UC Davis Children's Hospital

UC Davis Health now offers pediatric gastroenterology services at Folsom Turn Pike Clinic

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Pediatric gastroenterology (GI) services are now offered at the Folsom Turn Pike Specialty Care Clinic.

Exterior of Folsom Turn Pike clinic

“We are thrilled to expand access to pediatric gastroenterology services into the Folsom community and surrounding areas," said Daphne Say, division chief of pediatric GI at UC Davis Health.

At the Folsom Turn Pike Clinic, the pediatric GI team offers comprehensive clinical consultations for infants, children and adolescents with a wide variety of conditions, including:

Celiac disease
Chronic digestive disorders
Constipation
Gastrointestinal allergies
Irritable bowel syndrome
Inflammatory bowel disease
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

“Our goal is to ensure that our region’s children are among the healthiest in the nation. Part of achieving this goal is to provide families with close-to-home options, including world-class specialty care for kids,” Say said.

UC Davis pediatric gastroenterologist Sindhura Batchu provides services on the first and third Thursday of every month from 1 to 5 p.m. This is an expansion of pediatric GI services available at the Glassrock Clinic in Sacramento.

The clinic is located at 271 Turn Pike Dr., Folsom. UC Davis Health patients can schedule an appointment or obtain more information by calling 916-357-4777 or 800-823-4543.

New biologic therapy at UC Davis Health delays onset of type 1 diabetes

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

UC Davis Health now offers Tzield, also known as teplizumab, a first-in-class biologic therapy designed to delay the onset and progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The new availability expands early intervention options for families in the region.

A physician shakes hands with a child.

UC Davis Health is the only healthcare system in the Sacramento region and inland northern California to offer this T1D therapy.

This prescription monoclonal antibody is available for adults and children 1 year of age and older with:

Stage 2 T1D, in which patients are pre-symptomatic, but blood glucose becomes irregular.
Stage 3 T1D, in which patients are recently diagnosed with T1D within eight weeks.

“Bringing Tzield to UC Davis Health represents more than an advancement in care. It reflects our deep commitment to the families we serve and to a future in which type 1 diabetes can be delayed or even redefined,” said Caroline Schulmeister, pediatric endocrinologist at UC Davis Health.

The mechanics behind the intervention

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Traditionally, diagnosis occurs after symptoms develop and there has already been a significant loss of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Tzield provides a pivotal opportunity for providers to intervene at the earliest stages of disease.

Tzield binds to specific receptors on immune cells, disabling them from destroying insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. It is administered as a daily intravenous infusion for 14 days.

Fourth of July fireworks can cause serious eye injuries, doctor warns

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Season two of the hit medical drama “The Pitt” takes place on the Fourth of July. The episodes show a surge of emergency room (ER) cases on the holiday, from heat strokes to lost fingers caused by fireworks.

Season two of the hit medical drama “The Pitt” takes place on the Fourth of July. The episodes show a surge of emergency room (ER) cases on the holida

But one serious injury was missing: eye trauma.

“In real life, we see devastating eye injuries in the ER every Fourth of July,” said Michele Lim, professor and ophthalmologist at the UC Davis Health Eye Center.

“Some patients come in with ‘globe’ injuries — damage to the eye itself. Sadly, these injuries, usually from fireworks, can threaten or permanently take away someone’s vision,” Lim said.

Fireworks can also cause burns, scratches on the eye, and damage to the retina — all of which can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss.

Children’s Miracle Network honors award recipients at annual kickoff

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

06/23/2026

Children’s Miracle Network honors award recipients at annual kickoff

By Tricia Tomiyoshi

(SACRAMENTO)

Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) raised more than $4.4 million to support UC Davis Children’s Hospital in 2025. One hundred percent of these dollars fund critical programs, innovation, family support and care for pediatric patients and families.

The announcement was made by the UC Davis Children’s Hospital’s CMN team, at an event this spring to recognize corporate partners and kick off the 2026 fundraising campaign.

The team also honored three extraordinary champions whose leadership, generosity and dedication helped make 2025 a remarkable year for children’s healthcare in Northern California.

Wil Davis was named the 2025 CMN Program Champion of the Year.

These were the award recipients:

2025 CMN Program Champion of the Year: Wil Davis

The 2025 CMN Program Champion of the Year award recognizes an outstanding individual whose commitment, leadership and passion have created meaningful impact for children and families served through UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

This year’s recipient was Wil Davis, Senior Project Manager with Porter, LLC.

“Wil has been an outstanding — and longstanding — partner and advocate of CMN at UC Davis Children’s Hospital,” said Kacie Merrick, CMN program director and managing senior director of UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “Wil is always the first to arrive, last to leave, and most passionate in the room when it comes to CMN and the importance of improved pediatric healthcare and outcomes. His creativity knows no bounds as he brings new opportunities to patients, families and caregivers.”

Davis has been instrumental in growing the CMN Play Yellow Golf Invitational, UC Davis Children’s Hospital’s signature fundraising program. Through various networks that he has built, Wil has been an integral part of expanding reach and success of this event, celebrating over $125,000 raised in 2025, a $15,000 increase over 2024.

“Far more than the numbers, Wil’s impact is felt in the way he brings people together, inspires participation and reminds others why this work matters. His name is known, spread and beloved across UC Davis Health,” Merrick said.

Ace Hardware Retail Support Center was named the 2025 CMN Partner Champion of the Year.

2025 CMN Partner Champion of the Year: Ace Hardware Retail Support Center

The 2025 CMN Partner Champion of the Year award recognizes a corporate partner whose dedication, generosity and commitment to community impact went above and beyond in support of children’s healthcare.

This year’s award recipient, Ace Hardware Retail Support Center, exemplifies the power of partnership.

As a longtime national partner of Children’s Miracle Network, Ace continues to demonstrate how meaningful impact happens locally through engaged leadership, passionate teams and a culture of giving that reaches every level of the organization, Merrick said.

“Through weekend events, ongoing in-store fundraising, team engagement and community connection, they continue to create brighter futures for local kids and families,” Merrick said. “Ace’s commitment has made them a standout leader across the CMN network and a trusted partner to UC Davis Children’s Hospital.”

Inaugural Lifetime Service Award: Michelle Linenberger

Michelle Linenberger received the inaugural CMN Lifetime Service Award.

This year marked the presentation of the first-ever Lifetime Service Award — a recognition created to honor an individual whose extraordinary dedication, leadership and compassion have left a lasting impact on UC Davis Children’s Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network and the communities served.

Michelle Linenberger, UC Davis Children’s Hospital nursing professional development specialist, was the inaugural recipient.

For more than 28 years, Linenberger has dedicated her career to improving the lives of children and families through pediatric nursing, education, advocacy and philanthropy.

Her influence extends far beyond any one role. Throughout her career, Linenberger has served as a trusted leader, educator, collaborator and advocate — helping care teams grow in confidence, advancing pediatric care practices and creating meaningful support systems for healthcare teams.

Linenberger launched the Support U Peer Responder Program, strengthening resiliency and peer-to-peer support across the health system, and has contributed leadership through multiple terms on the Association for Nursing Professional Development Recognition Committee.

Most recently, Linenberger received the UC Davis Foundation’s 2025 Faculty/Staff Stewardship Award, recognizing her extraordinary ability to connect generosity to impact.

“Within Children’s Miracle Network, Michelle’s legacy is profound,” Merrick said. “As a longtime member of the CMN Executive Council and Business Council, she helped lead philanthropy efforts and served as a powerful advocate for ensuring donors understood the life-changing impact of their support. Michelle has not simply supported this mission, she has helped shape it.”

About Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis Children’s Hospital

UC Davis Children’s Hospital was one of the nation’s first hospitals to join Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), an international nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for, and awareness of children’s hospitals. Children’s Miracle Network raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals across the nation and in Canada. Countless individuals, organizations and media partners unite with Children’s Miracle Network to help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations to the network create miracles by funding medical care, programs, research and equipment that save and improve the lives of 10 million children each year.

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Can friendly social robots help ease a child’s anxiety at the doctor’s office?

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

06/23/2026

Can friendly social robots help ease a child’s anxiety at the doctor’s office?

By Marianne Russ Sharp

Study at UC Davis MIND Institute aims to determine if tech can reduce stress and increase human connection

Media kit with B-roll and soundbites

(SACRAMENTO)

When 3-year-old Cameron arrived at the UC Davis MIND Institute for a recent medical appointment, she was in for a surprise: cuddly, social AI robots visiting from Japan were in the waiting room.

Two LOVOTS, Toffee and Cereal, in the waiting area of the UC Davis MIND Institute.

“We both melted when we saw them,” said Cameron’s mom, Caroline Nguyen. “They’re so adorable, and the little sounds they make — I mean, she took to them right away.”

These playful companions are called LOVOTS. Their name is a combination of love and robot, and it’s a good fit for these cute, friendly robots that chirp and squeak. They’re child-sized, just under a foot-and-a-half tall, with big round eyes, colorful plush “skin” and little arms that they often extend as if asking to be picked up as they wheel around.

“The LOVOTS have touch sensors all over their bodies, as well as cameras,” explained Alondra Gonzalez, a clinical research coordinator who’s helping to study whether these robots can help ease anxiety and reduce stress for patients. “The robots enjoy being cuddled with, being petted and have several eye movements that they’re coded with and different sounds that they make as well. They react to the people around them.”

