, 2013 — A new commentary in the Annals of Internal Medicine from researchers with The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research and University of California, Davis, calls for more physician engagement in the current gun policy dialogue.
Vascular brain injury greater risk factor than amyloid plaques in cognitive aging
February 11, 2013 — Vascular brain injury from conditions such as high blood pressure and stroke are greater risk factors for cognitive impairment among non-demented older people than is the deposition of the amyloid plaques in the brain that long have been implicated in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, a study by researchers at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at UC Davis has found.
UC Davis enhances nurse practitioner, physician assistant program to offer master's degrees
February 6, 2013 — Already, a majority of UC Davis nurse practitioner and physician assistant graduates go on to work as primary-care providers in underserved areas and with hopes of further increasing these rates, the program will offer master’s degrees beginning with classes that enroll this summer.
Are deaf and hard of hearing physicians getting the support they need?
February 5, 2013 — Deaf and hard of hearing (DHoH) people must overcome significant professional barriers, particularly in health care professions. A number of accommodations are available for physicians and other health providers, such as electronic stethoscopes and closed-captioning technologies, but are these approaches making a difference?
Needless abdominal CT scans can be avoided in children, study says
February 1, 2013 — A study of more than 12,000 children from emergency departments throughout the country in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) has identified seven factors that can help physicians determine the need for a computed tomography (CT) scan following blunt trauma to the abdomen. Because CT scans pose radiation hazards for youngsters, the findings may enable doctors to determine which children do not need to be exposed to such tests after a traumatic injury.
Second-year student wins Habbas Scholarship
February 1, 2013 — Gaber Saleh, a second-year medical student, has won the 2012-13 Amin and Nancy Habbas Scholarship, established to help high-achieving students of Arab origin enrolled at the UC Davis School of Medicine. Saleh has received a $1,000 scholarship.
January 2013
Catherine Lord, internationally respected autism researcher, to give Distinguished Lecture
January 31, 2013 — Catherine Lord, director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, will discuss “Longitudinal Studies of Autism Spectrum Disorder” during the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
Muscular dystrophy group awards neuromuscular research grant to UC Davis team
January 28, 2013 — A New Jersey-based nonprofit organization, the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), has awarded UC Davis physician Craig McDonald $175,000 to expand ongoing international research into better understanding the progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and determine the benefits of current standards of care that have been established by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Enhanced training in primary care thanks to state support
January 25, 2013 — The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) has awarded more than $300,000 to UC Davis training programs to help ensure a robust primary health-care workforce in California.
Oxford immunologist to discuss the potential of HIV vaccines
January 24, 2013 — Professor Sir Andrew McMichael of the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom will be the UC Davis School of Medicine’s 2013 Nelson Scientific Lecturer. He will speak on “T-cell immune responses against HIV-1: Can they be harnessed by vaccines?”on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at noon in Davis and at 5 p.m. in Sacramento.
UC Davis scientist receives funding from Shriners Hospitals for Children for juvenile arthritis research
January 18, 2013 — Iannis Adamopoulos, a researcher dedicated to studying diseases of the immune and skeletal systems, has received $1 million in grants from Shriners Hospitals for Children to find new treatment targets for juvenile arthritis — the most common cause of orthopaedic disability among children.
UC Davis medical student honored with national leadership award
January 16, 2013 — Olivia Marie Campa, a third-year medical student at UC Davis, will receive the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation’s 2013 Leadership Award for outstanding non-clinical leadership skills in advocacy, community service and education at the annual Excellence in Medicine Awards ceremony on February 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. [en español]
Low levels of common flame-retardant chemical damages brain cells
January 16, 2013 — A common ingredient in flame retardants, BDE-49 accumulates in human blood, fat and breast milk. Despite these concentrations, little research has been done on the chemical’s potential health risks. However, a study by scientists at the UC Davis MIND Institute is shedding new light on BDE-49’s potential danger to brain health. The study showed that even tiny amounts of the compound damage neural mitochondria, the energy plants that power our cells. The chemical, quite literally, reduces brain power.
Philip Palmer, founding faculty member of UC Davis medical school, internationally known advocate of broad access to radiology, dies at 91
January 11, 2013 — Dr. Philip E.S. Palmer, emeritus professor of radiology and the first director of diagnostic radiology at the UC Davis School of Medicine, died on Jan. 3. He was 91 years old.
