Aug. 25, 2025

An incoming Anteater participating in the Student Parent Orientation Program explores UC Irvine’s study abroad programs. (Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine

UC IRVINE NEWS

Grant aims to improve cancer outcomes

The UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health has received funding from Pfizer and the American Cancer Society to launch ACCT-NHPI – a community-academic partnership focused on improving cancer outcomes for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Orange County. Led by Sora Park Tanjasiri, professor of health, society and behavior at Wen Public Health, the ACCT-NHPI initiative will work to increase early detection and improve access to care by implementing a culturally tailored, community-based navigation model.

Researchers uncover global wildfire paradox

UC Irvine researchers have spotted a contradiction in worldwide wildfire trends: Despite a 26 percent decline in total burned area from 2002 to 2021, the number of people exposed to wildfires has surged by nearly 40 percent, with Africa accounting for most of it. “As climate change intensifies fire weather and global populations continue to expand into fire-prone zones, proactive mitigation will be increasingly critical to reduce the risk of future wildfire disasters,” said Amir AghaKouchak, Chancellor’s Professor of civil and environmental engineering. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation.

A lesser-known menopause symptom

Hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings are classic menopause symptoms. But did you know that up to 30 percent of women in menopause will experience a new or worsening sensation of hearing sounds that aren’t there? Dr. Hamid Djalilian, UCI Health otolaryngologist, spoke to MSN about the condition, known as tinnitus, and how hormonal shifts can contribute to it.

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Stand Up for UC

UC’s future is at risk, and here’s what’s at stake: access to education, life-changing medical treatments, technological innovations that grow the U.S. economy, research that protects national security and inventions that propel leading industries. Join the University of California in asking Congress to reject drastic cuts to research, share your UC story and take the pledge to show your support.

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Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences names new chair

Brian Paegel, professor of pharmaceutical sciences, has been appointed chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. “Dr. Paegel brings a wide range of relevant experience to the chair role from his research collaborations across the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences and the entire UC Irvine campus, innovative undergraduate and graduate teaching, entrepreneurial success in the biotechnology and drug discovery space, and – particularly – his most recent role as [the school’s] associate dean of research,” said founding Dean Jan Hirsch.

Achieving the ‘unachievable'

At the intersection of opportunity, concern, passion and innovation lies the story of Bernardo Maximiliano Garduño – a neuroscience graduate student in the lab of Xiangmin Xu in the Center for Neural Circuit Mapping – whose doctoral research is focused on natural animal models for Alzheimer’s disease. Garduño believes that his path from passionate student to pioneering researcher has been made possible by the small, targeted philanthropic support that’s fueling the next generation of discovery. “This campus is a wonderfully collaborative community on many levels,” he said. “I am surrounded by extremely talented researchers who have been pure gold in my development as a neuroscientist. I wouldn’t be here without the amazing donors who are investing in researchers like me and my fellow graduate students.”

#UCIconnected spotlights interesting updates from the UC Irvine community. #IamUCI spotlights profiles of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected or #IamUCI hashtags.

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