Bridging the gap between science research & clinical medicine
See the recent news articles from the Division of Biomedical Sciences.
June 18, 2025
How a common brain parasite disrupts neural communication
UC Riverside study on how Toxoplasma gondii manipulates brain cells lays groundwork for future clinical research and therapies
June 17, 2025
Serving Undocumented Patients in the Inland Empire, Starting Now: Valeria Barrientos, Class of 2025
A few months ago, a patient at the Coachella Valley Free Clinic had an uncommon reaction to a routine blood pressure test. Seeing the high blood pressure reading, the patient began hyperventilating until UC Riverside biomedical sciences master’s student Valeria Barrientos spoke to her in Spanish, helping to calm her down.
June 16, 2025
Link found between mitochondria and MS brain damage
UC Riverside study could lead to new treatments addressing multiple sclerosis
June 09, 2025
Researchers contribute chapter to pediatric psychology handbook
Addressing DEI meaningfully will help reduce disparities and improve well-being, authors argue
June 06, 2025
Genetic link found between iron deficiency & Crohn’s disease
Researchers identify gene mutation that disrupts iron absorption, helping explain patients’ persistent anemia
June 05, 2025
Meet Three Members of the SOM Class of 2025
Marina Joseph: Overcoming Self-Doubt to Thrive in Medical School
A few days before Marina Joseph’s very first final exam as a medical student, her bag containing her laptop, iPad, and all her notes was stolen.
May 23, 2025
Measles on the rise
UC Riverside biomedical scientists discuss the causes, consequences, and public health challenges of measles
May 20, 2025
Conducting Research that Serves Patients: Declan McCole, PhD
At a community presentation in San Diego several years ago, Declan McCole, PhD, a professor of Biomedical Sciences at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, recalled speaking to a patient about his work on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) when the patient’s husband approached. “He had tears in his eyes, and he shook my hand and said, ‘Thank you so much for all that you're doing, you have no idea how much it means to know that people are working behind the scenes to try and find a cure for my wife's condition,’” McCole said.
May 12, 2025
SOM Hosts BMSC 50th Anniversary Symposium
On Monday, the UCR School of Medicine hosted the Biomedical Sciences 50th Anniversary Symposium, marking the culmination of the department’s yearlong anniversary celebration. The event welcomed alumni, former faculty and staff, and current faculty, staff, and students to reflect on the impact of Biomedical Sciences over the years while looking forward to the future.
April 30, 2025
Biomedical Scientist goes to Washington to Discuss Importance of Federal Research Funding
In early March, researchers from UC Riverside visited Washington, DC, with an important message: If the United States loses its position as a global leader in science, other nations will take its place--and may withhold new discoveries impacting public health, security, and other vital areas.
April 09, 2025
UCR scientists join elite class of 2024 AAAS fellows
A big honor for chemistry and biomedical sciences faculty
March 25, 2025
Biomedical scientist receives his 14th challenge coin
Scott Pegan is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army
January 22, 2025
Probing connections between obesity and parasitic worms
NIH grant to UCR School of Medicine could improve treatments for metabolic disorders and helminth infections
January 14, 2025
Genetic mutation linked to higher SARS-CoV-2 risk
UC Riverside-led research has therapeutic implications for COVID-19 treatment
January 13, 2025
Biomedical scientist to investigate endocannabinoids as potential treatment for cocaine addiction relapse
Natalie Zlebnik has received a NARSAD Young Investigator Award from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
January 13, 2025
SOM Announces 2025 Dean's Collaborative Seed Grants
UCR School of Medicine has announced the recipients of the 2025 Dean's Collaborative Seed Grants.
The grant provides funds up to $25,000 in seed grant funding for collaborative interdisciplinary research projects between faculty in the Division of Biomedical Sciences and UCR as a whole, aimed at developing proposals and preliminary data for full NIH or similar grant applications. More information is available on the website.