Three-year-old Cameron holds Cereal, one of the LOVOTS, at a recent visit to the UC Davis MIND Institute, while Clinical Research Coordinator Alondra Gonzalez assists her.

Can social robots help ease waiting room anxiety?

Children are often anxious about medical appointments. What if social robots could help ease their nerves? That’s what researcher Veronica Ahumada set out to learn with the LOVOTS.

“We wanted to see if having these friendly, assistive robots in the waiting room could reduce stress or anxiety children may be feeling,” explained Ahumada, an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics and MIND Institute faculty member.

The study is the first to examine these social robots in a pediatric medical setting.

Ahumada is also director of the UC Davis Health Technology and Social Connectedness Lab and is known internationally for her work using robots to increase inclusion and human connection.

“We’re really exploring: Can robots and technology help already challenging situations?” Ahumada said. “We want to move the field forward in patient-centered evaluation of healthcare technologies before they are purchased and put in place.”

From left, Clinical Research Coordinator Alondra Gonzalez and Associate Professor of Pediatrics Veronica Ahumada with two the LOVOTS at the MIND Institute.

Roaming robots

Four LOVOTS — Cocoa, Jellybean, Cereal and Toffee — are on loan from a Japanese company, Groove X. They have been at the MIND Institute for several months and visit the waiting area a couple of times a week.

Caroline Nguyen interacting with Jellybean, one of the LOVOTS, during her daughter Cameron's recent visit to the MIND Institute.

“We have the LOVOTS roaming around to see if kids are interested, and sure enough, usually a kid will run up to one of them,” Gonzalez explained. The robots only understand Japanese, so Gonzalez teaches the kids words like “oide,” which means “come here.”

As part of the study, families fill out a survey about their interactions with the robots.

Though the AI robots do have cameras to distinguish between people and other objects, patient privacy is protected.

“We do not record ever, and we still hire a human to take notes on what is happening,” Ahumada said.

Rewarding interactions

Seeing patients’ reactions to the interactive technology is rewarding for the researchers. Some children hug the LOVOTS and carry them around. Others relax with them.

“If you stroke their tummies, their eyes start to droop, and they start to purr and fall asleep. Kids will sit on the floor and say things like, ‘It’s OK, you can take a nap,’” Ahumada said. “It’s been interesting to see children shift their focus to this little thing that needs their love and attention.”

Gonzalez and the children even sing to them — often “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” — and the LOVOTS “sing” back.

Clinical Research Coordinator Alondra Gonzalez uses a stroller to transport the LOVOTS from place to place.

Cameron especially enjoyed singing to Cereal. At her recent appointment, she was a little nervous about her upcoming blood draw. “She was thinking about that on the drive here,” Nguyen said. “Once she met the robots, she completely forgot about that and was just in play mode. And I think that’s why the blood draw went so smoothly. She was just in great spirits from playing with the LOVOTS.”

The LOVOTS will be at the MIND Institute for another month or so. Then a team of research and clinical faculty and staff will analyze the results.

“The heart of our research is to use technologies to increase human connectedness. Technology amplifies human experiences and we want to amplify those very good, very human things that are already in place,” Ahumada said.

The UC Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento, Calif. is a unique, interdisciplinary research, clinical, and education center committed to deepening scientific understanding of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. It is a highly collaborative center, bringing together families, researchers, clinicians, community leaders and volunteers with the common goal of developing more personalized, equitable, and scientifically proven systems of support and intervention. The institute has major research efforts in autism, fragile X syndrome, chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Down syndrome. More information about the institute and its Distinguished Lecturer Series, including previous presentations in this series, is available on the Web at https://health.ucdavis.edu/mind-institute/.

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Marianne Sharp

Virtual Summer Institute will focus on tech use and neurodevelopmental disabilities

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

The upcoming 2026 Summer Institute on Neurodevelopmental Disabilities will focus on a critical area of need: navigating the use of technology. The half-day virtual event on July 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., will explore new research on how technology can support people with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. It will also feature an expert panel exploring key issues like inclusion, online safety and dating.

A group of young adults gather outside in an urban area, each using cell phones.

Summer Institute is hosted by the UC Davis MIND Institute’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The annual event aims to bridge efforts in research and the community to drive meaningful change.

This year’s timely theme was chosen by a committee of local community members and MIND Institute employees. The group includes leaders from school districts, regional centers and community organizations, most of whom have lived experience with neurodevelopmental conditions.

“It is such an important topic because the entire world is trying to navigate new technology that has become a part of everyday life,” explained Kelly Heung, co-director of Summer Institute. “People with disabilities and those who support them need effective tools and up-to-date information to help use this valuable yet sometimes harmful resource.”

Summer Institute highlights:

New research on how technology improves support for people with autism, fragile X syndrome, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disabilities
A keynote presentation “People First, then Tech,” by Lauren Tucker, associate professor of special education at Southern Connecticut State University
An expert panel with autistic self-advocates, a clinical psychologist and a police detective discussing inclusion, online safety, dating and independence
Breakout conversations

The keynote topic is especially relevant, said Summer Institute co-director Amber Fitzgerald, director of education initiatives for the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

From left, Summer Institute Co-Directors Amber Fitzgerald and Kelly Heung.

“The idea of ‘people first, then tech’ might sound simple, but it’s actually a game changer for how we think about technology support,” she explained. “Too often we jump straight to the tool without asking whether it’s the right fit for the person in front of us.”

Fitzgerald said the framework discussed during the event will give families, caregivers and professionals a practical way to slow down and make technology decisions that are centered on the individual.

“Technology is a valuable gift that requires care to be used effectively, and I know our participants will take away valuable information and resources that they can use themselves and share with others,” Heung said.

Summer Institute is ideal for professionals, researchers, individuals with disabilities, family members advocates, students or community members. Registration fees start at $25. Healthcare professionals who attend can receive three continuing education credits. The deadline to sign up is July 17.

Learn more and register.

Event Details:

Theme: The Age of Technology: Research, Risks and Strategies to Support Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

When: July 24, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: On Zoom

Cost: Starts at $25

Registration link

Questions? Email cedd@health.ucdavis.edu

Delivering better care for premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common and chronic respiratory condition that occurs in premature newborns with underdeveloped lungs. BPD can affect growth and/or neurodevelopment and is sometimes fatal. Early, personalized treatments could help many of these children; however, it’s not always clear which babies are at risk for BPD.

A baby lies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

But now, a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics has demonstrated a new computational method that could better predict which infants will develop BPD, giving clinicians better tools to individualize care.

“The ability to identify children who will develop severe BPD would help us target those kids earlier,” said Divya Chhabra, associate professor of Pediatric Pulmonology at UC Davis Health and first author on the study. “Eventually, we would like to incorporate this into the electronic health record to provide more immediate insights at the point of care.”

Building a dynamic diagnostic model

Most infants who develop BPD are born premature, making them quite fragile. In addition, a number of factors can play a role in BPD development, making it difficult for physicians to know who is most at risk.

While the Neonatal Research Network, a large collaboration of clinical sites, has developed an online BPD calculator, the study authors and others believe this tool could be improved. The calculator estimates risk by processing a variety of data about the baby, including birth weight and respiratory support. However, it does so based on static (single timepoint) data from each infant at different ages, rather than gathering continuous patient information over time.

Chhabra and colleagues at University of Rochester Medicine, where she worked before joining UC Davis Health in September 2025, built a database of sick infants to study BPD and other health issues.

“We collected their vitals, birth weights, gestational ages, the medications they were given, how much oxygen they were on and other data from their charts,” Chhabra said. “We used that data to develop a more dynamic version of the BPD calculator. Instead of using infant data from one timepoint, we used information from a series of points.”

The research team devised three computational models to predict BPD, with each more sophisticated version improving results. The third model used a machine learning technique called long short-term memory, which showed much stronger predictive capabilities to guide care.

“The more data we added to the model, the better it got,” Chhabra said. “In the future, we hope these predictions are available to us when we are rounding in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). As a result, our approach to each patient’s condition would change. Also, sharing this information is good for families. Having a baby in the NICU is scary and better data can help reduce people’s fears.”

One of the most important, and surprisingly simple, findings was that the baby’s first temperature reading correlated closely with their risk of developing BPD. This highlighted the importance of keeping infants warm during and right after delivery.

“These babies are born into a cold environment, and they don’t have the ability to maintain their own temperatures, depending on the neonatal teams to keep them warm,” Chhabra said.

The authors hope this new BPD analysis tool will eventually be added to electronic health records, which could give physicians critical advice to enhance BPD care. In addition, Chhabra is looking forward to creating a comprehensive infant database for UC Davis Health, similar to the one she helped develop at Rochester.

“My goal would be to build another deidentified database at the UC Davis NICU,” Chhabra said. “This would provide a number of new research opportunities, since it’s a completely different population. By collecting and analyzing this data, we can do so much to support more precise care.”

UC Davis Children’s Hospital names new surgeon-in-chief

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

06/17/2026

UC Davis Children’s Hospital names new surgeon-in-chief

By Tricia Tomiyoshi

(SACRAMENTO)

Accomplished academic pediatric surgeon Kathleen van Leeuwen has been appointed surgeon-in-chief of UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Van Leeuwen was previously associate surgeon-in-chief at Phoenix Children’s, where she helped expand and open a stand-alone affiliate hospital in 2024.

