UCSF

04/24/2026

04/22/2026

A few years ago, Cronutt started having severe seizures caused by domoic acid — a toxin produced during red tides, a type of harmful algal bloom. Some toxins like this build up in the food chain and can be deadly to sea life and humans.

Cronutt received an experimental treatment developed at UCSF with NIH funding. The treatment worked, and now Cronutt is back to living his life.

With climate change, harmful algal blooms are becoming more common.
UCSF researchers are working to better understand these toxins and partnering with Indigenous communities most affected to help keep people safe.

And, thanks to federal funding, UCSF scientists are pioneering research that could, one day, provide an antidote for some of the worst forms of these toxins.

04/22/2026

What’s driving the rise in red tides, and what does it mean for our health?Toxic algal blooms don’t just affect marine life. They can impact people through seafood. UCSF researchers are working with Indigenous communities to help keep people safe and find new cures.

UCSF researchers are studying how climate change fuels toxic algal blooms, partnering with global and tribal communities to monitor health risks and protect food security.

04/20/2026

Exercise may support brain health in an unexpected way.

Researchers at UCSF found that working out activates a protein in the liver that helps repair the brain’s protective barrier, reducing inflammation and improving memory with age. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/bBDxde

04/16/2026

During these unprecedented times, the University of California is stepping up to sponsor California SB 895 to provide $23 billion in long-term funds to support scientific research.

04/15/2026

Can your phone help protect your heart?

After heart surgery, many patients start rehab but struggle to keep it going at home.

UCSF researchers tested simple tools like step trackers, apps, and text reminders. Patients who used them stayed more active after rehab.

“I’ve used text messaging and mobile apps to improve physical activity in patients with cardiovascular disease,” said Linda Park, PhD, NP.

https://tiny.ucsf.edu/TFzVWV

This is the kind of progress NIH-funded research makes possible.

04/14/2026

What happens between a mother and baby during pregnancy?

UCSF scientists created the most detailed map yet of this connection, helping explain how pregnancies develop and why complications like preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage can happen.

They also discovered a new type of cell that responds to cannabis-related molecules, which may help explain links between cannabis use and pregnancy risks.

This research could lead to better ways to support both moms and babies.

A new study by UCSF researchers who mapped the maternal-fetal interface, which is the boundary where the mother's uterus and the developing baby's placenta meet, has yielded some surprising findings with potential public health consequences.

04/13/2026

Welcome to protein , but this couple is a problem.

When certain proteins pair up, they can get stuck sending nonstop grow and divide messages to cells — exactly what happens during cancer, particularly breast cancer. Brandon Courteau breaks down how these protein “relationships” work, why treatments can stop working over time, and a newly discovered HER3 pairing that could lead to new ways to treat breast cancer.

He took the top spot at UCSF’s , where graduate students turn complex research into 3-minute talks for a live audience.

04/11/2026

You only need three minutes to explain the best ideas.

At the 2026 UCSF , our UCSF PhD students turned their complex research into clear, engaging, 3-minute presentations for a live audience — making complicated science easier to follow.

Congratulations to everyone who stepped on stage and accepted the challenge.

Special recognition goes to this year’s top finishers:

Brandon Courteau — First Place for “Protein Love Island: How Recoupling HER3 Could Reveal New Possibilities for Breast Cancer Therapeutics.”

Christine Boutros — Second Place for “The Fungus Among Us: Fishing for Answers.”

Nadja Michelle Maldonado Luna— Third Place for “The Hidden Side of Bone Strength.”

Jacqueline Williams — People’s Choice Award for “Decoding the Body's Login System: The Missing Signal in MS.”

Link to story: https://tiny.ucsf.edu/KUCncw

04/09/2026

Hilltop views ☀️

04/07/2026

Aging doesn’t just slow healing — it changes how our genes behave.
UCSF scientists showed that restoring youthful gene activity in repair cells can revive tissue repair, revealing a powerful new path for treating age-related disease. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2026/01/431321/tissue-repair-slows-old-age-these-proteins-speed-it-back

04/03/2026

Why do illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu hit older adults harder?

UCSF researchers found it may come down to how aging lungs respond. Instead of just fighting infection, the immune system can overreact and cause damage in the lungs.

They also identified specific immune cells tied to this process, which could help lead to new treatments.

Why are the elderly so much more likely to get sick and hospitalized for pneumonia and COVID? UCSF scientists found that old lung cells overreact to infections, inviting immune attack and runaway inflammation.