Feb. 4, 2025

Cherry blossom trees bloom on campus. (Photo: Steve Zylius/UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Annual campus fundraiser bolsters promising cancer research

Today is World Cancer Day, and it’s a good time to shine the light on the Anti-Cancer Challenge, which has brought in an impressive $6.2 million since 2017. The popular community event has funded 123 promising pilot studies and early-phase clinical trials. It’s also supporting UCI Health’s Dr. Maheswari Senthil, a surgical oncologist who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers, and Dr. Farshid Dayyani, a medical oncologist who treats gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary malignancies. “Our work is far from complete,” says Dr. Senthil. “We must tackle these challenges together.

Center for Population, Inequality and Policy earns recognition

The Center for Population, Inequality and Policy has earned full campus designation as an Organized Research Unit, providing the center a supportive infrastructure for its interdisciplinary research focus on socioeconomic factors that directly impact inequality. Established in late 2019, the center has grown to include 63 faculty from 16 departments from seven schools. “Being designated an ORU guarantees a baseline of support for our mission and positions us to increase the scope and impact of our activities,” said David Neumark, center co-director and Distinguished Professor of economics.

UCI Health doctor battles retinitis pigmentosa, a leading cause of blindness

Retinitis pigmentosa is the leading cause of disability and blindness in people under 60. The condition is marked by the slow decay of the light-detecting photoreceptors. Ophthalmologist and researcher Dr. Henry Klassen, who is leading multiple clinical trials in search of a cure at the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, spoke to National Geographic about why RP is so devastating.

60th anniversary of UC Irvine special exhibit opening tomorrow

Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. the UC Irvine Libraries will host Anteater Experience: 60th Anniversary of UC Irvine Exhibit Opening. The event kicks off a year of celebrations commemorating our 60th anniversary and will include a panel discussion to discuss how the campus culture and environment have evolved over the years. Panelists include James Danziger, an emeritus professor and founding member of the Department of Political Science; Megan Lulow, the executive director of UCI-NATURE; and Steve Zylius, managing producer-director at the office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs.

UC NEWS

Four Anteaters among 2025 Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ list

#UCIconnected

Black in Tech: Building Community in ICS

A new club aims to empower Black students interested in technology at UC Irvine by building a supportive community in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences. Chidera Okoroama, (front row, second from left, with other board members), a third-year business information management student, recently launched Black in Tech @ UCI. The club, which offers a series of tech talks and workshops on networking and tips for securing internships, held its first meeting on Jan. 13.

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