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May 2013
Study identifies new approach to improving treatment for MS and other conditions
May 17, 2013 — Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis (MS), UC Davis scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved medications against MS.
One million dollar incentive program for rural e-health information exchange launched
May 16, 2013 — The California Health eQuality (CHeQ) program, managed by the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement (IPHI), has launched a new $1 million Rural Health Information Exchange Incentive Program to help physicians, clinics and hospitals in rural California implement technologies that enable the secure and reliable exchange of health information to improve health-care quality, lower costs and achieve federal meaningful use criteria.
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.
UC Davis receives awards to study new treatments for childhood diseases
May 13, 2013 — Three researchers from the University of California, Davis, are among the scientists selected to receive Individual Biomedical Research Awards from The Hartwell Foundation this year. The awards recognize early-stage, innovative and cutting-edge biomedical research that has the potential to benefit children in the U.S. and beyond
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.
UC Davis Medical Center named mother-baby friendly workplace
May 6, 2013 — UC Davis Medical Center has been named a recipient of the Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Award from the Breastfeeding Coalition of Greater Sacramento, an affiliate of the California Breastfeeding Coalition. Each year, the coalition presents the award to local organizations that have been nominated by their employees to demonstrate appreciation for businesses that go 'above and beyond' to support their breastfeeding employees. The award will be presented on May 13 at 11 a.m. on the North Steps of the State Capital.
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.
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.
Mammogram tool improves some breast cancer detection but also increases false alarms
April 15, 2013 — A costly and widely used mammography add-on increases detection of noninvasive and early-stage invasive breast cancer but also makes more mistakes than mammography alone, researchers from UC Davis and the University of Washington have found.
Women with advanced vascular disease have more complications but not common risks
April 12, 2013 — Research by UC Davis physicians has found that women with a severe arterial condition that restricts circulation to arms and legs are at greater risk than men of experiencing a heart attack or stroke yet are less likely to have a history of heart disease or diabetes — common risk factors for major cardiovascular events.
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.
Minocycline, an antibiotic, improves behavior for children with fragile X syndrome
April 8, 2013 — Minocycline, an older, broad-spectrum antibiotic in the tetracycline family, provides meaningful improvements as a therapeutic for children with fragile X syndrome, a study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute has found. The finding is important, the researchers said, because minocycline is readily available by prescription.
Fatty acid metabolite shows promise against cancer in mice
April 2, 2013 — A team of UC Davis scientists has found that a product resulting from a metabolized omega-3 fatty acid helps combat cancer by cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients that fuel tumor growth and spread of the disease.
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.
Abbeduto receives grant to study language acquisition in fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome
March 26, 2013 — A team of researchers led by UC Davis MIND Institute Director Leonard Abbeduto will investigate the effectiveness of testing procedures to examine the spoken language development of people with fragile X syndrome and people with Down syndrome, through a new five-year, $3 million grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health.
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 research advances efforts to prevent dangerous blood clots
March 20, 2013 — New research from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, published in the Journal of Surgical Research, may help clinicians determine which patients are at highest risk for post-surgical blood clots in the legs or lungs.
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.
Sleep study reveals how the adolescent brain makes the transition to mature thinking
March 15, 2013 — A new study conducted by monitoring the brain waves of sleeping adolescents has found that remarkable changes occur in the brain as it prunes away neuronal connections and makes the major transition from childhood to adulthood.
“Come Out for Health Week” planned for March 25-28
March 12, 2013 — In honor of the 11th annual National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Health Awareness Week, UC Davis Health System will host its first "Come Out for Health" week March 25-28, targeting people from diverse backgrounds. This LGBT and diversity health awareness week will feature a lecture and film series, focusing on reducing health disparities and promoting health for all. All events are free of charge.
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.
Gun retailers take a hard line on illegal firearm sales, UC Davis survey finds
March 11, 2013 — A scientific survey of more than 1,600 gun retailers in the U.S. has found that gun buyers frequently try to make illegal purchases and that gun retailers take a dim view of fellow sellers who engage in illegal activity — regardless of whether they are actively breaking the law or simply looking the other way.
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.
