Many men with aggressive prostate cancer can experience a high rate of recurrence despite treatment. A new Phase 2 clinical trial at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center unveiled clues as to why these patients are doing poorly and may offer hope in the form of targeted therapy.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, killing 87% of patients within five years. Previous studies have shown that obesity can increase pancreatic cancer risk by around 50%. In a new study from UC Davis, researchers showed evidence that switching from a high-fat diet to a low-fat diet slowed pancreatic precancer development in mice, even after weight gain and precancerous changes began.

Lightweight, powerful lithium-ion batteries are crucial for the transition to electric vehicles, and global demand for lithium is set to grow rapidly over the next 25 years. A new analysis from researchers at UC Davis looks at how new mining operations and battery recycling could meet that demand.

UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center released its annual Tahoe Clarity Report documenting steep declines in clarity through the 1990s before leveling off in recent years. In 2024, annual average clarity for Lake Tahoe was 62.3 feet. That is down from last year’s average of 68.2 feet, but it is not statistically worse, the report notes.

A new study outlines key considerations for a growing floating solar industry. Commonly installed over artificial water bodies, from irrigation ponds and reservoirs to wastewater treatment plants, floating solar projects can maximize space for producing clean energy while sparing natural lands, but the impact on birds and wildlife deserves attention.

Breathing in wildfire pollution may make it harder for people with lung cancer to survive, according to a new study from UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers. The study looked at more than 18,000 people in California who had non-small cell lung cancer, the most common kind of lung cancer, between 2017 and 2020. It found that people who were exposed to more wildfire-caused air pollution in the year after their cancer diagnosis were more likely to die from the disease.

Researchers in the UC Davis Health Department of Radiology have developed a new way to use EXPLORER, the total-body positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, to speed PET parametric imaging that can detect cancer. The new approach, called relative Patlak plot, shortens the overall scan time, making it easier for patients to tolerate the scan.

Researchers at UC Davis have developed an investigational brain-computer interface that holds promise for restoring the ability to hold real-time conversations to people who have lost the ability to speak due to neurological conditions.

Wheat is a major source of calories, carbohydrates and protein worldwide, and its distinctive gluten proteins are what gives bread and pasta dough texture and elasticity. But it also can cause autoimmune reactions such as celiac disease, which is growing in prevalence worldwide. Researchers at UC Davis have deleted a cluster of genes in wheat that generates gluten proteins that can trigger immune reactions without harming the breadmaking quality of this globally nutritious crop.

Researchers are adapting technology for interpreting gestures and controlling robotic limbs to restore voices to those who have lost them after head and neck cancer. Every year, nearly one million people worldwide are diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Many of them lose their ability to speak intelligibly due to surgical removal of — or radiation damage to — the larynx, mouth and tongue. These individuals can learn to speak again using devices that emit artificial sounds, which they can shape into words.

Diet. Just the word alone can trigger an uneasy feeling and heated discussions with seemingly endless flavors of recommendations. Over the years, Americans have shifted in our general approach to food based on evolving guidance. Now we are hearing a lot about ultra-processed foods. We reached out to three UC Davis experts to answer your questions and provide insight based on research.

If he'd pursued his first love, Simon Cherry might be unraveling the mysteries of the universe through astronomy instead of developing new types of medical imaging technology. His chosen path ultimately led to a breakthrough in medical imaging, co-creating the world’s first total-body positron emission tomography, or PET, scanner — opening new ways to study the complex interactions within the whole body, both in healthy people and in response to disease.

The Office of Research is pleased to announce the appointment of Sam King as the new director of the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute (CITRIS) at UC Davis. King is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at UC Davis with a track record of translating academic research into successful commercial ventures with societal impact. His industry experience includes key roles with technology leaders like Lyft, Twitter and Stripe.

UC Davis has announced two new strategic partnerships designed to strengthen its position as a global leader in life sciences innovation and entrepreneurship.