Recent News

Thursday, April 9th
Life Sticks: Bioengineer Publishes Sticky Insights In Journal Science

Sticky is good. A University of California, San Diego bioengineer is the first author on an article in the journal Science that provides insights on the “stickiness of life.” The big idea is that cells, tissues and organisms hailing from all limbs of the tree of life respond to stimuli using basic biological “modules.” For example, the researchers outlined similar strategies across biology for fulfilling the tasks of “sticking together” (cell-cell interactions), “sticking to their surroundings” (cell-extracellular matrix [ECM] interactions), and responding to forces.
Sunday, March 29th
A New Era In Stem Cell Research

Scientists could expand their investigations and make new discoveries. Laboratories could get more equipment. A new building dedicated to stem cell research could get a boost. UC San Diego stands to reap significant benefits from an executive order signed by President Barack Obama this month lifting certain federal restrictions on stem cells research and from money earmarked for research in the federal stimulus package that became law last month.

“It will be a huge boost,” said Larry Goldstein, director of UCSD’s stem cell research program. “It will make a big difference.”
Thursday, March 12th
Bioengineering Professor Trey Ideker Wins 2009 Overton Prize

University of California, San Diego bioengineering professor Trey Ideker—a network and systems biology pioneer—has won the International Society for Computational Biology’s Overton Prize. The Overton prize is awarded each year to an early-to-mid-career scientist who has already made a significant contribution to the field of computational biology.

Trey Ideker is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at UC San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering, Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, and member of the Moores UCSD Cancer Center. He is a pioneer in using genome-scale measurements to construct network models of cellular processes and disease. His recent research activities include development of software and algorithms for protein network analysis, network-level comparison of pathogens, and genome-scale models of the response to DNA-damaging agents
Monday, February 23rd
San Diego Science Festival Aims to Bring Excitement of Science to Area Students, Community

Have you ever wanted to have lunch with a Nobel Laureate? Are you curious about the science behind some of Harry Potter’s magic? How about the chemistry behind a good wine, or delicious chocolate?

If you want answers to these questions—and more—come to the first-ever San Diego Science Festival, which will take place across San Diego County starting in March, culminating with a large-scale expo in Balboa Park April 4. Before the expo, scientists will fan out to a variety of schools to share their knowledge with students. Universities, corporations and many other organizations also will host science-themed events open to the public.
Tuesday, January 27th
UC San Diego Engineers Develop Novel Method for Accelerated Bone Growth

Engineers at the University of California at San Diego have come up with a way to help accelerate bone growth through the use of nanotubes and stem cells. This new finding could lead to quicker and better recovery, for example, for patients who undergo orthopedic surgery.

In recent years, stem cells have become a hot topic of investigation with studies suggesting revolutionary medical benefits due to their ability to be converted into selected types of newly generated cells. During their research, the group of UC San Diego bioengineers and material science experts used a nano-bio technology method of placing mesenchymal stem cells on top of very thin titanium oxide nanotubes in order to control the conversion paths, called differentiation, into osteoblasts or bone building cells. Mesenchymal stem cells, which are different from embryonic stem cells, can be extracted and directly supplied from a patient’s own bone marrow.