Sept. 28, 2026

The Anteater Band entertains an audience of incoming students at the Convocation ceremony. (Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Promising target for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest major cancers, and most patients are diagnosed after it has spread. Often, the cancer spreads to the liver, but treatments have been developed based on the response of tumors in the pancreas. Liver cancer relies on a different local support system that may offer a promising treatment opportunity, according to a new study from UC Irvine researchers. The laboratory of Christopher Halbrook, an associate professor of molecular biology & biochemistry, led the study, which was published in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology. “Our study identified that the specific features of the organ colonized during pancreatic metastasis convey unique pathways that can be leveraged for treatment,” said Halbrook. “Importantly, we would not have identified these vulnerabilities by studying only primary disease.”

A baby’s world of chaos

Babies are always listening, watching and learning – even when the world around them is chaotic and makes no sense, according to UC Irvine researchers. Three new studies paint a detailed picture of how instability in their environment shapes how infants pay attention, process information and regulate their emotions. “Fairly early in my career, I was struck by how much of what we know about early learning comes from carefully controlled lab studies – quiet rooms, one screen, one task – that are very different from the rich, noisy and constantly changing world that babies actually grow up in,” said Denise Werchan, assistant professor of psychology. “I became convinced that if we want to understand how learning really happens in early childhood, we need to understand what babies actually experience in their everyday lives.”

UCI Health Family Health Centers: 50 years of bridging the gap

UCI Health Family Health Center – Anaheim (pictured).

For 50 years, the UCI Health Family Health Centers in Anaheim and Santa Ana have bridged the gap between vulnerable communities and the advanced care offered by renowned UCI Health physicians. These centers serve the many Orange County communities falling under the federal poverty level, where a high percentage of the population lives with chronic conditions and experiences barriers to accessing care. “A huge part of my role is providing patient education,” said Dr. Shane Jones, a family medicine specialist at the two centers. “I also serve as an advocate for patients in our communities. I take the time to understand the culture and where they’re coming from. That helps me earn their trust.”

Fall biking festival: uciRIDEtoberfest

UC Irvine Transportation is excited to present this year’s uciRIDEtoberfest on Oct. 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Aldrich Hall flagpoles. Learn about bike safety; race adult-sized tricycles; buy a used bike; eat free, delicious food and ice cream; and win great prizes.

UC NEWS

UC Cybersecurity Summit 2026

The 2026 UC Cybersecurity Summit webinar will bring together colleagues across the UC, Cal State system and the community colleges to learn how to safeguard our institution and communities. The virtual event will include leading voices in cybersecurity and examine an evolving digital landscape, from artificial intelligence and online safety to privacy, fraud prevention and the protection of critical infrastructure. Whether you’re a security professional or simply curious about today’s digital risks, you’ll gain practical insights and a better understanding of how we can all build a more secure digital future.

#IamUCI

Paul Piff wins Ig Nobel

Paul Piff, back row center, poses for a group photo during the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony.

Paul K. Piff, associate professor of psychology, has been recognized for what millions of frustrated commuters have long suspected: the fancier the car, the worse the driver. Piff and his colleagues were awarded this year's Economics Ig Nobel Prize – bestowed for achievements that “first make people laugh, and then make them think” – for their landmark 2012 study, “Higher Social Class Predicts Increased Unethical Behavior,” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “As a research psychologist who’s long been interested in the psychology of money and wealth, my team and I spent maybe 20 years documenting that rising wealth and increasing money seem to make people more self-interested, entitled and greedy,” said Piff. “Wealth seems to free people from the burdensome shackles of caring about other humans.” Piff joins a team led by dermatology professor Dr. Natasha Mesinkovska (2023, for medicine) as an Ig Nobelist from UC Irvine.

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