December 04, 2024
UCR SOM Presents 2024 Faculty Achievement Awards
The UCR School of Medicine presented the 2024 UCR SOM Faculty Achievement Awards during its quarterly Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, December 3. The awards covered categories including teacher of the year, mentor of the year, research achievements, clinical faculty awards, and more.
November 11, 2024
Protein degradation strategy offers hope in cancer therapy
UC Riverside researchers say ‘molecular crowbar’ strategy is a promising method in drug discovery
September 10, 2024
Like father, like daughter
UC Riverside-led mouse study finds fathers on unhealthy diets can cause cardiovascular disease in their daughters
August 08, 2024
How does traumatic brain injury progress to Alzheimer’s disease?
An NIH grant to UC Riverside and Indiana University will explore the question
July 18, 2024
Brain changes linked to obesity result in low sperm count
UC Riverside-led mouse study finds primary site of obesity’s effects on reproductive function is the brain
July 16, 2024
Division of Biomedical Sciences begins its 50th anniversary celebration
The division originated the idea of establishing a medical school on campus
June 06, 2024
Three West Point Cadets to Participate in Inaugural Research Internship Program
Three cadets from the US Military Academy at West Point will be conducting research internships in the University of California Riverside School of Medicine’s Biomedical Sciences program as the inaugural participants in a new program designed to build research-based bridges between the institutions.
May 10, 2024
With H5N1 detected in dairy cows, is it safe to drink milk?
Scott Pegan at UC Riverside shares his thoughts on how safe our milk supply is
May 01, 2024
Research breakthrough on birth defect affecting brain size
Nonsense-mediated RNA decay, or NMD, is an evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanism in which potentially defective messenger RNAs, or mRNAs (genetic material that instructs the body on how to make proteins), are degraded. Disruption of the NMD pathway can lead to neurological disorders, immune diseases, cancers, and other pathologies. Mutations in human NMD regulators are seen in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and intellectual disability.
April 24, 2024
Federal grant to advance brain stroke research
Kaveh Laksari, a UC Riverside assistant professor of mechanical engineering, was awarded $3 million from the National Institutes of Health to develop predictive models for stroke treatment strategies using data from patient brain scans.
April 04, 2024
Small protein plays big role in chronic HIV infection
UC Riverside-led study on innate immune system may lead to new treatments for patients with neuroHIV
February 29, 2024
NIH grant supports new research on neurodevelopmental disorders
Project will focus on understanding mechanisms of hyperexcitability and seizures
February 27, 2024
Novel protective antibody target identified against Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus
CCHFV poses a threat to U.S. military personnel and hospital staff as well as residents of a growing number of countries, says UC Riverside biomedical scientist
January 17, 2024
New vaccine design uses immunity against influenza to offer faster protection against emerging pathogens
Strategy developed by UC Riverside-led research team speeds up production of antibodies against COVID-19
November 08, 2023
Second annual RNA symposium advances research and fosters collaborations
Attendees included National Academy of Sciences members and prominent scientists from UC Riverside, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, Stanford University, University of Toronto SickKids Research Institute, and City of Hope
September 12, 2023
Updated COVID-19 vaccines explained
Vaccine expert David Lo at UC Riverside says there are no contraindications to taking the flu and COVID vaccines together
September 06, 2023
Study reports discovery of new cell type in thymus
UC Riverside biomedical scientists say the cells are like M cells in the gut and airways
August 23, 2023
Coss Named Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development
The UC Riverside Office of Research and Economic Development (AVC-RED) has named School of Medicine Biomedical Sciences researcher Djurdjica Coss, PhD as associate vice chancellor. Her official start date is slated for September 1, 2023.
August 15, 2023
Could exposure to chemicals in plastics predispose you and your children to cardiovascular disease?
Exposure to environmental chemicals, including those in common plastic products, has been linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, or CVD, the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2019.
July 25, 2023
Protein found to protect females against obesity
UC Riverside mouse study describes mechanisms underlying sex differences for obesity
June 20, 2023
What role does alternative splicing play in neurodegenerative disease?
