Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · 13h

On Monday, Oct. 13, UCR SOM will be hosting the All Cores Symposium from 10 am to 3 pm in the Genomics Building auditorium and lobby. The event will bring together the research cores from across the campus for a day of presentations, tabling and posters.

Rsvp here: forms.gle/oh7v9ARR9Sdq...

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · 17h

A New Hope for People with MS

A research team co-led by Seema Tiwari-Woodruff, a professor of biomedical sciences at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, have identified two compounds that could remyelinate damaged axons, helping people who have multiple sclerosis

news.ucr.edu/articles/202...

New hope for MS

Scientists identify two compounds that could benefit people living with multiple sclerosis

news.ucr.edu

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · 5d

Medical school can be overwhelming--but the Office of Academic Success at the UCR SOM can help.

Find out more about how the office works with students, and maybe even pick up a few new study tips, on the SOM News website.

somnews.ucr.edu/articles/202...

Supporting All Students through Medical School: The SOM’s Office of Academic Success

While studying for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, UCR School of Medicine student Daniel Vasquez found himself plateauing on practice tests with a score just below the ...

somnews.ucr.edu

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · 12d

Thanks to Allyson Vergara of the Press-Enterprise for writing about how local schools, including the UCR School of Medicine, are working to improve the availability of healthcare in our region.
www.pressenterprise.com/2025/09/26/t...

Universities aim to reverse doctor shortage in the Inland Empire

Programs to train physician assistants and doctors intend to bolster the region’s healthcare workforce with local students.

www.pressenterprise.com

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · 13d

Childhood concussions may trigger long-term brain changes.

Prof. of Biomedical Sciences Andre Obenaus has led a recently-published study that used advanced brain imaging techniques to identify initial signs of injury that appeared to resolve, only to return months later as more severe brain damage.

Childhood concussions may trigger long-term brain changes

Researchers call for extended care and monitoring after pediatric head injuries

news.ucr.edu

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · 14d

Anita Gupta, DO, a professor of medicine in the UCR School of Medicine, has been awarded the 2025 Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Award. It was presented to her during the Annual Convention & Conclave of the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists.

insideucr.ucr.edu/awards/2025/...

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · 15d

Scott Pegan, a professor of biomedical sciences at the UCR School of Medicine, has been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health of about $3.4 million over five years to lead an international study focused on developing protective antibodies against CCHFV.

news.ucr.edu/articles/202...

NIH grant supports research on dangerous emerging virus

International team to study immune defenses against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus

news.ucr.edu

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · 21d

Armida Labs, Inc., a UCR startup company located in the incubator space on campus, has been awarded a $2.25 million Small Business Innovation Research grant from the NIH to fund studies on Targefrin as a possible treatment for pancreatic cancer.

news.ucr.edu/articles/202...

UCR startup secures grant to advance cancer therapy

NIH award of $2.25M funds preclinical studies that will advance Targefrin toward clinical trials for pancreatic cancer

news.ucr.edu

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · 27d

Last week, the UCR School of Medicine sent more than 25 students, staff, and faculty to the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) National Conference in Chicago, IL.

During the conference, Kriseira Lamas-Krauletz (MS2) received the LMSA National Scholarship Award.

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Sep 5

The UCR SOM hosted the Celebration of Women in Medicine and Science, an annual event that recognizes women's advancements in those fields. This year's event featured Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD, dean of the Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine

somnews.ucr.edu/articles/202...

Prothrow-Stith, Panel Discussion Highlight Celebration of Women in Medicine and Science

The UCR School of Medicine on Wednesday hosted the 2025 Celebration of Women in Medicine and Science, an annual event that recognizes women's advancements in those fields. This year's event featured D...

somnews.ucr.edu

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Aug 22

UC’s future is at stake. Your stories show why protecting research, education, healthcare, and innovation matters for all Americans. Share your UC story today:
bit.ly/4lxiuVx #StandUpForUC

Medical students taking their oath at the White Coat Ceremony

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Aug 14

Shout out to second-year medical student Valine Bebawy who presented her research at the Women in Ophthalmology (WIO) 2025 Summer Symposium in Amelia Island, Florida this past weekend (August 7 - August 11).

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Aug 13

Second year medical student Sanya Dhama wrote a powerful Op/Ed piece in the San Diego Union-Tribune addressing concerns over how ICE raids have negatively impacted individuals seeking healthcare in our communities.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/31/o...

