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| Anteater Time Machine: A ballet folklórico dancer stamps and cascades to the rhythmic sounds of mariachi musicians on campus, circa 1983. (Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Libraries Archives) |
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| The human brain is often described as one of the most complex structures in biology, and much of its power comes from how it’s organized. Its outer layer, the cerebral cortex, is not a uniform sheet. As the brain develops, it divides into distinct areas that each take on different jobs, from movement and vision to memory, language and social understanding. UC Irvine researchers have engineered lab-grown human brain tissue to take on characteristics of either the front or the back of the developing cerebral cortex. The advance gives scientists a more realistic human model for studying how different areas of the brain emerge during early development. “Brain organoids have become powerful tools for studying human development, but the human brain is a highly organized space,” said lead author Momoko Watanabe, assistant professor of anatomy and neurobiology. “By introducing regional identity into these models, we can begin asking questions about development and disease that were difficult to address with conventional organoids.” |
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| | Padilla visits UC Irvine to spotlight research and innovation |
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| U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla visited UC Irvine on Sept. 8 to learn how university research is improving health, driving innovation and advancing the search for new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Padilla met with campus leaders for presentations on UC Irvine’s research portfolio, UCI Health, Beall Applied Innovation and UCI MIND before touring a UCI MIND laboratory. “We appreciated the opportunity to welcome Senator Padilla to UC Irvine and share how university research is making a difference in people’s everyday lives,” said Aileen Anderson, vice chancellor for research. “We are grateful for the senator’s interest in hearing directly from our researchers about this work and the role public research universities play in improving the health and quality of life of all Americans.” |
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| Pay it forward, plan it forward |
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| When Davis Alejandro Garcia (above) enrolled in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program at UC Irvine, he was drawn by a desire to transform abstract policy into tangible community improvements. Considering Garcia’s undergraduate background at UC Irvine – he earned dual B.A.s in political science and social policy & public service with minors in history and literary journalism in 2025 – he recognized that urban planning offered a direct path to physical, meaningful change. “I realized how important long-term planning is so we can actually get what we want established in the future,” said Garcia, who is on track to graduate from MURP in 2027. “UC Irvine provided the avenues to understand exactly what challenges we’re going to be facing. The program pushes us to get into the field, get hands-on experience and actually understand what we’re learning – because what’s the point of reading textbooks if you’re not going to do anything with it?” That drive to put theory into practice found an ideal outlet through a novel corporate sponsorship program between the School of Social Ecology and PlaceWorks, a prominent design, planning and environmental review firm headquartered in Santa Ana. PlaceWorks provided funding for Garcia’s tuition as a sponsored scholar, giving him the freedom to focus on high-level research, community engagement and applied planning. |
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| The UC Irvine Libraries continually expand their collections focused on Hispanic heritage and related subjects that document and honor the contributions of Latine individuals. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Libraries created a guide of available online resources, archival materials and media (including both fiction and nonfiction), and recent book acquisitions. While certain online resources are restricted to those with a valid UCInetID, many are accessible to the public as part of UC Irvine Libraries' ongoing commitment to promote learning and enhance access. |
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| | UC is No. 1 for startups in latest global ranking |
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| According to the Top 100 Universities for Entrepreneurs list from financial data company PitchBook, the University of California is leading in tackling society's biggest problems and bringing new solutions to life for everyday Americans. PitchBook named UC Irvine #89 in the top 100 for 2026. "The latest Pitchbook rankings reaffirm public higher education's essential role in fostering innovation, world-changing startups, and economic growth," said University of California President James B. Milliken. |
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| UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art is part of the anniversary celebration and invites you to participate in a large-scale hands-on art-making installation. |
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| | | Paul Cooper named chief of UC Irvine Police Department |
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| Paul Cooper has been appointed UC Irvine’s next chief of police. He has been a member of the Police Department since 2018 and has served the university in a variety of roles, including assistant chief of police and interim chief on two occasions. “Chief Cooper has a long, demonstrated history of commitment to the safety, security and well-being of the UC Irvine community,” said Mary Lou D. Ortiz, chief financial officer and vice chancellor for finance & administration. “His leadership experience, collaborative approach and deep knowledge of the campus community will help ensure continuity of operations and the continued delivery of exceptional public safety services.” |
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| #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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Medical Xpress, Sept. 9 Cited: Gregory J. Brewer, adjunct professor of biomedical engineering |
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The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 8 Cited: Gene Tsudik, Distinguished Professor of computer science |
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Business Insider, Sept. 5 Cited: Phil Felgner, director of the Vaccine Research & Development Center |
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