Congratulations to the 2026 Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award recipients. Across UCSF, these faculty and staff members are supporting our communities, patients, and learners through service, leadership, and care. Meet this year’s honorees: https://tiny.ucsf.edu/ds7tkp

When chronic lung disease patients struggle to get optimal care, symptoms can quickly worsen. A new UCSF School of Medicine study found that health coaching led to better breathing, milder symptoms, and 60% more recommended care. www.ucsf.edu/news/2026/05...

People with #Epilepsy experience more than seizures. UCSF researchers discovered how momentary “brain blips” — that happen thousands of times a day and disrupt memory, attention, and language — might be prevented. https://ow.ly/fvqt50YZ7BH

GLP-1 medications have been very effective for weight loss. Scientists are now exploring whether they may also impact brain health. UCSF scientists have found evidence that GLP-1s may help lower the risk of dementia and reduce addiction cravings. https://ow.ly/hRI250YZ7sK

UCSF researchers are busy developing cutting-edge therapies for cancer, diabetes, dementia, and more, all thanks to NIH funding support. The university is the largest public recipient of NIH funds again in 2026. https://ow.ly/CCIX50YZ7i3

1 in 5 teens has had a major depressive episode — an 80% increase in a decade. UCSF scientists are exploring how probiotics might help treat depression. Studies show the gut sends signals which can affect mood, stress, and well-being. https://ow.ly/oZXo50YYqfa

UCSF has received a $100 million gift from longtime supporters Kathy Chiao and Kenneth Hao. This major investment will help modernize our hospitals and advance cancer research through the Weill Cancer Hub West. tiny.ucsf.edu/huNubD

Three UCSF scientists were named AAAS Fellows. Elissa Epel, PhD, Donald Ganem, MD, and Geeta Narlikar, PhD, were recognized for their innovative research. They studied stress and aging, cancer-causing viruses, and how genes switch on and off. https://ow.ly/85Af50YVRhe

If you had one lecture left to give, what would you say? Last Lecture invites faculty to share what matters most. This year, UCSF Pharmacy Jennifer Cocohoba, reflected on time, the pressure to keep moving, and the moments that truly stay with us. tiny.ucsf.edu/SMUthb

UCSF Parnassus Heights lit up in blue in honor of Michael Tilson Thomas. Joining San Francisco in recognizing his lasting impact on the community.💙

Struggling with phone or social media use? Try a family media plan: • No screens in the bedroom at night, and turn phones off • Keep mealtimes screen-free • Model healthy habits Grateful to @nytimes.com for featuring our @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social research. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/t...

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 to help keep people safe and find new cures. #EarthDay https://tiny.ucsf.edu/nGD3xN

Can your phone help protect your heart? After heart surgery, many patients struggle to stay active. UCSF researchers tested simple tools like step trackers, apps, and texts. It helped patients stay more active. This is the kind of progress NIH-funded research makes possible.

How does the connection between a mother and baby shape pregnancy?UCSF researchers mapped it cell by cell, identifying new cell types and linking them to risks like preeclampsia and preterm birth. https://ow.ly/cH1r50YJ39c

Why do COVID and flu get more dangerous with age? UCSF researchers found aging lung cells can trigger an immune response and inflammation that causes more harm than good — pointing to possible new treatments. https://ow.ly/Cu9W50YCBIq

Some discoveries grow beyond the lab. Over 240 companies have been founded by UCSF faculty, raising nearly $12 billion in venture capital—creating jobs and benefiting economy. Around 55 were launched over the past five years, thanks to NIH funding support. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/TFzVWV

Antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But during COVID-19, many patients receive azithromycin. A UCSF-led study found just one day of the antibiotic can trigger antibiotic resistance in the respiratory tract. https://ow.ly/TRwC50YBWpl

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://ow.ly/YnLu50YBtJ0

We’re deeply saddened that UCSF Chancellor Emeritus and Nobel Prize–winning scientist J. Michael Bishop, MD, has passed away at 90. Read more about his life and legacy: https://ow.ly/luYs50YzrKT

How does your body feel cold? UCSF researchers captured the first detailed view of the protein in our nerves that sends that signal to the brain. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2026/03/431666/how-body-senses-cold-has-been-mystery-until-now?utm_source=ucsf&utm_medium=x&utm_campaign=cold

Why do infections suppress appetite? UCSF researchers mapped how immune cells in the gut signal to the brain during parasitic infection, revealing a pathway that drives this response. https://ow.ly/stBj50YzrlW

Is your brain aging faster than you are? Researchers found brain waves during sleep can reveal “brain age.” When brain age is older than actual age, dementia risk rises. Every 10-year increase in brain age was linked to nearly 40% higher dementia risk. https://ow.ly/YufR50YynQh

UCSF researchers discovered a potential new target for cancer drugs. The enzyme SRC, long thought to stay inside cells, can appear on the surface of tumors where antibody therapies may be able to attack it. https://ow.ly/AMtI50YynKr

What happens in the ocean can affect our health. UCSF Matthew Gribble, PhD, has been named the 2026 Pew-Hoover Fellow in Marine and Biomedical Science. His research program focuses on harmful algal blooms and potential long-term health risks. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/wktGAY

Organs grow in a body that shape-shifts with them. UCSF scientists invented a gel that mimics this soft support and 3D printed stem cells into it - reliably seeding mini-organs that could speed drug testing in petri dishes. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/Rr2BvW

