News
January 2022
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UnderservedJanuary 15, 2022New paper proposes diversity, equity and inclusion measures to combat structural health inequities
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola of UC Davis is one of seven national leaders who wrote an article in the New England Journal of Medicine urging the clinical and translational research community to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in their work as a way to address structural health inequities.
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Eye Health and Vision ScienceJanuary 13, 2022Dried goji berries may provide protection against age-related macular degeneration
According to a new study by researchers at UC Davis, regularly eating a small serving of dried goji berries may offer protection against age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, which is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
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CoronavirusJanuary 11, 2022International study identifies predictors of severe outcomes in children with COVID-19
A new international study done by researchers at three academic medical institutions, including UC Davis Health, analyzed the impact of COVID-19 infection in children and identified their risk of severe outcomes.
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Violence PreventionJanuary 03, 2022New research shows violence is broadly felt by millions of Californians
Researchers at UC Davis Health have shown millions of Californians are indirectly impacted by violence. While relatively few experience violent acts, 64% of surveyed Californians heard gunshots, passed sidewalk memorials or learned about violence through their social networks.
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December 2021
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UnderservedDecember 29, 2021UC Davis leads grassroots effort to screen migrant workers and their families for COVID-19
UC Davis Health with the support of community partners has tested more than 17,000 farm laborers, other essential workers and their families for COVID-19 in a crucial effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus among vulnerable populations.
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Violence PreventionDecember 21, 2021Handgun ownership and intimate partner violence history increases risk of violent crime
Researchers at UC Davis Health have shown that handgun owners charged with intimate partner violence were more likely to reoffend and commit other violent crimes, including murder, rape and aggravated assault.
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CoronavirusDecember 17, 2021
New platform uses machine-learning and mass spectrometer to rapidly process COVID-19 tests
UC Davis Health and SpectraPass are conducting a study in Sacramento and Las Vegas to evaluate a new COVID-19 test. The idea behind the novel platform is a scalable system that can rapidly perform on-site tests for potentially thousands of people.
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CancerDecember 16, 2021New potential treatment for graft-versus-host-disease and other inflammatory disorders
UC Davis Health researchers showed that blocking IL-6 and TNF cytokines provides a more effective approach to preventing life-threatening graft-versus-host-disease, an inflammatory condition that develops in patients after their allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
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Violence PreventionDecember 09, 2021Violence increased most in marginalized neighborhoods early in the COVID-19 pandemic
Low-income communities of color experienced significantly greater increases in firearm violence, homicides and assaults compared to more affluent communities during the first five months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study from the Violence Prevention Research Program.
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ResearchDecember 07, 2021UC Davis develops engineered bone marrow to study early osteosarcoma progression
UC Davis pediatric orthopedic surgeons, biomedical engineers, and immunologists have created an artificial bone marrow model that may help them better understand osteosarcoma, the most common type of bone cancer in children and adolescents.
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MaternityDecember 02, 2021Probiotics improve nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, according to new study
Probiotics significantly improve the symptoms of pregnancy-related nausea, vomiting and constipation, according to a new UC Davis study. Nausea and vomiting affect about 85% of pregnancies and can significantly impact quality of life.
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November 2021
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ResearchNovember 24, 2021Antibodies mimicking the virus may explain long haul COVID-19, rare vaccine side effects
A new paper published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that secondary antibodies known as “anti-idiotype antibodies” could be responsible for some of the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and the symptoms of long-haul COVID.
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Eye Health and Vision ScienceNovember 24, 2021Susanna Park inducted as holder of Roth Endowed Chair for Discovery, Education and Patient Care
Susanna Soon-Chun Park was inducted as the inaugural holder of the Barbara A. and Alan M. Roth, M.D. Endowed Chair for Discovery, Education and Patient Care during a special ceremony at the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity.
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Neurological HealthNovember 17, 2021
Understanding the cognitive legacy of the Vietnam War
UC Davis has launched a first-of-its-kind study to look at aging and cognition in older Vietnamese Americans, many of whom survived the trauma of the Vietnam War. The research, led by Oanh Meyer, is funded with a $7.2 million National Institute on Aging grant.
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ResearchNovember 17, 2021New model translates heart research findings from animals to humans
UC Davis Health scientists developed a new tool to translate cardiac studies from animal models to humans. The tool will help in better understanding arrhythmia and other heart conditions and support the search for effective cardiac therapies.
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ResearchNovember 10, 2021Researchers at UC Davis may have unlocked function of mysterious structure found on neurons
Distinguished Professor James Trimmer has been baffled for 30 years by mysterious clusters of proteins found on neurons in the hippocampus region of the brain. Now he and his colleagues may finally know what they do.
