2017 Dean’s Report
2017 Mind | Body | World The Ayala School of Biological Sciences is working to solve life’s greatest challenges by researching its most important aspects: our mind, body and world. As the gears on the cover of this report portray, each of these factors is crucial in its own right. However, they are also interconnected; the health of one affects that of the others. Achieving and sustaining wellbeing in all three areas depends on a myriad of factors, from exercise that benefits the body and mind to understanding and caring about the planet’s processes. The report cover conveys this concept, as well through its many small decorative elements and icons. We invite you to take some time to consider all of them as you enjoy the 2017 Dean’s Report.
NEW BEGINNINGS
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STUDENTS
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RESEARCH
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FACULTY
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SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
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GET INVOLVED
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GIVING
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Message from the Dean Discoveries from Life to Find Solutions for Life Dear colleagues and friends, We are at an extraordinary point in human history.
Training the next generation of biologists is essential for
Unimagined just a few decades ago, emerging breakthroughs
this mission. It’s why we place such a focus on constantly
in the three most important aspects of life – our mind, body
enhancing our academic curriculum. Partnerships with local
and the world – continue to push us to new limits of longevity.
industry and community members are invaluable in helping us
However, as we live longer and add to an already ballooning
educate students to become the world-changers of tomorrow.
global population, we face formidable foes such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and a changing climate.
The articles in this report are just a few examples of innovative work by an interdisciplinary team of Ayala School
Life is interconnected: for most of us, a healthy mind requires
faculty, staff and students to address a variety of global
a healthy body and a healthy planet. The Ayala School of
challenges. None of it could have been accomplished without
Biological Sciences discovers solutions for the mind, body
the support of the greater community. To those of you who
and world so that we not only live longer, but we live better!
already give your time or treasure to the Ayala School, let me
Our goal is a planet without disease, that is sustainable and
take this opportunity to thank you. If you have not yet made
diverse, with renewable biofuels, and with sufficient food
that decision, I hope this year’s report sparks your interest
for all its people.
in getting involved. Together, we will seek discoveries that
As the science of life, biology will transform our lives and
transform our lives and the world around us for the better.
our world, providing solutions to many of today’s grandest challenges. Biological solutions will be needed to overcome the global challenges that we face in health and well-being, sustainability and biodiversity, food production, and energy,
Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D.
all of which will affect our economy and society.
Hana and Francisco J. Ayala Dean
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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New Beginnings
Commencement 2016:
“Just the beginning…” “Your generation will have access to amounts of information and technology that past generations only dreamed of. You will be the ones to finally find cures for our most devastating diseases.” –C harles “Charlie” Dunlop, Commencement 2016 keynote speaker and president/founder of Ambry Genetics Inspired by those words, 720 Ayala School of Biological Sciences students received Bachelor of Science degrees on June 12, 2016 at the UCI Bren Events Center. Fifty-five Master of Science and 30 Doctor of Philosophy degrees were awarded in the School’s 51st annual commencement ceremony. Charles “Charlie” Dunlop, the keynote speaker, captivated those attending with his passion for science and making a difference in the world. He launched Ambry Genetics in 1999 as a company of pure scientists dedicated to ending disease. His organization has developed testing for people with inherited and non-inherited genetic diseases. It has also had a vital role in the legal fight against gene patents, which has helped make genetic testing more available around the world. Despite leaving high school before finishing, Mr. Dunlop went on to graduate from UC San Diego with concentrations in biology, mathematics, physics, economics and history. Two major influences in his life have been his father, whose altruism has shaped his own, and his personal battle with cancer. Now in remission, it led him to slow down his busy lifestyle and fully appreciate the importance of his company’s work. Mr. Dunlop encouraged graduates planning careers in health to use data from his organization and others to find cures for the most pressing diseases. He also provided one last homework assignment:
“As you go out and enter the world, I want you to always improve your world views.” UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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New Beginnings
Investment in Graduate Education Yields Dividends for Society Among the thousands of students at the Ayala School are several hundred who have chosen a very special path. They are the 271 who are pursuing graduate degrees – 220 working toward their Ph.D. and 51 seeking a master’s. With substantial resources going into higher education across the country, the value of graduate programs has been the topic of national conversation. However, research shows that this investment is well worth it. In our state alone, graduate student research within the University of California system has led to over 600 start-ups. At the Ayala School, we see the importance of these degrees firsthand and take pride in the hard work and achievement of those preparing for them. From researching health issues to investigating new sources of energy, graduate students help establish new knowledge that makes our lives and world better. They also shape the future by educating and mentoring undergraduates. After completing their degrees, graduate students go on to fill leadership positions in industry, government and academia. Time and again, the most crucial discoveries and innovations come directly from these curious, focused and dedicated people. Our society counts on institutions of higher learning to provide knowledge, jobs and answers to pressing problems. Investing in Ph.D. and master’s candidates helps to ensure we achieve this vital mission.
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Why I Give
UCI gave me the foundation to become a lifetime student of our dynamically evolving world, and in my own humble way, be the change I wish to see. I am profoundly grateful for all the wonderful experiences and stellar education I received as an undergraduate. Now I have the good fortune to pay it forward so those who follow may benefit and flourish! – M. Marlene Godoy, D.D.S. (B.S. ’76)
New Beginnings
New Café Brews More Ayala School Possibilities Can a cup of coffee change the course of science? We think so. That’s why the Ayala School is excited to welcome a Starbucks in our midst. The café, located in Mitosis Plaza (across from Bio Sci 3), opened in April 2017. It’s not that we believe a caffè latte or a doubleshot espresso is an elixir, although the night owls among us may disagree. But getting together over coffee in a comfortable, informal place allows people across our departments to learn more about each other, share ideas and build new working relationships. In strengthening our team approach, we bring even greater firepower to the Ayala School’s mission. “As most people know, I don’t drink coffee,” said Dean LaFerla. “But I thought the school needed a gathering spot where faculty, students and staff could meet by chance, because often that’s when the magic happens.”
Let’s raise a mug to new partnerships and discoveries that make a difference in the world!
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Students
STEM Continues to Blossom Bringing more students into science, technology, engineering and math, known as STEM, is essential for the United States to maintain global leadership. UC Irvine and the Ayala School are proud to be recognized nationally in this arena, with two initiatives highlighting the focus.
Rose Hills Scholars Five Ayala School students have been chosen as recipients of The Rose Hills Foundation Undergraduate Science and Engineering Scholarships for this academic year. This honor results from a $700,000 award to UCI in 2014 by The Rose Hills Foundation, which pledged to assist 18 high-achieving STEM undergraduates during each of the succeeding four years. Thanks to the generosity of this philanthropic organization and others, the Ayala School will continue to be a top destination for students seeking degrees in the life sciences.
This year’s winners are:
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Mercado Mayalen – Cassidy Nguyen Devan Nisson – Anais Panossian Ava Pournejad
The Minority Science Programs An important way for the United States to boost its STEM efforts is by increasing participation by African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans. Because they have traditionally been underrepresented in the field, the nation has missed out on a large pool of potential researchers in the biological sciences. In addition, studies show that a diverse workforce provides varied perspectives to problem solving, often leading to faster and better solutions. The Ayala School’s nationally-renowned Minority Science Programs Initiative, or MSP, was founded to address this issue. Developed through a collaborative effort with the National Institutes of Health, MSP has guided hundreds of underrepresented minority students in excelling in the sciences and been a highlight of the university’s outreach goals. Participants benefit from a series of academic activities, including independent research projects with national and international faculty mentors, opportunities to network with investigators at top-ranking institutions and training to present research projects at national conferences.
