The Path to a COVID-19 Vaccine

In 2020, as the COVID-19 outbreak grew into a global pandemic, scientists accepted the challenge to develop an effective vaccine in unprecedented time. One of the candidates evaluated as part of a clinical study at UC Davis Health was just approved by the FDA for emergency use. Learn about the process of development and evaluation of vaccine candidates, the different types being pursued and managing expectations.


Research Highlights

Big Dogs Face More Joint Problems if Neutered Early

Heavier mixed-breed dogs have higher health risks if neutered or spayed early, according to a new study that analyzed 15 years of data from thousands of dogs at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Social Distancing Varies by Income in U.S.

Wealthier communities went from being the most mobile before the COVID-19 pandemic to the least mobile, while poorer areas have gone from the least mobile to the most mobile.

For Toddlers with Autism, More Intervention Hours are not Necessarily Better

A multisite study led by UC Davis Health found that two prominent early intervention models for autism had a similar impact.

Genomic Analysis Reveals Many Animal Species May Be Vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

An international team of scientists led by UC Davis used genomic analysis to predict the threat of COVID-19 to an array of species. The team identified many endangered animals are at very high risk.

Warning Labels Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption

As municipalities have taxed sugar-sweetened beverages and schools and worksites have banned their sales, university researchers have found that simple warning labels on such beverages in a college cafeteria helped students reduce their reported consumption of drinks by 14.5%.
Pesticides and Food Scarcity Dramatically Reduce Wild Bee Population

The loss of flowering plants and the widespread use of pesticides could be a double punch to wild bee populations, reducing reproduction by 57%.


Innovation News

Innovative Startups Commercializing UC Davis Technologies

During the past fiscal year, 15 emerging startups executed agreements to access patented technology developed at the University of California, Davis.


UC Davis Applies Microneedles to Deliver Gene Therapy Inside the Eye

A novel approach to delivering gene therapy for retinal diseases eliminates the need for complex eye surgery and treats more damaged cells than existing methods, a team of UC Davis physicians and veterinary eye specialists has found.


Non-hallucinogenic Version of the Psychedelic Drug Ibogaine Could Treat Addiction, Depression

A non-hallucinogenic version of the psychedelic drug ibogaine has been developed by David Olson and colleagues at the UC Davis Department of Chemistry. The new compound shows potential for treating psychiatric disorders, including addiction in animal models and may work by increasing connectivity between nerve cells.
 


Insights

The Distance Local Energy Goes to Bring Power to the People

When you go to the grocery store, you can look at an apple and know if it was grown in Chile, Washington or somewhere closer to you by a quick glance at its sticker. But consumers have largely been in the dark when it comes to energy and how far it has traveled to reach them. 

Video Project Sheds Light on Deportation

The digital storytelling project Humanizing Deportation sheds light on hundreds of personal migrant stories that demonstrate the effects of deportation and heightened border security.


Spotlight on Global Reach

West African Cuisine at the Heart of New Fortification Clinical Trial Led by UC Davis

A major new UC Davis study in Ghana will look at the health impact of adding six micronutrients to bouillon. Although some manufacturers voluntarily fortify bouillon with vitamins and minerals, this is the first large-scale assessment of the benefits. The research is part of a global initiative on bouillon supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.



UC Davis LIVE: COVID-19

The Frightening Uncertainty of Long-Haul COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, we have not only learned about better ways to treat the disease but have also learned a lot about its longer-term effects. UC Davis has launched the region's first Post-COVID-19 Clinic to provide care for these patients.


Featured Podcast

Unfold Podcast, Episode 5: Is Rock Dust a Climate Change Solution?

Agriculture is responsible for 24% of our global greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, UC Davis researchers say agriculture holds huge potential to be one of the biggest solutions to climate change. Carbon farming may hold the key.


Events

Affecting Humanity, Challenging Exclusion, Moving-with Stories of Deportation
Describing ways in which moving-with digital stories of deportation can become a humanizing experience that amplifies both speakers’ and listeners’ capacity to affect and be affected. The narrators in the Humanizing Deportation digital story archive affirm their connectedness to networks of care that are limited and fragile, enduring and adaptable, and that entangle us all.
December 17, 2020

Cannabis and Hemp Research Forum: Field Trials on Hemp Varieties, Water Use, Density, Pests in California
Dan Putnam, Cooperative Extension Specialist and Agronomist in the Department of Agronomy & Range Science, and Bob Hutmacher, Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director of the UC West Side Research & Extension Center, share insights gleaned from growing and harvesting hemp at UC Davis.
January 14, 2021

The UC Davis Aviation Noise and Emissions Symposium will focus on defining the challenges that face the noise and emissions industry over the next few years and discussing real-world solutions. Symposium presenters will share ground-breaking efforts undertaken by elected officials, airports, consultants, communities and the FAA to mitigate noise and environmental impacts of aviation. 
February 23-26, 2021

Advancing Pain Relief Symposium
This half-day symposium, featuring research panels and lightning talks, aims to help break down silos across UC Davis and stimulate collaborative research. Scholars will showcase the diverse work being conducted in disparate areas of the university that directly and indirectly inform and advance our understanding and treatment of pain.
March 3, 2021

Calculating the Costs of Climate Change
What are the costs if climate change increases the risk of extinction of plants and animals? What about costs from impacts to agricultural production and the risk to the global food supply? These are some of the important costs involved in estimating the costs of climate change damages, a value known as the social cost of carbon.
March 25, 2021

Highlighted Grants

UC Davis to Lead New Artificial Intelligence Institute for Next-Generation Food Systems

UC Davis School of Medicine and UTHealth get nearly $54 Million to Study the Role of White Matter Lesions in Dementia

UC Davis Engineers Lead $36M Effort to Improve Recovery From Spinal Cord Injuries

UC Davis Receives NSF Funding for Engineering, Sciences, Artificial Intelligence for HSIs






State Stem Cell Agency Funds Clinical Trial for Spina Bifida Treatment







UC Davis Partnered Pavement Research Center Receives $32 Million Interagency Agreement from Caltrans for Pavement Research







Researcher Spotlight

Tri Dev Acharya, Ph.D., Institute of Transportation Studies

Acharya’s research involves making maps using remote sensing, a technique that samples electromagnetic radiation from the earth’s land, atmosphere and water to detect and monitor physical characteristics. He maps land cover and observes how these surfaces change with time.



Honors and Awards

David A. Horsley and Michael Rogawski Elected as Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Plant Pathologist Pamela Ronald Named GCHERA World Agriculture Prize Laureate

Plant Biologist Awarded Packard Fellowship

Alumna Mary Gray Named MacArthur Fellow

Satya Dandekar Honored with Prestigious NIH MERIT Award for HIV Research

Eleven Professors Elected as American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows

 View more awards and rankings
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