MIND Institute researchers receive grants from Autism Speaks
January 11, 2013 — Two internationally respected UC Davis MIND Institute researchers have received grants from Autism Speaks, a national autism advocacy and science organization, to study autism from two different perspectives.
Researchers to scale Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for fragile X research
January 10, 2013 — UC Davis Professors Paul and Randi Hagerman have devoted their lives to finding cures for a host of disorders that all spring from an inherited defect on the X chromosome that causes lifelong intellectual disability in children, tremors in older men and reproductive problems in women.
UC Davis reproductive health leader honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
January 9, 2013 — Jeanne Conry, associate clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and an alumna of the UC Davis School of Medicine, today was honored by United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson as an environmental health champion for her national leadership to advance understanding of the risk to reproductive health of exposures to environmental toxins.
Gary Small, New York Times best-selling author, to speak on Alzheimer's disease
January 2, 2013 — New York Times best-selling author Gary Small, professor of psychiatry at UCLA and one of the world's leading physician/scientists in the fields of memory and longevity, will present a special lecture titled "Alzheimer’s Prevention Strategies for Keeping Your Brain Healthy," on Monday, Jan. 7, at 5:30 p.m. in the UC Davis MIND Institute auditorium.
December 2012
Genetic defect that causes fragile X-related disorders more common than thought
December 21, 2012 — A single genetic defect on the X chromosome that can result in a wide array of conditions — from learning and emotional disabilities to primary ovarian insufficiency in women and tremors in middle-aged men — occurs at a much greater frequency than previously thought, research led by the UC Davis MIND Institute has found.
UC Davis MIND Institute studies among the world's best in 2012
December 21, 2012 — Three UC Davis MIND Institute research studies are included in the Top 10 Autism Research Achievements of 2012 as identified by Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism advocacy and research organization.
New policy brief examines the impact of occupational injuries and illnesses among low-wage workers
December 17, 2012 — Low-wage workers, who make up a large and growing share of the U.S. workforce, are especially vulnerable to financial hits that can result from on-the-job injuries and illnesses, according to a policy brief released by researchers at The George Washington University and based on a study conducted at the University of California, Davis.
UC Davis research is number five in TIME magazine's Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs for 2012
December 11, 2012 — Autism research by UC Davis MIND Institute Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Sally Rogers has been named number five among the Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2012 by TIME magazine.
Multiple departments collaborating on improvement of hospital discharges
December 11, 2012 — To improve the hospital discharge process, three departments at UC Davis Medical Center are collaborating on projects that incorporate central roles for residents
Nelson lecturer to discuss the potential of HIV vaccines
December 7, 2012 — Professor Sir Andrew McMichael of the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford will be the UC Davis School of Medicine’s 2013 Nelson Scientific Lecturer. There are two opportunities to hear McMichael's address, which is titled "T-cell immune responses against HIV-1: Can they be harnessed by vaccines?” He will speak on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at noon in Davis and at 5 p.m. in Sacramento.
Live auction and wine tasting event will benefit UC Davis School of Medicine's community clinics
December 4, 2012 — Tickets are now on sale for the 33rd annual Wine Tasting and Auction Benefit at the UC Davis School of Medicine, set for Saturday, Jan. 12, from 5:30-9 p.m. in the Education Building on the UC Davis Sacramento campus, 4610 X Street
UC Davis study shows that treadmill testing can predict heart disease in women
December 3, 2012 — Although there is a widespread belief among physicians that the exercise treadmill test (ETT) is not reliable in evaluating the heart health of women, UC Davis researchers have found that the test can accurately predict coronary artery disease in women over the age of 65. They also found that two specific electrocardiogram (EKG) indicators of heart stress during an ETT further enhanced its predictive power.
November 2012
Five health system faculty elected as AAAS fellows
November 29, 2012 — Five UC Davis Health System faculty members have been elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). They are among 702 new fellows -- including a total of 17 at the University of California, Davis -- honored for their scientifically distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. The AAAS will formally recognize new fellows on Feb. 16 during the association's annual meeting in Boston.
General thoracic surgeons emerge as leading providers of complex, noncardiac thoracic surgery
November 28, 2012 — A UC Davis study has found that general thoracic surgeons, especially those at academic health centers, perform the vast majority of complex noncardiac operations, including surgeries of the esophagus and lungs. The authors said their results, published in the October issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, support the designation of general thoracic surgery as a distinct specialty, which will benefit patients when selecting surgeons for specific procedures.