Key to MSP’s success are its director Luis Mota-Bravo, Ph.D. and associate director Marlene de la Cruz, Ph.D. (pictured above). In addition to their administrative duties, they are active in many aspects of the program, including serving as research mentors. Through their work and that of a dedicated team of faculty mentors, MSP has become a model at UCI. It is also recognized nationally as a leader for increasing minority participation in the biological sciences at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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9th Best!
Facts and Statistics
1,243 entered students, Fall 2016 (combined incoming freshmen and transfer)
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159
New transfers, Fall 2016
New master’s students, Fall 2016
49 New Doctoral
Students, Fall 2016
UCI is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $4.8 billion annually to the Southern California economy. 10
public university in the nation, and the 39th best among all universities in 2016, according to U.S. News & World Report
4.0
3,578
Total undergraduates enrolled, Fall 2016
UCI ranks 9th best
Incoming freshman average GPA
Total of 271 graduate students at the Ayala School, Fall 2016
51 Master’s
220 Doctoral
805
Number of degrees awarded in 2015-2016 school year
720 Undergraduate 55 Master’s 30 Doctoral
39% low-income Total undergraduates
64% female
Total undergraduates
UCI has been identified as having one of the top graduate schools in the U.S. GradSchoolHub.com ranked UCI 19th on its 2016 “Best Graduate Schools in America” list based on class size, faculty prestige and specific program rankings.
10th
The campus was ranked 10th by Forbes on its Best Value Colleges list in 2016 based on its tuition costs, school quality, graduation success rates and post-grad earnings.
46%
of incoming freshman are first-generation college students
UCI and the Ayala School were ranked 2nd in the nation for graduate programs in Biology, by the SR Education Group.
Average SAT score of incoming freshman was
1772
The Ayala School offers a Doctoral Degree in Biological Sciences, three Master’s Degrees and ten Bachelor of Science degrees.
Why I Give UCI does well in academic and research rankings year after year. But the recognition that gives me the greatest pride is our consistent top ranking as the university doing the most for low-income, under-privileged and first-generation college students. UCI is helping those with the greatest needs and the most to gain. Continuing to support these efforts as an alumni donor is a no-brainer. Go, Eaters! – Kevin Liang, Ph.D. (B.S. ’01 & Ph.D. ’07)
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - B.S. • Biological Sciences - B.S., M.S., Ph.D. • Biological Sciences and Educational Media Design - M.S. • Biology/Education - B.S. • Biotechnology Management - M.S. • Developmental and Cell Biology - B.S. • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - B.S. • Exercise Sciences - B.S.
In 2016, Business Insider ranked Irvine the
7th best college town
• Genetics - B.S. • Human Biology - B.S. • Microbiology and Immunology - B.S.
30% of incoming freshman are underrepresented minorities
• Neurobiology - B.S.
in America. UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Biology for a Better Tomorrow “The world is built on biology. When we understand biology, we understand how to transform the world.” – Dean Frank M. LaFerla Innovation and discovery is what drives the advancement of civilization through continuous improvements in health and the environment. The Ayala School of Biological Sciences strives to encourage an environment of innovation, which is reflected in the impactful research produced annually by our accomplished faculty. We will continue to investigate the underlying principles of nature, and use the discoveries we make in biology to bring about a better tomorrow.
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Research
Concussions Rear Their Head in Unexpected Sport Concussions in football and soccer have been making headlines, but it turns out another sport also poses a risk. A survey by the Ayala School of Biological Sciences and the School of Medicine shows that injuries are prevalent in water polo, whose high level of physicality hasn’t drawn as much attention. The research revealed information that could help better protect water polo players from this type of traumatic brain injury.
In the first of its kind survey, co-directed by James W. Hicks, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Director of the UCI Exercise Medicine and Sport Sciences Initiative, researchers examined over 1,500 male and female members, former members and associates of USA Water Polo. Those questioned represented a broad level of play, from high school to Masters Club. More than a third said they had sustained a concussion at some point. Several key findings emerged: • The majority of head injuries occurred during practice rather than games. • Goalies were at a disproportionately higher risk of suffering a concussion. • Women, who represented 40% of the respondents, reported sustaining concussions at greater rates than men. These details could be used to help better protect players from head injury. For example, since researchers found goalies are especially vulnerable and practice carries more risk than games, coaches could mandate that goalies wear head protection during practice sessions. More study is needed, the researchers say; the survey participants represent fewer than 4% of the estimated number of water polo players in the U.S. However, this research marks a crucial first step for water polo making the types of rule and equipment changes that other sports have put into place to help protect their players from head injury.
More than a third of water polo players said they had sustained a concussion at some point.
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Research
Inflammation’s Red Hot Role in Alzheimer’s Fight In the battle against Alzheimer’s, inflammation is drawing keen interest. Many scientists believe a deeper understanding of its role could spark groundbreaking approaches for slowing the progression of dementia symptoms or even preventing the disease. Professor Andrea J. Tenner from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry is among the Ayala School researchers examining inflammation’s impact on Alzheimer’s, for which there is currently no cure. Studies of brains from Alzheimer’s patients show an overabundance of inflammatory proteins when compared with normal brains. These inflammatory proteins are also overly abundant in many other chronic diseases, including the autoimmune disorders diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, scientists have found evidence that people who take anti-inflammatory medications have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Professor Tenner is on the forefront of the effort to better understand the link between inflammation, the immune system and dementia. Her research focuses on the complement system, one of the immune system’s many branches. It draws its name from its ability to complement, or enhance, the actions of antibodies. Over 30 proteins comprise the complement system, with two being of special interest: C1q and C5. C1q plays a role in many immune functions, including eliminating cells and cellular debris and producing anti-inflammatory proteins under certain conditions. If the complement system goes to work in response to a bacterial infection or in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, the protein C5 splits into two parts, C5a and C5b. C5a can bind to and activate immune cells.
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Professor Tenner’s lab has found that C1q protects neurons – cells in the brain responsible for memory and learning – against initial injury. The team has also discovered that blocking the actions of C5a can reduce the damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease in mouse models. She continues to investigate these relationships and is working on ways to bring new drugs targeting the complement system to clinical trials.
Research
Games, Brains and Emotion: New Findings on Memory The world is gaining a new understanding of how memories are formed and lost, thanks to researchers at the Ayala School:
3D Games Give a Boost The impact of environmental enrichment on the hippocampus, which has a role in transferring memory from short to longterm, intrigues Professor Craig E. L. Stark from the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior. He and his colleagues found that playing a complex virtual 3D game worked as a way to stimulate the brain and its learning centers; just playing it for several weeks helped people learn an unrelated memorization task involving that part of the brain. In contrast, playing less complicated 2D games had no impact. These findings could assist in designing engaging mental activities that stimulate our brain, strengthen the capacity to remember, and keep us mentally fit as we age.
Learning from the Brains of the Oldest Old Memory among the oldest old is a focus of Neurobiology and Behavior and Neurology Professor Claudia H. Kawas, a clinician scientist who is the principle investigator of The 90+ Study. In examining the brains of people without dementia who passed away above the age of 90, the research found 40% had Alzheimer’s disease pathology, even though their memories and cognitive performances had always been normal. Through MRI and PET scans, clinical-pathological investigations and genetic studies, Professor Kawas seeks to better understand this resilience and whether it offers insights for boosting memory among people of all ages.
The Emotional Connection The link between emotion and memory has drawn the attention of Neurobiology and Behavior Professor and Director of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Michael A. Yassa. He and his team tested older adults – some whose memory was mildly impaired and others with intact memory. They found the former were more likely than the latter to recall positive emotions, while all participants retained negative memories at about the same rate. Professor Yassa’s laboratory develops new ways to use brain imaging to understand how memory works and how it deteriorates in a number of brain diseases including depression and dementia.
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Research
Taking a Lead in Fighting the Addiction Crisis With skyrocketing opioid abuse bringing new attention to addiction’s consequences, the Ayala School of Biological Sciences has founded a new school center aimed at better understanding and combating the crisis.