Kathleen van Leeuwen

As a senior physician leader, van Leeuwen will partner with the chairs of surgery, children’s surgical section leaders, the pediatrician-in-chief and health system leadership to help provide strategic guidance for all children’s surgical services across UC Davis Health. She is tasked with advancing an already high-performing surgical enterprise while aligning the missions of excellent clinical care, research, education, innovation and community engagement.

“Dr. van Leeuwen has a proven record of positive interactions with hospital systems and community partners,” said Diana Farmer, chair of the UC Davis Department of Surgery, distinguished professor and Pearl Stamps Stewart Chair. Farmer previously served as surgeon-in-chief and now holds the position of surgeon-in-chief emeritus.

“An exceptional technical pediatric surgeon, Dr. van Leeuwen’s academic interests are in shared decision making for complex congenital conditions and she has helped build programs that provide care across the lifespan,” Farmer added.

Van Leeuwen has also been appointed professor of surgery.

She will represent children’s surgical services on the Medical Staff Executive Committee, the Council of Chairs and Center Directors, the Credentials and Privileges Committee and the Surgical Services Steering Committee, among other groups.

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UC Davis pediatrics leader appointed to American Academy of Pediatrics’ national committee

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

06/15/2026

UC Davis pediatrics leader appointed to American Academy of Pediatrics’ national committee

By Tricia Tomiyoshi

(SACRAMENTO)

Satyan Lakshminrusimha, chair of pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief of UC Davis Children’s Hospital, has been appointed to an influential committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Satyan Lakshminrusimha

Effective July 1, Lakshminrusimha will serve on the Committee on Child Health Financing, which advises the AAP board of directors on various aspects and sources for private and public financing of children’s healthcare services. The committee’s role includes monitoring and making policy recommendations regarding managed care, emerging health insurance options and scope of benefits.

The committee collaborates with other AAP panels, councils and sections to inform the organization on federal and state financing activities. The AAP assists chapters in their efforts to influence the monies involved in state determination of Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and other government healthcare financing programs.

Lakshminrusimha, a neonatologist, was the co-chair of UC Davis Health’s Clinical Funds Flow Committee for the past five years and chair of the UC Davis Medical Group finance committee this past year. These experiences, he said, have reinforced the importance of crucial strategic financial alignment to AAP’s clinical mission.

“I am truly honored to join the AAP Committee on Child Health Financing to advocate for sustainable pediatric care models on a national scale,” Lakshminrusimha said. “I look forward to translating our local insights into national policies that sustain the pediatric subspecialist workforce, and protect and expand access to high-quality care for all children.”

Lakshminrusimha’s appointment is for six years, contingent on AAP board reappointment every two years.

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NIH grant to fund innovative bladder repair option for children

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Can growing blood vessels within a lab-engineered graft improve bladder reconstruction for children? For more than two decades, UC Davis pediatric urologic surgeon Eric Kurzrock has been developing and testing grafts to avoid the complications after standard enterocystoplasty, a surgery for bladder augmentation.

Bladder augmentation surgery

Now, a $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will help his UC Davis research team test a bioengineered graft infused with ligands (molecules) to treat neuropathic bladders of children with spina bifida or spinal cord injuries.

A neuropathic, also called neurogenic, bladder is caused by dysfunctional nerve messaging between the nervous system and the bladder . The condition results in bladder control issues and kidney disease.

“The bladder is so unique because it is free floating with no supporting matrix of cells around it. It has been historically challenging for regeneration and augmentation,” Kurzrock explained. Kurzrock is the chief of pediatric urologic surgery and professor of urology and pediatrics at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. He is also vice chair of the Department of Urologic Surgery. “Patients with spina bifida or spinal cord injury may develop a neurogenic bladder, leading to problems with urination and kidney function. They may need bladder augmentation to enlarge their bladder.”

The grant will bring together clinical and bioengineering expertise to develop and test an innovative technique to create vascularized grafts.

Bladder augmentation surgeries

In enterocystoplasty, the surgeon uses parts of the intestine or stomach as a graft to enlarge the bladder. The surgery requires an extensive abdominal operation and can have many short- and long-term complications.

Kurzrock found that the ideal substitute for the traditional bladder graft is bioengineered tissue. He developed an innovative method to solve a common problem in graft implants: the challenge of tissue contraction caused by inadequate blood supply. He devised a new procedure to create graft tissues with functioning blood vessels — a necessary condition for graft survival.

In 2022, Kurzrock published a study on vascularized grafts for bladder augmentation in mice and pigs. His study showed that bladder vessels will connect (inosculate) with graft vessels within a few days after transplantation. These connections facilitated blood flow to the entire graft.

A fortified scaffold to promote new blood vessels

Kurzrock is collaborating with UC Davis bioengineer Aijun Wang, an expert in designing and testing supportive structures called scaffolds. Wang has developed a scaffold made of engineered biomaterial modified with a ligand (special molecule known as LXW7) that specifically interacts with endothelial cells that help vascularization. The ligand, developed at UC Davis, helps the cells’ attachment, migration and survival, which promotes formation of new blood vessels and reduces graft complications.

“When these molecules are added to scaffolds, they provide a gripping site for endothelial cells to bind. This allows for better interaction between the cells and their supportive structure, known as extracellular matrix,” explained Wang, professor of surgery and biomedical engineering. He is also the vice chair for translational research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the Department of Surgery and the director of the Center for Bioengineering in Medicine at UC Davis.

How does the graft work?

The engineered graft is a pig tissue, processed to remove the cells and retain the protein structure of the matrix. This acellular scaffold prevents the host’s natural rejection and immune response to new entrants.

The grafts are modified with the ligand then implanted on the rectus muscle bed. This implantation ensures optimum graft maturity and healthy functional vessels prior to bladder transplantation. The new connections provide channels for the blood to flow through the graft within days after transplant and prevent contraction.

“The rectus muscle bed serves as an incubator for the graft until it is vascularized and ready to be transplanted to the bladder,” Kurzrock explained. “In fact, we may technically grow a graft in that space multiple times over the years.”

“It's a brilliant idea to integrate the body's own healing potential,” Wang said. “Adding newer bioengineering technologies, such as the ligand technology, will help in microvascular regeneration of the whole bladder matrix and nearby muscle cells.”

The team will test the new graft in a pig model before extending this study to human clinical trials.

Newsweek names UC Davis Children’s Hospital among America’s best

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

UC Davis Children’s Hospital has been named one of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals 2026 by Newsweek magazine and Statista, a global market research and consumer data firm.

Two people stand over a NICU baby in a hospital

UC Davis Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in Sacramento to be recognized. The hospital was ranked in the top 50 nationally in the pediatric fields of neonatology (ranked 33^rd) and pediatric neurology and neurosurgery (ranked 29^th).

The ranking recognizes the leading children’s hospitals in the United States across eight pediatric fields, featuring the top 50 hospitals for cardiology and cardiac surgery, endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, orthopaedics and pulmonology.

"We are honored to receive this recognition,” said Satyan Lakshminrusimha, chair of pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “Our team is committed to delivering world-class care every day to children and families here in the Sacramento region and beyond.”

The rankings honor 95 leading hospitals.

The list was compiled from four data sources:

A nationwide online survey. Over 10,000 medical professionals and hospital managers with knowledge about pediatric care, including general and specialized pediatricians and nurses, were asked to recommend leading children’s hospitals in the U.S. The survey was also promoted on newsweek.com
Hospital quality metrics from a variety of sources on indicators relevant to the respective pediatric fields. This includes the Leapfrog Hospital Survey.
Patient satisfaction research, which included Google reviews.
Statista Patient-Reported Outcome Measures implementation survey, which are standardized, validated questionnaires completed by patients.

The full list of recipients appears on Newsweek’s website.

Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis awards more than $492K in grants

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

06/01/2026

Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis awards more than $492K in grants

By Tricia Tomiyoshi

(SACRAMENTO)

Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at UC Davis has awarded nine grants, totaling $492,007, to clinicians and researchers at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Grants in the amount of $392,007 will enhance the clinical care of children, while $100,000 will support research directly improving the health and welfare of children.

CMN accepts clinical and research grant applications each fiscal year. Applications must demonstrate how the project or research contributes to UC Davis Health strategic goals and/or UC Davis Medical Center institutional goals. The amount of funding is determined by the CMN executive committee and chief executive officer of UC Davis Medical Center.

The 2026 clinical services grants include:

Otolaryngology Pediatric Tracheostomy Handbook: Adebola Olarewaju
Standardized New Patient Support Kits: Karenjit Dhillion
Strengthening Pediatric Discharge Safety Through Interdisciplinary Simulation Education: Kristine Strohbin
Pacifier Activated Lullaby Pilot Program: Antonia Barela
Sleep Sack Swaddle Blankets for the Pediatric and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit: Carlye Miller and Tina Jagpal
Tracking Outcomes: Enrollment in the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium: Ryan Palapaz
Wraparound Program: Jennifer Rubin, Jennifer Fitzgerald, Chevist Johnson
Creating a Healing, Child-Centered Pediatric Surgery Clinic Environment: Ann Tompkins

The research grant was awarded to Maternal-Fetal Responses to Wildfire Particulate Matter in a Novel In-Vivo: Michelle Lim.