WeCARE! Peer Navigator Program expands to Central Valley
November 28, 2012 — The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center's WeCARE! Cancer Peer Navigators program is expanding to the Central Valley.
UC Davis researcher recognized as distinguished scientist by the American Heart Association
November 20, 2012 — Donald Bers, the Joseph Silva Endowed Chair for Cardiovascular Research and chair of the Department of Pharmacology at UC Davis, was recognized as a Distinguished Scientist at the American Heart Association's 2012 Scientific Sessions, which were held in Los Angeles Nov. 3-7.
Claire Pomeroy to step down in June
November 19, 2012 — Claire Pomeroy, vice chancellor for human health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine at the University of California, Davis, has announced that she will leave the university on June 30, at the end of the academic year.
International team of investigators discovers likely basis of birth defect causing premature skull closure in infants
November 18, 2012 — An international team of geneticists, pediatricians, surgeons, and epidemiologists from 23 institutions across three continents have identified two areas of the human genome associated with the most common form of non-syndromic craniosynostosis ― premature closure of the bony plates of the skull. [en español] [中文 Chinese]
Study finds high exposure to food-borne toxins
November 13, 2012 — In a sobering study published in the journal Environmental Health, researchers at UC Davis and UCLA measured food-borne toxin exposure in children and adults by pinpointing foods with high levels of toxic compounds and determining how much of these foods were consumed.
Medical student receives national recognition for leadership in tackling health disparities
November 5, 2012 — Olivia Marie Campa, a third-year medical student at the UC Davis School of Medicine, is one of five students nationwide receiving a 2012 Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarship award today at the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges in San Francisco.
Higher anxiety is associated with poorer functioning in children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
November 5, 2012 — UC Davis researchers have found that for children with the genetic disorder known as chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome anxiety ― but not intelligence ― is linked to poorer adaptive behaviors that affect daily life. The developmental syndrome, which is associated with a constellation of physical, cognitive and psychiatric problems, usually is apparent at birth or early childhood, and leads to lifelong challenges. [en español] or [中文 Chinese]
DeCarli named to first Victor and Genevieve Orsi Endowed Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Research
November 2, 2012 — Charles DeCarli, director of the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center and an internationally renowned expert on behavioral neurology, degenerative dementias and neuroimaging, is the first Victor and Genevieve Orsi Endowed Chair in Alzheimer's Research at UC Davis Health System.
UC Davis Health System's Institute for Population Health Improvement releases first-of-its-kind buyers' guide for health information exchange
November 1, 2012 — The UC Davis Health System's Institute for Population Health Improvement (IPHI) today released the first edition of its "HIE Ready Buyers' Guide" to facilitate health information exchange (HIE), especially in California.
UC Davis scientists identify new target for lung cancer treatment
November 1, 2012 — A team of UC Davis investigators has discovered a protein on the surface of lung cancer cells that could prove to be an important new target for anti-cancer therapy. A series of experiments in mice with lung cancer showed that specific targeting of the protein with monoclonal antibodies reduced the size of tumors, lowered the occurrence of metastases and substantially lengthened survival time. The findings will be published in the November issue of Cancer Research.
October 2012
Large, multi-ethnic study finds that adding soy to the diet does not affect onset of menopausal hot flashes
October 31, 2012 — A team of investigators led by UC Davis found that eating soy products such as soy milk and tofu did not prevent the onset of hot flashes and night sweats as women entered menopause. [en español]
High blood pressure damages the brain in early middle age
October 31, 2012 — Uncontrolled high blood pressure damages the brain's structure and function as early as young middle age, and even the brains of middle-aged people who clinically would not be considered to have hypertension have evidence of silent structural brain damage, a study led by researchers at UC Davis has found. [en español] [中文 Chinese]
Controlling depression is associated with improved health for heart-failure patients
October 30, 2012 — Controlling depression in patients with heart failure can improve health status, social functioning and quality of life, according to a new study by psychiatrists and cardiologists at the UC Davis and Duke University schools of medicine. [en español]
"What's Good for the Body is Good for the Brain" the topic of Alzheimer's Disease Center symposium
October 29, 2012 — The UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center will hold its first annual research symposium and poster session, titled "What's Good for the Body is Good for the Brain," on Thursday, Nov. 1, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in lecture hall 2222 in the Education Building, 4610 X St., Sacramento, Calif.