“ Currently, very little is understood about the action of drugs of abuse and the progression from recreational use to the development of addiction, as well as the persistent effects of drugs of abuse. These aspects of addiction represent the kinds of major questions the faculty of ICAN will pursue.” ver the past decade, one key step forward has been O demonstrating that addiction is a brain disorder. Substance abuse can cause long-lasting changes in how neurons communicate in what’s called the “reward circuitry.” It involves several regions of the brain, including the ventral tegmental area, or VTA. Rewarding stimuli such as food or sexual pleasure activate the VTA, which sends out information that can affect other interconnected brain regions controlling memory, learning, habit formation and decision-making.
Called the Irvine Center for Addiction Neuroscience (ICAN), it draws from UC Irvine’s faculty expertise in basic and clinical research into abuse of opioids and other prescription medications, alcohol, nicotine and stimulants. In bringing together a dynamic group of researchers from 11 departments and four schools, ICAN seeks to tackle the addiction issues facing society today and chart a healthier course for the future. In addition to research, ICAN will offer addiction neuroscience education and addiction scientific literacy outreach programs. ICAN’s goal is to provide a world-renowned center as well as major university and community resource for addiction research and educational programs. 16
long with exacting a heavy toll on individuals and families, A drug abuse and addiction in the United States cost more than $700 billion a year in increased health care expenses, crime and lost productivity. I CAN is led by Director Marcelo Wood (Francisco J. Ayala Chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior), Co-Director Frances Leslie (Dean of the Graduate Division) and the Executive Committee (Professors Christie D. Fowler and Steve Mahler from the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Catherine Cahill from the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, and Shahrdad Lotfipour from the Department of Emergency Medicine).
Why I Give I've spent over 30 years in the medical device industry focused on improving the quality of life of patients worldwide. At the core of this passion was the value of the education and personal development I received at UCI. My loyalty to, and investment in, UCI demonstrates to the next generations of graduates, how important it is to leave a legacy for current students to follow. – Ed L. Chang (B.S. ’84) UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Research
Starving Cancer Cells to Death While great strides have been made in battling cancer, much more work needs to be done. A number of treatments take a harsh toll on the body, and experience is showing that many cancer cells eventually become resistant to most chemotherapy drugs. In fighting this challenge, Ayala School researchers are taking parallel, complementary approaches: focusing on personalized medicine, an approach based on the genetic makeup of individual tumors, or on how to exploit the metabolic changes that are characteristics of all cancers. Professor Zeba Wunderlich from the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology is studying how cells turn specific genes on and off, a process known as gene expression. Proper control – or regulation – of gene expression is necessary for an organism to develop and function normally. Cancer arises when abnormal genes are turned on, or the genes required for normal development are lost, or both events occur. Environmental factors such as viruses, chemical toxins and ultraviolet radiation can affect gene expression and turn a normal cell cancerous. Professor Wunderlich’s lab is using state-of-the-art tools to better understand the mechanisms governing this process. The goal is to develop new models showing how slight differences in an individual’s normal genetic makeup affect the way genes are activated. An obstacle currently confronting personalized medicine is that the majority of tumors contain a mixture of cells whose genetic codes carry different cancer-causing defects. This is why most new treatments targeting individual genes only work for a limited period; some cancer cells within a tumor are almost always impervious to them. Ayala School Professor Aimee L. Edinger, also from the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, hopes to overcome this obstacle by targeting the growth properties of cancers rather than specific genetic changes. Cancer cells, which grow continuously due to their mutations, require a steady flow of nutrients to survive. When they can’t feed themselves, they die. Normal cells are different: like bears in winter, they can enter a hibernation-like state when their food supply is low, allowing them to weather short periods of starvation. Focusing on cancer cells’ dependency on constant nutrients, Professor Edinger has found a way to dramatically reduce prostate tumor growth using a compound that restricts the cells’ ability to acquire nutrition from their environment. Studies with cells in the lab suggest this drug will have the same impact on many other cancers. Her work could eventually help people with many different tumor types, even if it’s not known which malfunctioning genes are causing tumors to grow. 18
Research
When a Virus Goes Rogue The term “emerging infection” doesn’t always refer to a new disease. The phrase also pertains to infections that previously had a very low incidence or have gone rogue, suddenly appearing in new places or spreading in a manner not seen before. Capturing much attention these days are emerging infections caused by viral zoonoses, viruses that are transmitted from animals to humans. Zika, now rapidly spreading throughout the Americas, fits into this category. Zika, originally discovered in rhesus monkeys in the Zika forest of Uganda in the 1940’s, was relatively obscure until the early 2000s. After it was confirmed in Brazil in 2015, the virus and its link to microcephaly in babies made global headlines and sparked understandable public alarm. Since then, the World Health Organization has reported Zika transmission in 45 countries and territories in the Americas. The primary way Zika spreads in the Americas is through the Aedes species of mosquito, which is also found in the United States. Professor Michael J. Buchmeier from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry is interested in learning more about the pathogenesis of viruses like Zika. Buchmeier is an expert in viral zoonoses and studies the structure and function of viral proteins and glycoproteins, and the ways the viruses interact with their hosts during persistent infection. Professor Buchmeier suggests that knowledge learned from past mosquito-driven viral outbreaks may help combat Zika transmission. One of those is yellow fever, which was particularly devastating in the 19th and 20th centuries. When the disease took a toll
on workers building the Panama Canal, a program of pesticides, water treatment and water removal was pioneered to fight it by controlling mosquito populations. This has been the foundation for countering mosquito-borne diseases ever since and it has worked well in the U.S. and most of the Americas. However, the ecological damage caused by wide use of pesticides and the development of resistance to them have prompted research into new strategies, including those based on genetics and molecular biology. Donald Bren Professor Anthony A. James from the Departments of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics has been leading the way. Professor James and his colleagues have used gene-editing technology to generate a new malaria-resistant mosquito. It carries a unique set of genes that produce antibodies against the malaria parasite. Similar technology could also be used to engineer a mosquito that is resistant to Zika.
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Research
Can We Predict Death? A tiny creature could hold answers to the great mystery of mortality. Thanks to the evolutionary links between species, biologists can study the common fruit fly to understand complex species, including our own. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Professors Laurence D. Mueller and Michael R. Rose have taken this approach to find out if it’s possible to predict the end of life by identifying a process called “the death spiral.” Much is known about fruit flies’ genetics and they have been extensively used to decipher the molecular and genetic biology behind many physiological processes, including aging. Professors Mueller and Rose have studied them over the past two decades to decipher a human phenomenon: Mortality rates increase steadily from young adulthood until the senior years, known as the second phase of life. They level off during the advanced adult ages labeled the third phase. That stage has traditionally been considered the final one, but the work of Professors Mueller and Rose is changing this view. In examining physiological processes and events that take place during aging, they have discovered that for female flies, a fertility decrease precedes death. This shift occurs faster than other changes and they are pursuing this intriguing discovery in greater depth. Their findings, along with work on aging issues by other researchers worldwide, have helped shape the case for identifying a fourth phase of life, called “the death spiral.” Referring to an abrupt decline in the body’s functions and systems before an individual dies, it can occur across a range of adult ages and could hold the key to predicting death in an otherwise healthy person. The BBC and other media have featured this groundbreaking work from Professors Mueller and Rose. As they gain further insights into these changes and the molecular mechanisms involved, their work may reveal ways to better identify individual death spirals or even how to lengthen life by staving them off. 20
Why I Give
Being involved with the Ayala School of Biological Sciences aligns perfectly with my personal passion for educating and mentoring future generations of healthcare providers. The School is on the cutting edge of teaching the skills and information students need to succeed in fields from ecology to biology to medicine. I am happy to lend my support through volunteering and philanthropy. – Maria E. Minon, M.D., F.A.A.P. (B.A., B.S. ’72 & M.D. ’76)
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Research
Real Dirt on Climate Change Alaska’s boreal forests have been harboring a secret crucial for the planet’s future and it’s now been revealed by researchers at the Ayala School. Soil fungi have a significant but unheralded role in rising global temperatures, according to Professors Kathleen K. Treseder and Steven D. Allison from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Their work demonstrates that unless climate modelers start paying more attention to fungi, predictions will be inaccurate. As soil fungi recycle nutrients in dead material from plants and animals, they break down their carbon and release the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. This process is fairly quick and easy with leaves and other materials freshly left on the Earth’s surface. It’s a longer, more laborious affair with matter buried deeper down, where carbon becomes more stable over time and harder to take apart. Professors Treseder and Allison wanted to find out whether higher temperatures would make soil fungi more active, causing them to increase carbon dioxide emissions by breaking down a greater amount of the more stable carbon.
