MIND | BODY | WORLD Life Interconnected
2018 DEAN’S REPORT
MIND Our nimble and complex minds power our lives, safeguarding our knowledge, experiences and recollections. Keeping our brains sound throughout our lives has become an important consideration for all of us.
BODY The mind thrives in tandem with the body. For most of us, better physical health makes better brain health more likely and helps us flourish, no matter our age.
Life Interconnected
WORLD The health of our minds and bodies depends on the planet’s air, water, soil, flora and fauna. If the wellbeing of the world around us declines, so will our individual health and the collective destiny of humanity.
UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED
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STUDENTS
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RESEARCH
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FACULTY
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SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
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GET INVOLVED
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GIVING
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Message from the Dean
Why We Must Care About Biology and the Interconnectedness of Life Dear Colleagues and Friends, Why should anyone who is not a scientist or a clinician care about the biological sciences? I would argue that there is nothing more important than the study of life. Hence, it is essential that all of us understand as much as we can about life and the living world, not only so we can be better informed about our own health care, but to ensure that our children, grandchildren and generations beyond inherit a better world. Biology is an inherently broad and diverse discipline, ranging from studies of the molecules of life to whole ecosystems. Life is interconnected and this concept emerges over and over again in our world. “Life Interconnected” also highlights the School’s foundational theme of MIND | BODY | WORLD. For most of us, a healthy mind requires a healthy body, which requires a healthy world. In presenting this annual dean’s report, I invite you to learn more about the impact of our research on the world and how we are training the next generation of biologists. I hope you are as proud of the achievements of our faculty and students as I am, and with your help and support, we can ensure their success for years to come.
Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D. School of Biological Sciences Dean UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED
Revving Up the Route from Research to Real Life Fostering closer ties between the School and UCI Applied Innovation could accelerate the transformation of groundbreaking discoveries from the lab into products that benefit the world. UCI Applied Innovation, which is directed by Dr. Richard Sudek, was established to help faculty, research fellows or student innovators overcome the complexities of taking discoveries to the commercial market. That process has become increasingly challenging, especially for new drugs and diagnostic tools. Applied Innovation will help innovators in the life sciences obtain funding, navigate regulations and devise efficient ways to commercialize their inventions. Several faculty in the School are already taking advantage of the relationship. Developmental and Cell Biology Professor Aimee L. Edinger, in collaboration with the University of Montreal, has devised a way to combat cancer cells’ rapid growth by generating a new class of molecules that starve cells by stopping them from taking up or digesting nutrients.
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Professor Christopher C.W. Hughes, Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, has developed a bioengineered micro-organ system, complete with blood vessels, that fits industrystandard platforms. These “organs-on-a-chip” are so called because the devices are fabricated using photolithography, which is used to make computer chips, and they incorporate miniaturized versions of human organ systems. Professor Hughes’ Vascularized MicroOrgans (VMO’s) replicate much of the physiology of the real organs. By adding neurons, the brain can be modeled, while incorporation of heart cells, called cardiomyocytes, allows for heart tissue to be simulated. The invention will allow for more rapid and accurate screening of drugs targeted at diseases affecting multiple tissues, including heart, brain, pancreas and liver. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Professor Catherine Loudon is developing a non-chemical method for fighting bedbug infestations, using a trap with microfabricated surfaces that snares the insects. The device is modeled on a long-ago Eastern European practice of trapping bedbugs with kidney bean leaves, which are covered with sharp microscopic hairs. The partnership with Applied Innovation will bring the School’s faculty ever closer to achieving the goal of a sustainable and diverse planet without disease, with renewable biofuels and sufficient food for all its people.
The partnership with Applied Innovation will bring the School’s faculty ever closer to achieving the goal of a sustainable and diverse planet without disease, with renewable biofuels and sufficient food for all its people.
UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | STUDENTS
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Commencement 2017:
Compassionate Scientists “ Many of you will enter careers that involve interaction with people undergoing a range of experiences. It is important that you remember to show compassion for those seeking your help.” – Elsa Ramon, UCI Alumna, CBS2/KCAL9 Anchor
Each year the School has the pleasure of recognizing students who have completed their academic studies and fulfilled the requirements for a degree in the biological sciences. For the 2016-17 academic year, 56 Master of Science, 44 Doctor of Philosophy and 677 Bachelor of Science degrees were awarded as part of the School’s 52nd annual commencement ceremony. Elsa Ramon, a UCI alumna and a CBS2/KCAL9 anchor and reporter, was the 2017 BioSci School commencement speaker. Ms. Ramon spoke of the need to show compassion for others. As an anchor and reporter, she has learned its importance when speaking about news events that affect individuals. “Many of you will enter careers that involve interaction with people undergoing a range of experiences,” she said.” It is important that you remember to show compassion for those seeking your help.” Ms. Ramon also talked of the similarities between her professional path and those likely selected by the new graduates. She encouraged them to continue the hard work that brought them to that day and to stay motivated and focused throughout their careers. A Southern California native, Ms. Ramon continues to serve an active role with UCI. She has been a strong supporter of the School and the UCI Institute for Memory Impairment and Neurological Disorders. Ms. Ramon offered the students one more piece of advice before they were called to the stage:
“Take in the accomplishment of today and remember it for the rest of your lives.”
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | STUDENTS
Exploring Life’s Interplay, New Majors Advance Health in Creative Ways In studying the interlacing of the mind, body and world, two new majors train students to improve human wellbeing in creative ways. From powering up the role of preventive medicine to guiding global health policies, graduates will be ready to help solve challenges arising across the nation and around the planet.
Exercise Sciences There is an increasing realization that exercise must have a greater role in standard medical practice. Besides helping to control weight, physical activity can improve memory and even manage or prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and other maladies. Physical activity imposes a variety of unique metabolic and mechanical stresses on the body that influence cell types, tissues and organ systems. These stresses shape and modify fundamental physiological processes necessary for maintaining overall health and also to prevent disease. However, there is still much to uncover about the specific biological mechanisms behind these benefits and our world-renowned faculty are conducting cutting-edge investigations in this area. In learning from these researchers, Exercise Sciences students will understand the ways physical activity can help stave off disease. It will help them place greater focus on preventive medicine as they become doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants or enter other related fields.
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Why I Give
Human Biology These students explore intriguing realms to discover how social, environmental and global forces along with biology bear upon human health individually and collectively. With this knowledge comes the exciting opportunity to develop broad-based approaches to improving wellbeing, quality of life and the future for people worldwide. Study areas include physiology and epidemiology, with consideration of socioeconomics, ethics, cultural opinions, environmental issues and more. Students also examine the newest diagnostic methods, medicine and disease treatment options, with learning techniques that include use of real medical cases. This major positions students to pursue careers in such areas as epidemiology, health care administration and public health policy.
“ With this gift, Sydney and I have made a decision to support the bold vision Dean LaFerla has for the School of Biological Sciences. Our family is proud to be affiliated with the School and we look forward to working closely with the Dean in the coming years.”
– Paul and Sydney Balalis
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | STUDENTS
Awards Help Jump-Start STEM Student Research Recognizing the outstanding achievements of our undergraduate and graduate students in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines is an important annual ritual at UCI. Regional and national STEM awards are particularly prestigious and noteworthy. The School is pleased to report that once again, our students have received merit-based awards recognizing their abilities and providing financial support that furthers their work.