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UC Davis MIND Institute seeks research partners in the community

Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT

The UC Davis MIND Institute is inviting community members to help shape its priorities and care for people with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. PAIR, the Partnership for Inclusive Research, is a great fit for autistic individuals, advocates and people with developmental disabilities. Caregivers, educators and policy makers, among others, are also ideal partners.

A group of four adults, some with disabilities, gathers at a round table in discussion.

PAIR is not a research study. It is a way for people with lived experience to partner with the MIND Institute’s researchers and healthcare providers.

“Team members are partners, not participants,” explained MIND Institute Director Aubyn Stahmer, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “Our goal is to make sure the research and work we do at the MIND Institute are guided by what truly matters to people with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.”

Lasting partnerships

Community partnerships are not new to the MIND Institute. In fact, they have been an important part of the institute’s work for more than two decades. These relationships have often been about a specific program, event or study. The new program, however, will span nearly all activities at the institute and establish ongoing, two-way communication.

“PAIR is designed to make it easy for community members to connect and stay involved over time and with different projects,” said Sarah Vejnoska, a postdoctoral scholar at the MIND Institute who is helping to organize the new effort. “Over time, we hope this approach will make collaboration a natural and lasting part of everything we do.”

New research provides important insights into diabetic ketoacidosis

Fri, 22 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT

05/22/2026

New research provides important insights into diabetic ketoacidosis

By Josh Baxt

Study identifies inflammatory profile associated with sometimes fatal conditions

(SACRAMENTO)

Many children who develop type 1 diabetes (the inability to produce insulin and process blood sugar) don’t even know they have the condition until symptoms arise. These symptoms are often driven by a severe and sometimes fatal condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). As insulin levels drop, and blood sugar rises, the body generates molecules called ketones, which are toxic in high concentrations. Kids with DKA can experience organ failure and other serious issues, but why these complications occur is not well understood.

Researchers analyzed blood samples from 123 children, many of them patients with DKA, over a two-year period.

Now, in a paper published in the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, researchers have identified inflammatory molecules that increase during DKA. These findings could eventually help clinicians determine why complications occur during DKA treatments.

Recent studies have shown that DKA episodes increase the risk of some long-term diabetes complications, such as kidney disease and declines in cognition. The current study provides important insights into the link between DKA episodes and the increased risk of long-term complications.

“We want to know why some patients who have DKA have increased risk of cognitive decline or diabetic kidney disease later in life, and others are fine,” said Nicole Glaser, professor and pediatric endocrinologist at UC Davis Health and senior author of the study. “We want to understand what’s responsible for that difference.”

Cataloguing inflammatory signals

While it has long been known that DKA is an inflammatory condition, no one comprehensively identified the molecules involved. To learn more, the researchers analyzed blood samples from 123 children, many of them patients with DKA, over a two-year period.

The analyses showed DKA activated a wide range of pro-inflammatory molecules, including cytokines, chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). These inflammatory signals remained elevated for several days after patients recovered.

Linking these inflammatory molecules to the condition could help researchers better understand DKA-related damage. Eventually, these molecular signatures could help physicians determine which kids are at higher risk for long-term health issues related to DKA.

Perhaps the most important and surprising finding was that MMPs were strongly boosted in DKA. MMPs break down other proteins, which give them great potential to cause organ damage. Illuminating MMP roles in DKA could clarify the mechanisms causing that damage.

“Until this study, no one had tried to broadly characterize the inflammatory profile in DKA,” Glaser said. “We were surprised to find MMPs playing such a dominant role, and that could really help us. We know that elevated MMP levels can damage the kidneys as well as the blood-brain barrier, which can allow other inflammatory factors or toxic substances to enter the brain and cause damage.”

The clinical perspective

Glaser and colleagues have been studying DKA in the lab because they often see these patients in the clinic and have wanted to better understand the disease.

“I became interested in DKA after caring for children who developed severe brain swelling during their treatment,” said Zachary Chaffin, assistant clinical professor and first author on the study. “It’s a relatively rare complication but it’s very dangerous and hard to treat, which in turn makes it hard to forget once you’ve seen it.”

While this DKA inflammatory profile will not immediately influence clinical care, the authors believe the new information could eventually help predict organ injury and support more effective interventions. In addition, now that they’ve seen how active MMPs are in DKA, the research team plans to refocus their investigations on these potentially dangerous molecules.

“There’s very little we can do to change the course of a disease without knowing why it happens,” Glaser said. “We really want to understand these inflammatory connections so we can jumpstart the process of developing better therapeutic approaches.”

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From paralysis to cheer practice: Neurosurgeons help Emily “be a kid again”

Mon, 18 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In May 2025, fourth-grader Emily Roberts was camping near Cottonwood, California when she awoke one morning completely paralyzed from her left waist down to her left foot. She couldn’t walk.

A girl in a blue UC Davis Health Neurological Surgery shirt is flanked on the left and right by male doctors wearing badges.

“I felt very scared,” Emily said. “I had to leave our trip to go to the hospital again.”

Emily’s mother, Cecille Roberts, is haunted by the memory of their drive to the emergency department. “It’s the worst experience, to hear your child screaming in pain, saying she wishes her life would be over, so she won’t hurt anymore,” Cecille said.

A year of frightening symptoms

Emily and her dad Matthew Roberts.

Emily had already endured a year of worsening, unexplained symptoms. Usually an active kid playing softball, hiking and camping, she began to experience back pain that progressed to leg weakness and incontinence.

“Emily just screamed and cried at home,” Cecille said. “She’d have bathroom accidents at school because she didn’t have the sensations to tell her to go. She was so embarrassed.”

She was repeatedly misdiagnosed and sent home from hospitals and clinics with pain medication that didn’t help.

Paralysis leads to emergency spine surgery and discovery of aggressive bone cyst

MRI image of Emily’s spine before her first surgery.

Everything changed when UC Davis Children’s Hospital pediatric neurosurgeon Cameron Sadegh received a transfer request. “Based on her symptoms, I knew something was compressing her spinal cord,” he said. “When a person starts losing sensation, doctors have 24-48 hours to intervene before effects may become permanent.”

Sadegh arranged for Emily to take an air ambulance to UC Davis Children's Hospital, where he met her and her mother on the helipad late one Saturday night. Within 30 minutes of arrival, she was in surgery with Sadegh and UC Davis Spine Center neurosurgeon Rick Price.

Price (left) and Sadegh used augmented reality headsets to maximize accuracy, including placing Emily’s screws as displayed on the monitor.

The emergency procedure removed enough of the lesion and affected vertebra to restore movement to her leg. It also confirmed the cause of her symptoms: an a rare, aggressive lesion weakening her spine and several ribs. Emily needed more surgery.

Further imaging showed the cyst had grown into her chest cavity. The team brought in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery expert Gary Raff to help protect Emily’s left lung. In addition, vascular neurosurgeon Branden Cord prepared Emily for safer spine reconstruction surgery. To reduce blood loss, he carefully injected material into blood vessels feeding the cyst to block them, a procedure called embolization.

UC Davis Health opens the region’s first adult congenital colorectal clinic

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT

UC Davis Health opened the Sacramento region’s first dedicated adult congenital colorectal clinic.

Three people walk together in a clinic hallway

The clinic, which opened on May 12 on the UC Davis Health campus, provides care for patients with conditions that were diagnosed in infancy and may still require the expertise of pediatric specialists. These include anorectal malformations, Hirschsprung disease, cloacal anomalies and other congenital colorectal and pelvic conditions.

Many of these patients continue to experience long-term issues such as fecal incontinence, chronic constipation, pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary concerns, and sexual and reproductive health challenges.

“These patients often fall into the gap between pediatric and adult care systems,” said Payam Saadai, interim co-chief of the Division of Pediatric General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery in the UC Davis Department of Surgery and director of the Pediatric Colorectal Center at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “Some patients have continued to follow with pediatric providers, even beyond the typical age cutoff, due to a lack of access to adult providers with appropriate expertise. Others have transitioned to adult colorectal surgeons or gastrointestinal physicians, who may be less familiar with congenital conditions.”

Fewer than five adult congenital colorectal programs exist nationwide, making the UC Davis Health clinic a uniquely valuable resource both regionally and nationally.

The multidisciplinary clinic brings together pediatric and adult specialists in congenital colorectal care under one roof. Pediatric specialists bring knowledge and experience in treating the original congenital anatomy, prior surgeries and lifelong disease trajectory. Adult providers contribute expertise in managing adult physiology, comorbidities and long-term complications. A collaborative model ensures continuity, addresses inherent fragmentation in the health care system, and allows for both comprehensive and more individualized patient care.

The clinic is anchored by advanced nurse practitioner Kendall Ouzts, a nationally-recognized expert in congenital colorectal diseases. Ouzts is an educator in congenital colorectal diseases and serves as the clinical lead for the program. She works alongside adult colorectal surgeon Sean Flynn, pediatric GI physician Maheen Hassan, and Saadai.