Soil fungi have a significant but unheralded role in rising global temperatures Contributor: Caitlin Looby, Ph.D. graduate student (not pictured) with Professor Kathleen Treseder.
While soil everywhere contains fungi, key factors prompted Professors Treseder and Allison to work with the Alaskan samples. Boreal forests are warming faster than most other ecosystems and their largely untouched landscapes contain vast amounts of stable carbon. Seeking to uncover the molecular mechanisms governing how fungi might change with rising heat, the Ayala School team grew boreal forest fungi in the lab at a variety of temperatures. Their study showed that the fungi produced special enzymes – small proteins that break carbon apart – that worked best at the temperature in which they were grown. However, the warmer the level of cultivation, the better the enzymes became at breaking down the more stable carbon. These findings suggest that not only do fungi have little problem adapting to higher temperatures – they have the capacity to produce more carbon dioxide emissions and impact on the environment in the process. Fungi are critical to global carbon regulation, but they have not been getting a lot of consideration in climate models. The work of Professors Treseder and Allison makes a vital case for changing this thinking to improve the accuracy of climate predictions. This in turn could profoundly affect how the world’s governments regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
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Why I Give
I love having the opportunity each year to show my support of UCI's Ayala School of Biological Sciences. I want the current class to know that there are alums who understand how vital it is to support them and the unique programs that Bio Sci develops to help train the next group of scientists, doctors and researchers year after year. – Marsha Vacca (B.S. ’71)
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Research
Bed Bugs: Defeating the Enemy You Sleep With If you think you’ve been hearing more about bed bugs recently, it’s not your imagination. There has been an alarming increase in infestations in the U.S. and throughout the world over the past few decades. At the same time, bed bugs have become resistant to pesticides and there is an urgent need to innovate non-chemical means to combat their spread. Entomologist and Professor Catherine Loudon of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is on the forefront of this research. Bed bugs, small insects that feed on the blood of humans, mainly attack at night while their victims sleep – hence their name. Their bites are often painless at first, but within hours they can turn into itchy welts. Although bed bugs generally do not transmit diseases, they have been an irritating and even painful nuisance for thousands of years. A common way bed bugs spread and invade your house is by hitching a ride on luggage. Professor Loudon discovered that exposing baggage to temperatures of 165°F for just six minutes will kill the insects. While this approach does not eradicate bugs on the inside, eliminating those on the exterior could be a valuable component of bed bug management, with hotels and airports placing baggage in heating chambers, for example. The fight against infestations doesn’t stop there. Knowing that heat treatment isn’t the entire answer, Professor Loudon and collaborators recently obtained a patent for an innovative approach that capitalizes on a centuries-known mechanism of trapping bed bugs with bean plant leaves. They have shown that beg bugs become ensnarled in the small, sharp-hooked hairs on the plant leaves, which pierce their feet as they walk over the leaf surface. Once this happens, the bugs can’t get away. Professor Loudon and collaborators plan to develop microfabricated, or synthetic, surfaces that mimic this bed-bug-entrapping action, providing another alternative to chemical treatments.
Take that, bed bugs! 24
Research
Building a Better Biofuel In the search to replace fossil fuels with cleaner, more sustainable energy sources, biofuels are receiving considerable attention. There’s a good reason: they are both renewable and energy-dense – delivering a lot of bang for the buck, so to speak. Biofuels can be synthesized from a range of carbon-rich sources, including gases found in our atmosphere. Professors Markus W. Ribbe and Yilin Hu from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry have been working on innovative ways to produce renewable biofuels. In recent collaborative work, Professors Ribbe and Hu have discovered that the bacterial enzyme nitrogenase can convert carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into hydrocarbon energy such as propane. Their findings are unexpected, because previously, nitrogenase was only believed to convert nitrogen to ammonia. Remarkably, nitrogenase is capable of making hydrocarbons at ambient – or room – temperature and pressure. This would help greatly to reduce cost and potential environmental impact during fuel production. Another benefit: The reaction generates hydrogen as a by-product, which can also serve as renewable energy; some car makers are currently experimenting with hydrogen fuel-cell technology. In addition, making biofuel from nitrogenase could eliminate the use of food crops for this purpose. Professors Ribbe and Hu have begun establishing a simplified production model, utilizing bacterial cells to make the nitrogenase enzyme and produce biofuels directly. Their work on this endeavor has been published in the prestigious journals Nature Chemical Biology and Nature Communications. Their continued studies will help shape future designs for biofuel production at improved efficiency and reduced cost.
Biofuels can be synthesized from a range of carbon-rich sources, including gases found in our atmosphere.
Mankind has been burning fossil fuels as an energy source for over a century. The use of this fuel source has helped create considerable wealth and prosperity, as well as ushered in great innovation, in the western world. However, it has also led to irreversible changes to the planet and must be mitigated for the sake of the environment. At the Ayala School, we recognize that society cannot simply stop using this kind of energy without replacing it with alternative sources. We are proud to be among the researchers worldwide who are working on solving this issue for a better future.
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Research
UCI and Tel Aviv University Teaming to Combat Alzheimer’s Around the World
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As Alzheimer’s disease soars in the United States, it is also skyrocketing worldwide, making the fight against it an urgent global issue. In partnership with UCI MIND, the Ayala School is now teaming with Tel Aviv University on research, education and training programs to advance this mission. UCI MIND is the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders. Both institutions have long been committed to the search to better understand and cure the disease. Tel Aviv University’s history of meaningful Alzheimer’s discoveries complements UCI MIND’s advancements in many areas of neurodegenerative research, including treatments, drugs and disease modeling. The over five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease are among an estimated 46.8 million people affected around the world. This global number will reach 74.7 million by 2030, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International, the worldwide federation of Alzheimer’s associations.
Faculty
Ayala School’s Impact Feature: On the Forefront of the Huntington’s Fight “Many describe the symptoms of Huntington’s disease as having Lou Gehrigs disease, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – simultaneously.” – Huntington’s Disease Society of America The fatal genetic disorder Huntington’s, which often first appears in mid-life, breaks down nerve cells in the brain, eroding physical and mental capacities over time. With no current cure, Leslie M. Thompson (Ph.D. ’89, Biological Sciences), Chancellor’s Fellow and Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior and Psychiatry and Human Behavior, has devoted two decades searching for one. Professor Thompson’s lab is at the forefront of using stem cells to better understand the disease and design new treatments. Centering on Huntington’s molecular and cellular basis, her lab takes a multidisciplinary approach that has allowed Professor Thompson to collaborate with many faculty at UC Irvine and other institutions. Her interest in the issue was sparked during graduate school at UCI, where she obtained her doctorate in biological sciences. “I took a course on human genetics and I was struck by the potential and excitement of this approach to understanding diseases,” said Professor Thompson, who majored in biology at UC San Diego and earned a master’s degree in molecular biology from UC Santa Barbara.