Exercise is good for the brain — and that's thanks to a protein made in the liver that repairs the blood-brain barrier. The UCSF discovery could lead to better ways to treat and prevent the decline of aging by targeting this barrier rather than the brain itself. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/veiWWb

From Uganda to Finland, UCSF scholars are taking their research global. UCSF has been named a top producer of Fulbright for the ninth time. Meet the researchers working across borders to advance health worldwide. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/yDtuxS

A UCSF pediatrician tried to refer her patient to a specialist. The next appointment was six months away. Now, UCSF’s Peds-START program is building a direct path from medical school into pediatric residency to help alleviate the pediatrician shortage. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/DHoyBf

Good news for science at UCSF. The NIH awarded $824M to support research across our campus this year. See what that funding is powering. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/z2dThf

Do expensive sunscreens actually work better? A UCSF study found sunscreen lotions with the same SPF offer the same UV protection, even when prices vary dramatically. Researchers found costs differed up to 17-fold per application. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/ORq7y3

New UCSF research suggests the brain may learn more from rare experiences than from those that are repeated frequently. It challenges a 100-year-old assumption tied to Pavlov. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/LHyEnq

Periods may be an overlooked trigger of sickle cell pain. In a nationwide study across 11 states led by UCSF, 64% of women and girls with sickle cell disease reported disease-related pain during menstruation, with higher ER visits and hospitalizations. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/GaAa8X

Health care is increasingly digital. Are patients ready? A new study found 44% of health systems screen for digital readiness, and among systems serving uninsured patients only one-third do. Without assessing access and skills, digital care risks leaving patients behind. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/LGl6Cc

What can generative AI do with complex pregnancy data? UCSF master’s student and a high school student used AI to generate working code in minutes and build models that predict preterm birth. tiny.ucsf.edu/gDTx6H

“Killer” immune T cells that target the Epstein-Barr virus may trigger multiple sclerosis, by making the immune system go haywire and attack the myelin that coats nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord — where these cells are concerningly abundant. https://ow.ly/3qqa50YhPga

Estrogen isn’t just about reproduction. It affects bones, brains, pain, gut health and more. See how UCSF scientists are reshaping our understanding of #WomensHealth. 🔬 #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience https://ow.ly/FrOH50Ye1Wu

When Judy Li was diagnosed 10 years ago with early non-invasive breast cancer, many women chose mastectomy. @NIH-supported UCSF research shows some may avoid it with monitoring and milder treatment. tiny.ucsf.edu/i9bINg

Could kidney transplant patients ditch daily pills for a monthly treatment? New research suggests a monthly therapy could extend the lifespan of transplanted kidneys with fewer side effects. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/uOFQLP

As we age, brain cells face a growing mess — including toxic clumps of tau protein. UCSF scientists found a cleanup crew that can remove tau before it clumps, hinting at new ways to prevent dementia. tiny.ucsf.edu/orFiVL

Millions of cells divide every second with few errors. UCSF researchers found that spindle fibers grow stronger in response to the force of pulling DNA into new cells. A living example of a self-reinforcing material. https://ow.ly/QAvV50Y58Ok

You’ve heard of “trauma” and “toxic stress,” but how do they impact kids? A major UCSF review finds stress can begin in the womb and affect mental and physical health, as well as learning and behavior, all at once. tiny.ucsf.edu/LyYqdV

Why do cuts heal more slowly as we age? UCSF researchers found that aging fibroblasts — the body’s repair cells — change how their genes turn "on" and "off." Resetting that gene activity made old cells act younger and rejuvenated the livers of older mice. tiny.ucsf.edu/FXvvCy

What's behind recent headlines related to AI psychosis? UCSF psychiatrists documented the first peer-reviewed case of AI-associated psychosis in an academic journal and is now studying whether chat logs could reveal warning signs. tiny.ucsf.edu/rIpnQ3

Why does IBS pain hit women harder? UCSF researchers uncovered an estrogen-linked gut pathway where PYY triggers EC cells to release serotonin and activate pain-sensing nerves. tiny.ucsf.edu/lHmGeQ

A heart transplant, and every person is a woman. In one of medicine’s most male-dominated fields, the story behind this moment starts long before the OR. tiny.ucsf.edu/WS5trT

UCSF is at a critical inflection point: transition to our next phase of growth or risk stagnation. Chancellor Hawgood’s #UCSFSOTU 2025 address dives into AI, robotic surgery training and the “Second Curve” shaping the future of health care and research. tiny.ucsf.edu/cBUu7L

Scientists just learned that your daily cup of coffee could protect your heart. UCSF researchers found that drinking a cup a day reduced atrial fibrillation risk by 39%, challenging decades of medical advice to avoid caffeine. tiny.ucsf.edu/aCOq1X

The earlier you focus on movement, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and social connections, the better your chances of aging well, according to Louise Aronson of UCSF. Start today. Full Q&A: magazine.ucsf.edu/how-to-prepa...

Happening TODAY! Tune in at noon for #UCSFSOTU 2025 with Chancellor Sam Hawgood. Hear about UCSF’s accomplishments from the past year and how our institution is innovating to adapt for the future. tiny.ucsf.edu/HuBTYF

As days get shorter, your diet could be confounding your body’s clock. UCSF scientists found that saturated fat tells your body it’s summer and eating too much of it in winter tells your body to conserve fat. tiny.ucsf.edu/a8fHWx