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    • Portrait image of Terrence Sejnowski

      Biological Sciences Professor Terrence Sejnowski Wins Brain Prize

      World’s largest neuroscience prize recognizes trio who pioneered the field of computational and theoretical neuroscience and paved the way for brain-inspired artificial intelligence

      Terrence Sejnowski has been selected to receive the 2024 Brain Prize, the world’s largest neuroscience prize, for his pioneering work in computational and theoretical neuroscience, contributions to our understanding of the brain and paving the way for the development of brain-inspired AI.

    • Monique Smith headshot

      Sanford Institute Awards Endowed Professorships in Empathy and Compassion Research

      Monique Smith and Fadel Zeidan have been named as the recipients of the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion’s Endowed Professorships in Empathy and Compassion Research. These are the first two of four endowed professorships the Sanford Institute will award in 2024.

    • Neutrophils pictured in bone marrow

      Researchers Uncover Mechanisms behind Enigmatic Shapes of Nuclei

      Scientists may be able to direct immune cells toward diseased areas

      White blood cells known as neutrophils feature a nucleus that is structured strikingly different than most nuclei. These unique shapes permit neutrophils to travel all over the body to combat invading pathogens. Scientists have now deciphered the shapeshifting puzzle of the neutrophil nucleus.

    • Head shots of Vineet Augustine, Abdoulaye Ndao and Monique Smith

      Early Career BioSci Faculty Members Selected to Receive Sloan Research Fellowships

      UC San Diego Assistant Professors Vineet Augustine, Abdoulaye Ndao and Monique Smith have been selected to receive 2024 Sloan Research Fellowships. They are among 126 scientists chosen by the Sloan Foundation to receive one of the most prestigious awards for early career scientists.

    • Fabian Rivera-Chavez and Andrew Muroyama headshot

      Andrew Muroyama and Fabian Rivera-Chávez Selected to Receive Hellman Fellowships

      UC San Diego School of Biological Sciences Assistant Professors Andrew Muroyama and Fabian Rivera-Chávez have been awarded Hellman Fellowships by the University of California.

    • Endosomes collect around mitochondria after infection

      Faulty DNA Disposal System Causes Inflammation

      Scientists outline novel pathway tied to inflammation, aging and disease mediated by mitochondrial DNA

      Each cell features mtDNA, instructions that mitochondria use to create energy. When mtDNA remains where it belongs, cells remain healthy. But when it goes where it doesn’t belong, mtDNA can initiate an immune response and inflammation. Scientists have discovered the pathways behind this process.

    • Photo of normal hand and one with extra digits.

      Extra Fingers and Hearts: Pinpointing Changes to Our Genetic Instructions That Disrupt Development

      Researchers find a vulnerability within our genomes that can cause developmental defects such as extra fingers and heart disorders

      Scientists can now predict which single-letter changes to the DNA within our genomes will alter genetic instructions and disrupt development, leading to changes such as the growth of extra digits and hearts. Such knowledge opens the door to predictions of which enhancer variants underlie disease.

    • Bee on plant

      UC San Diego Is Now a Bee Campus. Here’s What that Means…

      Biologist offers insights on new national designation that supports pollinators and plants

      UC San Diego recently became a Bee Campus USA member, part of a national program created to support pollinating organisms, boost the abundance of native plant species and reduce pesticide use. Professor James Nieh explains what the designation means for UC San Diego and the San Diego region.

    • Professor Terrence Sejnowski

      Terrence Sejnowski Named Scientist of the Year by ARCS San Diego

      AI pioneer to be honored at a special event in April

      Professor Terrence Sejnowski has been named 2024 Scientist of the Year by the ARCS Foundation of San Diego. Sejnowski is being honored for his pioneering research in neural networks and computational neuroscience, achievements that helped form the cornerstones of artificial intelligence.

    • A thin, flexible implant for capturing brain activity

      Transparent Brain Implant Can Read Deep Neural Activity From the Surface

      A multidisciplinary team of researchers at UC San Diego developed a thin, transparent, flexible neural implant that can capture high-resolution information about activity deep inside the brain without damaging its delicate tissue.

To read more about the School of Biological Sciences happenings, see the News Archives.