She conducted her postdoctoral training under Professor John J. Wasmuth at UCI, studying the molecular genetics of Huntington’s. “Then I started meeting families and going to Venezuela to work with a large Huntington’s disease population there,” she said. “As I learned more and saw its devastation, I became committed to trying to understand the disease and find ways to intervene.” Professor Thompson, the founding co-editor of the Journal of Huntington’s Disease, was recently awarded a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to further her work toward using human-derived stem cells in clinical trials. She is the principal investigator of UCI-based NeuroLINCS. Funded by the federal government, NeuroLINCS is one of six national centers creating a database of human cellular responses and imaging to speed efforts to develop new therapies for diseases. The specific mission of NeuroLINCS is to better understand brain cell functioning and help develop drugs for neurological disorders.
About 30,000 Americans currently have Huntington’s symptoms and over 200,000 more are at risk of inheriting the disease, according to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.
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Faculty
A Living Legend:
Professor James L. McGaugh When James L. McGaugh, Ph.D. came to the University of California, Irvine in 1964, only a few temporary buildings stood on the newly-opened campus. “I agreed to visit Irvine and on arrival, learned that there was no city of Irvine,” he recalls. “There was just a ranch with that name back then.” McGaugh had been recruited to serve as the first chair of what is now the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, then known as Psychobiology. During the following decades, this pioneer in the field of learning and memory helped lay the foundation for the university and the Ayala School of Biological Sciences, which he helped found. His integrity and academic achievement have won admiration from his colleagues and mentees, establishing him as a living legend throughout higher learning. Born in Long Beach, Calif., McGaugh spent much of his youth in a small Arizona town near the Mexican border. As a youngster, McGaugh became ill with the bacterial infection brucellosis and was ordered to stay in bed for over a year. His mother took over his education during that time, instilling in him its importance. Eventually, the young McGaugh and his family returned to California, where his father passed away. “Following his death, I believed I learned important and lasting lessons,” says McGaugh. “I learned that difficulty does not mean disaster. I also learned that good things did
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not come my way by chance. My personal initiative was critical.” Science held little appeal for McGaugh in middle and high school; he favored drama, literature and music. Those interests led him to San Jose State College, where after a time, his attention shifted to psychology. Declaring a major in that field, McGaugh landed a job as a psychiatric technician at a veteran’s hospital, spurring his interest in science. He decided to pursue a doctorate degree in experimental and physiological psychology, seeking to better understand the biological bases of behavior. McGaugh entered graduate school at UC Berkley, where he studied under several of the nation’s leading psychologists. He focused on the learningperformance problem, an area of research that would guide most of his scientific career. This line of inquiry led McGaugh to examine the effect of drugs on post-learning memory consolidation, which is the process of storing recollections in long-term memory, and the neurobiological systems underlying how memories are established.
“ I learned that difficulty does not mean disaster. I also learned that good things did not come my way by chance. My personal initiative was critical.” After receiving his Ph.D., McGaugh returned to San Jose State College as an assistant professor. While San Jose State emphasized teaching at that time, he found ways to continue his research and established an active program that received the first research NIH grant ever awarded to a San Jose State faculty member.
Faculty He was also a National Academy of Sciences postdoctoral fellowship recipient, enabling him to study neuropharmacology with Nobel Laureate Daniel Bovet in Rome, Italy. Returning to the U.S., he served on the faculty of the University of Oregon for two years before receiving the phone call that brought him to Irvine in 1964. It came from Edward Steinhaus, the founding Dean of the School of Biological Sciences at UCI, who invited McGaugh to become chair of the first academic department focusing on brain and behavior. After McGaugh accepted, one of the first things he did was recruit founding faculty member Norman Weinberger, Ph.D. McGaugh went on to serve many major administrative roles for both the Ayala School and UCI, including Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, Academic Vice Chancellor, Executive Vice Chancellor, and Director of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, which McGaugh co-founded with Weinberger and Gary Lynch, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Anatomy and Neurobiology. McGaugh’s groundbreaking work on learning and memory has brought him numerous honors, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Science, the Karl Lashley Award from the American Philosophical Society the William James Fellow award from the Association for Psychological Science and the Grawemeyer Award. The campus has also bestowed upon him its highest honor, the UCI Medal. In strolling the grounds, one can literally see the respect he commands, for McGaugh Hall is named in his honor.
Where are They Now? Inspiring young women to become scientists has been a passion for Barbara A. Hamkalo, Ph.D. since retiring as a tenured Professor with the Ayala School in 2004. It’s why she’s deeply involved in Tech Trek, a summer camp that exposes middle-school girls to science and technology. The program is held by the American Association of University Women, of which Professor Hamkalo is an active member and former president of the Laguna Beach Chapter. “I am proud of my work with the AAUW,” says Professor Hamkalo. “The Tech Trek program has been a tremendous success in California. The students who complete the program go on to take higher-level math and science courses than their peers, both male and female, and are better informed about careers in the sciences.” Professor Hamkalo is also an Orange County Achievement Rewards for College Sciences Foundation (ARCS) member. The national all-female non-profit funds scholar awards for U.S. citizens pursuing advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Professor Hamkalo has served as a president and donor, has written grants to support ARCS Scholars and organizes field trips. A very highly regarded professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, she joined UCI in 1973. Her research focused on uncovering why genes are grouped in chromosomes, and the role of chromosome organization and structure in turning genes on and off. She was a staunch advocate for the Ayala School’s postdoctoral and graduate trainees and deeply committed to university service.
About a year after her retirement, she was named a prestigious UCI Edward A. Dickson Endowed Emeritus Professor. During this time, she strove to improve the quality of the graduate and postdoctoral experience at UCI. She worked to establish the Graduate Student Resource Center and served as one of UCI’s representatives during labor negotiations with the United Auto Workers, who had unionized the UC Postdoctoral Scholars. In keeping with her zest for service, Professor Hamkalo became the president of the UCI Emeriti Association and currently chairs its program committee. Besides her university and educational work, she serves on the executive committee of the Laguna Beach Community Clinic and as staff to her mixed-breed dog Remy Martin.
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Faculty
Faculty Accolades Foundational Genomics Research Award Department of Energy Associate Professor Steven D. Allison, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2016 Lauds & Laurels Outstanding University Service Award Professor Travis E. Huxman, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2016 Champions of Hope in Science Global Genes Non-profit Organization Associate Professor Anne L. Calof, Ph.D. Developmental and Cell Biology
2016 Founders’ Memorial Award Entomological Society of America Donald Bren Professor Anthony A. James, Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
UCI Donald Bren Professor Appointment Distinguished Professor Steven A. Frank, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2016 Distinguished Achievement in Medical and Scientific Research Award Association of Sicilian Societies Dean Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior
Why I Give
As an alumnus of the School of Biological Sciences, I give back to UCI to provide funding for graduate student fellowships to support research training of PhD students studying molecular biology. Support for PhD students is critical for training the next generation of biomedical researchers in both academia and industry. – Bert L. Semler, Ph.D. (B.S. ’74)
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2016 Champions of Hope in Science Global Genes Non-profit Organization Donald Bren Professor Arthur D. Lander, M.D., Ph.D. Developmental and Cell Biology 2016 Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Award Entomological Society of America Professor Catherine Loudon, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Rated 42nd Most Eminent Psychologist of the Modern Era American Psychological Association Emeritus Professor James L. McGaugh, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior 2016 Royal Society of Canada Fellow Distinguished Professor Bruce McNaughton, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior
2016 Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Teaching Ayala School of Biological Sciences Professor Justin F. Schaffer Developmental and Cell Biology James L. McGaugh Chair Appointment Ayala School of Biological Sciences Professor Craig E. L. Stark, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior 2016-17 Hellman Fellowship Award Assistant Professor Sha Sun, Ph.D. Developmental and Cell Biology 2016 Müller-Eberhard Memorial Lecture The University of Texas Professor Andrea J. Tenner, Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 2016 Elected Fellow Ecological Society of America Professor Kathleen K. Treseder, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 2016-2017 UCI Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching Professor Marcelo A. Wood, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior 2016 Quad-L-Early Career Award Associate Professor Michael Yassa, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior
Faculty
Pew Biomedical Scholar Assistant Professor of Developmental and Cell Biology Maksim “Max” Plikus was selected as a 2016 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. Professor Plikus was one of only 22 researchers nationally to receive this highly-coveted recognition, which goes to scientists who are at the start of their careers. The award will help support his work on skin wound healing. His research seeks to stimulate scar-free skin repair and skin anti-aging treatments through the body’s natural regeneration responses.