UC Riverside scientists David Nikom and Sika Zheng explain in a timely review
May 31, 2023
School of Medicine Announces End-of-Year Awards
With the end of the 2022-23 academic year now upon us, the UC Riverside School of Medicine hosted several awards ceremonies for students, faculty and staff members.
Listed below are the award recipients. Congratulations to all of our honorees.
Staff and Faculty Awards Lunch
These awards were presented at the Staff and Faculty Awards Lunch at the Alumni and Visitors Center on May 10, 2023.
April 18, 2023
Committed to the Long Haul
Several mornings each week, Isaac Owusu-Frimpong rises with the sun to complete a morning run before heading to work at the UCR School of Medicine. But these are no leisurely jogs. The Division of Biomedical Sciences FAO recently completed two marathons in six weeks and is training for more.
April 06, 2023
SOM to Host COVID-19 Community Chat
UC Riverside School of Medicine Biomedical Sciences Professors Meera Nair and Erica Heinrich are hosting a COVID-19 Community Chat on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at the Multidisciplinary Research Building on the campus of UCR.
The chat is free and open to the public, but space is limited to the first 100 guests and RSVPs are required. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to attendees. Parking in Lot 24 will be free for the event.
April 06, 2023
UC Riverside-led study sheds light on how IBD can develop
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, describes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two chronic diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines. IBD, which affects about 3 million adults in the United States, is an autoimmune disorder — a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues. Its symptoms include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, weight loss, and stomach cramps.
April 05, 2023
UCR study on health impact of chemicals in plastics makes the top 4
Research paper selected by NIEHS as a Paper of the Month
April 04, 2023
How an autism gene contributes to infertility
UC Riverside mouse study shows how gene mutation leads to ovaries failing prematurely
March 10, 2023
Biomedical sciences postdoc awarded UC fellowship
Meli’sa Crawford will examine the effects of agricultural dust exposure on intestinal barrier function
February 02, 2023
Biomedical scientist named fellow of American Gastroenterological Association
Fellowship honors Declan McCole’s professional achievements in the gastrointestinal field
January 26, 2023
Health impact of chemicals in plastics is handed down two generations
UC Riverside mouse study finds paternal exposure to phthalates increases risk of metabolic diseases in progeny
December 08, 2022
Salton Sea dust triggers lung inflammation
UC Riverside study has health implications for people living around California’s largest lake
November 28, 2022
Discovery of antibody structure could lead to treatment for Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus
Study provides insights into fighting broad range of pathogen’s viral strains
November 22, 2022
Biomedical scientist promoted to lieutenant colonel
Scott Pegan is an international expert on Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
October 26, 2022
Research at new center to focus on health impact of cannabis use
School of Medicine’s Nicholas DiPatrizio will lead the Center for Cannabinoid Research
October 12, 2022
Biomedical scientist to study novel mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease
Sika Zheng in the School of Medicine has received a grant of $250,000 from the National Institutes of Health
September 20, 2022
Love & Research
During one of the first meetings after Stephanie Guardado joined the UC Riverside School of Medicine’s Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program from Cal Poly Pomona in 2016, one of her faculty members casually mentioned that there was a chance that the students might be sitting in the room with their future spouse. Stephanie remembers quietly scoffing at the idea.
To be fair, she was technically correct as it was a full year before her now-husband Edward Vizcarra joined the program in 2017.
September 07, 2022
A shot in the arm
UC Riverside experts answer questions on Americans needing just one COVID-19 booster vaccine each year
August 10, 2022
Monkeypox explained
UC Riverside experts discuss disease symptoms, vaccines, and anxiety management
August 02, 2022
The Search for a Multiple Sclerosis Treatment in Riverside
There’s currently no effective treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), but Seema Tiwari-Woodruff, Ph.D. , the director of UCR's Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, may be well on her way to finding one.
July 28, 2022
High-altitude Researcher Applies Findings to COVID-19
What can people living in the mountains of Peru teach us about people dealing with COVID-19 related oxygen deficiency? Actually, quite a bit.