UC Davis scientist wins prestigious grant to explore cancer spread and stem cell function
March 1, 2013 — Frederic A. Troy, II, professor and chair emeritus of biochemistry and molecular medicine, has received a globally competitive research grant from the Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience to better understand structural changes associated with metastasis of adult cancer cells and stem cells.
February 2013
Sacramento leaders come together as champions of women's heart health
February 26, 2013 — Crystal Ching has no family history of heart disease. She is under 50. Her cholesterol is low. She maintains a healthy weight. Yet she has heart disease.
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.
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.
Background checks, permanent records needed for all firearm transfers, not just gun sales by retailers
February 20, 2013 — Gun violence in the United States can be substantially reduced if Congress expands requirements for background checks on retail gun sales to cover firearm transfers between private parties, a new report by the director of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program concludes.
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.
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.
Scientists find key to growth of "bad" bacteria in inflammatory bowel disease
February 7, 2013 — Scientists have long puzzled over why “bad” bacteria such as E. coli can thrive in the guts of those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causing serious diarrhea. Now UC Davis researchers have discovered the answer—one that may be the first step toward finding new and better treatments for IBD.
Experimental gene therapy treatment for duchenne muscular dystrophy offers hope for youngster
February 7, 2013 — Jacob Rutt is a bright 11-year-old who likes to draw detailed maps in his spare time. But the budding geographer has a hard time with physical skills most children take for granted ― running and climbing trees are beyond him, and even walking can be difficult. He was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy known as Duchenne when he was two years old.
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.
New radiation oncology device reduces treatment times, increases safety
February 1, 2013 — With radiation oncology treatments, the goal is to hit the tumor with as much ionizing X-ray energy as possible, while sparing adjacent, healthy tissue.
January 2013
A quilt for life
January 30, 2013 — Quilts are often given to celebrate a life change such as a marriage or the birth of a baby. Marilyn Jackson’s latest quilt celebrates much more: a life saved. On January 30, she presented UC Davis cardiothoracic surgeon David Cooke with a quilt she made for his 3½ year old daughter, Audrey.
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.
Making policy changes to reduce gun violence
January 28, 2013 — Research by Garen Wintemute, director of the Violence Prevention Research Program and professor of emergency medicine at UC Davis, forms the basis for several recommendations put forward earlier this month at the summit on Reducing Gun Violence in America, an event organized by the Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health that brought together 20 of the world’s leading gun-policy experts representing the fields of law, medicine, public health, advocacy and public safety to summarize relevant research and its implications for policymakers and concerned citizens.
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' CHeQ program awards contract to better manage state's electronic immunization records
January 17, 2013 — The California Health eQuality (CHeQ) program, managed by the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement (IPHI), has awarded a $417,011 contract to Scientific Technologies Corporation (STC), a population health informatics service company based in Tucson, Ariz.. STC, in collaboration with CHeQ and the California Department of Public Health, will develop an immunization “gateway” that allows health-care providers throughout most of California to electronically submit patient immunization records for routing to state regional immunization registries and ultimately will enable secure access by doctors, schools, day-care centers and parents who need the information.
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.
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.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Joaquin Community Hospital affiliate for cancer care
January 11, 2013 — Residents of Kern County, where cancer rates overall are higher than the state average, will now have access to the expertise and experience of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers and clinicians through a new hospital affiliation. [en español]
UC Davis study deflates notion that pear-shaped bodies more healthy than apples
January 10, 2013 — People who are “apple-shaped” — with fat more concentrated around the abdomen — have long been considered more at risk for conditions such as heart disease and diabetes than those who are “pear shaped” and carry weight more in the buttocks, hips and thighs. But new research conducted at UC Davis Health System published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism provides further evidence that the protective benefits of having a pear body shape may be more myth than reality. [en espanol]
Knoepfler Lab names Roman Reed "Stem Cell Person of the Year"
January 10, 2013 — UC Davis stem cell researcher Paul Knoepfler has named Roman Reed as his first "Stem Cell Person of the Year" awardee.
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.
UC Davis study links low wages with hypertension, especially for women and younger workers
January 3, 2013 — Workers earning the lowest wages have a higher risk of hypertension than workers with the highest wages, according to new research from UC Davis. The correlation between wages and hypertension was especially strong among women and persons between the ages of 25 to 44.
