Sept. 16, 2024

UC IRVINE NEWS

Department of Energy funds professor’s solar technology research

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Stacy Copp, an assistant professor of materials science & engineering, a five-year, $875,000 grant to support her research related to solar energy harvesting and solar fuels. Copp’s lab develops new nanomaterials to control and manipulate light in ways that cannot be achieved via conventional approaches. “This fundamental scientific study of energy transfer processes in nanocluster materials is motivated by the urgent need for cleaner, more efficient ways to harness the Sun’s energy,” said Copp. “Our current wildfire season is one poignant reminder of the importance of addressing the urgency of climate change.”

School of Medicine awarded $1.5 million suicide prevention grant

The School of Medicine has received $1.5 million from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to identify blood-based biomarkers that may predict suicide risk. “Utilizing cutting-edge machine learning techniques, the project will combine blood molecular data with clinical information from two key groups: individuals who have died by suicide and major depressive disorder patients who are being monitored for suicidal behavior,” said Adolfo Sequeira (above left, with Firoza Mamdani, assistant project scientist), an associate researcher in psychiatry & human behavior. The lab hopes to develop more targeted and personalized depression treatment strategies.

Dietary supplement can help progressive MS on two fronts

UCI Health multiple sclerosis specialist Dr. Michael Demetriou recently spoke to WebMD about his study of N-acetylglucosamine, a dietary supplement that has been found to ease inflammation and can potentially spur repair of the myelin sheath that encases the nerves.

UC NEWS

UC celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

To honor National Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of California is celebrating the achievements and contributions of Latinos past and present at UC as Latino enrollment reaches record highs for this academic year. Along with UC Irvine, four other UC campuses in Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz have secured federal designations as Hispanic-serving institutions. “The University of California was created to serve the people of the Golden State by increasing economic and social mobility, teaching our future entrepreneurs and innovators, and building a student body that reflects all of California’s communities,” said Jorge Silva, associate vice president for communications in the UC Office of the President. “Today, Latinos at UC make up one-in-three first-year admits, the largest proportion of domestic community college transfers, the second-largest demographic group and half of first-generation students. We look forward to building on this progress and honoring the achievements of our Latino community throughout this month.”

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New UCI Health ― Irvine platelet donation center receives first donations

The new platelet donor center inside the UCI Health ― Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building opened its doors last month. Women’s soccer coach Danielle de Seriere (above) and UCI Health neurosurgery resident Dr. Jordan Davies (below) are among the donors who answered the urgent call for platelets amid a local and national shortage.

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