A UCLA study reveals how a region of the medial prefrontal cortex integrates information across the brain to coordinate physiological and behavioral responses. The findings could help develop targeted therapies for stress-related and social dysfunction disorders.
A new study suggests that being overweight (BMI 25–29.9) may actually be protective in the short term after surgery for older adults, with a 0.8% 30-day all-cause mortality rate compared to 18.8% for those with normal BMI.
A new study creates a single-cell map of epigenomic regulation in human fat tissue, revealing how genetic risk factors contribute to abdominal obesity. The research identifies key regulatory regions in fat cells where obesity-linked variants reside, offering new clues to the genetic and epigenetic regulation of body fat.
Researchers found that pembrolizumab shrank or eliminated tumors in nearly 90% of participants with desmoplastic melanoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer. The therapy offers a less invasive approach compared to surgery or radiation.
A new study from UCLA finds that the definition of Long COVID varies widely across published studies, resulting in dramatically different estimated prevalence rates. The study highlights the need for a standardized definition to advance research and improve patient care.
A novel cancer vaccine has shown encouraging early results in patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancer, two of the most difficult-to-treat malignancies. The vaccine targets KRAS mutations found in about 25% of solid tumors and drives about 90% of pancreatic cancers and 50% of colorectal cancers.
A new study found that nearly nine in ten emergency department patients have not received one or more recommended vaccines. This reveals significant gaps in preventive care among underserved populations, who often rely on emergency departments for healthcare.
A new study from UCLA Health suggests that virtual reality (VR) may offer a promising tool to ease psychological stress and support heart health. After a VR session, many patients experienced a significant impact on their psychological state, with reduced anxiety and increased vagal tone.
Researchers found that automatically mailing a stool-based screening test resulted in the highest screening rates among adults aged 45-49. The study, which included over 20,000 patients, showed that this approach can encourage timely screening and potentially save lives.
Researchers at UCLA have successfully created a continuous supply of functional T cells using genetically engineered stem cells. This breakthrough could lead to longer-lasting protection against cancer and potentially treat other diseases such as HIV or autoimmune disorders.
A UCLA-led study found that while blood-based tests offer a convenient option for screening, only 49% of patients completed a follow-up colonoscopy within six months. The study's findings highlight the need for improved follow-up care to detect and treat colorectal cancer effectively.
Researchers found that billing codes may mistakenly identify diseases in up to 45% of cases, highlighting a significant limitation in using administrative data for clinical research. The study examined records of 1.36 million patients and found discrepancies between coded diagnoses and actual disease presence.
Colorectal cancer claims more lives in Black communities than any other racial group, with incidence and mortality rates about 20% and 30% higher respectively. A new review by UCLA researchers highlights the need for equal access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment to eliminate these disparities.
Research from UCLA Health Sciences found that individuals with substance use disorders are at a higher risk of unplanned hospital readmissions. Specifically, those with opioid use disorder had the highest 30-day readmission rates.
A new study found that older adults with insomnia face triple the risk of developing depressive symptoms compared to sound sleepers. The study suggests that treatments targeted at inflammation-related depression may benefit these patients and improve their overall quality of life.
Researchers found that small group professional coaching reduced physician burnout rates by nearly 30%, with participants experiencing significant improvements in work-life balance, self-efficacy, and social support. In contrast, one-on-one coaching resulted in a 13.5% reduction in burnout rates.
Researchers found Galectin-1, a sugar-binding protein, plays a critical role in helping hepatocellular carcinoma cells resist thermal ablation and thrive after being treated with high heat. Blocking Gal-1 can make thermal ablation more effective and reduce the risk of recurrence.
A new multi-institutional clinical trial will test zipalertinib, an investigational drug targeting specific EGFR mutations in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. The goal is to prevent recurrence and improve long-term outcomes for patients with limited treatment options.
A new study found that verbal reaction time can detect sleepiness in older adults, a common safety risk. Voice analysis method reliably detected when someone was speaking versus silent with high accuracy.
Researchers identify new group of immune cells driving autoimmune attack on insulin-producing cells in pancreas during cancer immunotherapy. JAK inhibitors, already FDA-approved for psoriasis and arthritis, show potential to prevent and even reverse type 1 diabetes in preclinical models.
Researchers found that rod bipolar cells can form new functional connections with cones when their usual partners stop working in retinitis pigmentosa. This adaptation mechanism could reveal new targets for treatments aimed at preserving vision.
Researchers identified four distinct pathways leading to Alzheimer's disease, revealing how conditions progress step-by-step toward the condition. The study validated findings in a nationally diverse population, suggesting that understanding these pathways could fundamentally change how clinicians approach early detection and prevention.
A groundbreaking study reveals that biological brains and AI systems develop similar neural patterns during social interaction, with synchronized patterns driving social behaviors. The research has significant implications for understanding human social disorders and developing socially-aware AI systems.
Researchers developed an AI model that converts fragmented electronic health records into readable narratives, enabling artificial intelligence to make sense of complex patient histories. The Multimodal Embedding Model for EHR (MEME) transformed tabular health data into 'pseudonotes' that mirror clinical documentation, achieving superi...
A new study found that Black emergency department patients are less likely to be treated with opioids, but when their preferences are not met, they are at a higher risk of misusing opioids three months later. Patients who were satisfied with their pain care had lower rates of opioid misuse.