UC Davis Medical Center welcomes area's first baby born in 2013
January 1, 2013 — Allison Donecker and her husband Brian rang in the new year in memorable fashion. Their new son, John, was born at 12:20 a.m. at UC Davis Medical Center, making him the Sacramento area’s first baby of 2013.
December 2012
UC Davis Chancellor Emeritus Vanderhoef discharged from hospital
December 28, 2012 — Chancellor Emeritus Larry Vanderhoef was discharged from UC Davis Medical Center today after nearly four weeks of acute rehabilitation for a Dec. 1 ischemic stroke. He will continue to work with specialists as an outpatient to maintain and improve skills.
Broader background checks and denial criteria could help prevent mass-shooting catastrophes
December 27, 2012 — Garen Wintemute, a leading authority on gun violence prevention and an emergency medicine physician at UC Davis, believes broader criteria for background checks and denials on gun purchases can help prevent future firearm violence, including mass shooting catastrophes such as those that occurred at Sandy Hook, Aurora, Virginia Tech and Columbine. Wintemute’s views posted in the Online First section of the New England Journal of Medicine website as a Perspective article, entitled “Tragedy’s Legacy,” on December 26, 2012. It also will appear in the journal's January 31, 2013 print edition.
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 expert available to comment on Conn. elementary school shootings
December 14, 2012 — Garen Wintemute, an emergency medicine physician and director of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program, is available to comment about issues related to gun violence prevention in response to the Connecticut elementary school shootings.
The HER2 paradox: HER2-positive stem cells found in HER2-negative breast cancer
December 14, 2012 — A multicenter study led by researchers at UC Davis describes new, paradoxical characteristics of the most common type of breast cancer.
UC Davis Medical Center recognized for electronic medical records achievements
December 13, 2012 — HIMSS Analytics, the research arm of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), has recognized UC Davis Medical Center with its Stage 7 Award.
UC Davis dermatologist receives grant to find new ways of treating chronic skin wounds
December 12, 2012 — The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state’s stem cell agency, today approved a $3 million research grant for Emanual Maverakis, a UC Davis dermatologist who is exploring the development of a synthetic biomaterial that would enable stem cells to be used as effective therapies for chronic skin ulcers.
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.
Update on CMS response
December 7, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center Chief Executive Officer provides additional details about the Plan of Correction sent to CMS. A copy of her letter to health system employees also appears here on the health system's public websites.
A message from Ann Madden Rice
December 6, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center Chief Executive Officer discusses the on-site CMS survey conducted in late August and the leave of absence of neurosurgeon J. Paul Muizelaar. A copy of her letter to health system employees appears here and on other health system public websites.
UC Davis Chancellor Emeritus Vanderhoef recovering from stroke
December 6, 2012 — Chancellor Emeritus Larry Vanderhoef is making good progress in his recovery from a Dec. 1 stroke, according to his UC Davis Medical Center physicians.
UC Davis Medical Center named 2012 Leapfrog Top Hospital
December 4, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center ranks among The Leapfrog Group's list of Top Hospitals for 2012, a distinction that places UC Davis among the top 10 percent of hospitals participating in the national survey. The award recognizes hospitals for their exceptional performance in critical areas of patient safety and quality, including mortality rates for certain common procedures, infection rates, established policies and procedures to prevent errors, and measures of efficient use of resources.
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.
UC Davis study shows statins protect lungs from damage caused by smoking
December 3, 2012 — Every four minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD --the incurable pulmonary disorder usually caused by smoking. COPD is the third highest cause of death in the U.S. after heart disease and cancer.
November 2012
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.
Experts recommend closer scrutiny of radiation exposure from CT scans
November 28, 2012 — Amid increasing fear of overexposure to radiation from CT scans, a panel of experts has recommended more research on the health effects of medical imaging and ways to reduce unnecessary CT tests, as well as industry standardization of CT machines.
UC Davis physician plans to fast in solidarity with dysphagia patients
November 21, 2012 — A UC Davis physician is calling on colleagues who treat swallowing disorders to join him in a Thanksgiving fast as a way to raise awareness and show solidarity for patients who suffer from dysphagia, a condition that makes swallowing food difficult or impossible.