High-altitude exposure leads to hypoxia, or low levels of oxygen in the body—a condition that’s present in COVID-19 and many other medical conditions. Erica Heinrich, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biomedical sciences, studies the body’s adaptations to oxygen limitation to learn more about hypoxia-related diseases.
June 29, 2022
Graduate student receives predoctoral fellowship for epilepsy research
Andrew Huang, a biomedical sciences graduate student at UC Riverside, has been awarded a one-year American Epilepsy Society Predoctoral Research Fellowship.
The $30,000 award includes $1,000 for Huang to use as travel funds to attend the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in December 2022. He will also receive a complimentary membership to the society for a year, giving him access to online education content as well as professional development resources.
June 21, 2022
COVID-19 vaccines for very young children
UC Riverside vaccine expert David Lo shares his thoughts in a Q&A
June 16, 2022
How does cannabis affect gut health?
A UC Riverside biomedical scientist has received a grant to investigate
June 03, 2022
Four Biomedical Sciences Students Graduate on June 4
On Saturday, June 4, 2022, four members of the UC Riverside School of Medicine's Division of Biomedical Sciences will participate in the annual Graduate Division Hooding Ceremony at the Student Recreation Center North.
In celebration of their graduation, we asked John Macbeth, Stephanie Guardado, Edward Vizcarra, and Allison Peterson (pictured above from left) to reflect on their time at UCR and share their future plans. Their responses are listed below in alphabetical order.
Stephanie Guardado
March 31, 2022
UCR biomedical scientist joins international SARS-CoV-2 group assembled by NIAID
SAVE focuses on mutations in SARS-CoV-2 and emerging virus variants
March 28, 2022
Should you get a second booster shot for COVID-19?
UC Riverside’s Dr. David Lo, a vaccine expert, shares his thoughts
February 24, 2022
A potential antiviral for SARS and SARS-like coronaviruses
UC Riverside-led study shows how an effective therapy against SARS-CoV-2 could be developed
February 03, 2022
Scientists profile FDA-approved drugs to potentially treat hundreds of genetic disorders
New method developed by UC Riverside researchers quickly assesses drug potential for rare disorders
February 01, 2022
Grant to biomedical scientist will support cerebral malaria research
Byron Ford, a professor of biomedical sciences in the UC Riverside School of Medicine, has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, to develop a new intervention against cerebral malaria.
January 31, 2022
Researchers develop molecular traps to target SARS-CoV-2
Joint effort by UC Riverside and UCLA scientists aims to stop the COVID-19-spreading virus from attacking immune cells
January 25, 2022
Scientists discover new avian immunological pathway
UC Riverside-led team identifies a new host protein interaction that produces a robust immune response to viral infection in birds and may lead to better poultry vaccines
January 18, 2022
Building robust collaborations to ‘ATTACK’ future pandemics
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the development of antiviral drug treatments has become a critical weapon in our arsenal against the virus.
Harnessing the research and scientific brainpower needed to treat and prevent the next pandemic is the University of California - National Labs Antiviral Treatments Targeting All Coronaviruses and Key RNA viruses, or ATTACK, Consortium.
January 10, 2022
NIH grant will help biomedical scientist study mechanism involved in neurogenesis
Sika Zheng, an associate professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine, recently received a five-year National Institutes of Health grant of nearly $2.5 million to study the functional role of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, or NMD, in the complicated and dynamic process of neurogenesis, a term used to describe the generation of neurons in the brain during embryonic development.
September 28, 2020
Finding a cure for multiple sclerosis
Seema Tiwari-Woodruff, a professor of biomedical sciences in the UCR School of Medicine, and her colleagues have received a grant of $373,000 from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for a project in which her lab will select the five best candidate compounds to speed up nerve impulses, a promising new avenue to treat m
July 10, 2020
School of Medicine postdoc receives NIH Pathway to Independence grant
Rebekah Charney, a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Medicine, has received a five-year “Pathway to Independence” grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH.