UCSF

06/23/2026

A new drug is bringing hope to people living with pancreatic cancer.

With a 13% survival rate, pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest diseases we know. And for decades, patients had few options. Until now.

UCSF and UCLA scientists found that a new drug is helping pancreatic cancer patients live twice as long as those receiving standard chemo. Federal funding supports clinical trials just like this one and helps to advance treatments for the most devastating and costly diseases. https://tiny.ucsf.edu/TFzVWV

It’s not every day a clinical trial earns a standing ovation, but scientists at UCSF and UCLA are heralding a new era in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. A new drug is showing extended overall survival, with patients living twice as long as chemotherapy recipients. https://bit.ly/43Veyax

06/19/2026

Mini “organs” are giving scientists a new way to study disease — and test treatments in ways that may better predict how the human body will respond. Here’s how they work.

https://magazine.ucsf.edu/mini-organs-could-transform-medical-research

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06/19/2026

About 1 in 50 Americans has a brain aneurysm, and in many people, these bulging blood vessels can go unnoticed for years. But if a brain aneurysm bursts, it can cause a stroke and even death. It’s been a mystery why some brain aneurysms burst and not others. A new UCSF study mapped an interaction between two types of cells that weakens blood vessels, making them more likely to rupture. The discovery points to new possibilities for predicting and preventing strokes.

Ethan Winkler, who studies aneurysms, discovered a dynamic between cells in the brain's blood vessels that explains why aneurysms burst. The findings describe a "life cycle" of an aneurysm and will likely change how physicians assess the risk for rupture and opportunities for personalizing treatment...

06/17/2026

We are pleased to announce S. Andrew Josephson, MD, as the next dean of the UCSF School of Medicine. He has spent 25 years at UCSF as a leading neurologist, educator, and researcher -- most recently as chair of the Department of Neurology. Please join us in congratulating him as he begins this role on July 20. Read the full announcement at: https://ow.ly/lnPh50ZcBF3

06/15/2026

Childhood trauma changes biology, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. UCSF psychologist Nicki Bush, PhD, found that talk therapy can slow down overactive aging caused by severe stress. Kids who had this therapy had healthier biological markers than kids who didn’t. https://ow.ly/kHRh50ZbkLO

New UCSF research reveals that Child-Parent Psychotherapy repairs a biological process that could benefit kids for life.

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

After 11 years as Dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and nearly three decades at UCSF, Talmadge King Jr., MD, is stepping down on June 30.

A physician-scientist and renowned lung specialist, Dean King led with a style that colleagues describe as rare. He listened deeply, said the hard things others wouldn't, and led with steadiness and integrity. From a small town in Georgia to Harvard Medical School to leading one of the country's top medical schools, Dean King's journey is as remarkable as his tenure.

While he is stepping away from the deanship, his influence as a teacher, mentor, and "orchestra leader" will endure. Following a sabbatical, he plans to return to the faculty to continue teaching and mentoring.

Check out the full story: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2026/06/432031/talmadge-king-jr-dean-who-led-through-listening-and-trust-step-down

06/09/2026

The celebration continues. 🎓 Explore graduation ceremonies across UCSF and hear from graduates reflecting on their time here and what's next. https://ow.ly/2cQG50Z9egN

06/09/2026

Did you know that 9 out of 10 prescriptions are filled with generic drugs? These lower-cost versions of brand-name medications have saved patients trillions of dollars over the last 30 years.

But for newer medicines like Ozempic and many cancer treatments, the rules are different. These biologic medicines are much harder to copy. Their alternatives, called biosimilars, are similar to the original medicine but not identical.

A new UCSF study examined biosimilar regulations across 19 countries and found major differences in how they're approved.

Biologics make up just 5% of prescriptions, but more than half of all drug spending. Researchers say more consistent approval standards could make it easier for biosimilars to reach patients and improve access to treatment. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2026/05/431986/global-rules-could-cut-costs-and-speed-access-glp-1-drugs