IHG Spring/Summer Newsletter 2025

Message from the Director: Nadav Ahituv, PhD

Dear IHG Community,


I want to extend warm wishes to each and every one of you for a happy, healthy, and safe summer season. There have been noteworthy highlights and exciting developments within our community. Let's take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate some of the positive events that have occurred this past year.

   

I am pleased to report on the success of our ongoing community events, particularly the Technology Seminar Series held together with the CAT & Co-Labs and our IHG seminar series that have continued to thrive. In addition, our symposium in honor of Ray White was extremely heartwarming, showcased amazing science and great colleagues of Ray throughout the years along with Ray’s family and was a great success. I want to thank Louis Ptacek for his hard work in organizing this symposium. These events not only contribute to the dissemination of knowledge but also foster a sense of community and collaboration within our Institute. Looking ahead, we are committed to maintaining the momentum of these events and providing valuable platforms for learning, networking, and showcasing the exceptional talent within our community. In that regard, we hope you will be able to join us on September 22nd for our 4th Genotech Symposium. Our goal when establishing this event was to provide a consistent platform that effectively bridges the gap between industry and academia. The event last year exceeded all expectations, drawing over 500 registered participants and we hope to have even more this year. It will feature 13 speakers from diverse backgrounds, engaging panel discussions, a career panel for trainees, corporate sponsorships, and provide invaluable networking opportunities. By fostering collaboration, sharing insights, and facilitating meaningful connections, we aspire to contribute significantly to the continued growth and progress of our dynamic field. We look forward to many more fruitful collaborations and advancements on the horizon.


We are thrilled to announce that the Genetic Counseling Master's Program has been granted full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling, a testament to the exceptional leadership of Cindy Morgan, MS. Under her guidance, the program has flourished, and I want to take this opportunity to thank Cindy for all her work in the program and wish her all the best in her next chapter. The program will welcomAdrienne Wakeling, MS, as the new director at the beginning of September 2025. We look forward to seeing continued excellence and innovation from our students and alumni from this program in the future.

 

I'm very excited to inform you that our IHG computational faculty search has led to the hiring of Dr. Jeff Spence starting July 1st (see more details on Jeff below). I want to again thank the amazing computational search committee members Drs. Laurie Weiss, Sergio Baranzini, Tony Capra, Ryan Hernandez, Catherine Tcheandjieu, and Elad Ziv for all their hard work and dedication. In addition, we recently welcomed a new IHG member, Sawona Biswas. We are extremely enthusiastic about the potential contributions that these new faculty members will bring to our dynamic community.


I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the IHG staff: Stewart Begliutti, David Wong, Sharice Young, Khang Nguyen, Suzanne Mackey, and Tiffany Lai. I also want to specifically thank Shelley Green, who took over the complex role of interim CAO for the IHG and has done a spectacular effort in managing our institute. Thank you for all the amazing work you do every day for the institute! We are extremely fortunate to have you!


Thank you all for your continued dedication, hard work, and resilience.


Wishing you and your loved ones a great summer season.

 

Sincerely,


Nadav

Staff Profile: Shelley Green

We are pleased to have Shelley Green serve as the interim IHG Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) until we finalize our search for a permanent CAO. Many of you likely already know Shelley from her outstanding work as the CAO for the Department of Physiology. For those of you not already acquainted with Shelley, she has been part of the Department of Physiology since 2012, first as an Operations Analyst from 2012 to 2014, then as an Operations Manager from 2014 to 2017, followed by being an Administrator from 2017 to 2021, and then as the CAO since 2021. Shelley is also extremely involved in the School of Medicine, being a committee member of the School of Medicine Advisory Committee, School of Medicine Leadership Program Advisory Committee, School of Medicine Think Tank Review Committee, and a member of the UCSF Small Project Committee. Please join us in welcoming her to IHG.

Faculty Profile: Adrienne Wakeling, MS

Congratulations to Adrienne Wakeling, MS on accepting the Genetic Counseling Master's Program Director position.

