News Archive
2024 News Releases
July 17, 2024
Diatom Surprise Could Rewrite the Global Carbon Cycle
When it comes to diatoms that live in the ocean, new research suggests that photosynthesis is not the only strategy for accumulating carbon. Instead, these single-celled plankton are also building biomass by feeding directly on organic carbon in wide swaths of the ocean. These new findings from a team led by UC San Diego researchers could lead to reduced estimates regarding how much carbon dioxide diatoms pull out of the air via photosynthesis, which in turn, could alter our understanding of the global carbon cycle, which is especially relevant given the changing climate. Full Story
June 20, 2024
How Your Sleep Patterns Change Can Tell You About Your Health
Your sleep tracker might give you information about more than just your sleep–specifically, it might give you information about chronic conditions such as diabetes and sleep apnea, and illnesses such as COVID-19. This is one of the findings of a study that analyzed data from 5 million nights of sleep across roughly 33,000 people. Full Story
June 18, 2024
UC San Diego Jacobs School Of Engineering Rises In Latest U.S. News And World Report Rankings Of Best Engineering Schools
The UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering has ranked the #11 best in the nation in the influential U.S. News & World Report Rankings of Best Engineering Schools. This #11 ranking is up from #12 last year. Full Story
June 14, 2024
An Innovative Way to Detect Bacteria Fast in Pediatric Blood Samples
Researchers have demonstrated that a new technology could quickly and accurately diagnose bloodstream infections. The study findings were reported at ASM Microbe, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Full Story
June 14, 2024
Jacobs School of Engineering 2024 Award of Excellence Recipients
Six undergraduate students were selected from among their peers to receive an Award of Excellence from their academic department in recognition of their outstanding academic, leadership and community contributions. Full Story
May 14, 2024
'MUSIC Map' Reveals Some Brain Cells Age Faster and Are More Prevalent in Alzheimer's
UC San Diego engineers have discovered that some brain cells age more rapidly than others, and they are disproportionately abundant in individuals afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, researchers observed sex-specific differences in the aging process of certain brain cells, with the female cortex exhibiting a higher ratio of “old” oligodendrocytes to “old” neurons compared to the male cortex. The discoveries were made possible by a new technique called MUSIC (multinucleic acid interaction mapping in single cells), which allows researchers to peek inside individual brain cells and map out interactions between chromatin and RNA. Full Story
May 2, 2024
UC San Diego Researchers Honored as Prebys Research Heroes
Three UC San Diego researchers, including two bioengineers, have been named Prebys Research Heroes by the San Diego-based Conrad Prebys Foundation. These researchers have received grants of $500,000 each to support their research focused on advancing health care and medical discoveries. Full Story
April 30, 2024
Biodegradable 'Living Plastic' Houses Bacterial Spores That Help It Break Down
A new type of bioplastic could help reduce the plastic industry’s environmental footprint. Researchers have developed a biodegradable form of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) filled with bacterial spores that, when exposed to nutrients present in compost, germinate and break down the material at the end of its life cycle. Full Story
April 23, 2024
Innovative Microscopy Demystifies Metabolism of Alzheimers Disease
Bioengineers and neuroscientists at UC San Diego have deployed state-of-the art imaging techniques to study the metabolism driving Alzheimer’s disease; results suggest new treatment strategies Full Story
April 17, 2024
Acting Student and Bioengineering Alumna Awarded Soros Fellowship for New Americans
Riyam Al Msari, an undergraduate bioengineering alumna from Iraq, is one of 30 recipients of the 2024 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. The merit-based program for immigrants and children of immigrants awards up to $90,000 to support each fellow’s graduate studies. Full Story
March 25, 2024
UC San Diego Engineers Inducted Into 2024 Class of the AIMBE College of Fellows
Two engineering professors at the University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering were inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Professors Ludmil Alexandrov and Sheng Xu were among the 162 new AIMBE Fellows who were recognized at a ceremony during the AIMBE Annual Event on March 25. Full Story
March 14, 2024
New Imaging Tool Advances Study of Lipid Biology
From fruit flies to humans, there are many, many different types and subtypes of lipids operating at the same time within any living organism. While we know that lipid molecules play myriad different roles in health, aging and disease; researchers currently struggle to uncover the fine details of these roles – details which could unlock cures, extend the human healthspan, and solve mysteries of aging. A study led by bioengineers at the University of California San Diego marks a significant step forward in this critical area of lipid research. Full Story
March 6, 2024
This Injectable Hydrogel Mitigates Damage to the Right Ventricle of the Heart
An injectable hydrogel can mitigate damage to the right ventricle of the heart with chronic pressure overload, according to a new study published March 6 in Journals of the American College of Cardiology: Basic to Translational Science. Full Story
February 21, 2024
Detecting Pathogens--and Sepsis--Faster and More Accurately by Melting DNA
A new analysis method can detect pathogens in blood samples faster and more accurately than blood cultures, which are the current state of the art for infection diagnosis. The new method, called digital DNA melting analysis, can produce results in under six hours, whereas culture typically requires 15 hours to several days, depending on the pathogen. Full Story
February 21, 2024
Five Cutting-edge Advances in Biomedical Engineering and Their Applications in Medicine
Bridging precision engineering and precision medicine to create personalized physiology avatars. Pursuing on-demand tissue and organ engineering for human health. Revolutionizing neuroscience by using AI to engineer advanced brain interface systems. Engineering the immune system for health and wellness. Designing and engineering genomes for organism repurposing and genomic perturbations. These are the five research areas where the field of biomedical engineering has the potential to achieve tremendous impact on the field of medicine. Full Story
February 7, 2024
Renowned UC San Diego Microbiome Pioneer Rob Knight Elected to the National Academy of Engineering
Rob Knight, a University of California San Diego professor and international leader in the study of the roles microbes play in human health and disease and the functioning of ecosystems, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering–the highest professional recognition afforded to engineers and computer scientists. On Feb. 6, 2024, the National Academy of Engineering recognized Knight for his pioneering leadership and “for understanding microbiomes and their application to healthcare and sustainability.” Full Story
February 5, 2024
Researchers Uncover Surprising Link Between Body Temperature and Depression
People with depression have higher body temperatures, a finding that supports nascent research suggesting a mental health benefit to lowering the temperatures of those with the disorder, a new research team that includes scientists at the University of California San Diego found. Full Story
February 1, 2024
Bioengineer Named NAS New Voice for Emerging STEM Leaders
Kiana Aran, a professor of bioengineering and medicine at UC San Diego, has been named to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s 2024 New Voices in Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine program. New Voices aims to expand the diversity of expertise engaged in the work of the National Academies while developing a network of U.S. leaders to address national and global challenges. Full Story
January 18, 2024
AI Harnesses Tumor Genetics to Predict Treatment Response
In a groundbreaking study published on January 18, 2024, in Cancer Discovery, computer scientists, bioengineers and physicians at UC San Diego leveraged a machine learning algorithm to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing cancer researchers: predicting when cancer will resist chemotherapy. Full Story
January 10, 2024
Noninvasive Test for Embryo Quality Could Streamline Fertility Treatment
Bioengineers and physicians at UC San Diego have discovered a noninvasive approach that can be used to better predict the quality of lab-grown embryos, potentially streamlining IVF treatment. Full Story