“In addition to clinical care, this program creates opportunities for care standardization, patient education and smoother transition from pediatric to adult services, which can be modeled for other clinical service lines at UC Davis Health,” Saadai said. “Over time, we will also support research and outcomes tracking to further improve care for this population.”

The clinic team sees patients the second Tuesday of every month. It is located in the new Pediatric Surgery and Subspecialty Clinic, 2221 Stockton Blvd., Suite E, Sacramento. For more information, call 916-734-4148.

Uncovering the root cause of some severe brain diseases in children

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Thousands of times per year, a family’s moment of joy turns to unexpected grief. A seemingly healthy infant stops smiling or making eye contact. Their limbs grow weak. The tiny child suffers seizures and breathing problems.

Two researchers in white coats and lab goggles work in a lab.

Jawdat Al-Bassam, an associate professor of molecular and cellular biology at UC Davis, often hears from these families.

“I’ve gotten emails from folks all over the world,” he said.

By the time they contact him, they’ve undergone a bewildering medical journey lasting months or years — and received devastating news: Their child has a rare genetic disorder called a chaperone tubulinopathy.

“The parents are asking if there’s a way to do gene therapy,” Al-Bassam said. These life-shortening diseases, with names like infantile encephalopathy, corpus callosum hypoplasia and Kenny-Caffey syndrome, currently have no treatments. But Al-Bassam and his team have made a major discovery that could change that.

In two scientific papers — one published May 8, and the other in December 2025 — they have mapped the structure and mechanics of a critical cellular machine that malfunctions in people with these diseases.

In addition to enabling new treatments, this discovery could help scientists identify dozens of other genetic diseases in which children experience various neurological problems with no clear explanation.

Cellular skeletons guide neural connections

Al-Bassam studies structures called microtubules, which form protein skeletons inside cells. As a cell grows and changes shape, its cytoskeleton drives the process — lengthening its scaffold of microtubules.

“They are the cell’s force generators,” Al-Bassam said. These telescoping structures are crucial in the developing nervous system.

They help nerve cells grow the long tendrils, called axons, that connect with other nerve cells. These axons allow neurons to communicate across long distances, especially in the optic nerves that connect the eyes to the brain, in the corpus callosum that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and in the long nerves that reach down to the arms, legs, lungs and other organs.

For a baby to develop normal vision, cognition, coordination and breathing, the neurons have to connect properly. The microtubules must form perfectly inside the growing neurons.

The cell builds microtubules from two proteins, called α-tubulin and β-tubulin. Before they can be used, they have to be snapped together into thousands of αβ-tubulin “dimers” — forming the building blocks that can then assemble into microtubules.

Cells control the formation of microtubules, in part, by controlling the supply of the αβ-tubulin dimers. Special “chaperone” proteins — called “tubulin cofactors” — perform this delicate process. As soon as a cell produces a β-tubulin protein, these cofactors assemble into a cage that holds onto the β-tubulin until it can find an α-tubulin and snap them together into an αβ heterodimer, which it then releases.

But this process can easily go awry, with terrible consequences.

If the tubulin cofactors malfunction, it reduces the cell’s supply of αβ-tubulin, disrupting the microtubules that guide neuronal growth. “Even a small percent decrease in αβ-tubulin supply is toxic to the cell,” Al-Bassam said.

Devastating disorders of unknown origins

Scientists have discovered that some children with severe, unexplained neurologic disorders actually have mutations in their tubulin cofactor genes. This may reduce the supply of αβ-tubulin — leading to underdeveloped corpus callosum, optic nerves and other brain structures.

“Some of these mutants were identified almost 35 years ago in yeast,” Al-Bassam said. They were discovered 15 years later in humans. But the delicate proteins were difficult to study, he said, “so this whole field of research was essentially shelved for a long time.”

The UC Davis team has now broken that impasse. Using cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), they found how these proteins assemble into a complex machine. Their initial results, published in December 2025 in Nature Communications,show the elegant spring-and-latch mechanism that it uses to capture β-tubulin, snap it onto α-tubulin, and release the αβ dimer. “This was a surprise,” Al-Bassam said. “It was really beautiful.”

These experiments were led by Aryan Taheri, a former UC Davis undergraduate who was working in Al-Bassam’s lab at the time; Taheri has since graduated and is now pursuing a Ph.D. at UC Berkeley. “He’s extremely talented,” Al-Bassam said. “We look forward to seeing more amazing work from him in the future.”

In the second paper, published May 8 in Science Advances, Al-Bassam and Taheri unveil additional cryo-EM structures, showing the machine frozen in at least nine different configurations. These snapshots reveal how it functions in a complex cycle, snapping together αβ-dimers when they are needed, and pulling them apart when they aren’t.

These discoveries won’t immediately lead to treatments, but they could offer hope to affected families, Al-Bassam said: “For the first time, we have a precise picture of exactly what’s going wrong, and what a future therapy would need to fix.”

They could also allow disorders to be diagnosed more quickly. Today, families often endure a diagnostic odyssey in which the genomes of parent and child are sequenced in search of a mutation that might explain the problem — often yielding inconclusive results. A clearer understanding of which mutations disrupt the function of tubulin cofactors could lead to quicker diagnosis.

This new knowledge might even spur the discovery of other genetic disorders still flying under the radar.

“Many children are born with minor, unexplained neurologic disorders,” Al-Bassam said. “Some of them may turn out to have small changes in these genes. Finding that out would be a huge step forward.”

Al-Bassam’s research is funded by the National Institutes of Health. His team’s research on αβ-tubulin biogenesis utilized advanced scientific facilities at UC Davis, including the Biological Electron Microscopy Campus Core and the High Performance Computing Core.

Medical Center ranked as a Best Hospital for Maternity Care, Pediatric Care by Money magazine

Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT

UC Davis Medical Center has been recognized as one of the nation’s Best Hospitals for Maternity Care and Pediatric Care by Money magazine in 2026.

Parent and child stand at counter, while a person checks them in.

The annual Money rankings identify hospitals that deliver outstanding clinical outcomes, patient experience and value. For 2026, Money evaluated thousands of hospitals nationwide and named only 75 hospitals in each specialty category to its final lists.

UC Davis Medical Center was ranked #33 as a Best Hospital for Pediatric Care and #44 on the list for Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.

“This national recognition reflects the dedication, expertise and compassion of our physicians, nurses and care teams who serve children and families throughout Northern California and beyond,” said Satyan Lakshminrusmha, chief of pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “From prenatal care and childbirth to highly specialized pediatric services, our teams are committed to providing the safest, most comprehensive care at every stage of life.”

Methodology behind the rankings

Money’s Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list spotlights facilities that excel in caring for patients before, during and after pregnancy while maintaining strong safety records and patient satisfaction. Hospitals are evaluated using federal quality data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, measures of maternity-specific expertise, neonatal intensive care capability and nationally recognized accreditations.

The methodology emphasizes hospitals that demonstrate a strong focus on maternity services, perform a high volume of deliveries, support breastfeeding and education, and are equipped to manage both routine and complex pregnancies.

Money’s Best Hospitals for Pediatric Care rankings focuses on hospitals with experienced pediatric specialists, strong clinical outcomes, dedicated pediatric trauma and intensive care units and high patient experience scores. The pediatric rankings also highlight transparency in hospital pricing, helping families better understand and prepare for the cost of care.

View Money’s full methodology for maternity care and pediatric care.

UC Davis Pediatric Mobile Clinic brings specialty care to children and families across Sacramento region

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:00 GMT

UC Davis Children’s Hospital is expanding access to pediatric specialty care through its Pediatric Mobile Clinic, a community-centered clinic on wheels. The vehicle delivers specialty medical and mental health services directly to schools, mental health organizations, and other community agencies across the Sacramento region.

5 people stand in front of the van.

Launched in 2024, the Pediatric Mobile Clinic provides free health care services to historically marginalized and underserved populations by partnering with school districts and community-based organizations to reduce barriers to care for children facing access challenges. The clinic currently provides general pediatrics, mental health, developmental-behavioral pediatrics and asthma care in a mobile clinic setting.

Serena Yang greets a patient family at the pediatric mobile van.

This includes acute care, assessments for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions and care for depression, anxiety and other childhood conditions.

“This program is about meeting families where they are,” said Serena Yang, division chief of general pediatrics and vice chair of community engagement at UC Davis Health. Yang is part of the mobile clinic team made up of clinicians and staff from the MIND Institute, CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center and Children’s Hospital. “By bringing specialty services into schools and community spaces, we’re improving access, building trust and supporting children’s health together.” The Pediatric Mobile Clinic is entirely funded by a grant from Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

School-based partnership shows early impact

In its first year of regularly scheduled clinics from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, the Pediatric Mobile Clinic established a weekly presence at the Cordova Lane Center in partnership with Folsom Cordova Unified School District. Clinics served children with developmental concerns, mental health needs, asthma and school-entry health requirements – many of whom had not previously accessed specialty care.

Key results from the first year include:

52 children received specialty consultations directly at school sites, ranging in age from 3 to 15 years old.
No-show rates were low (less than 10%), reflecting improved access and reducing transportation barriers to care.
Nearly half of children served were insured by Medicaid or had pending coverage, but many were not connected to primary care.
Families rated their experience an average of 4.95 out of 5, citing convenience and support.