Adrienne Wakeling is a genetic counselor who cares for adults and children with cancer and those at risk for hereditary cancer based on family history. She educates and supports individuals and families, with the goal of helping them understand whether an underlying hereditary factor caused their condition. She has a special interest in working with families affected by and at risk for childhood cancer syndromes, gastrointestinal cancers, familial polyposis syndromes (inherited conditions leading to colorectal cancer) and hematologic conditions (those affecting the blood and blood-producing organs). She loves working with families affected by hereditary cancer to enable them to pass important information on to loved ones.

An East Coast native, Wakeling earned her bachelor's degree in biological sciences at the University of Delaware before earning her master's degree in human genetics and genetic counseling at Stanford University Prior to joining UCSF, she established genetic counseling services within the pediatric hematology and oncology division at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, where she was dedicated to providing genetic counseling to children, teens and families affected by childhood cancer and blood disorders.

Wakeling is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors' special interest group on hereditary cancer and has served as chair of the organization's pediatric cancer subcommittee.

Meet Our New IHG Faculty Members

Sawona Biswas, MS, LCGC

Sawona Biswas is a genetic counselor and researcher who cares for adults with concerns about genetic disorders. She evaluates patients for genetic conditions and provides counseling, including genetic testing guidance.

Biswas is interested in developing genetic sequencing tests, such as exome and genome sequencing, and conducting population-based genomic studies focused on best ways to interpret and deliver complex genetic information. She is also interested in finding ways to better integrate data from genetic tests into patient care in the clinic and how to personalize this care for better outcomes.

Biswas earned her master's degree in genetic counseling at California State University, Northridge.

Jeff Spence, PhD

We work at the intersection of statistical genetics, population genetics, and machine learning. We primarily develop methods and theory to understand how evolution shapes the genetic architecture of complex traits at different biological scales, with the hope of leveraging these insights to better interpret and use genome-wide association tests and rare variant burden tests. More broadly, we are interested in any biological puzzle that presents interesting computational or statistical challenges.

Remembering Atul Butte, MD, PhD

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Atul Butte, MD, PhD, a visionary scientist, educator, and leader whose work fundamentally reshaped biomedical research and health care. On behalf of UCSF, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Butte’s family, colleagues, trainees, and collaborators around the world.

 

Dr. Butte’s career was driven by a bold belief: “Once we let data flow, lifelong discoveries become possible.” As the inaugural director of the UCSF Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, he transformed frozen data into actionable insights, championing the principle that real doctors plus big data equals better medicine. This ethos continues to shape UCSF’s commitment to precision health and the ethical use of data.

 

“Ideas change everything.” This mantra, featured in one of Dr. Butte’s TED Talks, inspired a generation of scientists to merge clinical insight with computational innovation. Under his leadership, UCSF became a global hub for artificial intelligence, informatics, and translational science – advancing health care in service of patients and discovery alike.

 

In 2024, Dr. Butte was honored with the Morris F. Collen Award of Excellence, the highest honor in biomedical informatics. He also received the Association for Molecular Pathology’s Award for Excellence for his pioneering work in molecular diagnostics and computational health sciences. These were among numerous accolades, including election to the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and recognition by the Obama Administration as an Open Science Champion of Change.

 

As UCSF’s Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dr. Butte was a thought leader in applying AI responsibly in health care. His lab led key efforts in clinical applications of AI, including the use of large language models to triage emergency department patients.

 

Beyond UCSF, Dr. Butte served as UC Health’s inaugural Chief Data Scientist and the co-founder of the Center for Data-driven Insights and Innovation (CDI2). Through CDI2, Dr. Butte helped unify data across the University of California’s six academic health centers to improve the care of patients and realize operational efficiencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his leadership was instrumental in providing timely, data-driven insights to guide public health responses. More recently, CDI2’s research shortened the timeline for identifying promising treatments for Type 2 Diabetes – from years to weeks – illustrating the power of real-world clinical data under his guidance.

