The CZ Biohub SF-backed NextGen initiative, co-founded by Professor Aaron Streets, succeeds in diversifying faculty hiring in biological and biomedical sciences at major Bay Area universities
faculty
A history of innovation: Berkeley entrepreneurs, companies that changed the way we live
Professor Aaron Streets is featured in a campus publication celebrating the culture and spirit of innovation at UC Berkeley, recognized for being a tireless advocate for increasing diversity in STEM research.
How scientists aim to extend human lifespans
Professor Irina and Mike Conboy were guests on the Economist “Babbage” science and technology podcast dicussing progress in research on aging.
Iain Clark selected as Innovation Investigator by Arc Institute
Professor Iain Clark was named an Innovation Investigator by the Arc Institute, a scientific research organization pioneering new models for scientific discovery and translation. As a member of the inaugural Innovation Investigators program, Clark will receive $1 million over five years to pursue “curiosity-driven, ambitious research.”
Conboy Lab changes the measurement of biological age
Research from Professor Irina Conboy’s lab is on the cover of the journal “Aging” this week, highlighting their exciting new research in the measurement of biological age. Their work shows that commonly-used Elastic Net DNA methylation clocks have low accuracy, and present an alternative using noise-detecting cytosines, measuring the pressure of aging and disease on an organism. BioE PhD student Xiaoyue Mei and undergraduate alumnus Joshua Blanchard are first authors.
Messersmith receives 2023 Bakar Fellows Spark Award
Congratulations to Professor Phillip Messersmith, a recipient of the 2023 Bakar Fellows Spark Award for his work on gel protection during tumor ablation. The award is designed to accelerate faculty-led research and produce tangible, positive societal impact through commercialization.
Bat study reveals how the brain is wired for collective behavior
New research from Professor Michael Yartsev shows that the same neurons that help bats navigate through space may also help them navigate collective social environments. In a study published today in the journal Nature, the researchers found that the portion of the brain that acts as a GPS is also tuned to the social dynamic in the environment.
New Technique Could Facilitate Rapid Cryopreservation of All Coral Species
Research by Professor Emeritus Boris Rubinsky, in collaboration with Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) and Texas A&M, has achieved a breakthrough in the fight to save the world’s coral reefs from climate change annihilation. The researchers successfully cryopreserved and revived entire coral fragments, opening the door to collecting and preserving coral fragments easily and rapidly at an urgent moment for coral worldwide.
Prof. Delcassian named to Women in Enterprising Science Program
Professor Derfogail Delcassian is one of four entrepreneurs selected for the 2023 cohort of the HS Chau Women in Enterprising Science (WIES) Program by the Innovative Genomics Institute. WIES is a unique program designed to promote gender equity in bio-entrepreneurship by helping innovative genome researchers develop their ideas into new commercial ventures. In her work, Delcassian will examine the role of macrophages in the immune response to cancer.