One of the world’s deadliest toxins — saxitoxin — has never had an antidote. UCSF scientists just found one, in a bullfrog. The frog makes a protein called saxiphilin that soaks up the toxin before it can reach nerve and muscle cells. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/vIJj1o

Seven of 10 volunteers kept HIV at bay for months after stopping meds, a rare result scientists call a major step toward a functional cure.

‘Is this my last pill ever?’ UCSF therapy offers patients a hint at a cure for HIV

Seven of 10 volunteers kept HIV at bay for months after stopping meds, a rare result scientists call a major step toward a functional cure.

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Researcher Joseph DeRisi discusses the future of diagnosing rare diseases at the inaugural session of UCSF's quarterly public lecture series. missionlocal.org/2025/11/publ...

Tales from the bench: Inside UCSF’s new public lectures series

UCSF's new quarterly public lecture series aims to help people understand the human impact of scientific research.

missionlocal.org

From Boston’s snowy streets to UCSF’s innovative programs, Brian’s journey reflects the heart of UCSF’s mission: to serve, to collaborate, and to uplift. @ucsffamilymed.bsky.social

How Collaboration and Creativity Has Guided Brian Abascal’s Work in Health Equity

Shakespeare famously wrote, “All the world’s a stage.” Over the course of his 20-year career in healthcare administration, Brian Abascal, MFA, has taken on many roles – from supporting youth programs ...

medschool.ucsf.edu

Every summer, UCSF medical students organize and lead immersive, hands-on learning experiences for Bay Area high school students. From exploring pig brain dissections to demystifying immunology, these programs are planting the seeds of curiosity and mentorship in medicine.

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders: UCSF Medical Students Mentor High Schoolers Through Summer Camps | UCSF Medical Education

Each summer, UCSF medical students lead immersive health science camps for local high schoolers—part of the School of Medicine’s commitment to community engagement and building a diverse physician wor...

meded.ucsf.edu

What if aging in the brain could be reversed, not just slowed? UCSF scientists discovered a single protein that accelerates memory loss and cognitive decline. tiny.ucsf.edu/vGJ3gV

This Protein Slows the Aging Brain, and We Know How to Counter It

Scientists discover a protein that gets concentrated in the brain during aging, leading brain connections to wither and cognitive decline to accelerate - and a way to counter its effects.

tiny.ucsf.edu

We look forward to seeing you at our 10 year anniversary symposium Tues., August 19th ""A Decade of Impact: Celebrating @atulbutte.bsky.social & BCHSI@10." Full agenda is up! calendar.ucsf.edu/event/a-deca... @ucsfhealth.bsky.social @ucsanfrancisco.bsky.social @ucsfmedicine.bsky.social

👏 The rankings are in! We’re proud to be among the nation’s #BestHospitals — and the No. 1 hospital in California and San Francisco, according to @usnews.com! 🎉

UCSF Health Ranks Among Nation's Best for 2025-26

U.S. News & World Report ranked UCSF No. 1 in CA & Top 20 in the nation.

ucsfhealth.org

Backed by a $100M gift from Joan and Sandy Weill, UCSF and @stanfordmedicine.bsky.social @stanford-cancer.bsky.social are launching Weill Cancer Hub West, a $200M initiative in team science to accelerate cancer research and improve care over the next decade. tiny.ucsf.edu/rZIspe

Gift Launches $200M Initiative for the Weill Cancer Hub West

A $100 million matching grant from the Weill Family Foundation is bringing together two leading cancer centers to launch the Weill Cancer Hub West — an innovative collaboration among some of the natio...

ucsf.edu

The simplest tasks of joy and awe can measurably improve people’s emotional well-being and attitudes toward life, according to a new UCSF study.

Taking five minutes a day to do this can improve happiness, study finds

The simplest tasks of joy and awe can measurably improve people’s emotional well-being and attitudes toward life, according to a new UCSF study.

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FCM's @apriljbell.bsky.social, Director of GirlxLab, was highlighted on @kcbsradio.bsky.social's coverage of the anniversary of the Dobbs’ decision. She discusses her ongoing digital storytelling project featuring Black women sharing their experiences with #abortion. More at girlxlab.ucsf.edu

Type 2 diabetes puts millions at risk for heart and kidney disease. UCSF research shows the newest recommended drugs for diabetes — including semaglutide (Ozempic) — aren’t reaching enough patients. tiny.ucsf.edu/6mEccJ

The Most Effective Diabetes Drugs Don’t Reach Enough Patients Yet

A study found that the newer generation of much more effective diabetes medications are reaching only a fraction of the patients who are recommended to take them based on new guidelines.

tiny.ucsf.edu

Congrats to graduating RadOnc Residents - med & physics! "A major milestone from wearing the hat of a trainee, to holding responsibilities & privileges of caring for our patients." - Catherine Park, Chair, Drs. Ke Sheng, Barcellos-Hoff, Braunstein, Boreta, Vasudevan @ucsanfrancisco.bsky.social

Save the Date!🗓️ Our annual CME conference returns to Honolulu March 10 – 14, 2026. Join us to enhance your practice in paradise with our world-class speakers and hands-on learning labs (EKG, ultrasound, airway). Registration is now open: direc.to/niVw #HREMHawaii2026

Generative AI, particularly large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, offer a promising alternative to existing translation tools. In a recent study, GPT-4 outperformed Google Translate in Chinese and Russian translations, though both tools showed similar performance in Spanish. Read more:

Harnessing Generative AI to Improve Patient Communication and Reduce Disparities

A Career Rooted in Health Equity

medschool.ucsf.edu

UCSF’s Arnold Kriegstein, MD, PhD and Li Wang, PhD took a closer look at gene expression in the growing human brain and found sets of genes that could help explain autism and even adult brain cancer – revealing new possibilities for future therapies. tiny.ucsf.edu/8EHYHf @ucsfmedicine.bsky.social

Genes That Grow a Healthy Brain Could Fuel Adult Glioblastoma

A new study paints one of the most detailed pictures of human brain development to date, opening the door to new tests and therapies, including for brain disorders such as autism.

tiny.ucsf.edu

In 2024, we found countless moments of joy and connection through in-person events and opportunities for socialization and collaboration. It is in these moments that we feel most energized and are reminded of why we work at UCSF, because when we come together there’s no limit to what we can achieve.

2024 Year in Review: Better Together

YouTube video by UCSF School of Medicine

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