For Thanksgiving, Redding parents are grateful for son's life, care at UC Davis Children's Hospital
November 21, 2012 — This Thanksgiving, Erin and Nick Ciapponi are spending their holiday in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit/Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PICU/PCICU) at UC Davis Children's Hospital. The Ciapponis will be seated at the bedside of their beautiful newborn baby boy, Guy, now a little more than two weeks old.
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]
UC Davis Medical Center and Dameron Hospital form joint venture
November 16, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and Dameron Hospital in Stockton will be forming a joint venture that will allow Dameron Hospital to strengthen its core medical services while delivering more care locally, and advances UC Davis' historic land-grant mission to identify and help meet important societal needs.
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.
Pathology resident receives national award for leadership
November 8, 2012 — Third-year pathology and laboratory medicine resident Rebecca Jung-Hee Sonu received a 2012 Resident Representative Leadership Award from the American Society for Clinical Pathology on Nov. 2 at the society's annual meeting in Boston.
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.
Free community workshops to help seniors avoid falls
November 1, 2012 — UC Davis Health System's Trauma Prevention Program and its Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are seeking participants for a new community health initiative designed to reduce falls among older adults.
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]
MIND Institute ADHD program receives $3 million grant from NIMH
October 29, 2012 — Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects the brain's ability to assert self-control, of particular concern during adolescence when the negative consequences of poor self-control can result in choices that can diminish lifetime possibilities for achievement, such as dropping out of school, substance abuse, driving while under the influence or engaging in unprotected sex.
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 physician honored for distinguished service in medicine
October 19, 2012 — Nathan Kuppermann, a pediatric emergency medicine physician and a nationally recognized expert in emergency medical services for children, has been honored with the 2012 Jim Seidel Distinguished Service Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Emergency Medicine.
UC Davis nursing school opens applications for fall 2013 classes
October 18, 2012 — Applications are now open for fall 2013 classes in the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Degree Programs offered through the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis. All admitted students receive generous financial support to ensure outstanding graduate students who share the vision to transform health care through nursing education and research are prepared as future leaders in health care, health policy, education and research.
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.
People with severe psoriasis have nearly twice the risk of diabetes
October 15, 2012 — An analysis of 27 studies linking psoriasis in 314,000 individuals with diabetes has found strong correlation between the scaly skin rash and the blood sugar disorder that predisposes patients to heart disease, say UC Davis researchers who led the review.
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.
UC Davis part of Stand Up To Cancer and Prostate Cancer Foundation research dream team
October 9, 2012 — Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), along with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), SU2C's scientific partner, announced the formation of a second Dream Team project dedicated to prostate cancer research -- "Targeting Adaptive Pathways in Metastatic Treatment-Resistant Prostate Cancer."
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 bone health expert to lead new research initiative
October 3, 2012 — Nancy E. Lane, professor of internal medicine and the endowed chair of Healthy Aging and Geriatrics at the UC Davis School of Medicine, has been awarded a $7.2 million federal grant to establish a specialized research center at UC Davis' Sacramento campus to explore the sex differences related to osteoporosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, and kyphosis (a condition causing over-curvature of the upper back).
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 researchers find multiple similarities between cancer cells and induced pluripotent stem cells
September 28, 2012 — UC Davis investigators have found new evidence that a promising type of stem cell now being considered for a variety of disease therapies is very similar to the type of cells that give rise to cancer.
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.
Kizer awarded for contributions to occupational and environmental medicine
September 26, 2012 — Kenneth W. Kizer, director of the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement, received the Rutherford T. Johnstone Award for outstanding contributions to the field of occupational and environmental medicine at the Western Occupational Health Conference held in San Francisco last week.
UC Davis' Institute for Population Improvement launches California Health eQuality
September 25, 2012 — UC Davis Health System has established the California Health eQuality (CHeQ) program, leaders at the Institute for Population Health Improvement announced today. CHeQ seeks to improve health-care quality and the coordination of care by using health information exchange (HIE) technology to facilitate the rapid flow of information among physician offices, hospitals and other health-care providers.
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.