Autism early intervention found to normalize brain activity in children as young as 18 months
October 26, 2012 — An intensive early intervention therapy that is effective for improving cognition and language skills among very young children with autism also normalizes their brain activity, decreases their autism symptoms and improves their social skills, a nationwide study has found. The researchers said that the study is the first to demonstrate that an autism early intervention program can normalize brain activity. [en español]
UC Davis researchers develop new drug delivery system for bladder cancer using nanoparticles
October 25, 2012 — A team of UC Davis scientists has shown in experimental mouse models that a new drug delivery system allows for administration of three times the maximum tolerated dose of a standard drug therapy for advanced bladder cancer, leading to more effective cancer control without increasing toxicity.
Consumers again rate UC Davis Medical Center as the region's best
October 23, 2012 — For the 14th consecutive year, UC Davis Medical Center has been selected as a Consumer Choice Award winner by the National Research Corporation (NRC). The 2012 award recognizes a single hospital in each of 300 markets nationwide that health-care consumers choose as providing the highest-quality health care.
UC Davis researchers clarify process controlling night vision
October 17, 2012 — On the road at night or on a tennis court at dusk, the eye can be deceived. Vision is not as sharp as in the light of day, and detecting a bicyclist on the road or a careening tennis ball can be tough. New research reveals the key chemical process that corrects for potential visual errors in low-light conditions. Understanding this fundamental step could lead to new treatments for visual deficits, or might one day boost normal night vision to new levels.
"Sharing Knowledge, Improving Lives" conference to address Latino mental-health issues
October 17, 2012 — Community and mental-health leaders from across Northern California will converge on UC Davis for a daylong conference to explore effective and culturally and linguistically appropriate solutions to mental illness among the nearly 40 percent of the state's population that identifies as Latino.
Assistant Secretary for Health speaks at Dean's Lecture Series
October 16, 2012 — Howard K. Koh, assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will speak in Sacramento on "Best Practices in Public Health Leadership for a Healthier Nation."
Internationally respected neonatologist to lead UC Davis Department of Pediatrics
October 15, 2012 — Robin H. Steinhorn, an internationally recognized neonatologist, has been named chair of the Department of Pediatrics in the UC Davis School of Medicine. The department provides state-of-the-art clinical care and conducts research into disease conditions affecting infants, children, adolescents and young adults. As chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Steinhorn also serves as director of UC Davis Children's Hospital, the only nationally ranked pediatric hospital in inland Northern California.
Murin selected to lead pulmonary medicine at UC Davis
October 10, 2012 — Susan Murin, a nationally recognized expert in pulmonary medicine, has become chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and the Gordon A. Wong Professor in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UC Davis. She replaces Timothy Albertson, who led the division for 23 years and recently became chair of the UC Davis Department of Internal Medicine.
Kizer named UCLA medical school's Alumnus of the Year
October 9, 2012 — Kenneth W. Kizer, founding director of the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement and a distinguished professor at the School of Medicine and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, received the Alumnus of the Year award from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA on Oct. 6 in Los Angeles.
$2.5 million grant boosts scholarships for UC Davis medical students
October 8, 2012 — Talented students who dream of becoming physicians but worry about the high cost of attending medical school have a new and promising opportunity at the UC Davis School of Medicine. [en español]
Scleral lenses benefit patients with corneal irregularities, severe dry eyes
October 8, 2012 — A UC Davis Health System Eye Center study found that scleral lenses, which rest beyond the limits of the cornea and cover the white part of the eye (sclera), were a good alternative for patients with corneal abnormalities whose vision could not be corrected with other types of contact lenses or glasses. The study was published in the journal Eye & Contact Lens.
UC Davis will establish clinic for parents who decline to vaccinate their children
October 4, 2012 — Pediatric infectious disease experts at UC Davis will establish a new clinic where parents who decline to vaccinate their children because of their personal beliefs can receive immunization information, in response to a new state law requiring a signature from a health-care professional before such children enter school. [en español]
UC Davis establishes prestigious new NIH-funded research center for aging Latinos
October 2, 2012 — Assembling a nationally respected team of nurse, physician and mental-health leaders with broad expertise in brain health and minority aging, UC Davis has established the Latino Aging Research Resource Center (LARRC), through a prestigious five-year, $3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). [en español]
September 2012
UC Davis School of Medicine students recognized as outstanding young achievers
September 29, 2012 — The Observer Media Group recognized UC Davis School of Medicine students Geneva White and Kevin Mullins today at its annual "30 Under 30" tribute to the region's most outstanding young achievers.