Regulatory T cells altered in children with autism

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Two new studies from the UC Davis MIND Institute examined regulatory T cells (Tregs) and their potential role in neuroinflammation and behavioral changes associated with autism.

A 3D illustration of pink immune cells with blue spikes floating against a soft, light background.

Tregs act as immune system "brakes," calming inflammation to prevent overreaction. They are often decreased in autistic individuals.

Previous studies have found higher levels of inflammatory immune cells in the blood, brain and gastrointestinal tissues of people with autism. These increased inflammatory responses are often linked to greater behavioral support needs, while higher levels of Tregs are associated with improved behavioral outcomes. Despite this, Tregs have not been well studied in autistic children, and their potential as a therapeutic target remains largely unexplored.

Rachel Moreno, first author of the study, is a postdoctoral fellow at the UC Davis MIND Institute.

Altered Tregs in autistic children

The first study, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, characterized Tregs in children with autism. It determined if gastrointestinal (GI) issues, a common co-occurring condition, altered Tregs in a unique way.

The researchers found autistic children had altered Tregs both in number and in the genes those cells use. This was compared to typically developing children. All participants were enrolled in the CHARGE study (Childhood Autism Risk from Genetics and Environment), an ongoing study that supports autism research.

The researchers compared the number and type of Tregs in 36 children with autism and 18 typically developing children. They also examined gene expression in Tregs to determine if there were differences between the two groups. In addition, they looked at the relationship between Tregs and gastrointestinal symptoms in autistic children.

The researchers found children with autism showed altered Tregs. Compared to typically developing children, children with autism had:

A lower number of Tregs. Tregs were generally reduced in autistic children but decreases in specific Treg populations differed depending on whether a child had GI issues. Children with autism and GI issues had fewer Tregs capable of producing anti-inflammatory proteins. Children without GI issues had fewer Tregs capable of dividing after activation.
Differentially expressed genes. Tregs from autistic children had 213 differentially expressed genes, with 171 upregulated (increased output) and 42 downregulated (decreased output).

The upregulated genes mainly help cells reorganize and repair DNA and adjust how they manage energy and fat metabolism. The downregulated genes were mostly involved in energy production, such as the conversion of oxygen and nutrients into usable energy.

The researchers note that more research is needed, but that these changes in metabolism and DNA organization suggest the identity of Tregs is unstable. One commonality was that having fewer Tregs was associated with more challenging behaviors in both typically developing children and children with autism.

“These differences in Treg populations may help explain the higher levels of inflammation seen in autism and could be linked to both gastrointestinal problems and certain behavioral traits,” said Rachel Moreno, a postdoctoral fellow at the MIND Institute and first author of the study. “This data further supports the idea that the immune system plays an important role in autism in at least some individuals.”

Children with autism and GI problems (ASDgi) had lower expression of GITR (an immune modulator) than those without GI problems (ASDnogi) and typically developing children (TD).

Exploring Tregs as potential biological therapies

There is growing interest in biological therapies for autism that target Tregs.

In a second study, also published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, the authors assessed whether increasing Tregs could reduce inflammation and behavioral challenges.

They used a mouse model of altered neurodevelopment, maternal immune activation (MIA), in which offspring exhibit autism-like behaviors.

The team transferred Tregs from healthy mice into male and female MIA mice, and evaluated tissues commonly inflamed in autism, including blood, brain and gut.

They found significant sex differences in the MIA mouse offspring that received the Treg transfer, with males showing greater changes than females.

YOLO Run raises funds for UC Davis Children’s Hospital on May 16

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

The NEC Society and UC Davis Children’s Hospital are teaming up to host the second annual YOLO Run on May 16.

People begin running the race at the start line.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an intestinal disease that can affect medically fragile infants during their first weeks and months of life. UC Davis Children’s Hospital provides lifesaving care for babies at risk of NEC and the NEC Society is the world’s leading nonprofit advancing NEC research, education and advocacy.

Yolo County residents Jennifer Canvasser and her husband, UC Davis urologic surgeon Noah Canvasser, launched the NEC Society after tragically losing their son, Micah, to the disease.

Funds raised will benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

The event features a 10K, 5K and 2K run/walk at 8 a.m. at the UC Davis Health Stadium in Davis. A virtual run/walk is also offered for those unable to attend in person.

Project ADAM Sacramento launches first Heart Safe Youth Sports Program

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Last May, the Pocket Little League community in Sacramento received the devastating news that 11-year-old Pocket Little League player Isaiah Fleming passed away in his sleep from sudden cardiac arrest.

Five people stand on baseball field, with one person holding a certificate and one person holding an AED in a bag.

The news rocked the community and all who knew him on the baseball diamond.

“The coaches, parents and board were uniquely motivated to make sure they would be prepared to protect their players, coaches, staff and visitors. It was a priority,” said Heather Houston, a Pocket Little League parent. She also happens to be a UC Davis Health cardiovascular research nurse who led the effort to obtain an automated external defibrillator (AED) for the league.

Last fall, Houston contacted two organizations focused on preventing sudden cardiac arrest in youth. First, she got in touch with Project ADAM Sacramento coordinator Rebecca McCormac, who connected her to the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation. Within a month, the Kyle J. Foundation approved her paperwork for the AED. In preparation for the upcoming baseball season, Project ADAM Sacramento then provided CPR and AED training for all coaches and created a cardiac emergency plan.

On opening day, Pocket Little League received the unique distinction of being named the first Heart Safe Youth Sports Program by Project ADAM Sacramento. Houston accepted the new AED and certificate on behalf of Pocket Little League.

Under a state law known as the Navaeh Youth Sports Safety Act, all California youth sports organizations will soon be mandated to provide access to an AED at all games and practices. By Jan. 1, 2027, all coaches must be certified in CPR and AED use, and have a comprehensive emergency response plan in place.

“The Pocket Little League is a model example of what can be done in a short amount of time, with Project ADAM Sacramento’s help,” McCormac said.

McCormac wants to help more youth sports programs become heart safe, in addition to the work she does supporting and training schools and school districts to be better prepared for cardiac emergencies.

“The response from parents, coaches and the community has been so positive. We have seen how much this means to people. Everyone has been so engaged and actively participating in these efforts,” Houston said.

Project ADAM Sacramento is committed to helping schools implement and sustain a CPR and AED program so they can handle cardiac emergencies and save lives. Project ADAM Sacramento was established at UC Davis Children’s Hospital in 2015 and was the first California affiliate of Project ADAM.

Pocket Little League is based in South Sacramento’s Pocket neighborhood, west of Interstate 5. The league supports more than 300 players from as young as age 4 through middle school.

UC Davis Health physician to serve as plenary speaker at global gynecology congress

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

03/18/2026

UC Davis Health physician to serve as plenary speaker at global gynecology congress

By Tricia Tomiyoshi

Mitchell Creinin will present at the World Congress of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology next month in San Francisco

(SACRAMENTO)

Mitchell Creinin, distinguished professor and director of the UC Davis Complex Family Planning Fellowship, will be a plenary speaker at the World Congress of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (WCPAG) Conference in San Francisco.

Mitchell Creinin

The April 23-25 congress is one of the most prestigious gatherings in global adolescent health and gynecological care.

Creinin’s plenary talk on April 23 is titled “Mastering Hormonal Contraception: World-Leading Insights from the Forefront of Adolescent.” He will provide an in-depth exploration of the latest advancements in levonorgestrel and copper IUDs, as well as progestin-based contraceptives. He will also equip providers with evidence-based, culturally sensitive approaches to address common misconceptions about IUDs and progestin therapies. In addition, he will highlight pioneering developments in IUD technology and progestin delivery systems, including much of his own research that has led to the development of many of the contraceptives in use today.

Creinin is also a featured luncheon speaker Thursday on the topic “Understanding Non-Palpable Etonogestrel Implants.” In addition, he will present a hands-on workshop on paracervical blocks.

The WCPAG Conference gathers international colleagues from the areas of pediatric and adolescent gynecology, adolescent medicine, pediatric endocrinology and pediatrics. Its mission is to improve the care of patients through evidence-based clinical practices including conference topics such as menstrual concerns, pubertal issues, and sexual and reproductive health.

The conference is hosted by the North American Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Gynecology (NASPAG), a national consortium of gynecologists, surgeons, adolescent medicine specialists, pediatricians, endocrinologists, scientists and other specialists in order to facilitate research, disseminate education and optimize reproductive care for children, adolescents and young adults. More than 500 health care providers across the U.S. and Canada belong to NASPAG, which hosts an annual clinical and research meeting in North America.

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New training model helps surgeons practice minimally invasive spina bifida repair

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

A team of development engineers at UC Davis Tech Foundry and medical professionals at UC Davis Health has developed a teaching model to train pediatric surgeons on fetoscopic repair of spina bifida.

Demonstration of a model for training pediatric surgeons on fetoscopic repair.

Spina bifida is a congenital condition where spinal tissue fails to fuse properly in the womb, leading to lifelong health problems. Fetoscopic repair is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to address conditions like spina bifida in a fetus. It is a type of laparoscopic surgery, where surgeons make tiny incisions and insert very small tools and a long, thin camera inside the patient’s body.