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Award Founded in 1958, the ARCS Foundation seeks to advance science and technology in the United States through financial assistance to exceptional U.S. citizens pursuing degrees in STEM fields. The Foundation’s Orange County chapter has provided graduate students at the Ayala School with additional financial support since 1999. The 2017 ARCS awardees are:
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Alyssa Braciszewski
Zachariah Reagh
Allison Najafi
Christine Schneider
Rose Hills Foundation Undergraduate Science and Engineering Scholarship Based in Los Angeles County, the Rose Hills Foundation supports a variety of programs that benefit the people of Southern California. In 2014, it pledged $700,000 to assist UCI undergraduates studying in STEM fields. Since then, the funds have helped many School student researchers. The following students received 2017 scholarships: Adam Brown
Celeste Shoeleh
Anais Panossian
Yasmine Yadollahi
Ava Pournejad
Minority Science Programs The School’s Minority Science Programs (MSP) initiative was founded, with support from the National Institutes of Health, to increase minority participation in the biological sciences at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Thanks to director Luis MotaBravo, Ph.D. and associate director Marlene de la Cruz, Ph.D., MSP students conduct research projects with faculty mentors and present their projects at national conferences. Program participants regularly receive honors for excellence in the sciences from national and internationally recognized societies such as the Scientific Research Society – Sigma Xi.
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | STUDENTS
Facts and Statistics
1,258
new students for Fall 2017
(combined incoming freshmen and transfer)
186 new transfers and 1,072 new freshmen Of this:
677
Undergraduate Degrees awarded (2016-17 school year)
56
Masters Degrees awarded
44
Doctoral Degrees awarded
14
UCI was ranked 1st in the nation, by the New York Times, for Colleges doing the most for the American dream, based on their commitment to economic diversity.
299
Total of graduate students at the School, Fall 2017
58 Masters 241 Doctoral
3,957
total undergraduates enrolled, Fall 2017
50%
First-Generation College Students new students for Fall 2017
UCI was ranked
$
25th
Best Public Colleges for “Big Paychecks�
by Money magazine, which measured alumni earnings against the out-of-pocket costs of university attendance.
4.0 Average GPA for undergraduate admission is 4.0
#2
Times Higher Education ranked UCI No. 2 nationally in its Golden Age University Rankings. Golden Age Universities were founded between 1945-1966.
65% Female total undergraduates enrolled, Fall 2017
28%
total undergraduates enrolled, Fall 2017
#8
Forbes named UCI the Best Value College in 2017
The School offers a Doctoral Degree in Biological Sciences, three Master’s Degrees and ten Bachelor of Science degrees. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences and Educational Media Design
Biology/ Education
Biotechnology Management
Developmental and Cell Biology
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Exercise Sciences
Genetics
Human Biology
Microbiology and Immunology
Neurobiology
Underrepresented Minorities
35% Low-Income
total undergraduates enrolled, Fall 2017
BioSci Rules! Why I Give
“ As the proud daughter of immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, I credit UCI for giving me the wings to soar to my fullest academic potential. My UCI experience also nurtured my spirit of altruism and service unto others. UCI was a critical stepping stone in my medical career and in my pathway towards humanitarian work. I contribute because UCI not only trains future scientists and healthcare providers but also inspires dreamers and innovators.”
– Mona Hanouni, M.D. (B.S. ’03)15
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2018 Dean’s Report
LIFE INTERCONNECTED | HEALTHY MIND
Of Mice and Men: Developing New Strategies to Defeat Alzheimer’s An innovative mouse model developed to better research Alzheimer’s drugs has enabled the School scientists to be awarded an $11.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging. The prestigious award will allow our faculty to continue this important work and share a valuable new tool that could move the world closer to a cure for the disease. In engineering the new mouse model, scientists changed part of its genetic code to mimic a human gene involved in Alzheimer’s. The rodent will serve as the starting point for developing several additional models that more accurately simulate the disease in people. These mice will be crucial for researchers working to end Alzheimer’s, which could affect more than 74 million people worldwide by 2030. The mouse model was generated in the laboratory of Dean Frank LaFerla. The funded work will be co-directed by Dean LaFerla and Professor Andrea J. Tenner (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry). The other members of this collaborative grant are Professors Grant MacGregor and Ali Mortazavi (Developmental and Cell Biology); Department Chair Marcelo A. Wood, Professor Kim Green and Assistant Researcher David Baglietto-Vargas (all from Neurobiology and Behavior).
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The UCI research team is developing the next generation of models that will be used to investigate Alzheimer’s disease drugs, which are urgently needed, as more than 74 million people worldwide could be affected by 2030.
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | RESILIENT BODY
Regrowing a Lost Limb:
Not So Far-Fetched What if a person who lost an arm, leg, finger or toe could simply grow a new one? Associate Dean David M. Gardiner, a regeneration biologist and professor in the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, believes it could be possible. He is among the scientists working in a field known as regenerative medicine. The aim is to find a way to regrow tissues, so that damaged or diseased cells comprising our muscles, bones and connective tissues could be repaired or replaced. Professor Gardiner has focused his research on salamanders. If they lose a limb, they can replace it by reactivating the ability to grow a new one, just like they had as embryos. Working with longtime collaborator Emeritus Professor Susan V. Bryant, he uses cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology techniques to detect molecules that enable cells to communicate with one another to initiate this remarkable process. They have identified several key molecular signals that regulate how it happens. The two professors continue to work towards the day that their findings translate into new treatments for human tissue repair and regeneration. About two million people in the U.S. are currently living with some kind of amputation, with nearly 185,000 new cases occurring each year. The reasons for this surgery range widely and include vascular disease, diabetes and trauma.
“ The discovery of molecules that can reactivate our intrinsic embryonic regeneration offers enormous potential and consequences for human health,� says Professor Gardiner. 18
Revolutionary Microscopes Shine Light on Disease Secrets Neurobiologist builds his own state-of-the-art microscopes. There is much more to a microscope than meets the naked eye. For four decades, Neurobiology and Behavior Professor Ian Parker has devised innovative forms of the device that are advancing scientific discovery. Most of us are familiar with the visible light microscope, which uses magnifying lenses and standard illumination. However, microscopes that utilize fluorescence as well as lens magnification have become essential in the biological and medical field because of the types of precise information they can reveal. One of Professor Parker’s recent creations is the Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscope. Known as TIRF, it can reduce a specimen’s background signals, a kind of visual “static.” One of the important findings he and his colleagues have made via the TIRF microscope pertains to a dysfunctional protein found in Alzheimer’s disease. They discovered the protein can interfere with how cells release calcium, which may cause some of the symptoms of the disease.