Bio Sci Professors Capture Prestigious Recognition
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Professors David A. Fruman and Sheryl Tsai have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society, serving 10 million individuals in more than 90 countries around the globe. The multidisciplinary scientific organization seeks to “advance science, engineering and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people.”
Professor Fruman’s research aims to better understand signal transduction in immune cells, which could prove useful in the development of treatments for immunological diseases and cancer. Professor Tsai studies the natural product biosynthesis of bioactive molecules called polyketides, which are used to treat many diseases.
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Faculty | Transitions
New Faculty Celia Faiola, Ph.D.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Improving the accuracy of climate change predictions is a focus of Professor Celia Faiola's research into the biological production, release, and fate of gaseous organic molecules emitted into the atmosphere by plants and microbes. Professor Faiola's research combines laboratory experiments, field measurements, and modeling approaches to develop an improved predictive framework for describing the ecophysiological controls on these emissions and their atmospheric products in a changing environment.
Luis Villareal, Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Founding Director of the Center for Virus Research, Professor Villarreal focused a large part of his research investigating the general role of virus evolution on life. He was interested in understanding how and why specific viruses were able to maintain a persistent presence in their host and sometimes integrate into the host genome.
New Campus Leadership
IIhem Messaoudi, Ph.D.
Hung Fan, Ph.D.
Several factors, including age and nutrition, influence how your immune system responds to microbial pathogens. Professor IIhem Messaoudi seeks to understand how these factors affect the immune system’s ability to function. Research in Professor Messaoudi’s lab focuses on three general areas: The impact of advanced age on immune fitness; how alcohol use and obesity change immune function; and ways viruses undermine the immune system.
Emeritus Professor Hung Fan first joined the faculty at UCI in 1981. In addition to his research over the years, he has served in a wide variety of leadership positions, including Director of the Cancer Research Institute and the Associate Director and Co-Director of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. As the Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives, he will work with campus stakeholders to help advance the university’s research and creative enterprise.
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives
Wenqi Wang, Ph.D.
Craig M. Walsh, Ph.D.
Human development depends on the growth of cells and tissues, as we develop from a single cell into a complex organism. However, cell growth can become unregulated, leading to tissue damage and disease. Professor Wenqi Wang is interested in the signaling networks underlying normal tissue function and organ size, as well as their role in abnormal tumor development and growth. His current research focuses on deciphering the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway, which is crucial in organ size control, and its role in cancer development.
Professor Craig Walsh joined the faculty at UCI in 2001. Since that time, he has served as a member for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and founding member of the Animal Research Advisory Committee. He also served as the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Center and Interim Co-Director and Associate Director for the Institute for Immunology. In this new role, he will work with the campus research community to facilitate effective and efficient research administration processes.
Developmental and Cell Biology
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Faculty Retirements
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Engagement
Faculty
In Memoriam Ralph J. Cicerone, Ph.D.
Robert K. Josephson, Ph.D.
Professor Cicerone helped to shape environmental policy at the highest levels nationally and globally. He joined UCI in 1989 as founding chair of the Department of Earth System Science and was later Dean of the School of Physical Sciences. He played a central role in moving UCI to a premier position as a top research university. As chancellor from 1998 to 2005, he oversaw a rapid rise in academic capabilities, construction of major research halls and the teaching hospital at UCI Medical Center. He was president of the National Academy of Sciences from 2005 to 2016. His extraordinary contributions to UCI will be celebrated for years to come.
Over a career spanning more than half a century, Professor Josephson became widely known and venerated as a mentor, teacher, colleague, physiologist and friend. He earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from UCLA and went on to become a pioneer in the use of computers to model animal behavioral responses. In 2005, he retired from UCI after 34 years with faculty appointments in both the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He was a dedicated instructor and mentor, compassionate and committed to the success of the School.
Fourth UCI Chancellor
Neurobiology and Behavior and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Krishna Tewari, Ph.D.
Jared M. Roberts
For more than three decades, Professor Tewari was a wellrespected faculty member of the Ayala School and a leading figure in his field. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Lucknow University and worked as an Assistant Researcher at UCLA before arriving at UCI. As a faculty member, Professor Tewari held a number of positions during his career, including serving as Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry for many years. In addition to his groundbreaking research, he helped create the School’s Master’s program in Biotechnology. The loss of such a dedicated professor is deeply felt by those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Mr. Roberts was a graduate student in the laboratory of Professor Michael Yassa. A graduate of the University of Utah, he was an exceptional student with a passion for learning. His fellow students in Professor Yassa’s laboratory characterized him as a brilliant scientist, gifted mentor, and selfless friend. He had a constant desire for learning and new technology, and his award-winning work led to insights in how the brain works and how it is affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Neurobiology and Behavior
Norman M. Weinberger, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior
Professor Norman M. Weinberger was a pioneering faculty member at UCI and a leading figure in the field of neurobehavioral research. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Western Reserve University in 1961 before joining UCI in 1965 to help form the Department of Psychobiology (now Neurobiology and Behavior). He was also instrumental in the formation of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. A proven leader, respected mentor, colleague and friend, he remained active in his laboratory until his death. UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Faculty
Year in Review
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Faculty
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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School Leadership
Dean’s Leadership Council The Ayala School Dean’s Leadership Council (DLC) is composed of successful alumni, business executives and community leaders who meet regularly with the dean and provide counsel and key insights into the community and the commercial sector of the life sciences industry. They also provide valuable financial support to advance the mission of the school’s priorities of teaching, research and public service. Council members embody our spirit
Michael Aguiar ’88
Brian Atwood ’74
President and CEO Innoviva, Inc.
CEO, Co-Founder Cell Design Labs
Mitchell Brin, M.D., FAAN Sr. Vice President, Global Drug Development and Chief Science Officer Botox®, Allergan, Inc.
of philanthropy and function as our “eyes and ears” outside the university walls. They offer significant insights to the dean including industry trends that impact our graduates and the research taking place at UCI. Our DLC members function as ambassadors and advocates, introducing us to key decision makers and industry leaders who support our strategic goals and positive outcomes.
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Diana Hendel, PharmD. ’85
Nikki Iravani, O.D. ’86
Nikan Khatibi, D.O. ’04
Former CEO, Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital
Founder & CEO EyeXam
Interventional Pain Physician Addiction Medicine Specialist Physician Anesthesiologist
School Leadership
Ed Chang ’84
Louis C. Cullman, Esq.
Charles L. M. Dunlop
Jacqueline Dupont, Ph.D.
Aaron Elliott, Ph.D.
Vice President of Marketing Avenu Medical
Partner K&L Gates
Chairman and President Ambry Genetics
CEO Dupont Residential Care, Inc.
CEO Ambry Genetics
William Loudon, M.D. Ph.D.
Mohannad S. Malas
Maria Minon, M.D. ’72,’76
Michael O’Connell
David J. Perry, Esq.
Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Executive Director Irvine Ranch Conservancy
Of Counsel K&L Gates
Section Chief for Pediatric Neurosurgery Children’s Hospital of Orange County
CEO IRA Capital, LLC
UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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School Leadership
Ayala School Leadership and Staff
Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D.
David M. Gardiner, Ph.D.
Michael Leon, Ph.D.
R. Michael Mulligan, Ph.D.
Aimee Edinger, Ph.D.
Hana and Francisco J. Ayala Dean
Associate Dean of Research and Academic Affairs
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
Equity Advisor
Benedicte Shipley
Robert Avalos
Robyn Martinelli
Shannon Ingram
Randy Bautista, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean
Executive Director of Development
Director of Development
Director Marketing and Communications
Institutional Research Analyst
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School Leadership
DEVELOPMENTAL AND CELL BIOLOGY
Hung Fan, Ph.D. Awards and Honors Advisor
Thomas F. Schilling, Ph.D.
Andrea M. Wiley
Laurence D. Mueller, Ph.D.
Marissa R. Reyes
Chair
Department Administrator
Chair
Department Administrator
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
Rahasson Ager, Ph.D. Communications Associate
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Christopher C. Hughes, Ph.D. Chair
NEUROBIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR
Bessy J. Varela
Marcelo A. Wood, Ph.D.
Sally F. Dabiri
Department Administrator
Chair
Department Administrator
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Get Involved
Making Connections: Lecture Series Want to find out how scientific discoveries are helping solve society’s challenges? Come to free lectures held here at the Ayala School. Whether you are currently involved with the School, one of our alumni or a member of the general public, you are welcome to these presentations by our faculty and other prominent scientists. Recent topics have included Alzheimer’s disease, concussions in sports, genetics and more.
The Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series
The Allergan Foundation Lecture Series
The Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series highlights the latest research from our School’s four departments. Created in 2014, the series is sponsored on a quarterly basis by the Hana and Francisco J. Ayala Dean.
The Allergan Lecture Series, a new program created specifically for the community at large, features scientists from UCI and other national and international institutions. Supported by the Allergan Foundation, this lecture series addresses cutting-edge science often featured on national media outlets.
Arthur D. Lander, M.D., Ph.D. “Purpose, Complexity, and Failure in the Living World.” February 4, 2016
Charles G. Glabe, Ph.D. “Alzheimer’s Disease and the Flip Side of the Amyloid Hypothesis.” May 25, 2016
James W. Hicks, Ph.D. “Heads Up: Increasing Concussion Awareness in Sports.” October 27, 2016
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Anthony A. James, Ph.D. “Gene Drive: Rules of the Road.” May 10, 2016
For more information on upcoming topics, dates, times and locations, please visit
bio.uci.edu/events
Get Involved
Help Mobilize Anteaters Against Alzheimer’s Every 66 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s and as the population ages, the disease is touching more and more of us in some way. You can help in the search for a cure and participate alongside concerned peers seeking to solve this challenge by joining Anteaters Against Alzheimer’s.
Over five million Americans now have Alzheimer’s, a number that may triple by 2050. If a cure or preventive measures aren’t found, the cumulative costs of care are predicted to bankrupt the healthcare system. Behind these statistics are the individuals and families grappling with the devastating effects of this disease often called “the long goodbye.” In joining Anteaters Against Alzheimer’s, you become part of the team working to bring about the breakthroughs needed to make this public health crisis a distant memory. For more information, aaa.uci.edu
Alzheimer's researchers Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D., and Joshua D. Grill, Ph.D.
Yes!
I want to make Alzheimer’s a distant memory!
A national Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, UCI is leading the way globally in understanding the disease and developing ways to combat it. As a member of Anteaters Against Alzheimer’s, you will directly support the important work taking place here. You will also have the opportunity to interact with distinguished UCI researchers and clinicians in a way no other organization can provide. What’s more, you help create a community of support for Anteaters affected by Alzheimer’s. You’ll make it possible for us to offer educational events that improve life for individuals and families confronting the disease. UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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Get Involved
Get Involved The Ayala School warmly welcomes the active involvement of alumni and community friends!
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Alumni. We Need You!
Bio Sci Alumni Club
Bio Sci Mentor Program
Once an Anteater, always an Anteater – and if you
The Bio Sci Alumni Club, a subsidiary of the UCI
Share your career expertise and experience
are a BioAnteater, we invite you to keep participating
Alumni Association for BioAnteaters, connects you
the fulfillment that comes of guiding the new
with the Ayala School. Your involvement and support
with 25,000 Ayala School alumni. It offers you a great
generation of biologists by joining the Bio Sci
is vital to what we do and the people we serve. Please
way to get in touch with people from your class, keep
Mentor Program. In getting to know current
consider taking part in these two opportunities:
up with the latest developments in biology, and help
Ayala School students, you will offer them the
support the school — and it doesn’t cost anything to
opportunity to build a professional network that
join! As a chapter member, you will receive unique
will help after graduation. Your insights into the
benefits such as exclusive invitations to special
working world will be invaluable as they consider
events with guest faculty speakers, opportunities to
career choices and goals. Students have told us
network with former classmates and advance notice
that meeting our alumni through this program
about the newest happenings here.
has made a difference in their lives.
Please help us build an even stronger chapter by
To learn more and get involved, please visit
visiting bio.uci.edu/alumni-club
bio.uci.edu/mentor-program
Get Involved
Connect with Bio Sci! UCI Ayala School of Biological Sciences
@UCIBioSci
@UCIBioSci
Search: UCI Francisco J. Ayala School of Biological Sciences #UCIBioSci
Why I Give
Giving to the Ayala School of Biological Science has been akin to a badge of honor. I gained much as a student while growing personally in such areas as scholarship, leadership, community service and work experience. Participating as a leader for campus organizations and serving as a Biological Sciences Peer Academic Counselor strengthened my sense of community and taught me the importance of giving back. – Roderick Seamster, M.D., M.P.H. (B.S. ’82)
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Giving
Community Spotlight:
Lester Ng
Helping students from overseas make the most of their Ayala School experience netted an honor for alumnus and entrepreneur Lester Ng, ’93. He received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016 in recognition of the financial support and active service he has given the Ayala School International Student Program. Mr. Ng became involved in this area due to his own experience studying abroad, which made him realize that adjusting to a new culture has a major impact on academic achievement. In helping international students succeed socially, Mr. Ng and the program are making it easier for them to focus on their academic work and chart a smoother course toward their career goals.
Award in the Making Help Honor Leader’s Passion The University of California, Irvine wasn’t yet open when Norman M. Weinberger, Ph.D. joined the faculty on Jan. 1, 1965. His hard work contributed to the start of classes eight months later and he subsequently helped found the School of Biological Sciences. A dedicated leader, honored researcher and passionate teacher during his 50 years here, Professor Weinberger took great joy in knowing his work would continue through the graduate students and junior researchers he mentored.