New study analyzes smoking trends in Mexico and among Mexican-Americans
September 20, 2012 — Led by UC Davis researchers, the first-ever transnational study of Mexico-U.S. migration and smoking has found that U.S.-born Mexican-Americans start smoking at an earlier age but are more likely to quit than their counterparts in Mexico. [en español]
UC Davis Medical Group ranks among top-performing physician organizations
September 20, 2012 — The UC Davis Medical Group ranks among the Top Overall Performing Physician Organizations in California for 2012, the Integrated Healthcare Association announced today at its annual Pay for Performance Program meeting in Los Angeles.
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 Comprehensive Cancer Center to open major new wing
September 17, 2012 — After 10 years of planning, the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center will open its spacious new wing to patients on Sept. 24. [en español]
Carter honored as Mental Health Champion by Sacramento County
September 13, 2012 — Cameron Carter, director of the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience, has been honored by the Division of Behavioral Health Services of the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services as a Mental Health Champion.
UC Davis ear, nose and throat specialist honored for service, leadership
September 12, 2012 — Travis Tollefson, associate professor of otolaryngology at UC Davis Health System, received an Honors Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery yesterday at the academy's 2012 annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
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]
Telescopic implant restores vision in patient with advanced macular degeneration
September 11, 2012 — Surgeons at UC Davis Medical Center have successfully implanted a new telescope implant in the eye of a patient with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most advanced form of the disease and a leading cause of blindness in older Americans. [en español]
MIND Institute researchers study ADHD and methamphetamine addiction
September 10, 2012 — Why people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk of substance dependence, particularly methamphetamine dependence, and have greater difficulty overcoming their addiction is the subject of a new study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute.
Gun dealers, pawnbrokers say it's too easy for criminals to get guns
September 10, 2012 — The majority of U.S. firearms dealers and pawnbrokers believe it is too easy for criminals to get guns in America, results from the UC Davis Firearms Licensee Survey reveal. [en español]
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.
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.
E-health house calls, novel probiotics among new research funded at UC Davis Health System
August 17, 2012 — UC Davis Health System faculty are among the principal investigators and collaborators awarded funding from the new Research Investments in Sciences and Engineering (RISE) program to conduct innovative, multidisciplinary research in areas of strategic importance to California, the nation and the world.
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 Trauma Prevention Program receives more than $300,000 donation from Kohl's
August 16, 2012 — The UC Davis Injury and Trauma Prevention Program has received a grant for $306,381 from Kohl's Cares® to support its child and adolescent injury prevention efforts in the Sacramento region.
Time for new books, backpacks -- and a visit to the doctor for immunizations
August 15, 2012 — As another school year begins, it is important for all school-aged children to be up-to-date with all of their immunizations, because they will be interacting with a larger group of children and therefore at greater risk of exposure to preventable infectious diseases.
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)]
UC Davis Children's Hospital gains international recognition for lifesaving program
August 10, 2012 — UC Davis Children's Hospital has received the Excellence in Life Support Award from the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) for its Extracorporeal Life Support Program. The program provides lifesaving support for failing organ systems in infants, children and in some cases, adults.
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.
Ramsey Badawi awarded prestigious "Provocative Questions" grant from NCI
August 9, 2012 — Ramsey Badawi, UC Davis associate professor of biomedical engineering, has won a groundbreaking grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to address whether tumors can be detected when they are two to three times smaller than those detectable using current imaging methods.
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.
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]
UC Davis osteoporosis specialist recognized for contributions to medicine, science
August 7, 2012 — Nancy E. Lane, professor of internal medicine and holder of the endowed chair of Healthy Aging and Geriatrics at UC Davis School of Medicine, received the Remodeling in Bone (RIB) Award from the International Sun Valley Workshop on Musculoskeletal Biology group on August 5 in Sun Valley, Idaho. She also delivered a lecture on the "Wnt signaling pathway: the bone and joint connection."
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]
Graduate student wins top research fellowship
July 31, 2012 — Andrea Ferrero, a UC Davis PhD candidate in biomedical engineering, has been awarded a 2012 Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Student Research Fellowship for his work on use of PET/CT scanning to monitor the effects of breast cancer treatment.
