News Archive
April 11, 2023
Commercial-scale Biomanufactured Melatonin is Here
For the first time, large amounts of melatonin are being made by bacteria. Engineered E. coli are feeding on glucose and churning out melatonin, the hormone that controls circadian rhythms. This mode of manufacturing is growing thanks in part to bioengineering advances made at UC San Diego. Full Story
March 2, 2023
Four Early Career Professors at UC San Diego Awarded Sloan Research Fellowships
Nanoengineering professor Tod Pascal and bioengineering professor Lingyan Shi are among the four professors at UC San Diego who have been selected as 2023 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellows, a prestigious award for early-career scientists of outstanding promise. Full Story
February 28, 2023
Two UC San Diego Engineers Elected to the National Academy of Inventors
Two engineers from the University of California San Diego have been elected Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), in recognition of their efforts to improve human health through engineering. Bioengineering professors Michael J. Heller, who is also associated with nanoengineering, and Karen Christman are being recognized for the positive impacts that have come from their research. Full Story
February 1, 2023
This Injectable Biomaterial Heals Tissues From the Inside Out
A new biomaterial that can be injected intravenously, reduces inflammation in tissue and promotes cell and tissue repair. The biomaterial was tested and proven effective in treating tissue damage caused by heart attacks in both rodent and large animal models. Researchers also provided proof of concept in a rodent model that the biomaterial could be beneficial to patients with traumatic brain injury and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Full Story
January 25, 2023
Supplementation with amino acid serine eases neuropathy in diabetic mice
Approximately half of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes experience peripheral neuropathy—weakness, numbness, and pain, primarily in the hands and feet. The condition occurs when high levels of sugar circulating in the blood damage peripheral nerves. Now, working with mice, Salk Institute researchers, in collaboration with the University of California San Diego, have identified another factor contributing to diabetes-associated peripheral neuropathy: altered amino acid metabolism. Full Story
January 17, 2023
In Cells, UV-Emitting Nail Polish Dryers Damage DNA and Cause Mutations
The ultraviolet nail polish drying devices used to cure gel manicures may pose more of a public health concern than previously thought. Researchers at UC San Diego studied these UV light-emitting devices, and found that their use leads to cell death and cancer-causing mutations in human cells. Full Story
December 22, 2022
Identifying pathways to slow cardiac aging
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and is caused in part by age-related cardiac structural dysfunction. A team of bioengineers at UC San Diego published a paper in Nature Aging on Dec. 22 that helps advance our understanding of how hearts age, and sheds light on a possible pathway to slow cardiac aging. Full Story
December 20, 2022
2022 Research Highlights
From tools to track the origin and spread of COVID-19, to making homes safer in earthquakes, to using smartphones as diagnostic tools, researchers at the Jacobs School of Engineering pioneered important work in 2022. A few highlights of our outstanding research this year are here. Full Story
November 22, 2022
16 Jacobs School researchers among most highly cited in the world
A remarkable 16 faculty and research scientists at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering are among the world’s most influential researchers in their fields, according to the 2022 Clarivate listing of Most Highly Cited Researchers in the World. The list highlights individuals at universities, research institutes and commercial organizations who have demonstrated a disproportionate level of significant and broad influence in their field of research. Full Story
November 17, 2022
Parsing the Genetic Drivers of Head and Neck Cancers
In a new study, published in the November 14, 2022 issue of PNAS, a team of researchers including Ludmil Alexandrov, a bioengineering faculty and UC San Diego School of Medicine faculty member, expands and deepens understanding of how genetic aberrations fuel HPV-negative head and neck cancers and, potentially, provide paths to further refinement and improvement of immune checkpoint inhibitors for HPV-negative head and neck cancers. Full Story
November 10, 2022
The Jacobs School at Neuroscience 2022
The Society for Neuroscience is holding its annual conference, Neuroscience 2022, Nov. 12 to 16 in San Diego and the faculty of the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering will have a strong presence at the event. Full Story
November 3, 2022
UC San Diego Faculty Receive New EDI Award from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
As part of a new funding opportunity launched to promote equity, diversity and inclusion in science, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, in collaboration with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, has selected UC San Diego Assistant Professors Brian Aguado and Sonya Neal as two of 25 grant recipients in the new program. Full Story
October 27, 2022
With $25 Million Gift to Bioengineering at UC San Diego, Gene Lay Honors his Mentor Shu Chien
Eminent biotechnology innovator and entrepreneur Gene Lay, through the Laygend Foundation, has committed to provide $25 million as an endowment gift to support UC San Diego's world-leading bioengineering department. In recognition of Lay's generous gift, UC San Diego is renaming its bioengineering department the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering. Full Story
October 27, 2022
Healthy blood flow is more important than you may know
When UC San Diego bioengineering professor emeritus Shu Chien reminds you that it's a good idea to get up, move, and get your blood flowing, he knows exactly what he is talking about. In fact, Chien has led research teams that discovered some of the reasons why getting your blood flowing is so good for you. Full Story
October 17, 2022
2022 New Faculty Hires at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering
The University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering is proud to introduce 11 new professors hired in 2022. These faculty represent the first year in our latest three-year, 35+ faculty member hiring cycle. Full Story
October 5, 2022
UC San Diego's Chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society earns Outstanding Achievement Award
UC San Diego’s chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) was recognized with the Chapter Outstanding Achievement Award for their work in the 2021-2022 school year. This is the third time the undergraduate BMES chapter received this prestigious award in the last five years, after earning the honor in 2017 and 2020. Full Story
September 29, 2022
Franklin Antonio Hall opens its doors
The UC San Diego campus community turned out in big numbers last Friday to celebrate the opening of the sleek and soaring Franklin Antonio Hall. The 186,000 square foot building is not only innovative in its architecture, it’s also ground-breaking in how research teams are organized within the building. Full Story
September 26, 2022
Mutational signature linking bladder cancer and tobacco smoking found with new AI tool
UC San Diego researchers have for the first time discovered a pattern of DNA mutations that links bladder cancer to tobacco smoking. The work could help researchers identify what environmental factors, such as exposure to tobacco smoke and UV radiation, cause cancer in certain patients. It could also lead to more customized treatments for a patient’s specific cancer. Full Story
September 22, 2022
Bioengineering, bioinformatics graduate students selected as Siebel Scholars
Five UC San Diego bioengineering and bioinformatics graduate students have been honored as 2023 Siebel Scholars. The Siebel Scholars program recognizes the most talented students in the world’s leading graduate schools of business, computer science, bioengineering and energy science. Full Story
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September 14, 2022
Six undergraduate engineering programs earn top-10 rank
Six undergraduate academic programs at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering ranked in the top 10 programs in the nation according to the U.S. News & World Report 2022-2023 Best Colleges ranking. Full Story