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ResearchNovember 04, 2021Guns, violence and political extremism putting U.S. at risk of disaster, according to expert
Garen Wintemute, one of the foremost experts on firearm violence in the U.S., is sounding the alarm that increases in gun purchases, violence and political extremism are putting the United States at risk for disaster in the coming months.
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School of MedicineNovember 01, 2021UC Davis School of Medicine names new vice dean for research
UC Davis School of Medicine has appointed Kim Barrett, distinguished professor of medicine at UC San Diego and director of the division of graduate education at the National Science Foundation, as its new vice dean for research.
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October 2021
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ResearchOctober 27, 2021
UC Davis Prof. Andreas Bäumler awarded Robert Koch Prize 2021
Andreas Bäumler and Yasmine Belkaid are the 2021 Robert Koch Prize winners. They are recognized for their groundbreaking research on the intestinal epithelium’s role in the composition of the body’s microbiota and its links to infectious and inflammatory diseases.
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Children's HealthOctober 27, 2021
How much is the dust in your home affecting your child?
When it comes to keeping kids safe, parents may not think about household dust as a potential hazard. A $1.35 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency will track which chemicals kids might accidentally ingest to determine health risks.
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Children's HealthOctober 26, 2021Shorter therapy for caregivers of children with behavioral challenges is effective
A program developed at the UC Davis CAARE Center for caregivers of children with behavioral problems showed better parent retention and increased improvements in child behavior than an established parent intervention.
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Children's HealthOctober 19, 2021STARS offers specialized telehealth services to kids with disabilities in rural areas
STARS, a school-based telehealth program serving children with physical disabilities living in rural Northern California, provides an experience and quality of care that is similar to in-person patient visits. It may also save an average of $100 per visit.
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ResearchOctober 19, 2021More resources needed for Gun Violence Restraining Order law to be effective, new study finds
A new study from the Violence Prevention Research Program finds that California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order law has been hampered by a lack of funding to support local implementation efforts, leading to inconsistent practices and confusion.
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Awards and HonorsOctober 04, 2021Do early life experiences shape the risk for dementia?
The National Institute on Aging is funding a UC Davis Health study designed to understand how early life health and behavior impact risk of cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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September 2021
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CoronavirusSeptember 29, 2021
UC Davis School of Medicine tests potential COVID-19 treatments and vaccines
The UC Davis School of Medicine is partnering with drug developers and funding agencies to find and test potential therapies and vaccines to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
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Awards and HonorsSeptember 28, 2021Western Health Advantage establishes first endowed professorship at UC Davis nursing school
Western Health Advantage gift establishes the first endowed professorship at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis Health. The investment affirms the shared vision of healthy communities.
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MIND InstituteSeptember 24, 2021Unusual visual examination of objects may indicate later autism diagnosis in infants
A UC Davis Health study suggests that unusual visual inspection of objects may precede the development of the social symptoms characteristic of autism syndrome disorder.
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Heart and VascularSeptember 21, 2021NIH grant funds new study to evaluate heart failure in California Central Valley patients
Martin Cadeiras, Javier E. López and Nipavan Chiamvimonvat are co-principal investigators for a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to take a precision medicine approach to evaluate patients with a poorly understood form of heart failure.
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MIND InstituteSeptember 16, 2021Veronica Ahumada brings human-robot interaction expertise to UC Davis Health
Veronica Ahumada joined UC Davis Health this year and brought her expertise in health informatics and human-robot interaction to the UC Davis Center for Health and Technology. She will be growing her research through two exciting grant-funded projects involving robots.
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CancerSeptember 02, 2021Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona selected as HACU Leadership Academy fellow
Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, has been selected as a fellow for the third cohort of the Presidential Leadership Academy by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
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August 2021
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Children's HealthAugust 26, 2021Busting myths about diabetic ketoacidosis, a common but serious complication of diabetes
In a Q&A, Pediatrician Nicole Glaser discusses the causes, symptoms and treatment of DKA in children with Type I diabetes.
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Awards and HonorsAugust 25, 2021UC Davis and the School of Medicine set new records in research funding
UC Davis set a new record for external research funding, receiving $968 million in awards in the fiscal year 2020-21. The School of Medicine received the largest increase in funding, up 33% from the previous year.
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Children's HealthAugust 20, 2021Video game makes speech therapy fun for children with cleft palates
For more than seven years, UC Davis Health experts Travis Tollefson and Christina Roth have partnered with UC Santa Cruz researchers to provide feedback and testing of SpokeIt, a UC Santa Cruz-developed game. SpokeIt provides a tool that incentivizes children to improve their speech.