 

Yet Dr. Butte’s most lasting legacy may lie in the people he mentored and inspired. He empowered hundreds of students, faculty, and research teams to think differently, act ethically, and innovate boldly. His leadership was characterized not just by brilliance, but by generosity, humility, and a collaborative spirit that strengthened UCSF and the broader scientific community.

 

While we mourn this profound loss, we also celebrate a life lived at the intersection of compassion and computation. Dr. Butte showed us what is possible when we unite data, medicine, and purpose. We honor him by continuing the work he championed – unfreezing data, advancing equitable innovation, and ensuring that discovery always serves humanity.

 

Sincerely,

 

Sam Hawgood, MBBS

Chancellor, UCSF

Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Distinguished Professor

 

Talmadge E. King, Jr., MD

Dean, UCSF School of Medicine

Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs, UCSF

 

Suresh Gunasekaran

President and CEO

UCSF Health

 

David Rubin, MD, MSCE

Executive Vice President, UC Health

Honors & Awards

Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences

Neuro-immunologist Stephen Hauser, MD, whose maverick thinking transformed the treatment landscape for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), has received the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences.

Hauser, a UCSF professor of neurology and director of the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, was recognized April 5 for overturning “the scientific consensus on the mechanism of MS, identifying the immune system’s B cells as the primary driver of damage to nerve cells.” The award also cited his instrumental role in developing therapies that have “revolutionized modern treatment of the disease.”

Hauser shares the award with Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPH, of Harvard University, who discovered that contracting the Epstein-Barr virus raises the risk of developing MS by a factor of 32.

Now in its 14th year, the Breakthrough Prize was created by founding sponsors Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Julia and Yuri Milner, and Anne Wojcicki as the “Oscars of science.” Prizes of $3 million are given for three awards in life sciences, one in fundamental physics and one in mathematics. This year, there is a special prize in fundamental physics.

“It is an honor to accept the Breakthrough Prize,” Hauser said. “This was the work of many: physician-scientists who connected laboratory with clinic; industry leaders and private funders who believed in high-risk undertakings; the National Institutes of Health that over many years supported the foundational science; and especially the patients who courageously partnered with us in clinical trials. Without them, this breakthrough would not have been possible.”

Stephen Hauser, MD

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

UC San Francisco researcher and campus leader Atul Butte, MD, PhD, has been recognized for his outstanding career in the computational and health sciences with induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the most prestigious and oldest honor societies in the U.S.

Butte was a renowned biomedical and bioinformatics scientist who had spent his career applying computation to some of the most pressing challenges in disease diagnosis, therapeutics, and biomedicine.

He was the Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UCSF, inaugural director of the UCSF Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, and chief data scientist at the University of California Health System (UC Health).

Butte was an inventor on 24 patents and a co-founder of three companies: Personalis, which provides medical genome sequencing services; Carmenta, which was acquired by Progenity and develops diagnostics for pregnancy complications; and NuMedii, which hunts for new uses for existing drugs within open-access molecular data.

Atul Butte, MD, PhD

Institute for Human Genetics (IHG) 2025 Basic & Clinical Science Seed Grants Initiative

Akinyemi Oni-Orisan, PharmD, PhD

Drs. Akinyemi Oni-Orisan and Jia Yang's proposal entitled “Accelerating Precision Medicine through Functional Characterization of SLCO1B1 Star Alleles via Scalable Cell-Based Assays and a Novel Clinical Biomarker” has been selected for the Institute for Human Genetics (IHG) 2025 Basic & Clinical Science Seed Grants Initiative for funding in the amount of $50,000!

Jia Yang, PhD

John Liu, MD, PhD

Drs. John Liu and Mitchel Berger's proposal entitled “Integration of spatially-resolved transcriptomics and CRISPR perturbations to investigate determinants of treatment responses in glioblastoma” has been selected for the Institute for Human Genetics (IHG) 2025 Basic & Clinical Science Seed Grants Initiative for funding in the amount of $50,000!

Mitchel Berger, MD

Diana Laird, PhD

Drs. Diana Laird and Mary Norton's proposal entitled “Cell lineage histories in mouse and human oogenesis reconstructed with mitochondrial heteroplasmy” has been selected for the Institute for Human Genetics (IHG) 2025 Basic & Clinical Science Seed Grants Initiative for funding in the amount of $50,000!