UC Davis student receives IHS Health Professions scholarship
September 28, 2012 — Laura Jordan, a third-year medical student at UC Davis, received a Health Professions scholarship from the Indian Health Service (IHS), a federal health program for American Indians and Alaska natives, last month.
Protein holds promise for drug therapy for central nervous system diseases
September 27, 2012 — Researchers at UC Davis have identified previously unrecognized properties of a naturally occurring protein, finding that it enhances brain cell growth and survival and helps regenerate the protective covering around nerve cells, making it a "strong candidate" for drug development for people with neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Oropharyngeal cancer patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) have a more robust response to radiation therapy
September 25, 2012 — UC Davis cancer researchers have discovered significant differences in radiation-therapy response among patients with oropharyngeal cancer depending on whether they carry the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted virus.
UC Davis awarded for work-life balance practices for academic physicians
September 24, 2012 — UC Davis School of Medicine received a $25,000 innovator award from the American Council on Education and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support national efforts aimed at increasing career flexibility for faculty at medical schools nationwide. UC Davis is one of seven schools in the U.S. to receive an award at ACE's Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C. today.
UC Davis researchers receive grant to test new strategy for advanced prostate cancer treatment
September 21, 2012 — A team of UC Davis investigators, led by Christopher P. Evans, professor and chair of the Department of Urology, has received a $660,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study a promising new approach for treating advanced prostate cancer.
New targeted drug for treating fragile X syndrome, potentially autism, is effective
September 19, 2012 — An investigational compound that targets the core symptoms of fragile X syndrome is effective for addressing the social withdrawal and challenging behaviors characteristic of the condition, making it the first such discovery for fragile X syndrome and, potentially, the first for autism spectrum disorder, a study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, has found. [en español] [中文 Chinese]
New study identifies large gaps in lifetime earnings of specialist and primary-care physicians
September 18, 2012 — A national study has found that earnings over the course of the careers of primary-care physicians averaged as much as $2.8 million less than the earnings of their specialist colleagues, potentially making primary care a less attractive choice for medical school graduates and exacerbating the already significant shortage of medical generalists.
UC Davis researcher receives $1.3 million to develop biopacemaker from stem cells
September 12, 2012 — Deborah K. Lieu, a stem cell scientist in cardiovascular medicine at UC Davis Health System, has received a $1.3 million research grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to develop stem cells that could serve as a biological alternative to the electronic pacemakers that people now use to regulate heart rhythm.
UC Davis physician recognized for bringing lifesaving heart surgery to Russian children
September 11, 2012 — UC Davis cardiac surgeon Nilas Young will receive the 2012 World of Children Health Award for his international humanitarian efforts to improve pediatric heart care. The award is given each year to a leader in health, medicine or science who has made significant contributions to improving the lives of children. [Russian]
School of Medicine alumni honored for service, humanitarian efforts and leadership
September 10, 2012 — Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the founding of the UC Davis School of Medicine, the school's Alumni Association honored three of its distinguished graduates on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012.
Task force sets new clinical practice guidelines for triglycerides
September 7, 2012 — Although treatment strategies for high triglyceride levels in the blood are well established, new clinical practice guidelines from the Endocrine Society released today in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism recommend that more attention should be paid to the ways each person's unique history, physiology and lifestyle interact to affect risk. [en español]
August 2012
UC Davis-led conference promotes new collaborations in Brazil
August 28, 2012 — An interdisciplinary delegation of researchers and educators, led by UC Davis, met this month at the Integrated Biological Networks Driving Disease Outcomes conference in Uberlândia, Brazil, to explore new opportunities for collaboration with the Brazilian Research Network in the biomedical and translational sciences.
Three young UC Davis researchers receive prestigious national grants to study schizophrenia
August 28, 2012 — Each addressing the disease from different and unique perspectives, three young UC Davis researchers have received one of the most prestigious mental-health grants in the world to investigate one of the least understood and devastating psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia.