Opinion: ICE policy change keeping sick people from badly needed care

Empty waiting rooms. Missed appointments. A palpable sense that something is wrong. Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security quietly rolled back protections for sensitive locations, a…

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Aug 13

@ucr.edu

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Aug 9

Want to watch the White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2029? You can view it here.

www.youtube.com/live/yoB6yen...

White Coat Ceremony 2025 - UC Riverside School of Medicine - August 8, 2025

YouTube video by UC Riverside School of Medicine

www.youtube.com

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Aug 7

A new study finds that traditional vaccine survey methods miss many groups and that if vaccine screening and delivery programs were implemented in emergency departments, the rate of patients who are fully up-to-date on their vaccines could more than triple.

Read more: news.ucr.edu/articles/202...

National study urges expanded vaccine screening in emergency departments

Strategy could greatly benefit underserved populations lacking primary care and health insurance

news.ucr.edu

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Jul 25

Thank you to Mark Acosta of the Press-Enterprise for his piece on the Riverside Free Clinic. UCR medical students oversee the clinic that gives patients the medical attention while providing experience to future physicians and medical professionals.

www.pressenterprise.com/2025/07/23/f...

Free Riverside medical clinic helping community for 21 years

UC Riverside medical students oversee the effort from a church that helps patients in need.

www.pressenterprise.com

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Jul 18

A study led by Declan McCole, a professor of biomedical sciences at the UCR School of Medicine, demonstrates that agricultural dust may pose significant risks to the got health for workers in animal agriculture. The study appears in the Journal of Applied Toxicology

news.ucr.edu/articles/202...

Inhaled agricultural dust disrupts gut health

UC Riverside study highlights need for protective measures for agricultural workers

news.ucr.edu

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Jul 14

The Riverside Free Clinic began 21 years ago. he student-run clinic, which operates from a Riverside church every other Wednesday evening, serves two vital communities: underserved patients and aspiring medical professionals.

news.ucr.edu/articles/202...

Riverside Free Clinic: A health resource for the community

UCR medical students gain valuable experience attending to patients and medical issues

news.ucr.edu

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Jun 18

Research from the UCR SOM's Division of Biomedical Sciences, led by Emma H. Wilson, PhD, reveals how the parasite Toxoplasma gondii can disrupt brain communication, even when infecting just a few neurons.

news.ucr.edu/articles/202...

How a common brain parasite disrupts neural communication

UC Riverside study on how Toxoplasma gondii manipulates brain cells lays groundwork for future clinical research and therapies

news.ucr.edu

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Jun 17

As we conclude our graduation series, we profile biomedical sciences master’s student Valeria Barrientos who plans to go on to earn her MD degree and serve patients in underserved areas like Inland Southern California.

somnews.ucr.edu/articles/202...

Serving Undocumented Patients in the Inland Empire, Starting Now: Valeria Barrientos, Class of 2025

A few months ago, a patient at the Coachella Valley Free Clinic had an uncommon reaction to a routine blood pressure test. Seeing the high blood pressure reading, the patient began hyperventilating un...

somnews.ucr.edu

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Jun 16

A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Seema Tiwari-Woodruff and graduate student Kelley Atkinson is shining new light on how and why movement and coordination decline in people with MS.

news.ucr.edu/articles/202...

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Jun 13

Congratulations to UCR School of Medicine Class of 2027 student Joslyn Santana on being named a recipient of the 2025 National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) Medical Student of the Year Award. The award was presented at the annual NHMA Conference on June 5-7, 2025.

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UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Jun 11

Thanks to Cal Matters for their coverage of the news that UC Riverside plans to build a medical center and teaching hospital.

calmatters.org/health/2025/...

Inland Empire will get new medical center and teaching hospital

California doesn’t have enough primary care doctors, especially in the Inland Empire. The UC Riverside project will expand medical access.

calmatters.org

UC Riverside School of Medicine @ucrmedschool.bsky.social · Jun 9

Declan McCole, PhD, and doctoral student and first author Hillmin Lei have published a study that shows how a genetic mutation associated with Crohn’s disease can worsen iron deficiency and anemia — one of the most common complications experienced by patients with inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.

Genetic link found between iron deficiency & Crohn’s disease

Researchers identify gene mutation that disrupts iron absorption, helping explain patients’ persistent anemia

news.ucr.edu