Mary Norton, MD

AAAS Wachtel Award

T cells don’t act alone. The immune system’s response to cancer depends on multicellular “hubs” — coordinated networks of immune and non-immune cells. Pelka Lab has been awarded the 2025 AAAS Wachtel Award for uncovering these hubs, and revealing why some tumors respond to immunotherapy and others don’t.

Her award-winning study shows how tools like spatial profiling, CRISPR and organoids could help decode and rewire these hubs for more effective treatment.

Ray White Memorial Symposium

Ray White’s pioneering work was the foundation for modern human genetics, which has transformed our understanding of virtually every human disease. Ray proposed to develop complete human genome maps using DNA variation as markers for localizing and cloning human disease genes. He played a seminal role in the technical development of these human genetic maps, including collection of the family mapping set universally employed for map development—the first example of a distributed resource enabling broad international collaboration on a biological problem. He pioneered application of this technology to map and identify human disease genes. These included the first molecular confirmation of Knudsen’s tumor suppressor hypothesis, that one “retinoblastoma gene” copy is often lost during tumorigenesis, and the realization that many cancer genes act as tumor suppressors where both copies of the gene must be inactivated. White’s lab mapped and identified many important human disease genes. In addition, Ray also left a legacy in the generation of young scientists and physician scientists that he trained and have gone on to discover genes underlying a broad array of human diseases and normal behaviors.

IHG Seminar Series

Mapping the Human Body One Cell at a Time

Scientific publishing: an insider's view

What we can learn from asking big and small questions in complex trait genetics

The role of silencer variants in human diseases

AI tool based on one herpes virus predicts viral and host enhancers

NamiRNA and UCOM, Novel Epigenetic Regulators and Precision Practices

Craniofacial transcription enhancers and their role in craniosynostosis

Technology Seminar Series

The UCSF Institute for Human Genetics, Center for Advanced Technology, and CoLabs co-host the technology seminar series. These seminars are free and open to all. They occur every month and bring researchers to hear about the latest technologies and applications.


Tech Seminar Schedule:

3/11/25: Olink, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific

4/8/25: Takara Bio

5/13/25: Oxford Nanopore Technologies

6/10/25: Mawi DNA

7/8/25: Mission Bio

8/27/25: BioLegend

9/9/25: Complete Genomics

10/29/25: Promega

11/13/25: PacBio

12/9/25: EpiCypher

1/13/26: Nabsys

2/10/26: Vector Builder

3/10/26: Olink, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific

4/14/26: BioChain Institute 

5/12/26: Editco

6/9/26: Oxford Nanopore Technologies

7/14/26: Novogene

8/11/26: Agilent

9/8/26: Bruker

10/13/26: VWR/Avantor

11/10/26: Dovetail Genomics

12/8/26: Deep Cell Bio

1/12/27: Epigenome Technologies

2/9/27: PackGene Biotech

3/9/27: TriLink Biotechnologies

4/13/27: NTxBio

5/11/27: BioSkryb Genomics

6/8/27: Parse Biosciences

7/13/27: Codetta Bio

March 2025: Olink

Speakers:

Ahmed Abdelhak (Dept. of Neurology, UCSF)

Tal Varsano (Business Development Manager, Olink part of Thermo Fisher Scientific)

Ben Allen (Field Application Scientist, Olink part of Thermo Fisher Scientific)

 

For questions or advice on experimental design, contact:

tal.varsano@olink.com

cindy.lawley@olink.com

farah.virani@olink.com

ed.stuever@olink.com

ben.allen@olink.com

April 2025: Takara Bio

Speakers:

Tom Quinn (R&D Group Leader - Cell Biology, Takara Bio)

Michael Haugwitz, PhD (R&D Director - Cell Biology, Takara Bio)

Amber Jorgensen (Territory Manager, Takara Bio)

 