Diagnosis often missed for Hispanic children with developmental delay, autism
August 27, 2012 — Hispanic children often have undiagnosed developmental delays and large numbers of Hispanic and non-Hispanic children who first were thought to have developmental delay actually had autism, researchers affiliated with the UC Davis MIND Institute have found. [en español]
St. Baldrick's Foundation awards $100,000 to UC Davis scientist
August 21, 2012 — For the second consecutive year, Paul Knoepfler, associate professor of cell biology and human anatomy at UC Davis School of Medicine, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the St. Baldrick's Foundation to pursue his novel research into the molecular causes of brain tumors in children.
Pediatric quality-improvement efforts advance resident education, patient care
August 20, 2012 — From screening new mothers for post-partum depression to ensuring that children receive regular dental health check-ups, quality-improvement efforts by residents at UC Davis Children's Hospital have been highly effective at improving both resident education and patient outcomes, a study by pediatric medical education faculty has found.
Aguilar-Gaxiola appointed to lead statewide autism task force
August 16, 2012 — Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, director of the UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities, has been appointed by state Senate Pro-Tempore Darrell Steinberg to co-chair a task force to investigate the equitable distribution of autism services to diverse communities in California. [en español]
UC Davis, Shriners to study using magnets to correct "sunken chest"
August 14, 2012 — UC Davis Children's Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California have embarked on a groundbreaking study of a device that uses magnets to correct sunken chest, the most common congenital chest-wall abnormality, in the same way that orthodontic braces correct teeth. [en español]
Chemical widely used in antibacterial hand soaps may impair muscle function
August 13, 2012 — Triclosan, an antibacterial chemical widely used in hand soaps and other personal-care products, hinders muscle contractions at a cellular level, slows swimming in fish and reduces muscular strength in mice, according to researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Colorado.
UC Davis researchers identify cellular basis for how anti-aging cosmetics work
August 13, 2012 — A team of investigators from UC Davis and Peking University have discovered a mechanism that may explain how alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) ― the key ingredient in cosmetic chemical peels and wrinkle-reducing creams ― work to enhance skin appearance. An understanding of the underlying process may lead to better cosmetic formulations as well as have medical applications. [ 中文 (Chinese)]
Research shows gene defect's role in autism-like behavior
August 10, 2012 — Scientists affiliated with the UC Davis MIND Institute have discovered how a defective gene causes brain changes that lead to the atypical social behavior characteristic of autism. The research offers a potential target for drugs to treat the condition.
Leaders gather to develop competencies for pain management education
August 10, 2012 — A team of 30 pain and education experts from throughout North America gathered for an intensive two-day summit at UC Davis Health System last week to develop competencies in pain management education for new clinicians across the health professions.
UC Davis medical student receives 2012 Physicians of Tomorrow award
August 8, 2012 — Kabir Matharu, a fourth-year student at UC Davis School of Medicine, received a 2012 Physicians of Tomorrow award from the American Medical Association Foundation for his leadership and strong commitment to promoting social justice through use of the performing arts. Matharu is one of only 18 students in the nation to receive the scholarship, which recognizes academic excellence and provides $10,000 for medical school tuition.
$17 million grant to fund seizure, neurotoxin research
August 8, 2012 — A new $17 million research center dedicated to identifying medical countermeasures for neurotoxic chemicals that cause seizures in humans has been established by the U.S. National Institutes of Health at the University of California, Davis.
New, interprofessional course on quality improvement to launch this fall
August 8, 2012 — With a focus on the health system's commitment to interprofessional education and the goal of preparing well-qualified health-care professionals for the future, two professors from the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing collaborated to develop a new, interprofessional course that opens this fall.
UC Davis launches new program to help students navigate medical school
August 7, 2012 — UC Davis has launched an innovative new effort to help its students navigate the rocky shoals of medical education by engaging some of their biggest and most ardent and important supporters: their families and friends. [en español]
Fructose consumption may impact development of metabolic syndrome
August 7, 2012 — Prolonged fructose consumption may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, a combination of medical disorders that, when occurring together, increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. [en español]
White children more likely to receive CT scans than Hispanic or African-American children
August 6, 2012 — White children are more likely to receive cranial (head) CT scans in an emergency department following minor head trauma, compared with African-American or Hispanic children, a study published by researchers at UC Davis has found. [en español]
UC Davis Health System's Research Volunteer Registry receives 2012 Sautter Golden Award
August 6, 2012 — UC Davis Health System's Research Volunteer Registry project received the 2012 Larry L. Sautter Golden Award for Innovation in Information Technology. The project is one of nine -- and the only one from UC Davis -- to receive a Sautter Award, and it is one of only three to be recognized with a Golden Award within the entire UC system.