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.
Chong Porter appointed to new Associate Vice Chancellor position at UC Davis Health System
July 23, 2012 — Chong Porter has joined UC Davis Health System as the institution's first associate vice chancellor for Health Sciences Development and Alumni Relations.
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.
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.
Two new endowments support violence prevention research at UC Davis Health System
July 18, 2012 — Two new endowments established with anonymous gifts to UC Davis Health System will further advance the innovative work of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program.
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.
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.
UC Davis study finds stray-bullet shootings frequently harm women and children
July 9, 2012 — Most people killed or wounded in stray-bullet shootings were unaware of events leading to the gunfire that caused their injuries, and nearly one-third of the victims were children and nearly half were female, according to a new nationwide study examining an often-overlooked form of gun violence
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.
Patients trust doctors but consult the Internet
July 6, 2012 — Patients look up their illnesses online to become better informed and prepared to play an active role in their care -- not because they mistrust their doctors, a new University of California, Davis, study suggests.
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.
UC Davis program addresses California's need for diverse physician workforce
July 5, 2012 — An innovative physician education program that combines psychiatry with either family practice or internal medicine training has received $1.2 million in additional funding from the California Department of Mental Health to extend the program through 2014. [español]
UC Davis researchers find biomarker that predicts response to chemotherapy for osteosarcoma
July 2, 2012 — Knowing whether a patient's tumor has this protein biomarker could help doctors determine if a patient should undergo standard treatment or if a more aggressive or alternative therapy may be more effective. [en español]
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.
New "ROAD" program provides path to breathing easier
June 29, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center has launched a new program to reduce symptoms and hospital stays for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD -- a common cause of hospitalization and the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. [en español]
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.
UC Davis Health System partners with state to direct world-renowned California Cancer Registry
June 26, 2012 — The University of California Davis Health System announced today that it will partner with the California Department of Public Health to run the day-to-day operations of the California Cancer Registry, one of the world's leading resources for population-based data on cancer.
Duplicate spending on veterans' care costs billions
June 26, 2012 — A new study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the federal government made about $13 billion in duplicative payments to provide health-care services to veterans who were simultaneously enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans from 2004-2009.
UC Davis releases "blueprint" for improving mental health programs for Latinos in California
June 25, 2012 — The UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities announced today the results of a comprehensive, two-year study that details barriers to access and utilization of mental health services among Latinos in California and offers their solutions for reducing mental health-care disparities. [en español]
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 Medical Center honored for second year as LGBT 'Leader in Healthcare Equality'
June 19, 2012 — For the second year in a row, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization today has recognized UC Davis Medical Center as a "Leader in Healthcare Equality" for creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for LGBT patients and employees.
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.
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 Comprehensive Cancer Center receives $75,000 to support pediatric cancer research from Hyundai Hope on Wheels
June 12, 2012 — UC Davis radiation oncologist Ruben Fragoso was awarded a $75,000 grant today from Hyundai Hope on Wheels to support his pediatric brain tumor research. The Hyundai Scholar Grant was presented during the Hope on Wheels handprint ceremony outside the UC Davis Health System's Administrative Support Building.
UC Davis Medical Center receives national honors for promoting diversity
June 11, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center last week was honored for achievements in promoting diversity at the 2012 National Leadership and Education Conference in Nashville.
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.
U.S. News & World Report ranks UC Davis Children's Hospital among the nation's best
June 5, 2012 — UC Davis Children's Hospital has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the nation's top hospitals in four pediatric specialties.
Timothy Albertson named chair of internal medicine at UC Davis
June 5, 2012 — Timothy E. Albertson, a pulmonary, critical care and toxicology specialist, has been named chair of the UC Davis Department of Internal Medicine.
UC Davis Health System health policy leaders named to "Let's Get Healthy California" Task Force
June 5, 2012 — Joy Melinikow and Kenneth W. Kizer, physicians at UC Davis Health System and national leaders in health policy and research, have been appointed to the Let's Get Healthy California Task Force, a group established in response to Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.'s executive order of May 3 to develop a 10-year plan to make Californians healthier. California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Diana S. Dooley announced the Task Force members and panel of Expert Advisors on June 4.