For questions or advice on experimental design, contact:

amber_jorgensen@takarabio.com

May 2025: Oxford Nanopore Technologies

Speakers:

Satu Strandman (Account Executive, Oxford Nanopore Technologies)

Nelson Garcis, PhD (Field Applications Scientist, Oxford Nanopore Technologies)

Sayonika Mohanta, MS (Segment Marketing Manager - Epigenetics, Oxford Nanopore Technologies)

Christopher Still, PhD (Bioinformatics Field Applications Scientist, Oxford Nanopore Technologies)

 

For questions or advice on experimental design, contact:

Satu.Strandman@nanoporetech.com

Polina.Dyadyukova@nanoporetech.com

June 2025: Mawi DNA

Speakers:

Dr. Bassam El-Fahmawi, PhD (President/CTO, Mawi DNA)

Nicholas Schley (Business Development Manager, Mawi DNA)

 

For questions or advice on experimental design, contact:

N.Schley@mawidna.com

f.zaidi@mawidna.com

j.david@mawidna.com

July 2025: Mission Bio

Speaker:

Adam Sciambi, PhD (Chief Technology Officer, Mission Bio)

 

For questions or advice on experimental design, contact:

kathy.tran@missionbio.com

june.hope@missionbio.com

marin@missionbio.com

Events

The UCSF Aging, Metabolism, and Emotion Center has an important opportunity for UCSF students, staff, postdocs, and faculty. We are excited to offer students the opportunity to join the UC-wide Climate Resilience Course, an innovative class designed to help navigate climate-related stress and turn it into meaningful action.  

 

A group of faculty across UCs with expertise in mental health and environment/climate change developed this class, and it has had impressive effects on student morale, empowerment, and mental health (see pre-print here). It is a light lift – 10 classes, with little work outside of class and participants can attend as much of the class as fits with their schedule.

 

Anyone at UCSF is welcome and can audit the course if they wish; we have faculty, staff, and residents auditing the course as well.

 

Thank you so much for your support!



Warmly,

 

Elissa Epel, PhD

Director, Climate Mental Health Council, CCHE

Professor, Vice Chair, Dept of Psychiatry, UCSF 

3333 California Street, Suite 465, San Francisco, CA 94143

@Dr_Epel (twitter)

Director, Aging, Metabolism, Emotions Ctr

Lab: http://www.amecenter.ucsf.edu/

 

---------------------------------

 

SEE FLYER 

 

Course Details:

Feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis? You’re not alone. Join Climate Resilience: Personal & Community Resilience in the Changing Climate (PSYC 170.17C) and learn how to turn climate anxiety into meaningful action.

This hybrid, cross-campus course features world leaders in climate science, advocacy, and mindfulness. After a successful launch in 2024, it is now open to students across all 10 UC campuses, including UCSF! This is a low-stress and flexible course created to support and empower you. 

🧑‍🏫 Instructors: Dr. Elissa Epel & Dr. Sheri Weiser

📅 Class Time: Thursdays, 12:00–1:30 PM (you can attend class as much as fits with your schedule)

💻 Format: Hybrid – expert-led video lectures + in-person small groups with mindfulness teachers

🌱 What You’ll Gain: Tools for resilience, purpose, and collaborative climate action

As featured in NPR (“Here’s How to Change Climate Change Anxiety into Action”) and UC News (“Got Climate Anxiety? This UC Course Can Help”).

🔗 Learn more: www.climateresilience.online

📩 Prefer to audit the course? No problem! Contact elissa.epel@ucsf.edu to sign up

Join a growing movement for climate resilience—enroll today!

Research Seminar Series

 

Date: Monday, March 24th @ 12pm

 

SpeakerChris Lau, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco Research Career Scientist San Francisco VA Health Care System                  

Title: " The Y Chromosome in Health and Diseases: The Story of TSPY – a Male-Specific Proto-Oncogene” 

 

Location*REMOTE via Zoom Link* Accessible via computer (internet browser, desktop app) or mobile app

 

 

To join our Monday Noon Research Seminar on Zoom, follow these simple steps:

 

1. Click on the "Zoom" link.

2. A new window will pop up—just click on "Launch Meeting!"

3. Then, select "Join from your browser."

4. Fill in the information needed and hit "Join."

 

We look forward to seeing you there! 