July 2012
New class of UC Davis medical students noted for leadership, diversity
July 31, 2012 — Six years ago, Leopoldine Matialeu didn't speak English that well and was living in a shelter with her younger sister after her mother had lost her job. Today, she is one of 109 UC Davis medical students dedicated to improving health who will begin classes on Aug. 6. [en español]
UC Davis Medical Center ranks among the nation's Most Connected Hospitals
July 27, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center ranks among U.S. News & Worlds Report's 2012-13 list of Most Connected Hospitals, a distinction that only 156 of the 5,300 American hospitals included in the survey qualified for as of July 2012. Only 16 California hospitals met Most Connected criteria, and UC San Diego was the only other UC medical center campus to receive the designation.
Increasingly popular medical school applicant interview process favors extroverts
July 27, 2012 — Although conscientiousness is the personality factor that predicts better performance in medical school and physician practice, a new UC Davis study has found that extroversion is the only personality type associated with better performance in the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) process, an increasingly popular method for interviewing and selecting medical students.
UC Davis stem cell researchers awarded $53 million
July 26, 2012 — UC Davis Health System researchers who are working to speed therapies to patients suffering from critical limb ischemia, osteoporosis and Huntington's disease received approval today for three separate research grants from the state's stem cell agency totaling more than $53 million. [en español]
UC Davis dermatologist among scientists honored with Presidential award
July 23, 2012 — Emanual Maverakis, assistant professor of dermatology at UC Davis School of Medicine, joins a highly select group later this month in a White House ceremony honoring recipients of this year's Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers.
UC Davis researcher seeks to improve the self-care skills of patients with depression and diabetes
July 20, 2012 — With a $700,000 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a UC Davis researcher will determine if primary-care physicians can use specific interviewing techniques to improve the self-care skills of patients with depression and diabetes.
UC Davis School of Medicine student receives ThinkSwiss scholarship
July 19, 2012 — Annahita Sarcon, a fourth-year medical student at UC Davis, received a 2012 ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship to study takotsubo cardiomyopathy at the University Hospital Zurich, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe.
Blood condition is highly predictive of graft failure in pediatric kidney transplant
July 19, 2012 — For children receiving kidney transplants, a potentially correctable blood condition present in about one in four recipients is associated with a moderately increased risk of the graft's later failure, suggesting that clinicians should weigh whether transplant is advisable when the condition is present, according to UC Davis research presented today at the 24th International Congress of the Transplantation Society in Berlin.
UC Davis Health System welcomes the community to a free outdoor concert Aug. 16
July 18, 2012 — UC Davis Health System and its Community Advisory Board will host the popular dance band Mercy Me! (Band) at their sixth annual outdoor concert on Thursday, Aug. 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Gorin named to chair UC Davis Department of Neurology
July 17, 2012 — Internationally respected neuroscientist Fredric A. Gorin, whose investigations of novel therapies for brain cancer, traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease and stroke have resulted in four U.S. patents, has been appointed chair of the Department of Neurology in the UC Davis School of Medicine. Gorin's appointment became effective July 1.
New study reveals racial disparities in voice box-preserving cancer treatment
July 16, 2012 — A new epidemiological study led by UC Davis researchers reveals significant racial disparities in the use of non-surgical larynx-preservation therapy for locally advanced laryngeal cancer.
Health system signs agreement for collaborative projects, exchanges with Swedish medical school
July 13, 2012 — UC Davis Health System and the Lund University School of Medicine in Sweden have entered into an agreement to pursue collaborative projects in research, medical education and clinical care.
UC Davis and Yoursphere.com launch online community for kids with cancer
July 12, 2012 — UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center and Yoursphere.com have teamed up to create the first of its kind interactive web community that allows young cancer patients and survivors to connect with peers all over the world. [en español]
UC Davis scientist receives a $1.5 million grant for rheumatoid arthritis research
July 11, 2012 — UC Davis researcher Iannis Adamopoulos has received a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to study the causes of rheumatoid arthritis -- a chronic disease that affects people of all ages and leads to permanent bone and joint damage.
