Sept. 10, 2024

UC IRVINE NEWS

Record $668 million in research funding received for fiscal 2023-24

UC Irvine received a record $668 million in research funding for the 2023-24 fiscal year, reflecting continued strong support for its top-ranked faculty, first-rate facilities, diverse and talented student body, and community-based research programs. Research grants and contracts from federal agencies – including $15 million from the National Science Foundation to the Center for Integrative Movement Sciences, directed by Monica Daley (above), a professor of ecology & evolutionary biology – grew by more than 10 percent to exceed $361 million. “This research funding milestone confirms UC Irvine’s increasing role as a world-class research university. Our faculty, students and staff are truly excelling in an environment of tremendous national competition for financial support of research and innovation,” said Pramod Khargonekar, vice chancellor for research. “This outstanding and sustained growth indicates that UC Irvine’s preeminent research enterprise will make even greater and more productive contributions to the state, the nation and the world.”

Power of Music initiative launches new partnership

Music’s power to change lives and improve society was celebrated at an Aug. 28 event to mark a new partnership among UC Irvine’s Power of Music initiative, The Drake Gives, the Samueli Academy and the Playing for Change Foundation. “This is exciting and an historic moment,” Richard Matthew, professor of urban planning & public policy and faculty director of the Power of Music initiative, told attendees. “Our mission is to bring music into places where the opportunities are lacking, to strengthen programs where an increase in size would be tremendously beneficial and to study the impact of these programs on the lives of people.”

UCI Health boosts cardiovascular program

Cardiologists with UCI Health have performed the region’s first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacements, expanding one of California’s leading cardiovascular programs and offering patients more minimally invasive options for managing their heart health. The first two patients were a 75-year-old from Carlsbad and an 85-year-old from Costa Mesa, who had transcatheter tricuspid valves implanted by Dr. Antonio H. Frangieh, medical director of the UCI Health structural heart program.

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Making digital tech more inclusive

During the COVID-19 crisis, Stacy Branham, an associate professor of informatics, worked with the Dayle McIntosh Center, an Orange County-based nonprofit that helps people with disabilities live independently, to provide 200,000 minutes of free access to Aira, a service that connects blind users with remote sighted assistants. She has also designed her own digitally accessible technology, including Jaime, a voice assistant that answers questions for blind people as they navigate complex indoor spaces like airports, and ReadWithUs, an Alexa app that allows blind parents to read picture books with their children. Looking ahead, Branham plans to expand her outreach and advocacy efforts. “This is [about] how to be a good ally and do your part to make the world more equitable for people with disabilities,” she said.

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