Jan. 18, 2023

UCI researchers make breakthrough discovery in ARDS treatment

A novel peptide designed by UCI researchers has been found to suppress the damaging lung inflammation seen in acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. Their study, which appears in iScience, describes the first specific treatment designed to prevent the deadly disease, which can appear in patients with severe lung injury from infections with bacteria and viruses, such as pneumonia, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. The study was led by UCI’s Dr. Steven A.N. Goldstein, a Distinguished professor of pediatrics, physiology & biophysics, and pharmaceutical sciences; Ruiming Zhao, assistant project scientist; and Dr. Andreas Schwingshackl, an associate professor of pediatrics at UCLA.

UCI duo directs global network studying digital tech for kids 

In 2021, the Zurich, Switzerland-based Jacobs Foundation bestowed a five-year, $11 million grant to UCI for the Connecting the EdTech Research EcoSystem initiative, which brings together leading scholars from around the world in computer science, psychology, neuroscience and education. Psychological science and informatics professor Candice Odgers co-directs CERES with Gillian Hayes, UCI’s vice provost for graduate education, dean of the Graduate Division and a professor of education, medicine and informatics. The global network’s postdoctoral scholars and graduate students came to Newport Beach on Sept. 12-15 for the CERES Fall Intensive, where they engaged in in-depth training, professional development and connections with industry partners and funding.

SoCal flood risk exposed by UCI report highlights racial disparity

A New York Times story about flooding in the Los Angeles basin draws upon a UCI study that predicts a 100-year flood would impact far more residents than previously estimated and would also disproportionately affect Black residents of L.A. County. The report, led by Brett Sanders, professor of civil & environmental engineering, states that Black people would be 79% more likely to face waist-high flooding than white residents, with Latinos 17% and Asians 11% more likely.

UCI climate change expert weighs in on new Greenland ice study

Along with being involved in important climate change research, UCI experts are also widely sought by national media for their expertise. For a story on rising temperatures in Greenland in today’s Washington Post, the reporter contacted Isabella Velicogna, a professor of Earth system science who is involved with research in Antarctica with her colleague Eric Rignot, a Chancellor’s professor of Earth system science.

Moderna’s RSV vaccine effective in older adults

The pharmaceutical company Moderna has released a new study saying that its respiratory syncytial virus vaccine is 84% effective at preventing the disease from infecting older adults. Pfizer and GSK have also announced promising results for their respective RSV vaccines in older adults, and the FDA is expected to decide whether to approve those vaccines in May 2023.

Food Myths; What Do We Believe?
Friday, noon (sponsored by UCI Health)

Liberals, Conservatives, and the Political Brain: fMRI Studies of Political Ideology
Friday, noon (sponsored by Center for Neuropolitics)

Revisiting Retirement and Social Security Claiming Decisions
Friday, 3:30 p.m. (sponsored by School of Social Sciences)

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