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CoronavirusAugust 13, 2021UC Davis School of Medicine partners with Pfizer to study COVID-19 booster vaccine
UC Davis Health has chosen 60 people to participate in a clinical trial to determine if a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot is necessary, safe and effective. The participants are among 225 who signed up more than a year ago for the clinical trial that led to the FDA Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer vaccine.
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ResearchAugust 13, 2021Study explains why food high in saturated fat may lead to plaque build-up in arteries
A new study suggests that eating food rich in saturated fat and choline increases metabolites that build plaques in the arteries. It also points to a possible drug that may block the negative effects of the high-fat diet.
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School of MedicineAugust 06, 2021Study suggests holistic admissions policies increase medical school diversity
New study by School of Medicine faculty members confirms the importance of pre-med Postbaccalaureate programs to better prepare medical school applicants. The programs are also known to increase diversity of applicants from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.
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ResearchAugust 03, 2021Two-thirds of California firearm owners with children do not store guns in recommended way
Firearm injuries are among the leading causes of death for children and adolescents in the U.S., but a new study finds two-thirds of firearm-owning adults in California who live with children do not store their guns safely, locked up and unloaded.
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ResearchAugust 03, 2021Is reducing opioids for pain patients linked to higher rates of overdose and mental health crisis?
A UC Davis Health study published in JAMA found a 68% increase in overdose events and a doubling of mental health crises among patients who were on stable opioid therapy but saw their doses tapered.
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June 2021
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CoronavirusJune 24, 2021Study confirms the low likelihood that SARS-CoV-2 on hospital surfaces is infectious
A new study confirms the low likelihood that coronavirus contamination on hospital surfaces is infectious. The study is the original report on recovering near-complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences directly from surface swabs.
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Stem CellsJune 23, 2021Research provides a roadmap to HIV eradication via stem cell therapy
A groundbreaking study found that stem cells reduce the amount of virus causing AIDS, boost the body’s antiviral immunity, and restore the gut’s lymphoid follicles damaged by HIV. It provided a roadmap for multi-pronged HIV eradication strategies.
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LaboratoryJune 22, 2021Switching from Western diet to a balanced diet may reduce skin, joint inflammation
Diet rich in sugar and fat leads to disruption in the gut’s microbial culture and contributes to inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. Research shows that switching to a more balanced diet restores the gut’s health and suppresses inflammation.
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ResearchJune 21, 2021New grants awarded for projects to improve mental health for Californians
UC Davis' Behavioral Health Center of Excellence has awarded three seed grants to help support new research efforts aimed at improving mental health in California.
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Awards and HonorsJune 18, 2021UC Davis Health scientist awarded Pew Scholarship to beat bacteria behind tuberculosis
Bennett Penn, assistant professor of infectious diseases and of medical microbiology and immunology, has been named a 2021 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. He will receive funding over the next four years to investigate how bacteria causing tuberculosis build resistance to antibiotics.
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UnderservedJune 17, 2021UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center awarded 5-year grant renewal from NIH
The Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC) received notice of its third NIH award renewal. The 5-year award, almost $33 million, provides critical funding to continue CTSC’s essential services for the UC Davis research community.
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MIND InstituteJune 07, 2021MIND Institute brain bank focused on autism, diversity, education and research
The new CENE Brain Bank, supported by the MIND Institute, aims to increase the diversity of brain tissue available for research about autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The project includes collection sites in Latin American countries.
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MIND InstituteJune 04, 2021Rapid whole genome sequencing leads to better outcomes for babies, lower medical costs
A study published today outlined the success of Project Baby Bear, a real-world quality improvement program designed to test the clinical and economic value of using rapid Whole Genome Sequencing to diagnose and guide treatment for infants with unexplained rare disease.
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Violence PreventionJune 04, 2021Most Californians unaware of law to prevent gun violence but would support using it
A new study shows that two-thirds of Californians don’t know about a law designed to prevent a person at risk of hurting themselves or others from possessing or purchasing firearms or ammunition. More than 80% of survey participants were supportive once they read about this law.
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ResearchJune 03, 2021Researchers discover potential new approach to treating psoriatic joint inflammation
An international team of researchers, led by UC Davis Health, developed a new therapeutic approach to treating psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the joints.
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May 2021
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MaternityMay 26, 2021More work still needed to recruit, retain OB/GYN residents that reflect the diverse patient population they serve
To address health care disparities among minority women in obstetrics and gynecology, one approach is to increase diversity among health care providers to better reflect the patient population that they serve. But are medical residents within OB/GYN more diverse than other medical specialties?
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MaternityMay 19, 2021A call to gynecologic surgeons to reduce excess opioid pills after hysterectomy
A UC Davis Health study urged gynecologic surgeons to prescribe the smallest effective opioid prescription after hysterectomy. Their study found that, on average, patients use only half of pills prescribed after the operation.
