News Archive - Heather Buschman, PhD

How a Single Gene Alteration May Have Separated Modern Humans from Predecessors

UC San Diego researchers discovered a single gene alteration that may help explain cognitive differences between modern humans and our predecessor, and used that information to develop Neanderthal-like brain organoids in the lab.

Two Anti-viral Enzymes Transform Pre-Leukemia Stem Cells into Leukemia

Viral infections and space travel similarly trigger inflammation and the enzymes APOBEC3C and ADAR1; UC San Diego researchers are developing ways to inhibit them as a means to potentially lower cancer risk for both astronauts and people on Earth.

Lab-Grown Human Brain Organoids Mimic an Autism Spectrum Disorder, Help Test Treatments

UC San Diego researchers used brain organoids to identify two drug candidates that counteract the genetic deficiencies that cause Rett syndrome, a rare form of autism spectrum disorder.

Study Reveals Connection Between Gut Bacteria and Vitamin D Levels

UC San Diego researchers discovered that the makeup of a person’s gut microbiome is linked to their levels of active vitamin D, and revealed a new understanding of vitamin D and how it’s typically measured.

Five UC San Diego Experts Elected AAAS Fellows in 2020

American Association for the Advancement of Science honors the contributions of UC San Diego leaders in astrophysics, research advocacy, organic chemistry, psychiatry and geophysics.

Antimicrobial Soap Additive Worsens Fatty Liver Disease in Mice

Triclosan, an antimicrobial found in many soaps and other household items, worsens fatty liver disease in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Infection by Confection: COVID-19 and the Risk of Trick-or-Treating

Researchers determined that COVID-19 transmission risk via Halloween candies is low, even when they are handled by infected people, but handwashing and disinfecting collected sweets reduces risk even further.

Protein that Keeps Immune System from Freaking Out Could Form Basis for New Therapeutics

Treatment with a peptide that mimics the naturally occurring protein GIV prevents immune overreaction and supports a mechanism critical for survival in mouse models of sepsis and colitis, according to a UC San Diego study.

J. Silvio Gutkind, PhD, Named Chair of the Department of Pharmacology

J. Silvio Gutkind, PhD, has been named chair of the Department of Pharmacology at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Statins Reduce COVID-19 Severity, Likely by Removing Cholesterol That Virus Uses to Infect

Analyzing anonymized patient medical records, UC San Diego researchers discovered that cholesterol-lowering statins reduced risk of severe COVID-19 infection, while lab experiments uncovered a cellular mechanism that helps explain why.