Nov. 5, 2024

UC IRVINE NEWS

Researchers advance manufacturing of ultrathin solar panels

Ara Apkarian, Distinguished Professor emeritus of chemistry; Dmitry Fishman, adjunct professor of chemistry; and Eric Potma, professor of chemistry, (from left)

By creating a new way for light and matter to interact, UC Irvine researchers have enabled the manufacturing of ultrathin silicon solar cells that could help speed the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. “Solar energy is key in this transition, yet the commercial solar cells we rely on are falling short,” said Eric Potma, a professor of chemistry (far right above, with Dmitry Fishman, adjunct professor of chemistry, center, and Ara Apkarian, Distinguished Professor emeritus of chemistry). “Silicon’s poor ability to absorb light means that these cells require thick layers – almost 200 micrometers of pure crystalline material – to effectively capture sunlight . . . The thin-film solar cells that are one step closer to reality due to our research are widely seen as the solution to these challenges.”

New antiviral therapies on horizon thanks to medical discovery

Rémi Buisson (right, with Biological chemistry graduate student Sunwoo Oh), an associate professor of biological chemistry in the School of Medicinene

UC Irvine researchers have developed a new understanding of the human antiviral defense response seen as pivotal for the development of new antiviral therapies. “Recognizing how cells recognize viral genomes and activate the signaling cascades that initiate antiviral defenses is crucial for developing next-generation antiviral therapies,” said Rémi Buisson (above right, with biological chemistry graduate student Sunwoo Oh), an associate professor of biological chemistry in the School of Medicine.

UCI Health ― Irvine’s innovative ‘megafloor’

The new surgical “megafloor” under construction at the acute care hospital on the UCI Health ― Irvine campus is an innovative 56,000-square-foot space that will streamline operations, reduce waste and errors, and enable more inpatient and outpatient procedures. The space, which connects inpatient and outpatient operating rooms over two buildings, was also recently featured in Healthcare Design magazine.

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Dance professor uses science to enhance wellness

Dr. Kelli Sharp

As a doctor of physical therapy science who strives to improve rehabilitation for patients with neurological disorders, Kelli Sharp may not fit the typical mold of a dance department chair. Yet with dual roles in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts and the School of Medicine, she serves as a bridge between the arts and science. Both personally and professionally, Sharp’s life is rooted in movement. She danced as a child, rode horses competitively as a teen and was on her college swim team in Virginia, where she studied biochemistry. She recently spoke about her discipline-busting work with dancers, training medical students and treating patients who have lost the ability to speak or walk. “The relationships you can build with students in the dance department are unlike any other experience,” said Sharp. “You’re actually able to mentor them and make wellness suggestions that will help them be successful in all dimensions of their lives.”

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