“Fetal surgery, and fetoscopy for spina bifida in particular, is one of the more technically complex procedures in pediatric surgery, yet there are very few opportunities for surgeons to practice it,” said Payam Saadai, an associate professor of surgery at UC Davis Health. He had the initial idea for a training model.

One of the biggest benefits of fetoscopic repair over similar treatments for spina bifida is that it allows the mother to have a vaginal delivery in the future, due to its minimally invasive nature.

From idea to rough sketch to fully realized tool

Saadai passed his idea on to laboratory supervisor Christopher Pivetti and surgical research resident Elizabeth Reynolds, who both work in Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery Aijun Wang’s lab at Aggie Square in Sacramento. Aggie Square is UC Davis’ innovation district where researchers, industry professionals and entrepreneurs work side by side.

The first 3D-printed fetus model. (Courtesy of Valerie Quiroz)

Also at Aggie Square, on the first floor of the district’s flagship building is Tech Foundry, a 7,500-square-foot device development facility. This set up an ideal situation to collaborate.

When Pivetti and Reynolds had more time to sit and think about Saadai’s idea, they sketched out notes and diagrams on graph paper. As they developed the idea for the fetoscopy model, they brought in pediatric neurosurgeons Cameron Sadegh and Marike Zwienenberg, both members of the fetal surgery team at the UC Davis Health Fetal Care and Treatment Center, for their expertise in fetal closure of spina bifida. Then, they brought their sketch to Tech Foundry to see if the team there could bring the idea into reality.

For Valerie Quiroz, the development engineer who took on the project, the sketch was all she needed. She transformed the sketch and medical jottings into a working prototype featuring 3D-printed, silicone-cast and laser-cut components.

A Teaching Model

The model simulates a fetus suspended in amniotic fluid inside the uterus. It features a chamber that can be filled with liquid and holds a small doll. It also includes a dome with small holes through which laparoscopic instruments can fit.

On the backside of the doll is a raised area of skin, almost like a balloon. This is to mimic fetal myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida. It’s when the fetus’s spine and spinal canal remain open at the bottom of the spinal column, creating a bulge of skin.

“The raised area will be a consumable part that will be replaced for the next user,” Quiroz said. “[It] is intended to mimic multiple layers of tissue, such as skin, dura mater and placode, and allow surgeons to practice surgical techniques, including suturing.”

Elizabeth Reynolds and Christopher Pivetti demonstrate a model for training pediatric surgeons on fetoscopic repair of spina bifida at Aggie Square. (Matt Marcure/UC Davis)

Due to the small area of skin on the fetus, and the fine laparoscopic tools, fetoscopic repair is one of the most technical and delicate pediatric procedures. With the new teaching model, pediatric surgeons at UC Davis Health can now practice and perfect the technique for treating spina bifida before ever entering the operating room.

“The fetal operation requires technical precision and is only available at a few centers in the world,” Saadai said, “so the fetal model directly supports this work by creating a safe, reproducible environment where our team can train and refine these techniques, dramatically shortening the learning curve for such a complex operation.”

Christopher Pivetti and Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery Aijun Wang are using the model to explore the next iteration of the CuRe Trial, which applies a stem cell patch in its surgical treatment of spina bifida. (Nadine Yehya/UC Davis Health)

Advancing the CuRe

Thanks to the teaching model, fetoscopic surgery will be an option alongside the CuRe trial at UC Davis Health. The CuRe Trial, or Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele, is a groundbreaking treatment using a stem cell patch to repair spina bifida tissue.

The trial is led by Wang and Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery Diana Farmer , with Pivetti, Reynolds and Saadai as members of the clinical research team. The trial is a world first and was recently found to be safe in a paper published in The Lancet, but requires invasive surgery.

“For the CuRe Trial, we use an open surgical approach to treat the fetus, meaning we make a larger cut on the uterus and float the baby's defect to that opening for repair. The disadvantage to this approach is that these moms cannot have a standard vaginal delivery again,” Pivetti said.

Pivetti explained that the training model will be used in the next stage of the CuRe trial. The goal is to replace the open surgery with a minimally invasive fetoscopic surgery. During the procedure, a surgeon would administer the small stem cell patch with laparoscopic tools before closing the incision to allow the tissue to regenerate.

“By developing not just fetoscopic techniques but also the training infrastructure, which we have never had at UC Davis before, we position our health center as one that is advancing the next generation of both fetal therapy and surgical innovation,” Saadai said.

Adrienne Hoyt-Austin receives Eli Gold Prize

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

03/13/2026

Adrienne Hoyt-Austin receives Eli Gold Prize

By Tricia Tomiyoshi

(SACRAMENTO)

Adrienne Hoyt-Austin, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics, has received the 2026 Eli Gold Prize.

Hoyt-Austin was nominated by Serena Yang, division chief of general pediatrics, in recognition of her clinical excellence and contributions to teaching, mentorship, research, community service and health equity efforts.

Vice chancellor of human health sciences Mark Rosenblatt presents Adrienne Hoyt-Austin with the Eli Gold Prize.

“Dr. Hoyt-Austin is an extraordinary pediatrician, scholar, teacher, mentor and service leader who is truly deserving of the Eli Gold Prize,” Yang said in her nomination letter.

Hoyt-Austin provides care in the UC Davis Health newborn nursery, Glassrock Pediatric Clinic and the primary care pediatric clinic at the Sacramento County Health Center, which is a federally qualified health center.

Her many achievements include establishing the breastfeeding and lactation medicine subspecialty clinic at the Glassrock Pediatric Clinic, serving on the UC Davis Human Milk Task Force and chairing the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocol Committee. She is a two-time recipient of the Golden Apple Teaching Award and is a scholar in the UC Davis Health Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health K12 Program.

The Eli Gold Prize is open to any junior faculty in the UC Davis Department of Pediatrics who has achieved prominence in clinical, teaching, research or community service. The criteria for identifying the award recipient includes innovation, their influence on child health, and impact on UC Davis Children’s Hospital, the Department of Pediatrics and the UC Davis School of Medicine. The award winner is invited to present a lecture on a topic of their choice at a Pediatric Grand Rounds (teaching sessions on clinical topics related to children’s health).

The annual award was named for Eli Gold, former professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Pediatrics, who supported and encouraged many young aspiring pediatricians. The prize includes $3,000 for research or career development.

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UC Davis PICU hosts one of nation’s few bootcamps for senior pediatric critical care fellows

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

The UC Davis Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) hosted a three-day bootcamp to train senior pediatric critical care fellows from across the country.

Three medical workers train on a mannequin baby lying on a gurney.

The Feb. 18-20 training was led by pediatric critical care physicians Jennifer Lee and Jessica Signoff at the UC Davis Health Center for Simulation and Education Enhancement.

Lee and Signoff designed the simulation-based training program to prepare senior pediatric critical care fellows for their transition into attending physician roles.

UC Davis is one of only three institutions in the country offering this standardized senior-level bootcamp. The other programs are at Johns Hopkins and Children’s Wisconsin.

“The curriculum focused on high-yield, low-occurrence critical care scenarios, allowing fellows to practice complex decision-making, crisis management, procedural skills and leadership skills in a realistic simulation environment,” said Mandeep “Mandy” Chahal, assistant nurse manager of the Pediatric and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

The event brought together fellows and faculty from institutions across the region and country, creating a collaborative learning experience for emerging pediatric critical care leaders.

“Overall, we hosted 13 PICU fellows from UC Davis Health, Stanford, UCSF Health, Children’s Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Orange County and Loma Linda, and 17 faculty from the programs above as well as UC San Diego Health, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Advocate Children’s Hospital and Johns Hopkins,” Lee said.

UC Davis faculty from several specialties helped lead training sessions:

Rajeev Wadia and Niroop Ravula from Pediatric Anesthesia; Jamie Funamura and Aditi Bhuskete from Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat; Erk Laurin, Verena Schandera and Pranav Shetty from the Emergency Department taught key procedures. Faculty from other subspecialties also trained fellows on procedures such as needle cricothyrotomies, intubating difficult airways with fiberoptic scopes, surgical chest tube placement, and pericardiocentesis.

Organizers said the bootcamp was made possible with the expertise of various departments whose members contributed significantly to the fellows’ learning. Additional support was provided by:

PICU nurses: Genie Dizon, Ashley Wood, Mandy Chahal, Christina Horan, Megan McCaffrey, Carlye Miller, Ashley Donkerbrook, Monica Flores, Nicole Appezzato, Kristina Ison, Rosa Solis, Ashley Sozzi, Annie Randolph, Bianca Celiz-Gutierrez and Erin Dame Lewis
Pediatric critical care transport nurses: Kyle Irwin, Peter Kesling
ECLS nurses: Jerry Kerekes, Sam Daddow
Respiratory therapists: Ally Cahill, Stephanie Carranza
Pediatric cardiology faculty: Timothy Pirolli, Mohammad Alnoor
Simulation specialists: Francisco Ramirez, Andrea Vivar, Ian Julie, Danier Ong, Brandon Phong and Drew Robinett
Pediatric critical care medicine fellowship coordinator: Julia Weiland

Through simulation-based education and interdisciplinary teaching, the bootcamp highlights UC Davis Health’s commitment to advancing pediatric critical care training and preparing the next generation of PICU leaders.

The program also strengthens collaboration among teams who care for critically ill children and their families.