Norman M. Weinberger Memorial Fund 44
Following his passing in 2016, The Norman M. Weinberger Memorial Award for Graduate Student Research is carrying on his commitment. Newly established by the Weinberger and Ayala families, it provides financial support to exceptional graduate students in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior. Professor Weinberger was actively involved with his students and research until the end of his life. This award embodies his dedication and values, and will ensure they will live on through the generations. bio.uci.edu/giving/nmw
Giving
Dean’s Excellence Fund: Nimble Response to the Unexpected Taking fast action when opportunities and needs arise is an essential component of the modern research university. Perhaps a research discovery requires quick funding to go further or an unforeseen situation is affecting a student’s ability to pursue his or her studies. When you contribute to the Dean's Excellence Fund, you provide the dean the capacity to respond rapidly to unexpected situations, overcoming financial concerns that could be roadblocks to the School’s mission. Please consider giving today to continue our rich history of advancing science and educating students who are at the forefront of making the world better. For more information, bio.uci.edu/give
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Giving
Longtime Donor Alumni and Friends 25+ YEARS OF GIVING
15+ YEARS OF GIVING
15+ YEARS OF GIVING
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
Ruth Forer Eileen and Salvatore Lombardi Mae Varon
Marjorie Anderson Peter Atsatt and Michele Blair Brian Atwood ’74 and Lynne Edminster Sameer Awsare ’85, ’89 David Gardiner and Susan Bryant Aki ’76, ’78 and Errol Caszatt Barbara and John Cronin Sharon Dana ’84 Meridel Daniels Susan ’83 and Michael Eckhardt W. Fidler Kirby Fong Louise and James Garrison Dianne Gillespie Anita and Fred Gillett Dolores Gitlin M. Marlene Godoy ’76 Lois Groendycke Susanne Haffner William Halopoff Peggy and George Hunt Mary Ann and Steven Kahanic Diana Kiel ’81 and Les Jacobowitz Mathilde Klee Ramona ’78 and Joseph ’77, ’78 Kuwahara Marilyn and George Long Margaret and David ’69 Macys Mary Ann Malinick Roberta Massoth Patricia and Gary ’77 McCaughan James McGaugh
Jewel Mehlman Jeannette and Craig ’78, ’80 Miller Carol Krieks and Laurence Mueller Florence and Bernard Rabins Valerie Randolph ’74 and Donald Fenbert Christopher Reed Carol ’78 and Donald ’77 Wallace Merle Robboy Kathleen and Allan Rosevear Maida Sandoval Shirley Saturensky Audrey Schneiderman Edith Shields Gerry and Maclyn Somers Ann Marie ’75 and Steven Stallings Cheryl and Ralph ’73 Steiger Ann Stephens ’70 Nancy and Leslie ’79 Sterrett Donald E. Stewart Mary and A. Brian Taylor Andrea Tenner and Thomas Poulos Patti and Richard ’73 Thompson Carolyn and Ted ’73 Weyand Marilyn and Max Wolfsberg Mackayla Infante-Wong ’78, ’78 and Leroy Wong ’75 Judith Spiegel and Lawrence Wysocki ’75 Linda and Larry Yip Katharine and Robert Young
Karen and Thomas ’73 Akashi Deborah ’98 and John ’74, ’74 Alder Diane and Robert ’76 Allen Robert Anderson Shizuka Awsare ’84 Hana and Francisco Ayala Gwendolyn and Guilford Babcock Gail Baker ’74 Ann and Alan Barbour Marilyn and Jay Bauer Louise and Hugh ’74 Berkley Judy and Jerome Blackman Mary and Mark ’77 Blake Cristy Brenner Lisa ’79 and Larry ’78 Brown Betty Brynan Kathleen and Richard Buddington George Buhler Yolanda and Edward ’71 Burrows Melanie Stockwell-Byde and Robert Byde ’69, ’75 Ian Campbell France and Richard Campbell F. Lynn Carpenter Ethel Cate Ingibjorg and Robert Chapman Stefani Ching ’83 Lynn Churchill ’73 John Chwistek Sharon Cohoon Rosaleen Cox Doris and Cecil Crafts
20+ YEARS OF GIVING Christine and Leland House John Howell Sharon Kusano ’83 Josephine Mehlman Mela and Ricardo Miledi Carolyn ’76 and Blake ’75 Neubauer Suzanne Toll Peltason Julia Poirier Deborah and David Rector Minna and Michael Riber Elizabeth and Karl Schiller Elizabeth and John Stahr Deborah and Carl Weinert
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Giving
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
10+ YEARS OF GIVING
Jean and Charles ’80 Creasey Ann Cullen Dianne ’81 and Drew Dabney Vera and F. James Dupuie Angelique Ellingboe ’84 Edith Emch Jane Englar Patricia and Robert Ferazzi Miriam Feuerman ’86 Yuka and Michael Foertsch Kay and Richard ’73 Gabbay Carol and Todd Gleeson ’79 Dorothy Goldberg Toni ’69 and Robert ’71 Gorkin Ann Schieble-Gottschalk ’72 and Guy Gottschalk ’70, ’74 Barbara ’68 and Gale Granger Susan Bernys and Stephen Gray ’76 Melaine Wolf-Greenberg and David Greenberg ’78 Dieter Gries Jay Hall Barbara Hamkalo Kristine ’74 and James ’74 Hardeman James Harrison ’71 Walter Hartung Catherine and Larry ’85 Heads Ann Heiney Craig Henderson ’85 Viola and G. Richard Herrick Alice and Corys Heselton Margaret and Thomas ’77 Hickey
Carolyn and Clifford ’80 Hitomi Penelope and John Hlavac John Holcombe Judy Horton Daniel Hovenstine ’79 Karen ’85 and Michael Imfeld Judy and Kenneth ’79 Ishizue Terry and Steven ’77 Izumi Cynthia French ’79, ’93 and Anthony James ’73, ’79 Ruth ’73 and Raymond Johnson Louise and Ralph Jones Jean Kay Barbara and Denis ’76 Kitayama Diana Krause ’72 David Lake ’72 Richard Lathrop Sheldon Lisker Rosalie ’82 and Ronald Lowe Teresa and Gregory ’74 Marrujo Joanne and Al Martinez Denise and Carl ’81 Martz Debbie and James ’78 Matthews Cecilia and Dennis May Anne and Frank ’75 Mayer Roger Mayer ’73 Marcia and John McDonald Martina McGlynn ’73 Walter Mitchel Suzanne and James ’78 Mitchell Teresa and Avery ’81 Mittman Marcia Miyoshi ’80
Shirley Moore Rhonda Myers and Klaus Rosebrock Myrna and Loren ’76 Nakamura Arline Nakanishi ’86 Quyen Nguyen ’94 Estelle and Arthur Nitikman Gayle ’69 and Charles Nobbs Janice and Michael ’82 Numamoto Margaret Ogden Carol Olson and Todd Huck Yolanda Wilson and David Ortez ’69 Vickilyn Pard ’67 Wendy Oas-Parisky and Yuri Parisky ’79 Irene and Ronald Perez Leslie and Ralph Purdy Janet ’73 and Ray Randel Ellen and Donald ’75 Rezek Mary and Ronald Richmond Hilda and David ’73 Roberts Patricia and Bill Robinson Carol Roller Rosalie Rosenthal Madonna and Wayne Saxton Robert Schier Sidney Schlain Synthia Scofield and Hannes Richter Richard Scott Kim and James ’76, ’76, ’81, ’83 Seibert Ronnie Hanecak and Bert Semler ’74 Jean and Evan Siegel Eric Stanbridge
Mary and William Stanton Susan Stemmer ’76 Patricia Stephenson April Stilson ’77 James Sullivant ’76 Veronique and John Swett Julie ’86 and David ’85 Sword Caroline and Peter ’72, ’77 Syapin Barbara Carey-Takla and Roger Takla Colleen and Ronald ’78 Tamaru Helen Tangcay Matthew Thomas ’90 Susi and Jose Torre-Bueno Daniel Tremblay Deborah Tucker ’74 Linda and David ’69 Usher Marsha Vacca ’71 Deidre ’73 and Joseph Vail Duane Vajgrt ’85 Louise Van Cott Nancy and Herbert Vogler Judith Wagner Susan and Richard ’75 Wagner Leslie Walker Beverly Weber-Fow and Robert Fow Mary and James White Noel Taylor and Michael Whitlow ’75 Madalynne Wilkes-Grundy ’88 and Byron Grundy Ruth and Elwyn Winland Barbara and Clifford Woolfolk Christine ’81 and Calvin ’79 Yee Debra and Jerome ’76 Zack UCI BioSci Ayala School 2017 Dean’s Report
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