March 31, 2026

Wild black mustard blankets the Ecological Preserve with yellow blooms and offers a picturesque landscape for the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, Sue & Bill Gross Hall and Gillespie Hall. (Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

60 years of Anteater athletics: Celebrating women athletes

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, UCI Athletics take a look back at the success that UC Irvine women’s student-athletes have had over the years. From winning Big West Conference titles and competing in NCAA tournaments, UC Irvine has had many achievements over the years.

Endowed Law Scholarship

(Jamey M. Federico [left] and Alexis Paschedag Federico ’16.)

School of Law alumna Alexis Paschedag Federico ’16 and her spouse, Jamey M. Federico, have established the Endowed Law Scholarship to support law students who demonstrate perseverance in overcoming hardships or obstacles on their paths to their legal education. “Jamey and I created this scholarship because we know firsthand that the path to law school is not always linear and that perseverance often reveals a student’s greatest strengths,” said Alexis Paschedag Federico. “Our hope is that this scholarship opens doors for those who have worked tirelessly to reach this point – students whose resilience will strengthen the legal profession and the communities they go on to serve.”

10th annual Anti-Cancer Challenge

Registration is now open for the UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge, which is celebrating its 10th annual ride, run and walk event on Oct. 10. Sign up for street bike routes ranging from 14 to 100 miles and a mountain bike course, or take part in a 5K run/walk. Throughout the morning, a wellness festival will feature food, awards and live music. The event will continue the record-breaking momentum of last year, in which 4,530 participants raised more than $1.6 million, reflecting the community’s support for innovative cancer research and clinical trials.

Cellular mechanism behind muscle repair

School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences researchers have discovered how muscle stem cells “flip a switch” to rebuild damaged tissue – a finding that could address muscle loss linked to aging, injury and weight-loss medications. “Muscle metabolism isn’t simply about fueling growth; it’s about strategic recovery,” said Lauren Albrecht, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences. “We found that muscle stem cells actively change how they use nutrients to protect themselves first, then rebuild. That metabolic timing is critical.” The National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the National Cancer Institute, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation supported the work. #SpeakUp4Science

UC NEWS

SpeechMatters podcast: The project of civic thought in higher education

In this episode of the SpeechMatters podcast, Christopher Tollefsen, a University of South Carolina philosophy professor and interim executive director of the Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse, shares what it means to be a good citizen and the responsibilities it requires.

#IamUCI

Dr. Deepti Pandita honored with HIMSS Changemaker Award

Dr. Deepti Pandita, chief medical information officer and vice president of clinical informatics at UCI Health, has been recognized by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society for her impact on healthcare through the visionary use of information and technology.

#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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