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MIND InstituteMay 11, 2021UC Davis MIND Institute to host inaugural stem cell, gene therapy conference
The UC Davis MIND Institute is now accepting abstracts for its first-ever Stem Cell and Gene Therapy for Neurodevelopmental Disorders Conference. The September event will feature both in-person and virtual options and will focus on the development of treatments for genetic disorders.
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Infectious DiseasesMay 07, 2021UC Davis Health now enrolling children ages 12-17 for Novavax coronavirus vaccine trial
UC Davis Health will soon launch a stage 3 clinical trial for a new coronavirus vaccine for children ages 12-17 with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Novavax. The two-year study aims to enroll 100 participants.
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April 2021
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Children's HealthApril 29, 2021Calibrating Lactoferrin protein in milk may boost learning and protect neurons
Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein found naturally in breast milk. A study by UC Davis Professor Fredric A. Troy II found that the lactoferrin concentration in the diet has significantly different impacts on learning, brain development and neuroprotection.
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ResearchApril 28, 2021Promising gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Clinical researchers at UC Davis Health are using an innovative gene therapy approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which the lead physician hopes will be a transformational treatment for children with the disease.
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School of MedicineApril 28, 2021PsychLight sensor to enable discovery of new psychiatric drugs
UC Davis researchers develop PsychLight, a sensor that could be used in discovering new treatments for mental illness, in neuroscience research and to detect drugs of abuse.
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CancerApril 23, 2021Celebrating translational science researchers at UC Davis
During its 16th annual CTSC Scholar Symposium, UC Davis celebrated the graduation of its newest cohort of scholars who conduct innovative applied health research.
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MIND InstituteApril 20, 2021MIND Institute study of anxiety in children with autism now includes online treatment
The UC Davis MIND Institute is now offering online treatment as part of its clinical trial known as the STAAR study. The trial will compare the effectiveness of the medication sertraline and cognitive behavioral therapy in treating anxiety in children with autism.
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CoronavirusApril 09, 2021Participants sought for COVID-19 vaccine trial for booster and variant protection
UC Davis Health seeks volunteers for a clinical trial to determine the efficacy of a COVID-19 booster shot and protection against the South African virus variant.
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MIND InstituteApril 08, 2021New test to study language development in youth with Down syndrome
A team led by UC Davis Health researchers tested and validated a new set of procedures for collecting, measuring and analyzing the spoken language of youth with Down syndrome in a naturalistic setting.
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March 2021
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CoronavirusMarch 10, 2021Latino vaccination initiative boosted by UC Davis Health partnership
A consortium of community partners, including UC Davis Health, is providing COVID-19 vaccines to Latinos in Sacramento, a population severely affected by the pandemic.
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Children's HealthMarch 09, 2021New research seeks to reduce birth injury causing shoulder, arm and hand paralysis
New study evaluates maternal and hospital factors possibly linked to risk of brachial plexus birth injury, the leading cause of infants’ upper extremity paralysis.
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MaternityMarch 09, 2021Nexplanon birth control study seeks participants
UC Davis Health is now enrolling women in a new study to extend Nexplanon’s use to five years. Nexplanon is a contraceptive implant that is inserted under the skin of the upper arm to provide birth control. The implant is currently approved for three years of use.
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Awards and HonorsMarch 04, 2021Enhancing California’s specialty crops
UC Davis’ Center for Precision Medicine and Data Sciences will be helping to enhance the competitiveness of California’s specialty crops thanks to a new grant.
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Children's HealthMarch 01, 2021First stem cell clinical trial for spina bifida treatment announced
A UC Davis Health team today announced the launch of the world’s first FDA-approved human clinical trial to treat the most serious form of spina bifida. The trial involves the use of stem cells, applied during a surgery before birth.
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February 2021
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Neurological HealthFebruary 26, 2021New mini-medical school seeks to engage, serve Sacramento’s Vietnamese community
Vietnamese mini-medical school, an educational outreach effort by CTSC program and the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, is open for registration.
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SurgeryFebruary 23, 2021UC Davis School of Medicine scored a record year of NIH funding
In 2020, the UC Davis School of Medicine secured its highest-ever level of National Institutes of Health research funding at more than $181 million.
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Health and TechnologyFebruary 19, 2021UC Davis Health joins Mount Sinai, Cleveland Clinic and Northwestern in grant to implement and evaluate IBD Digital Therapeutics Toolkit within EHR
UC Davis Health has joined with several of the nation’s top health systems to help launch a NIH-sponsored initiative for an new digital therapeutics toolkit targeting inflammatory bowel disease.
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