UCSF

01/08/2026

Hannah seemed like a typical newborn. But at 2 months old, her mother noticed something strange. After seeing specialists, Hannah was diagnosed with Gould Syndrome, a rare condition that can cause eye defects and stroke.

What causes the disease was discovered at UCSF in 2003 by Douglas Gould, PhD, thanks to National Institutes of Health (NIH) (NIH) funding. He has since established a center to better understand the condition.

Today, Hannah’s health is stable, and her playful personality is shining through.

“When I encounter patients with this genetic mutation, their families have a lot of questions we don’t have answers to,” said UCSF pediatric neurologist Rachel Vassar, MD. "And we are only in the early stages of understanding the answers to these important questions.”

https://tiny.ucsf.edu/TFzVWV

01/07/2026

Welcome back to campus, UCSF! A new year means new goals and fresh starts. What are you working toward this year?✨

01/06/2026

In 2025, the University of California helped light the way forward and bring hope for the future by expanding health care access, strengthening food security for families, and setting a record for faculty Nobel Prizes. Many of these advances, including breakthroughs for Parkinson’s patients and others, were made possible by NIH funding. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/TFzVWV

01/05/2026

Your milestone moment is coming. UCSF Alumni Weekend 2026 is happening April 23–25, bringing alumni together for three days of connection, discovery, and inspiration — with reunions, discovery talks, alumni awards, and a special GOLD celebration.
Save the date and learn more:
https://www.ucsfalumniweekend.com/

12/23/2025

To***co residue can cling to your home for years, even in places that look clean. UCSF researchers uncovered that thirdhand smoke settles deep into carpets, furniture, and walls, exposing kids and adults to harmful chemicals long after the smell is gone. Their findings helped lead to the world’s first law addressing thirdhand smoke — a new California law that goes into effect Jan. 1 and requires sellers to disclose known thirdhand smoke in single-family homes.

Thirdhand smoke is toxic lingering to***co residue on surfaces that harms children most. California's new AB455 mandates disclosure of this environmental hazard in real estate deals.

12/23/2025

As campus starts to slow down, we’re wishing UCSF-ers a great winter break and some well-earned time to recharge.❄️

📸 Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

12/22/2025

Congratulations to UCSF M.D./Ph.D. candidate Alice Tang, named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list of GenZ trailblazers in the science category.

A physician–engineer–scientist, Tang uses AI to decode complex diseases like Alzheimer’s, pioneering methods to analyze millions of health records and revealing insights such as sex-specific differences in dementia.

Her goal: smarter diagnostics and personalized therapies for conditions from neurodegeneration to autoimmune disorders. Her work spans Nature Aging, Nature Medicine, and Science Translational Medicine and has earned 800+ citations. https://www.forbes.com/profile/alice-tang/?list=30under30-science/

12/19/2025

New research shows that estrogen can activate a hidden pain pathway in the colon, triggering gut cells to release serotonin and amplify pain signals. This helps explain why women experience more gut pain, why symptoms can flare during the menstrual cycle, and why certain foods act as triggers.

The discovery opens the door to new ways of treating IBS by targeting pain at its source — not just managing symptoms.

Microscopy image shown: Zoomed-in view of the colon lining. PYY-producing cells are shown in green; serotonin-producing cells are shown in magenta. PYY triggers serotonin release, which activates pain-sensing nerve fibers.

https://tiny.ucsf.edu/9ZIzmj

12/18/2025

UCSF had a pivotal year in 2025. Let's look back at some of the moments that defined the year across our campus and community. Then dive into the research stories you enjoyed the most, from Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis to microplastics and cancer — showing just how much you care for UCSF scientists' breakthrough work supported by NIH funding. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/g2Niwa

12/17/2025

In a field where fewer than 6% of heart transplant surgeons are women, this moment is rare and deeply earned.

It's been more than 20 years in the making — a mix of dedication, mentorship, and trust that's opening doors for the next generation. One life saved and a powerful reminder of what’s possible when opportunity is passed forward. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/S1G22t

12/16/2025

For nearly 50 years, Debbie lived with seizures, depression and no clear answers. Then one MRI at UCSF revealed what doctors had been missing: a tiny brain growth deep in the hypothalamus. Using an NIH-funded, real-time MRI system, UCSF physicians guided a precise laser treatment that changed everything.

Today, Debbie hasn’t had a single seizure or a single bout of depression. This is what it looks like when federally funded science meets the right diagnosis and gives someone their life back.

12/16/2025