Professor Parker has also built the revolutionary fluorescent Lattice Light-Sheet Microscope, or LLSM. Its lattice of light rods creates a thin beam through a single plane. This light can be moved across the entire specimen, capturing views to produce an ultra-high-resolution 3D composite image. Using the LLSM, he has made breakthrough observations on a phenomenon known as tunneling membrane nanotubes. These tubular bridges made of cell membrane can send components between cells, including those of small proteins, viruses and energy-producing mitochondria. Professor Parker and close collaborator Dr. Ian Smith have together uncovered information in this area that could be vital in the fight against breast cancer. “Although we can’t break the laws of physics, recent innovations have enabled us to sidestep many constraints and create novel microscopes with unparalleled capabilities,” said Professor Parker. Photo on page 3 by Ian Parker: parkerlab.bio.uci.edu/evlight.htm
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | HIDDEN WORLD
Macro Push to Understand Micro Life Forms For every one of our cells, our bodies host around the same number of bacteria. The microbes’ genetic diversity is greater than our own. Luckily, the majority of these residents are harmless. And many of them provide us with something in return; they help our systems break down nutrients and prevent bad bacteria from developing in our intestines. However, there is still much to be learned about the relationship between humans and their microbes, and scientists in the School are catalyzing new research in this area. A community of microorganisms such as bacteria, along with viruses, fungi and other microbes, and the environment it inhabits is called a microbiome. The same broad classes of microbes that comprise our personal microbiomes are also found in the ocean and soil. While researchers have traditionally studied human microbiomes on their own, the UCI Microbiome Initiative hopes to uncover principles linking all of them. Professors Jennifer B.H. Martiny (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) and Katrine L. Whiteson (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry) are leading the effort. With a dedicated research staff and state-of-the-art equipment, the team is working to understand: – The role of microbiomes in health and resilience. – W hether scientists could promote the development of resilient microbiomes. – If scientists can alter microbiomes to improve human health and the environment. The Microbiome Initiative also seeks to provide world-class training in the study of microbiomes and educate the public on their role in human and ecosystem health.
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The microbes’ genetic diversity is greater than our own. Luckily, the majority of these residents are harmless.
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | RESILIENT BODY
Busting Down Roadblocks to New Drug Discovery and expertise, the consortium hopes to tackle many of the current roadblocks to drug discovery. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Professor Melanie Cocco is the consortium’s co-principal investigator for the UCI campus.
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For a new drug to go from the lab into clinical trials and then to the patients who need it can take over a decade and cost up to $2 billion.
A molecular biologist, Professor Cocco discovered the structure of the Nogo protein, which inhibits the growth of a nerve cell component called the axon. Currently, she is working to identify drugs that bind and block Nogo, which could help lead to novel treatments for spinal cord injury. Her expertise makes her an excellent candidate to help lead the consortium’s goals at UCI.
Adding to the complexity of developing new pharmaceuticals is the fact that just four percent of those tested clinically become licensed products. Now UCI and other UC campuses have joined together to create the new University of California Drug Discovery Consortium with the aim of promoting cross-campus collaborations in the area of drug development.
“One could argue that no other research institution in the world can compete with the expertise and resources of the entire University of California system,” said Professor Cocco. “With the backing of the UC Office of the President, the Drug Discovery Consortium will help focus our efforts in the fight against cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disease and many others.”
By bringing together top minds from the UC system, the consortium will develop a new paradigm in support of promising drug candidates discovered by UC scientists. Through seed grants, resource support
The consortium was initiated with five of the UC medical center campuses: Irvine, Davis, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, with the goal of expanding to include all UC locations.
Taking More Direct Aim at Disease with New Drug Design Approach A new age of drug development is dawning and the School faculty members are among its shining lights. Their research into molecular structures is helping advance the approach to creating pharmaceuticals into a more focused and efficient process. Most drugs on the market today were devised through a complex series of experiments incorporating basic biology, clinical genetic studies, chemistry and animal models, to name just a few components. However, strides in technology and computer analysis are prompting many scientists and clinicians to now turn toward what’s called structure-based drug design. If researchers understand the molecular structure of what a drug needs to target, they can devise compounds accordingly. These days, scientists can identify those structures through technology such as X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Professors Celia W. Goulding and Thomas Poulos are among the Ayala School faculty working in this innovative area. Professor Goulding, a physical organic chemist, seeks to combat the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis (TB). She has discovered how TB bacteria survive in those infected by obtaining iron from their blood. Through X-ray crystallography, Professor Goulding has mapped the structure of a protein that is key in this process. The information she has uncovered could influence future antibiotic development for TB.
Using similar methods, Professor Poulos and his collaborator at Northwestern, Professor Rick Silverman, have made discoveries that could help people with various neurodegenerative diseases. These breakthroughs have come through his work with the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, which produces the important cell signaling molecule nitric oxide. In one study, Professor Poulos and his collaborators identified compounds that could inhibit nitric oxide synthase in neurons, without affecting the important positive role that nitric oxide plays in the rest of the body. Their compounds were also found to prevent some of the symptoms associated with cerebral palsy in animal models. UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | RESILIENT BODY
Mastering the Mysteries of MS More than 2.3 million people worldwide are believed to have multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease for which there is currently no cure. MS is frequently diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 50, and the disease can impact both sexes and can afflict all ethnicities, though it is more common among Caucasians and up to three times likelier to develop in women than in men. UCI and the School are helping lead the fight against MS, having established in 2011 one of the nation’s few Multiple Sclerosis Research Centers recognized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Autoimmune diseases arise when a person’s own immune cells and molecules begin attacking their systems instead of targeting the foreign invaders they are supposed to ward off. Delving into the workings of MS, the center’s leader, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Professor Craig M. Walsh, has been examining how the immune system develops, functions and maintains stability. Key in his work is to investigate the signaling pathways that control the elimination of autoreactive T cells, the immune cells involved in the progression of MS. In disease-free individuals, the body eliminates T cells that have recognized the self. In MS, however, these T cells are not eliminated and can infiltrate the brain and spinal cord, where they can do their damage. They target and destroy myelin, a fatty material that insulates the axons of information-processing cells known as neurons. These axons are responsible for conducting electrical signals, and just like when the insulation of your home wiring goes bad, conduction becomes faulty. The net result is that when the myelin becomes disrupted, it can lead to a range of MS symptoms.
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Professor Walsh has also been looking into new ways to treat MS. He has investigated the interaction between T cells and neural stem cells, as T cell tolerance is essential for the success of neural stem cell transplantation as a therapeutic for MS. He and his colleagues have shown that transplanting neural stem cells can promote recovery from the disease in mouse models, and that a specialized form of T cell called regulatory T cell is vital for this process. He is currently expanding upon these studies, seeking to identify which neural stem cell properties would be most effective in clinical testing.
LIFE INTERCONNECTED | OUR WORLD
BioSci’s
Impact Feature
Preserving Hawaii’s Stunning Ecology
Living in Hawaii, Ann K. Sakai was fascinated by the nature around her. Now a professor with the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, she has dedicated her career to understanding how the islands’ native plants arose and why they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Professor Sakai was a biology major as an undergraduate at Oberlin College and received a doctorate in botany from the University of Michigan. She worked as a faculty member at Oakland University and as a research scientist at the University of Chicago before accepting a position at UCI. She is particularly interested in the spectacular diversity of breeding systems in the native Hawaiian plant genus Schiedea and the roles that native pollinators and wind have played in the diversification of this plant group into different habitats. Professor Sakai uses perspectives from population biology, systematics, evolutionary ecology and conservation biology in conducting this research. She takes a multidisciplinary approach in the lab she runs with Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Professor Stephen Weller, her longtime collaborator, that includes high-throughput sequencing methods and studies in the field in Hawaii and in UCI greenhouses. Also focused on conservation and restoration biology, Professor Sakai is investigating the disappearance of native Hawaiian plants due to non-native invasive plants and animals, climate change and other factors, and works on restoration of native plant populations with local biologists in Hawaii. In addition to her interest in research, Professor Sakai is a strong proponent of education and the investment in human capital as it relates to the biological sciences. She has served as a Program Director in the Division of Environmental Biology, where she has worked on initiatives that broaden participation and help recruit and train underrepresented minorities at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral level in biology.
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | HEALTHY MIND
Delving into the Brain to Break Addiction’s Grip Opioids, cannabis and nicotine: Although they are markedly different substances, these and most other addictive drugs cause people to engage in a set of similar behaviors known as drug-seeking. Neurobiology and Behavior Professor Christie D. Fowler is helping society tackle the challenge of addiction by studying the molecular mechanisms that spark those actions. Professor Fowler has helped identify a key role of an area of the brain involved in controlling nicotine’s addictive properties. She has discovered how changes to brain receptors guiding nicotine’s consumption can regulate its negative effects.
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Professor Fowler is now working to understand the receptors’ role in common drug-seeking behaviors. One of those is drug reinforcement, or physiological and psychological responses that cause people to abuse substances. Another is the reaction to drugassociated cues, such as sights, sounds, aromas and tactile sensations, that are connected with the drug using experience. She has also been studying how using nicotine and marijuana during adolescence affects substance use as an adult, conducting the research with rodent models. Because e-cigarettes are on the upsurge among young people, she is also focused on examining the effects of nicotine vapor exposure in her studies. By identifying the molecular underpinnings mediating these behaviors, she seeks to develop novel drug therapies to treat addiction.
Short Acronym Brings Big Clout to Alzheimer’s Fight
A few letters could spell out a major strategy for combating Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. They are iPSCs, short for induced pluripotent stem cells. Under the direction of Neurobiology and Behavior Professor Mathew Blurton-Jones, iPSCs offer an important tool for researchers seeking to prevent and cure these progressive and irreversible brain disorders.
First created in 2006, iPSCs are generated from adult nonstem cells and can be turned into any other type of cell. They enable scientists to study the effects of disease at the genetic level without using embryonic or fetal tissues. Professor Blurton-Jones is conducting iPSC studies in his role as head of the Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Bank at the UCI Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. The UCI iPSC bank is the first in the nation to generate iPSCs derived solely from age-matched individuals, some living with Alzheimer’s and others whose cognition is normal. His goal as chief of the research bank is to establish a repository of human iPSCs to serve as models for neurodegenerative disorders. Professor Blurton-Jones has made significant progress in this capacity, creating dozens of iPSC lines from multiple patients with diverse genetic backgrounds. UCI researchers can model diseases by using these iPSCs, and even test drugs on the cells to determine which of the pharmaceuticals should move into preclinical and clinical trials. The research bank is already
having a strong impact on the field, sending cells to investigators across the U.S. and in many other countries. Professor Blurton-Jones has also used iPSCs in his own work, focusing on cells known as microglia. In addition to helping develop and defend the brain, they have a role in Alzheimer’s disease and many other neurological disorders. Microglia are difficult to obtain from human fetal or adult brain tissue, which has presented a challenge for researchers working on those diseases. Using a complex culturing process, Professor BlurtonJones’ team has generated iPSC-derived microglial-like cells. This discovery marks an important breakthrough in the ability to study these unique brain cells, with the goal of better understanding human neurological disorders. “By studying brain cells derived from patients with or without Alzheimer’s, we can examine the mechanisms that drive the disease, and test promising new therapies on human cells in a dish,” says Professor Blurton-Jones.
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | HEALTHY MIND
Fast-Forwarding Brain Discoveries The brain is the most complicated structure known to man. Besides containing our memories and experiences, it changes constantly. New neuronal networks form when we learn fresh information. As we grow from infancy into adulthood, inflammation, stress hormones, pathogens and toxins can affect its development and health. Now, the new UCI Facility for Imaging and Brain Research (FIBRE) offers scientists advanced technology to help them delve further into how our minds work. FIBRE, an acronym that alludes to the fibers enabling nerve cells to communicate, houses a Siemens Prisma 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner capable of providing very
high-resolution images of the brain. Neurobiology and Behavior Professor Craig E.L. Stark is FIBRE’s founding director. Because the MRI has no harmful effects, Professor Stark and other researchers can take multiple scans. As a result, they can track changes to an individual’s brain over days, weeks and years. In combining this information with other measurements, such as analyses of genetics and behavior, scientists will gain powerful new insights into brain health and disease. In addition to running FIBRE, Professor Stark will use the facility for his own investigations into how memories are formed, aging’s impact on the brain and Alzheimer’s disease. And in a multi-dimensional approach to unlocking the brain’s mysteries, he will also partner with faculty across UCI, including biologists, physicians, sociologists and biomedical engineers.
Tracking changes of an individual’s brain over days, weeks and years...
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Rocky Mountain High: Retired Professor Savors Outdoors & Teaching When Professor Emeritus Jerry E. Manning retired from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry in 2004 following three decades of service, he and his wife, Dr. Ruth Wrightsman, fulfilled a longtime dream by moving to the Rocky Mountains. The pair has also continued educating more future scientists through hands-on work and creation of new programs for Montana students.
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The couple built a house on land they’d purchased in the 1980s in Bigfork, Montana. It sits on the shore of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. “We both love the outdoors,” said Professor Manning, listing hiking, camping and fly fishing among their favorite activities. The pair also planted an orchard with 150 cherry trees; they sell much of the fruit to a co-op each year. The area’s beauty makes it easy to weather Montana winters. “Plus, we have a lot of propane,” he said with a chuckle.
Then Ruth Wrightsman “de-retired.” She had received a Ph.D. in developmental and cell biology from UCI and taught at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California for 20 years before she and Professor Manning moved to the Rockies. In Montana, she accepted a position at Kalispell’s Flathead Valley Community College, where she now chairs the biology department. Professor Manning followed suit, becoming an adjunct professor of biology at the community college, teaching during the winter. Six years ago, the couple secured a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that enabled Flathead Valley Community College to launch a biotechnology program. Then they succeeded in obtaining a second NSF grant to boost science education in Montana’s secondary schools, many of which are located in rural areas. Twice a year, teachers from around the state come to Flathead Valley Community College for a “DNA Bootcamp.” The program also provides funds for teaching supplies. “Being part of all of this has been very fulfilling,” Professor Manning said. Professor Manning came to UCI in 1975, just a decade after its founding. Reflecting on his career, he said: “It was a great opportunity to help build the program and the University into what it is today. I can’t imagine a better experience.”
LIFE INTERCONNECTED | FACULTY
2017 Faculty Accolades
The 2017 BioSci AAAS Fellows
Clinical Translational Scientist Career Award University of California, Irvine Emeritus Professor Susan V. Bryant, Ph.D. Developmental and Cell Biology 2017 Elected Fellow Ecological Society of America Professor Travis E. Huxman, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Professor Adriana D. Briscoe
Professors Adriana D. Briscoe (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), Craig E.L. Stark (Neurobiology and Behavior) and Kathleen K. Treseder (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) were named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in recognition of their scientifically distinguished efforts to advance science and its applications. Professors Briscoe, Stark and Treseder join seven other UCI professors as 2017 inductees, representing expertise in areas ranging from computer science to physical sciences. The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society, serving a community that includes more than 90 countries around the globe. The multidisciplinary scientific organization seeks to “advance science, engineering and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people.” An induction as an AAAS Fellow is a prestigious honor reserved for scientists who have had a profound impact on their field of study.
2017 Lauds & Laurels Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award University of California, Irvine Donald Bren Professor Anthony A. James, Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 2017 Potamkin Prize American Academy of Neurology Professor Claudia H. Kawas, M.D. Neurobiology and Behavior 2017 Elected Fellow Ecological Society of America, American Academy of Microbiology Professor Jennifer B.H. Martiny, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 2017 Distinguished Lecturer Award American Society for Microbiology Associate Professor Ilhem Massaoudi, Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Professor Craig E.L. Stark
2017-2018 University of California, Irvine Mid-Career Faculty Award for Research Chancellor’s Professor Markus W. Ribbe, Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 2017 Elected Fellow Ecological Society of America Assistant Professor Cascade J.B. Sorte, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 2017 Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Teaching School of Biological Sciences Professor Georg F. Striedter, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior 2017-18 Hellman Fellowship Award Hellman Fellows Fund Assistant Professor Zeba Wunderlich, Ph.D. Developmental and Cell Biology
Professor Kathleen K. Treseder UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | FACULTY
NEW SCHOOL LEADERSHIP Brandon S. Gaut, Ph.D.
Raju Metherate, Ph.D.
The research interests of Professor Gaut focus on the evolution of plant genes, especially when a plant is domesticated. Professor Gaut has served as Chair of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Interim Dean of the School. An accomplished evolutionary biologist, he has published over 150 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, and is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Professor Metherate is the former Vice-Chair of Neurobiology and Behavior. In that capacity, he has overseen the teaching assistant support program and other matters related to continuous improvement of the undergraduate experience. Professor Metherate’s research has focused on the nervous system’s role in auditory perception. As part of his work, he has developed a way to preserve auditory neural pathways “in a dish” for more efficient examination of neurons that help process what we hear.
Celia W. Goulding, Ph.D.
Kathleen K. Treseder, Ph.D.
Finding new ways to combat tuberculosis (TB) is where Professor Goulding devotes her research. She focuses on the structural biology of proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB. Her research has yielded new insights on how the bacteria survive within TB patients by obtaining iron from their blood. Professor Goulding has participated on the School’s awards committee, devotes substantial time to the School’s minority science programs. And also currently serves on the School’s undergraduate cabinet, as well as being Vice Chair of her department.
As concerns about worldwide climate change mount, Professor Treseder seeks to improve predictions about it by incorporating the role of fungi in carbon emissions. Her research examines scales from molecules and small organisms, to the broader microbial ecology of the globe. Professor Treseder has published over 100 peer-reviewed publications and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Kim Green, Ph.D.
Dominik Wodarz, Ph.D.
Working with animal models, Professor Green has centered on the brain’s immune cells, or microglia, which are implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. Professor Green’s research uncovered the ability to remove these immune cells from the brain, using drugs that target a single receptor found on these cells. Using this approach, which he pioneered, he has uncovered the various roles that microglia play in the development of plaques in Alzheimer’s, as well as how they attack and damage brain tissue at later stages. Professor Green is also an accomplished educator whose work has won him the School’s Dean’s Golden Apple Teaching Award.
Professor Wodarz works on mathematical and computational models of biological processes, producing practical applications that help fight cancer and infectious diseases. Recently, he helped uncover the mechanisms by which a new targeted drug attacks chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and showed how a mathematical framework based on evolutionary theory can be used to make patient-specific predictions about treatment outcome in the clinic. In addition to his research, Professor Wodarz teaches infectious disease and population dynamics to undergraduate and graduate students.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Associate Dean of Research and Innovation
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Vice-Chair of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Neurobiology and Behavior Vice-Chair of Neurobiology and Behavior
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Neurobiology and Behavior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Chair of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Vice-Chair of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
FACULTY RETIREMENTS Dana W. Aswad, Ph.D.
NEW FACULTY
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Audrey Chen Lew, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior
Mapping student learning progressions is an effective tool in evidence-based teaching. However, the development of learning progression scales has traditionally been limited to K-12 education and has not met the growing needs of university students. Professor Audrey Chen Lew seeks to define learning progression scales at higher educational institutions, and particularly within the neurosciences and critical thinking.
After joining UCI faculty in 1980, Professor Aswad discovered and purified a new enzyme (PIMT) that functions to repair a common form of protein damage in the nervous system. He invented a popular commercial kit that allows companies to assess protein damage in their products. In recent years he explored how mutations in PIMT contribute to neurological diseases and cognitive aging. Professor Aswad has received over 30 years of funding from National Institutes of Health (NIH), served on an NIH review panel, and on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. He is currently teaching in UCI’s Biotechnology Master’s Program on a volunteer basis.
Bradford A. Hawkins, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Mei Kong, Ph.D.
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Most cancer cells have altered metabolism, or “hunger,” that can increase the uptake of nutrients to meet their high-energy demands. Increased uptake of nutrients during tumor growth can outstrip the supply of essential nutrients. How tumor cells adapt to these periods of nutrient deprivation is unclear, but is necessary for their survival. Professor Kong is investigating exactly how cancer cells deal with hunger by studying cancer cell signaling pathways and metabolic alterations in order to develop therapies targeting nutrient-sensing pathways of neoplastic cells. Additionally, she is also interested in the role protein modification plays in cancer’s response to environmental and nutritional stresses.
Michael J. Parsons, Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
The research goal of Professor Michael Parsons is to uncover novel therapeutic strategies to reverse the diabetic state. His lab utilizes zebrafish as a model system for discovery. These animals have a pancreatic physiology similar to our own, making them an ideal model for type-1 diabetes research. Diabetes type-1 is an autoimmune disease associated with a loss of ß cells in the pancreas. One difference between zebrafish and humans is the remarkable ability the zebrafish has to replace lost ß cells. By studying ß cells development and regeneration in the zebrafish, Professor Parsons and his team aim to uncover new insights into the molecular mechanisms that regulate ß cells formation. Such an approach will help to identify new drugs to induce ß cells regeneration in human type-1 diabetics.
In devoting his research to the distribution of species, Professor Hawkins has made a substantial impact on the field of ecology and evolution. He studied how climate affects species diversity and ways in which environmental changes shape species over time. With other scientists frequently referring to his work, Professor Hawkins was recognized as a “Highly Cited Researcher” by Thompson Reuters in 2014 and 2015. He was also elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Michael Leon, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior
The benefits of activities involving the body’s senses and motor skills for children with autism spectrum disorder captured Professor Leon’s research interest. He led clinical studies showing that youngsters who received this enrichment made a clinically significant improvement on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Professor Leon served for 22 years as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, where he was instrumental in developing many of the School’s most recognized and successful undergraduate programs.
Lawrence J. Marsh, Ph.D. Developmental and Cell Biology
Professor Marsh has amassed an accomplished body of work using fruit flies to understand the genetics of Wnt signaling as it relates to developmental biology and colon cancer. Working with these fruit fly models, he and his lab identified genetic mechanisms underlying Huntington’s disease pathology. He and his lab also discovered compounds that could serve as possible treatment drugs, several of which were tested in clinical trials. In recognition of his work, Professor Marsh was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. UCI BioSci Ayala School 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | FACULTY
YEAR IN REVIEW
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UCI BioSci Ayala School 2018 Dean’s Report
LIFE INTERCONNECTED | SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
Dean’s Leadership Council The BioSci School Dean’s Leadership Council (DLC) is composed of successful alumni, business executives and community leaders who provide counsel to the Dean and help ensure that our strategic mission is properly aligned with the needs of society and business. They provide valuable financial support to advance the mission of the School’s priorities of teaching, research and public service. Council members
Michael Aguiar ’88
Brian Atwood ’74
Mitchell Brin, M.D., FAAN
Former President and CEO Innoviva, Inc.
CEO, Co-Founder Cell Design Labs
Sr. Vice President, Global Drug Development and Chief Science Officer Botox®, Allergan, Inc.
Diana Hendel, PharmD. ’85
Nikki Iravani, O.D. ’86
Nikan Khatibi, D.O. ’04
Senior Partner, Partnership Advantage
Founder & CEO EyeXam
CEO and Medical Director Ahura Healthcare Corporation
embody the spirit of philanthropy and function as our “eyes and ears” outside the university walls. They offer significant insights to the dean, including industry trends that impact our graduates and our faculty’s research. Our DLC members function as ambassadors and advocates, introducing us to key decision makers and industry leaders who support our strategic goals and special initiatives.
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Ed Chang ’84
Louis C. Cullman, Esq.
Charles L. M. Dunlop
Jacqueline Dupont, Ph.D.
Aaron Elliott, Ph.D.
Vice President of Marketing Avenu Medical
Partner K&L Gates
Founder Ambry Genetics
CEO Dupont Residential Care, Inc.
CEO Ambry Genetics
William Loudon, M.D., Ph.D. Section Chief for Pediatric Neurosurgery Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Mohannad S. Malas CEO IRA Capital, LLC
Maria Minon, M.D. ’72,’76 Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Michael O’Connell
David J. Perry, Esq.
Executive Director Irvine Ranch Conservancy
Of Counsel K&L Gates
UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
UCI BioSci Dean’s Leadership Cabinet and Staff
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David M. Gardiner, Ph.D.
Brandon S. Gaut, Ph.D.
Raju Metherate, Ph.D.
R. Michael Mulligan, Ph.D.
Aimee L. Edinger, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Associate Dean of Research and Innovation
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education
Associate Dean of Graduate Education
Equity Advisor
Benedicte Shipley
Andrew DiNuzzo
Robyn Martinelli
Shannon Ingram
Randy Bautista, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean
Senior Director of Development
Senior Director of Development
Director of Marketing and Communications
Institutional Research Analyst
“I am forever grateful for my education at UCI. From my experience as an undergraduate student in the Campuswide Honors Program to my years in the School of Medicine, my education at UCI has created so many opportunities. I hope that by giving back, I may help create similar opportunities for current and future students.”
– J ohn J. Tierney, M.D. (’01, ‘06)
Hung Y. Fan, Ph.D. Awards and Honors Advisor
Rahasson R. Ager, Ph.D. Communications Associate
UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
UCI BioSci Departments
NEUROBIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR (NBB)
DEVELOPMENTAL AND CELL BIOLOGY (DCB)
Marcelo A. Wood, Ph.D., Chair Kim Green, Ph.D., Vice-Chair Sally Dabiri, Department Administator
Thomas F. Schilling, Ph.D., Chair Kavita Arora, Ph.D., Vice-Chair Andrea Wiley, Department Administator
NBB was the first neuroscience department in the world, established in 1964, five years before the formation of the Society for Neuroscience. Then, neuroscience research was generally scattered in various academic departments. NBB is principal constituent of the MIND theme of our School’s MIND | BODY | WORLD vision. Our researchers make discoveries related to maintaining a healthy brain, including investigations into Alzheimer’s disease and addiction, the computational brain, which involves studies of learning and memory, and the social/artistic brain with researchers using advanced imaging techniques to unlock the mysteries of our minds.
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Our School’s vision includes two departments devoted to the BODY. The first, DCB, seeks discoveries that foster a better understanding of many biological questions such as the origins of cancer development, cell repair and regrowth, and developmental disorders. Our diverse groups of researchers expose students to everything from the basic biology of stem cells to central nervous system injury and stroke, diabetes and the use of stem cell-based screens to identify novel drugs targeting cell proliferation and differentiation.
Our four academic departments prepare and train the next generation of health care professionals and scientists and conduct cutting-edge research related to MIND | BODY | WORLD.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY (MBB)
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY (EEB)
Christopher C.W. Hughes, Ph.D., Chair Celia W. Goulding, Ph.D., Vice-Chair Bessy Varela, Department Administator
Kathleen K. Treseder, Ph.D., Chair Dominik Wodarz, Ph.D., Vice-Chair Marisa Reyes, Department Administator
A deeper understanding of the mechanistic principles that govern nature is at the core of MBB, the second principal constituent of the BODY theme. MBB was formed by faculty interested in a deeper understanding of the mechanistic principles that govern nature. We are experts in fields as diverse as immunology, virology, chemistry and structural biology. Our research has uncovered vital knowledge on vector control methods, vascular biology, biofuels, autoimmune disease, drug design and much more.
EEB focuses on the WORLD part of our School’s vision. Our researchers explore not only the tangible world around us, but the hidden world. They take experimental approaches and make discoveries related to comprehending important ecosystems and ensuring sustainability for the future of our planet. Their diverse interests include behavioral ecology, the evolutionary biology of aging, comparative genomics and global change biology, just to name a few. EEB faculty, staff and students travel around the world to collaborate with top scientists from many distinguished institutions. UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | GET INVOLVED
Hot Topics Make Great Events If you’re wondering what researchers are doing to solve life’s greatest challenges, find out by attending free lectures at the School. They address today’s hottest topics in a manner that’s enjoyable and thoughtprovoking for non-scientists and scientists alike.
The Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series The Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series was created in 2014 by Dean LaFerla with the goal of sharing with the public the important research being conducted at the School. Held quarterly, these events have quickly become one of the best examples of UCI’s public outreach. Here are examples of past topics:
Claudia H. Kawas, M.D. “ Lessons From the Oldest-Old: The 90+ Study.” February, 2017
Peter J. Donovan, Ph.D. “ Stem Cells: Biology for a Better Tomorrow.” May, 2017
Ian Parker, Ph.D. “ You Can See a Lot Just By Looking. Visualizing the Inner Workings of Health and Disease.” April, 2017
Richard A. Van Etten, M.D., Ph.D. “ Dispatch From the Front Lines of the War on Cancer: How NCI Cancer Centers Lead the Fight.” October, 2017
The Allergan Foundation Lecture Series The Allergan Lecture Series features distinguished scientists from UCI and other national and international institutions. Created with support from the Allergan Foundation, these lectures address current biological and medical topics relevant to the broader community. Russell “Rusty” Katz, M.D. “ How Drugs are Approved: An Insider’s Look at the FDA.” May, 2017
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For more information on upcoming topics, dates, times and locations, please visit bio.uci.edu/events
Mentoring Tomorrow’s Biologists
“ I knew I could impact someone’s decisions meaningfully, and at the same time I learn from them.”
Many of science’s most exciting and relevant advances are taking place in the field of biology. And with good reason. Biological solutions are needed to overcome the global challenges we face that affect our health, our economy, our society, and our world every day. To help students prepare for successful futures in such a demanding world, the School’s Mentor Program brings together some of our most valuable resources – students, alumni and the community. The program pairs alumni and community professionals with undergraduate students based on similar interests and fields of focus. Person-to-person relationships bring a sharing of knowledge, experience, and personal insights. Mentors share their scholastic and professional experience to guide the students as they map out areas for academic, personal and professional development. Long time BioSci mentor, Denis Kitayama, an alumnus of the School and a pharmacist for over 35 years, agrees. “I knew I could impact someone’s decisions meaningfully, and at the same time I learn from them,” and he continues to do so. He keeps in contact with most of his past mentees, and through social media, they continue to reach out to him and each other to share fresh perspectives and insights. The School kicked off the 2017-2018 BioSci Mentor Program this past November with a celebratory dinner featuring BioSci alumna and keynote speaker, Dr. Tina Nova, the founder and CEO of Molecular Stethoscope, Inc. Dr. Nova spoke about the value of mentoring and finding the right mentors. This year’s program, with 110 students and 79 mentors participating, is one of the largest groups since the program’s creation. With such tremendous participation, the School’s Mentor Program continues to positively impact the biologists of tomorrow.
Visit bio.uci.edu/mentor-program to learn more and to join. UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | GIVING
Help Defeat Alzheimer’s Whether you are a UCI alum or student, or a member of the community, you can become part of a dedicated movement to defeat the disease. In joining our free club Anteaters Against Alzheimer’s, you will help the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), directed by Professor Joshua D. Grill (pictured), and the Ayala School in this fight. By participating, you assist in: • B uilding a community of engagement with distinguished UCI researchers and clinicians. • Supporting Alzheimer’s research at UCI. • Promoting educational events. • Creating a community of support for anteaters affected by the disease. Together, we can build Anteaters Against Alzheimer’s into a powerful force for dementia research, patient support and educational outreach.
Visit aaa.uci.edu to learn more and to join.
“ Anteaters Against Alzheimer’s is a movement designed to directly support UCI MIND’s continued march toward a cure.” ~ Elsa Ramon, CBS2/KCAL9 Anchor and Reporter and Alumna, Class of 1994.
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Yes!
I want to make Alzheimer’s a distant memory!
BioSci Ambassadors
Engage, Invest, Connect
The School of Biological Sciences we know today would not exist without our friends and alumni. Our cutting-edge programs are possible thanks to the generosity of our donors, and we are constantly exploring ways to make the giving experience more rewarding. To this end, we are pleased to launch The BioSci Ambassadors, a network of like-minded individuals who are committed to sustaining and improving the School’s standing as an elite institution with rigorous and innovative academic training, and advancing the groundbreaking research of our distinguished faculty. As a member of the group, you will have access to exclusive programming, relevant scientific lectures and networking events. These activities provide opportunities for members to engage and make worthwhile connections that build knowledge and contacts. The BioSci Ambassadors are our alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends who are committed to directing financial resources that will address unique opportunities, improve all aspects of the student experience and help disseminate scientific knowledge for the good of our society. They set a new standard of philanthropy through leadership gifts in support of the Dean’s Excellence Fund, while providing input and counsel for the Dean and School leadership in these core areas. To learn more or to join BioSci Ambassadors, please contact Robyn Martinelli at robyn.martinelli@uci.edu.
UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | GIVING
AWARDS IN THE MAKING
New Student Award Continues Legacy of Esteemed Former Faculty The legacy of Emeritus Professors Krishna and Sujata Tewari will live on through a new student scholar award. The Krishna and Sujata Tewari Scholar Award for students demonstrating proclivity and aspirations in science and medicine has been created thanks to their sons, UCI alumni Drs. Krishnansu and Devansu Tewari, and their spouses, UCI alumni Drs. Meagan M. Tewari and Nita Tewari. Dr. Sujata Tewari joined UCI in 1971, subsequently holding faculty positions in BioSci and the School of Medicine. Her influential career included launching the UCI Alcohol Research Center, where she also served as director. Dr. Krishna K. Tewari held a faculty appointment in BioSci from 1969 to 2006. During that time, he served as Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and created the School’s Master’s Program in Biotechnology. Through the generosity of their children, the accomplishments the Tewaris made during their 37 years here will continue to bear fruit far into the future. If you would like to contribute to this endowment honoring the Tewari family legacy at UCI, please contact Robyn Martinelli at robyn.martinelli@uci.edu.
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Why I Give
We have made this challenge gift to honor our former colleagues Drs. Krishna and Sujata Tewari. Krishna was key to our careers as a mentor, colleague and friend. He was a gentle but firm source of advice with respect to negotiating the ‘ins and outs’ of an academic position. We hope others will join us in contributing to the Tewari scholarship fund to honor the many contributions in teaching, service and research the Tewaris made to UCI and the School.
–H ung Y. Fan, Ph.D. and Barbara A. Hamkalo, Ph.D.
Lifelong Mentor Inspires Gift to the School While attending Orange Coast College, James T. Goodrich went to a guest lecture by UC Irvine Professor James L. McGaugh on learning and memory. The presentation made such a strong impression that when he came to UCI to complete his undergraduate education, he scheduled an appointment to see Professor McGaugh. It was the beginning of a mentor relationship that continues even today between the professor and Dr. Goodrich, who is now a worldrenowned neurosurgeon. Its impact has prompted Dr. Goodrich and his wife Judy to make a generous $60,000 gift to the School in the professor’s name. The James Tait Goodrich Award for Excellence in Neurobiology in Honor of James McGaugh endows an award recognizing an undergraduate student completing his or her junior year for outstanding achievement in neurobiology. Dr. Goodrich is Professor of Neurological Surgery, Pediatrics and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, working at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center. Professor McGaugh, the faculty member Dr. Goodrich and his wife are honoring, joined the UCI faculty in 1964. Professor McGaugh has had numerous roles at UCI including as founding chair of Neurobiology and Behavior, dean of the school, executive vice chancellor and founded the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. Dr. Goodrich says Professor McGaugh constantly inspires him.