NorCal AIDS Cycle benefits UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Registration is now open for the 2026 NorCal AIDS Cycle, which raises funds for HIV/AIDS service providers in the Sacramento Valley, including the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Group of people stand in line, shoulder to shoulder, many with bicycles.

The bike race takes place May 14-17. The public is invited to donate or participate.

The race starts May 14 in the Sacramento area and takes riders to a basecamp location at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds. The next two days of riding feature challenging routes that start and end at basecamp. On May 17, the race will end at the West Lawn of the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

“Because of the generosity of the NorCal AIDS Cycle community and the hard work they put into this race each year, we can continue providing care and support to the children and families who need it most in our clinic,” said Tami Enslie, clinical resource nurse with the UC Davis Pediatric Specialty Clinics. “We are deeply grateful for their commitment to making a difference and continuing to make UC Davis Pediatric Infectious Diseases a beneficiary of their cause.”

Last year’s race raised $3,000 for the UC Davis Pediatric Infectious Diseases clinic.

The Division of Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children's Hospital is dedicated to treating infants, children and adolescents with infectious diseases such as HIV. Physicians specializing in infectious diseases also conduct clinical research studies with new vaccine and HIV treatments.

For more information about the NorCal AIDS Cycle, visit https://norcalaidscycle.org/.

Measles outbreaks: symptoms, treatment and prevention: What parents need to know

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT

02/27/2024 Updated:March 9, 2026

Measles outbreaks: symptoms, treatment and prevention: What parents need to know

By Tricia Tomiyoshi

Pediatrician Dean Blumberg shares how to keep kids safe as measles spreads in the U.S.

(SACRAMENTO)

With measles outbreaks occurring now through the U.S., UC Davis Health experts advise parents to be aware of the symptoms and call a health care provider if they suspect that their child has measles. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, also answers some frequently asked questions about measles.

What are the symptoms of measles?

Complications of measles can include diarrhea, dehydration, ear infections, pneumonia, blindness, inflammation of the brain, and death.

Symptoms usually begin 10-14 days after exposure to the virus. Measles starts with a fever, which can be very high. Cough, runny nose and red eyes are common. One of the most distinctive features of measles is a red, spotty rash that starts at the head and then spreads downward over the rest of the body. Complications can include diarrhea, dehydration, ear infections, pneumonia, blindness, inflammation of the brain, and death.

How does measles spread?

Measles is highly contagious. The virus particles are very small and can be suspended in the air up to two hours. So, a person with measles who enters and then leaves a room can infect others who enter that same room for up to two hours, without direct person-to-person contact. Measles can also live on infected surfaces for up to two hours. If one person has measles, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.

How does measles affect those who are pregnant?

If measles occurs during pregnancy, there is an increased risk of intrauterine fetal death, spontaneous abortion and maternal death.

How deadly is measles?

Out of every 1,000 cases, about one to two people, die from measles. Before widespread measles vaccinations in the U.S., 500 children died from measles every year. The World Health Organization reported 107,500 deaths globally from measles in 2023, mostly among unvaccinated or undervaccinated children under the age of 5.

Are there any long-term consequences of a measles infection?

Yes, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is rare but a fatal disease that results from a measles virus infection acquired earlier in life. It typically develops seven to 10 years after a person has measles, often in adolescence, even though the person seems to have fully recovered from measles. Seven to 11 people out of every 100,000 are estimated to be at risk for developing SSPE. The risk of developing SSPE may be higher for a person who gets measles before the age of 2.

What is the MMR vaccine?

The MMR vaccine protects children from measles, mumps and rubella (also known as German measles) by exposing them to live, weakened forms of the viruses that cause these diseases. Most children do not experience any side effects from the shot. Side effects that do occur are usually very mild and include low-grade fever, transient rash and mild, temporary soreness or swelling where the shot was given.

When should children get their measles vaccinations?

The first dose of the measles vaccination is typically given between 12 and 15 months of age. The second dose is routinely given between 4 and 6 years of age. The first dose protects children 95 to 97 percent of the time. The second dose increases a child’s protection from measles to about 99 percent. By the time children enter school, they should have the two doses. It is especially important to make sure that anyone planning international travel is fully vaccinated since there are measles outbreaks in countries to which Americans often travel.

Does the measles vaccine offer lifetime immunity?

The majority of adults are immune because they typically either had measles as children or received a measles vaccination. I encourage adults to talk with their health care providers about getting the MMR vaccine if they are unsure of their immunity status. There is no danger in getting the vaccine, even if you’ve already had the measles or the vaccine.

If my children are not vaccinated and potentially exposed to measles, should they get the vaccine?

It is a good idea to vaccinate previously unvaccinated children who are potentially exposed to measles. It doesn't guarantee that they won’t get the disease, however it can lessen the severity if they do.

Does the MMR vaccine cause autism?

There were a lot of concerns about this because of a now discredited publication. Since then, many scientific studies in the U.S. and other countries involving millions of children have reached the same conclusion: The MMR vaccine does not cause autism.

How do you treat measles?

There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles. Treatment is generally supportive such as IV fluids if patients are dehydrated, or respiratory support such as supplemental oxygen if they are having difficulty breathing. Children with measles should stay home from school and activities, rest and drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration.

What should I do if I think my child has been exposed?

If you suspect your child may have measles, contact your health care provider in advance and ask if your child can be seen in an isolation room.

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A little-known respiratory virus, human metapneumovirus, surging in Northern California

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

If you came down with a respiratory infection this spring that wasn’t the flu or COVID-19, it may have been a virus you’ve never heard of: Human metapneumovirus or HMPV.

Person on a couch blowing nose with a tissue in a bright living room.

The virus was first discovered in 2001 but is less well known than its viral relative, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Both are in the Pneumoviridae family.

HMPV is seasonal — like the annual flu — and it is currently spiking in the U.S., according to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), which monitors viral activity.

WastewaterSCAN data, which tracks pathogens in wastewater, also shows high levels of HMPV in Northern California, including in Sacramento, Davis, Vallejo and San Francisco.

HMPV spreads through direct or close contact with an infected person, including exposure to respiratory droplets, large-particle aerosols, or fomites, which are contaminated objects.

Infection transmits by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact (touching or shaking hands), or touching contaminated objects or surfaces, then touching the mouth, nose or eyes.

HMPV cases are rising in the U.S. and in Region 9, which includes California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii.

HMPV typically mild, but can lead to severe disease

“HMPV causes symptoms very similar to RSV,” said Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases. “This includes upper respiratory symptoms that sometimes progress to pneumonia or bronchiolitis and wheezing.”

He notes that in most people, HMPV is usually mild. But the virus can cause more severe disease, resulting in hospitalization in some cases.

According to Blumberg, infants and young children under 2 years of age are most at risk for complications like bronchiolitis.

“Children born prematurely, with heart or lung disease, or weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe disease,” Blumberg said. Others at higher risk include those who:

Have weakened immune systems.
Have had organ transplants.
Have cancer.
Take long-term steroids.
Have breathing problems.
Are over 65 years of age.

Symptoms of HMPV

The symptoms of HMPV are similar to those of other viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory infections and may include:

Nasal congestion
Sore throat
Chest congestion
Cough
Fever

For some, the symptoms may progress to bronchitis or pneumonia.

Patient selected as 2026 National Children’s Miracle Network Champion

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT

UC Davis Children’s Hospital is proud to announce that Shine Arslanian, a longtime Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) ambassador, has been selected as a 2026 National Children’s Miracle Network Champion. He will represent UC Davis Children’s Hospital and Northern California on a national stage.

Boy with prosthetic legs runs in hospital corridor.

Shine’s selection marks a historic milestone for UC Davis Children’s Hospital. In the hospital’s 38-year partnership with CMN, this is the first time a UC Davis Children’s Hospital patient has been chosen to serve as a National Champion.

Shine will serve as a powerful ambassador for the 170 children’s hospitals that make up Children’s Miracle Network, representing millions of children on their health journeys across the U.S. and Canada. National Champions are featured in nationwide awareness campaigns, attend national events and help elevate the life-changing care made possible through community support, including appearances across major corporate partner platforms. This role encompasses the mission of aligning generosity with impact: All Together, For All Kids.

“Shine embodies resilience, joy, and possibility,” said Kacie Merrick, Senior Director of CMN Programming at UC Davis Health. “To have him selected as a National Champion is not only a testament to his incredible story, but to the extraordinary care teams, donors and community partners who make miracles possible every day at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.”

Shine’s journey with UC Davis Children’s Hospital began at a young age, where he received comprehensive, family-centered care that supported both his physical and emotional well-being. Today, he uses his voice to inspire others, share hope and advocate for children and families navigating complex health journeys.

“Shine is putting Northern California on the map as a destination for world-class pediatric health care,” said Merrick. “His story elevates what’s possible when communities rally together to support children and families in need of care.”

Through his role as a National Champion, Shine will help lead the charge for Children’s Miracle Network’s Health For All Kids Impact Pledge: a bold commitment to raise $1 billion over the next two years to ensure every child has the best possible chance for a healthy future.

The public is invited to join the movement to ensure Health For All Kids. They can do so by signing the Impact Pledge, making a donation at cmn.org/pledge, and showing their support within their own communities.