Kawatu to lead pediatric gastroenterology at UC Davis Children's Hospital
July 10, 2012 — David Kawatu, a specialist in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in children, has joined the faculty of the UC Davis School of Medicine as chief of the Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology in the Department of Pediatrics.
Precautions urged during heat wave
July 10, 2012 — Soaring temperatures can be extremely dangerous, particularly for seniors or for anyone who works or exercises outdoors. UC Davis physicians offer several suggestions to prevent heat stroke and severe dehydration, which can lead to hospitalization and even death on scorching summer days.
Renowned endocrinologist and sugar expert to speak at UC Davis Health System
July 9, 2012 — Robert Lustig, the physician whose lecture titled "Sugar: The Bitter Truth" went viral on YouTube with more than 2.5 million hits, will speak on the Sacramento campus of UC Davis as part of the Pioneers in Integrative Medicine speaker series.
UC Davis study finds that above-normal weight alone does not increase the short-term risk of death
July 6, 2012 — An evaluation of national data by UC Davis researchers has found that extra weight is not necessarily linked with a higher risk of death.
June 2012
Study finds career flexibility important among male and female physicians across generations
June 29, 2012 — With increasing expectations from younger generations that careers be more family-friendly and to help address the predicted physician shortage in coming decades, academic medical centers nationwide are looking for ways to strengthen faculty workplace policies to attract and retain physicians.
Internationally renowned neuroscientist joins UC Davis MIND Institute
June 29, 2012 — Jacqueline N. Crawley, one of the world's foremost researchers in behavioral neuroscience and a leading investigator using mouse models to develop novel, targeted treatments for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, joins the faculty of the UC Davis School of Medicine and UC Davis MIND Institute in July as the Robert E. Chason Chair in Translational Research.
UC Davis researchers win three of 11 California breast cancer research grants
June 27, 2012 — Three multidisciplinary teams of UC Davis researchers have been awarded IDEA grants from the California Breast Cancer Research Program.
UC Davis emergency medicine leader named Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow
June 27, 2012 — Peter E. Sokolove, professor and vice chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine, was selected as a 2012 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow. His one-year term runs from September 2012 through August 2013.
Immune system weaves cobweb-like nanonets to snag Salmonella, other intestinal microbes
June 21, 2012 — A team of researchers led by UC Davis Health System has found that human alpha-defensin 6 (HD6) - a key component of the body's innate defense system - binds to microbial surfaces and forms "nanonets" that surround, entangle and disable microbes, preventing bacteria from attaching to or invading intestinal cells.
UC Davis researcher receives funding to improve physicians' counseling skills
June 20, 2012 — Joshua Fenton, a leader in research to improve the quality of primary health-care services, has been selected to receive nearly $700,000 from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to identify ways to reduce unneeded medical care.
UC Davis experts to host discussion on leukemia, lymphoma and the promise of stem cell therapies
June 19, 2012 — Experts from UC Davis Health System will share their latest research about regenerative medicine, with a focus on leukemia and lymphoma, during a community forum on the university's Sacramento campus.
Stowell lectureship focuses on aggressive skin cancer virus discovery, June 27
June 18, 2012 — Virologist and pathologist Yuan Chang, who co-discovered two of the seven known human cancer viruses, will discuss "Merkel Cell Polyomavirus: From Pathology to Therapy" as a guest speaker for the 2012 Robert E. Stowell Lectureship at UC Davis.
New study explores novel autism treatments for very young children
June 15, 2012 — Researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the University of Washington have received grants from Autism Speaks to extend their groundbreaking research into novel, high-impact treatments for very young children.
Folic acid intake during early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of autism in offspring
June 13, 2012 — A new study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute suggests that women who consume the recommended daily dosage of folic acid, the synthetic form of folate or vitamin B-9, during the first month of pregnancy may have a reduced risk of having a child with autism.
UC Davis MIND Institute lecture explores trends in classifying autism types by genetics
June 7, 2012 — Autism genetics researcher Judith H. Miles will discuss "Delineation of Etiological Subgroups within the Autism Diagnosis" during the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
UC Davis scientists find new role for P53 genetic mutation -- initiation of prostate cancer
June 6, 2012 — A team of UC Davis investigators has found that a genetic mutation may play an important role in the development of prostate cancer. The mutation of the so-called p53 (or Tp53) gene was previously implicated in late disease progression, but until now has never been shown to act as an initiating factor. The findings may open new avenues for diagnosing and treating the disease.