“Because of him, I have concentrated on providing mentorships my whole career in medicine, and that includes people coming in from all over the world,” said Dr. Goodrich. “His influence is still with me over four decades later.” Dr. Goodrich’s ties to UCI and BioSci remain strong; he presented a keynote address at the 2017 UCI reunion. He attends Professor McGaugh’s lab reunions when his busy schedule allows. “Professor McGaugh has been a role model for Dr. G and an inspiration to so many others,” said Judy Goodrich. “We are honored to contribute to his legacy and the relevant work that takes place at UCI and the School of Biological Sciences, while helping others have this experience.” Dr. Goodrich said: “We wanted to do something for the UCI community and do it in a way that would recognize this great gentleman and scholar.” UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | GIVING
Dean’s Excellence Fund
Educating the Leaders of Tomorrow Taking fast action when opportunities and needs arise is an essential component of the modern research university. Perhaps a research discovery requires quick funding to go further or an unforeseen situation is affecting a student’s ability to pursue his or her studies. When you contribute to the Dean's Excellence Fund, you provide the capacity to respond rapidly to unexpected situations, overcoming financial concerns that could be roadblocks to the School’s mission. Please consider giving today to continue our rich history of advancing science and educating students who are at the forefront of making the world better. For more information, visit bio.uci.edu/give
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Connect with BioSci! UCI School of Biological Sciences
@UCIBioSci
@UCIBioSci
Search: UCI School of Biological Sciences #UCIBioSci
UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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LIFE INTERCONNECTED | GIVING
Longtime Donor Alumni and Friends 25+ YEARS OF GIVING
15+ YEARS OF GIVING
15+ YEARS OF GIVING
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
Ruth Forer Salvatore Lombardi and Eileen Lombardi Mae G. Varon
Marjorie Anderson Peter Atsatt and Michele Blair Brian Atwood ’74 and Lynne Edminster Sameer Awsare ’85, ’89 David Gardiner and Susan Bryant Aki ’76, ’78 and Errol Caszatt Barbara and John Cronin Sharon Dana ’84 Meridel Daniels W. Fidler Kirby Fong Louise and James Garrison Dianne Gillespie Anita and Fred Gillett Dolores Gitlin M. Marlene Godoy ’76 Lois Groendycke Susanne Haffner William Halopoff Peggy and George Hunt Mary Ann and Steven Kahanic Diana Kiel ’81 and Les Jacobowitz Mathilde Klee Ramona and Joseph ’77, ’78, ’78 Kuwahara Marilyn and George Long Margaret and David ’69 Macys Mary Ann Malinick Roberta Massoth Debbie and James ’78 Matthews Patricia and Gary ’77 McCaughan
James McGaugh Jewel Mehlman Jeannette and Craig ’78, ’80 Miller James Mitchell ’78 Carol Krieks and Laurence Mueller Florence and Bernard Rabins Valerie Randolph ’74 and Donald Fenbert Carol ’78 and Donald ’77 Richards Merle Robboy Kathleen and Allan Rosevear Maida Sandoval Shirley Saturensky Audrey Schneiderman Edith Shields Gerry and Maclyn Somers Ann Marie ’75 and Steven Stallings Cheryl and Ralph ’73 Steiger Ann Stephens ’70 Nancy and Leslie ’79 Sterrett Donald Stewart James Sullivant ’76 Mary and A. Brian Taylor Andrea Tenner and Thomas Poulos Patti and Richard ’73 Thompson Carolyn and Ted ’73 Weyand Marilyn and Max Wolfsberg Mackayla Infante-Wong ’78, ’78 and Leroy Wong ’75 Linda and Larry Yip Katharine and Robert Young
Karen and Thomas ’73 Akashi Deborah ’98 and John ’74, ’74 Alder Diane and Robert ’76 Allen Robert Anderson Shizuka Awsare ’84 Gwendolyn and Guilford Babcock Gail Baker ’74 Ann and Alan Barbour Marilyn and Jay Bauer Louise and Hugh ’74 Berkley Judy and Jerome Blackman Mary and Mark ’77 Blake Cristy Brenner Lisa ’79 and Larry ’78 Brown Betty Brynan Kathleen and Richard Buddington George Buhler Yolanda and Edward ’71 Burrows Melanie Stockwell-Byde and Robert Byde ’69, ’75 Ian Campbell France and Richard Campbell F. Lynn Carpenter Ingibjorg and Robert Chapman Stefani Ching ’83 Lynn Churchill ’73 John Chwistek Sharon Cohoon Rosaleen Cox Doris and Cecil Crafts Jean and Charles ’80 Creasey Ann Cullen
20+ YEARS OF GIVING Susan ’83 and Michael Eckhardt Christine and Leland House John Howell Sharon Kusano ’83 Josephine Mehlman Mela Miledi Carolyn ’76 and Blake ’75 Neubauer Suzanne Toll Peltason Julia Poirier Deborah and David Rector Christopher Reed Minna and Michael Riber Elizabeth and Karl Schiller Elizabeth and John Stahr Deborah and Carl Weinert Judith Spiegel and Lawrence Wysocki ’75
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UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
Dianne ’81 and Drew Dabney Vera and F. James Dupuie Angelique Ellingboe ’84 Edith Emch Jane Englar Patricia and Robert Ferazzi Miriam Feuerman ’86 Yuka and Michael Foertsch Kay and Richard ’73 Gabbay Carol and Todd Gleeson ’79 Dorothy Goldberg Toni ’69 and Robert ’71 Gorkin Ann Schieble-Gottschalk ’72 and Guy Gottschalk ’70, ’74 Barbara ’68 and Gale Granger Susan Bernys and Stephen Gray ’76 Betina Greenberg ’74 Melaine Wolf-Greenberg and David Greenberg ’78 Dieter Gries Jay Hall Barbara Hamkalo Kristine ’74 and James ’74 Hardeman James Harrison ’71 Catherine and Larry ’85 Heads Ann Heiney Craig Henderson ’85 Viola and G. Richard Herrick Alice and Corys Heselton Margaret and Thomas ’77 Hickey Carolyn and Clifford ’80 Hitomi Penelope and John Hlavac
John Holcombe Judy Horton Daniel Hovenstine ’79 Karen ’85 and Michael Imfeld Judy and Kenneth ’79 Ishizue Terry and Steven ’77 Izumi Cynthia French ’79, ’93 and Anthony James ’73, ’79 Ruth ’73 and Raymond Johnson Louise and Ralph Jones Jean Kay Barbara and Denis ’76 Kitayama Diana Krause ’72 David Lake ’72 Richard Lathrop Rosalie ’82 and Ronald Lowe Teresa and Gregory ’74 Marrujo Joanne and Al Martinez Denise and Carl ’81 Martz Cecilia and Dennis May Anne and Frank ’75 Mayer Roger Mayer ’73 Marcia and John McDonald Martina McGlynn ’73 Walter Mitchel Teresa and Avery ’81 Mittman Marcia Miyoshi ’80 Shirley Moore Rhonda Myers and Klaus Rosebrock Myrna and Loren ’76 Nakamura Arline Nakanishi ’86 Quyen Nguyen ’94
Gayle ’69 and Charles Nobbs Janice and Michael ’82 Numamoto Margaret Ogden Carol Olson and Todd Huck Yolanda Wilson and David Ortez ’69 Vickilyn Pard ’67 Wendy Oas-Parisky and Yuri Parisky ’79 Irene and Ronald Perez Leslie and Ralph Purdy Janet ’73 and Ray Randel David Irons ’92 and Ann Rappoport ’75 Ellen and Donald ’75 Rezek Mary and Ronald Richmond Hilda and David ’73 Roberts Patricia and Bill Robinson Carol Roller Rosalie Rosenthal Madonna and Wayne Saxton Robert Schier Sidney Schlain Synthia Scofield and Hannes Richter Richard Scott Kim and James ’76, ’76, ’81, ’83 Seibert Ronnie Hanecak and Bert Semler ’74 Jean and Evan Siegel Eric Stanbridge Mary and William Stanton Susan Stemmer ’76
Patricia Stephenson April Stilson ’77 Veronique and John Swett Julie ’86 and David ’85 Sword Caroline and Peter ’72, ’77 Syapin Barbara Carey-Takla and Roger Takla Colleen and Ronald ’78 Tamaru Helen Tangcay Matthew Thomas ’90 Susi and Jose Torre-Bueno Daniel Tremblay Deborah Tucker ’74 Linda and David ’69 Usher Marsha Vacca ’71 Deidre ’73 and Joseph Vail Duane Vajgrt ’85 Louise Van Cott Nancy and Herbert Vogler Judith Wagner Susan and Richard ’75 Wagner Leslie Walker Beverly Weber-Fow and Robert Fow Mary and James White Noel Taylor and Michael Whitlow ’75 Madalynne Wilkes-Grundy ’88 and Byron Grundy Ruth and Elwyn Winland Barbara and Clifford Woolfolk Christine ’81 and Calvin ’79 Yee Debra and Jerome ’76 Zack
Dean Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D. Assistant Dean Benedicte Shipley Editor Shannon Ingram Creative Director/ Design and Production Lance Morcos, LM Design Ink Features Editor Rahasson Ager, Ph.D. Copy Editor Audrey Knoth Goldman & Associates Contributing Writers Randy Bautista, Ph.D. Elizabeth Meredith Victoria Stephens Photography Shannon Cottrell Donato Di Natale (Di Natale Photography) Wesley Koseki Ian Parker, Ph.D.
UCI BioSci 2018 Dean’s Report
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