Department News | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine | UC Davis School of Medicine

Professor Colleen Sweeney has been featured in the portrait installation that celebrates the UC Davis School of Medicine's extraordinary past and present faculty and leaders whose contributions have shaped our community.

Congratulations to Professor Aiming Yu, who has been elected as Councilor of the ASPET Council.

Congratulations to the MIND Institute’s Flora Tassone, who received the 2025 Autism Senza Confine (Autism Without Borders) Falanga Award from the IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation!

Tassone is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine. She has been studying fragile X, autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions for decades and was instrumental in the discovery of fragile X-associated tremor-ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) at the MIND Institute 25 years ago.

Foundation members presented Tassone with the award recently at a ceremony in Pisa, Italy. This prestigious award is given to researchers who have distinguished themselves through outstanding research in autism and neurodevelopmental conditions.

Congratulations to Professor Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona, for receiving the Hibbard Williams Award for Extraordinary Achievement.

2026 Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentoring Award Honorable Mention

Congratulation to Professor Megan Dennis, who has been recognized with an Honorable Mention for the 2026 Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentoring Award for her outstanding investment in mentoring.

In early June, the Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (BMM) Faculty convened for a one-day retreat to collaborate and establish a strategic plan and shared vision for the department. The insights and initiatives that emerged will guide our research priorities and inform future hiring decisions.

David Segal elected as AAAS Fellows for shaping science of neurological conditions

Professor and Chair David J. Segal, along with Professor Janine LaSalle has been elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). With this lifetime honor, he joins a century-long UC Davis legacy of AAAS Fellows who lead exceptional science scholarship.

Segal was recognized for his distinguished contributions to the field of molecular and translational genetics. He is a leader in developing gene editors like zinc finger (distinct DNA-binding protein structures that include zinc ions), TALE and CRISPR and applying them to treat neurologic conditions.

Announcement

Faculty Update - Obituary: Michael Saxton, Ph.D.

2025 Research Rock Star Award Recipient

Megan Dennis, an associate professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis Health, has been awarded the UC Davis School of Medicine 2025 Research Rock Star Award designated for a Basic Researcher. Congratulations on this well-deserved award!

School of Medicine Cultivating Team Science Award

The proposal, "Overcoming therapy resistance in cancers with new-chemical-entity nanomedicine: from bench to clinic", from Li lab has been selected School of Medicine Cultivating Team Science Award.

Congratulations to Professor Yuanpei Li and his team on this well-deserved award!

2025 Distinguished Teaching Award for Graduate and Professional Teaching Recipient

Professor and Vice Chair of Education, Colleen Sweeney has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award for Graduate and Professional Teaching by the Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Awards (DTA) Committee. This award recognizes outstanding teaching and dedication to student success. She was nominated by Professor and Vice Dean for Medical Education, Mark Servis. An in-person awards ceremony will be held on the evening of Thursday, May 29, 2025. Awardees will be highlighted in an upcoming UC Davis Dateline article.

Megan Dennis, an associate professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis Health, has been awarded the 2024 Chancellor’s Fellowship. This prestigious honor is given to outstanding faculty members early in their careers. As part of the award, she will receive $25,000 to support her research, teaching or service activities.