Newly identified small molecules break amyloid tangles that cause Alzheimer’s
A molecule found in green tea helped UCLA biochemists discover several molecules that can destroy tau fibers.
biological sciences
Results
Genomic analysis reveals true origin of South America’s canids
The continent’s diverse species all evolved very rapidly from a single ancestral population, a UCLA-led study shows.
‘Glass bubble’ nanocarrier boosts effects of combination therapy for pancreatic cancer
When two drugs were delivered in one nanoparticle rather than separately, the treatment worked better in mice.
UCLA scientists bring cultured meat closer to your kitchen table
Led by Amy Rowat, researchers have invented ‘edible microcarriers’ that could reduce the expense, time and waste required to produce cultured meat.
Female monkeys with female friends live longer
UCLA professor Susan Perry and her team of researchers reveal their findings on capuchin monkeys and social integration.
UCLA brain researchers receive $4 million NIH grant to supercharge miniature microscope
Their new devices will enable scientists to observe neuronal activity in freely moving animals at even higher resolutions.
UCLA awarded $11.5 million to improve organ, hand and face transplantation
The two grant projects, funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, will be led by Dr. Jerzy Kupiec-Weglinski.
Scientists confirm COVID tied to wildlife sales at Chinese market
The research, co-authored by UCLA’s Marc Suchard, indicates the pandemic started with two separate jumps from animals to humans.
Scientists develop blueprint for turning stem cells into sensory interneurons
The research is an important advance toward cell therapies that could restore sensation in people with spinal cord injuries.
Study shows HIV speeds up body’s aging processes soon after infection
Changes at the DNA level can accelerate aging by nearly five years, UCLA researchers and their colleagues report.
Studying animal evolution to advance women’s health
Understanding the adaptations that protect female animals from disorders may help humans too, UCLA research suggests.
UCLA study identifies how the brain links memories
The findings suggest that a drug used to treat HIV-related memory loss could combat cognitive decline in middle-aged people.
Scientists devise method to prevent deadly hospital infections without antibiotics
A novel surface treatment developed at UCLA stops microbes from adhering to common medical devices like catheters and stents.
Only 10 vaquita porpoises survive, but species may not be doomed, scientists say
If they can escape death in poachers’ nets, the endangered marine mammal is well poised genetically to rebound despite inbreeding.
3 UCLA faculty members elected to National Academy of Sciences for 2022
Dr. E. Dale Abel, Robert Bjork and Rosa Matzkin were honored for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
UCLA-developed technology enables single-cell sorting by function
The advance could have implications for drug development and biological research.
Researchers show protein controls process that goes awry in Parkinson’s disease
The UCLA-led study, which used fruit flies, could also provide clues to a range of other diseases.
In memoriam: John Edmond, 85, professor emeritus of biological chemistry
Edmond, who joined UCLA in 1968, researched lipid metabolism in the brain and its relationship to developmental disorders.
The secret to longevity? Ask a yellow-bellied marmot
A UCLA-led study shows that aging slows to a crawl during the months the animals spend hibernating in their underground burrows.
UCLA botanist brings biodiversity of Colombia to Disney’s ‘Encanto’
Felipe Zapata taps into his life’s work, as well as childhood memories, to give the animated film its distinctive flora.
UCLA-led team gets $8.4 million NIH grant to probe mysteries of Valley fever
UCLA’s Dr. Manish Butte will head a group investigating immune responses to the disease, which is caused by fungal spores in soil.
Notches on lions’ teeth reveal poaching in Zambia’s conservation areas
A study by UCLA biologists shows that the curious dental markings are the result of trapped big cats chewing through hunters’ snares.
Four professors named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
The honorees are Nicholas Blurton-Jones, Joseph Loo, Rafail Ostrovsky and William Sandoval.
Southern California mountain lions show first reproductive effects of inbreeding
Unless steps are taken to boost genetic diversity, local extinction remains a real threat, a UCLA-led study suggests.
Ditching cigarettes for smokeless tobacco can help cut cardiovascular risks, study finds
The UCLA-led research also indicates that the primary culprit in smokers’ increased risk is not nicotine but other chemicals in tobacco smoke.