Researchers at UCLA Health have made a groundbreaking discovery about the mechanisms underlying vascular dementia. They found that targeting inflammation in brain blood vessels can promote brain repair and functional recovery in mice. This breakthrough highlights a potential new treatment approach for this understudied form of dementia.
Eliminating the fee increased overall usage by 7.8 percentage points, particularly benefiting underserved populations, including non-English speakers and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Despite gains, some disparities persisted, highlighting the need for additional strategies to ensure equitable access.
Home care cooperatives have identified key drivers of improved care quality, including worker input, motivation, selective hiring, and high-quality training. These findings have the potential to significantly improve care quality across the home care sector.
A new analysis of published data finds no association between pre-surgery fasting and post-procedure vomiting, contradicting long-standing recommendations. Research included 801 patients in experimental groups and 990 control group patients, with results showing that aspiration pneumonia is rare.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a chromatin-based strategy that enables cells to rapidly produce proteins when nutrients are scarce. This 'priming' mechanism, driven by the MYC gene, allows cancer cells to adapt and survive under metabolic stress.
Despite clinical recommendations, genetic testing is underutilized among Medicaid-enrolled children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. The study found stark racial disparities, with Black children less likely to receive genetic testing than their white peers.
A new study found that people with COVID-like symptoms took up to nine months post-infection to regain mental well-being, but physical well-being returned after three months. Up to 20% of patients continued experiencing suboptimal overall health-related quality of life one year after infection.
A new study from UCLA Health finds that middle-class families with children benefited from the 2021 expanded Child Tax Credit by reducing energy insecurity. However, the poorest households saw no measurable benefit and even experienced increased energy insecurity after the credit expired.
Dr. Vanessa Casha, a postdoctoral scholar at the UCLA Brain Research Institute, received the 2025 Hereditary Disease Foundation's Nancy S. Wexler Young Investigator Prize for her research on Huntington's disease. She aims to identify key proteins driving the disease and potential therapeutic targets.
Dr. Enrico Castillo, an assistant professor of psychiatry at UCLA, has been recognized as an emerging leader in health and medicine scholar by the National Academy of Medicine. He will collaborate with the organization's members over three years to address urgent health challenges.
Combining immunotherapy drug dostarlimab with standard chemotherapy improved survival and reduced symptoms in patients with advanced endometrial cancer. Patients lived up to 5.5 months longer with fewer side effects, outweighing risks.
A nationwide study reveals that Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients face significantly higher costs for emergency surgeries compared to white patients. Converting just 10% of emergency procedures to planned surgeries could save $1.8 billion annually.
DB-1310, a HER3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, has shown real potential as a new treatment option for patients with advanced solid tumors that have progressed after standard therapies. In an international clinical trial, DB-1310 demonstrated significant tumor shrinkage and delayed cancer growth in 44% of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients.
Research suggests that self-employment among white women is associated with lower rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and poor sleep duration. This study uses biologic and physical measures to explore the relationship between self-employment and cardiovascular disease risk factors across sex and racial/ethnic minority status.
A new UCLA Health study found that maternal warmth in early childhood predicts better physical and mental health outcomes for teens by shaping their perceptions of social safety. Children who experience more maternal warmth at age 3 have more positive social safety schemas, leading to improved health outcomes at age 17.
A UCLA study found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can significantly enhance the ability of T cells to fight cancer and suppress tumor growth across various cancer types in mouse and human tumor models. SSRIs increased access to serotonin signals, making killer T cells happier and more effective at killing cancer c...
Researchers at UCLA Health identified a candidate small molecule, DDL-357, that increases concentrations of secreted clusterin, reducing toxic protein phospho-tau and improving mitochondrial function. The drug also improved memory in treated mice in maze-based cognitive tests.
Surgeons from UCLA Health and Keck Medicine of USC successfully performed the world's first-in-human bladder transplant. The patient, who had lost most of his bladder due to a tumor removal, received a new kidney and bladder through the pioneering technique developed by Drs. Nima Nassiri and Inderbir Gill.
UCLA Health psychiatrists and researchers will discuss Los Angeles wildfire mental health impacts, perinatal and postpartum mental health, and athlete mental health. Experts will also cover the therapeutic potential of cannabis, mind-body interventions, and quality of care for individuals with disabilities.
The study found that patients who used lecanemab were more likely to be male, white, from urban areas, and with higher socioeconomic status than those who did not. Uptake rates of lecanemab were also significantly higher for patients with these characteristics.
Researchers found that stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is as safe as conventional treatment, with similar side effects and quality of life. SBRT shortens treatment time and may have biological advantages in targeting prostate cancer.
A comprehensive study by UCLA's Olympic Analytical Laboratory and Texas Tech University found that growth-promoting substances in US meat supply are present in trace amounts, well below regulatory limits. Most beef samples showed detectable levels of banned substances, but at safe levels for human consumption.
A new study by UCLA researchers shows that advanced MRI imaging and targeted focal therapy can help many men with low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer safely stay on active surveillance long-term, avoiding follow-up biopsies and delaying or avoiding invasive treatments. The findings suggest that routine follow-up biopsy can now be...
The PEERS for Preschoolers program is an evidence-based solution designed to help young children on the autism spectrum learn fundamental social skills needed to form lasting friendships. The program focuses on key areas such as turn-taking, sharing, cooperative play, and good sportsmanship.
A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that artificial intelligence can help detect interval breast cancers earlier, potentially reducing their rates by 30%. The research used AI software to analyze mammograms and identify subtle signs of cancer that were missed by radiologists.