 

Kevin Buth

Program Specialist

Research & Development Service

San Francisco VA Medical Center

4150 Clement Street, Bldg. 210, Room 100

San Francisco, CA 94121

Tel: 415-221-4810, extension 24568

Mobile: 415-802-7991

Kevin.Buth@va.gov

My name is Willow Coyote-Maestas, and I'm an Assistant Professor in Bioengineering at UCSF. Please share this with anyone who you think would be interested as well!

 

I’m writing to invite you to the UCSF’s 3rd annual “Full Circle of Native and Indigenous Scientists in Biology” symposium on April 3-4 17 2025 at UCSF Mission Bay.

 

Organized by UCSF students, faculty, and staff, the symposium will highlight Native and Indigenous scientists across the United States, and provide them with professional development and community building opportunities. We will have 15 min talks from students and faculty, as well as panel discussions on topics of importance to Native and Indigenous people in higher education. This event represents the full circle of career stages for Native scientists, including learners, faculty, and faculty emeritus. Our long-term goal is to increase the number of Native and Indigenous scientists in academia and to build a thriving community for Native and Indigenous scientists at UCSF.

 

You can watch our first symposium from 2021 that was virtual on YouTube

 

 

Registration:

Please register here on the event page regardless if you plan to attend in-person (directions below) or virtually. Registered attendees will receive a Zoom link for a live webinar if you are not able to attend in person.

 

Location:

Byers Auditorium in Nancy Pritzker Building (675 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107) at UCSF Mission Bay campus (link to campus map and parking locations).

 

Dates and Time:

April 3rd – 10 AM to 5 PM (lunch, coffee/tea, and snacks will be provided).

April 4th – 10 AM to 3 PM (coffee/tea, lunch and snacks will be provided).

 

We look forward to seeing you at the event!


Be well,

  

Willow Coyote-Maestas

 

Assistant Professor

Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences

Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator

HHMI Hanna Gray Faculty Fellow

Quantitative Bioscience Institute

University of California, San Francisco

The Genetics & Genomics Student Interest Group (GG SIG) is sponsoring a talk with

 

Dr. Bani Tamraz on Pharmacogenomics Panel Testing

Monday, April 28th from 12-1pm in S-163

Lunch will be provided

 

Please share with your students and trainees.

For more info, contact Eric Do (eric.do2@ucsf.edu).

 

-- 

Paul Laffoon

 

Pronouns: he/him/his

Education Coordinator to Drs.

Kruidering, Tuan, Fulton, and Hyland

 

University of California, San Francisco

Parnassus Campus

Cell: 415-424-6109

Located on the HSE/HSW 9th floor elevator bank of the UCSF Medical Sciences Building at 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143.

Click the flyer to register and choose your own personal lunch.

Email Hope Achterberg, Scientist Solutions Director of Event Operations, at hope@scientistsolutions.com for any questions.

Registration is open for the 2025 Genomics Unconference hosted by Alpine Genomics Institute and Duke University at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village, WY from September 2nd – 4th. Visit the event website to learn more about the meeting, proposed topics, format, and more.

 

In a departure from typical academic conferences, the meeting will be an “unconference” -- a format that entirely resolves around open discussion, networking, and collaboration. Instead of slide deck presentations, the scientific sessions largely consist of participant-driven small group discussions. We will also have several networking-based events to foster new connections and collaborations among participants. Then, after the meeting, we will create summary report that will serve as an archive for meeting participants.

 

This meeting is an exceptional and exciting opportunity for scientists across career stages. Our hope is that you will be able to join and bring some of your lab as well.

 

This new take on scientific conferences will be a place to get away, connect with colleagues, and discover creative solutions to the biggest challenges in genomics research. Visit our event site to learn more and register today! We look forward to you joining us in Wyoming.

 

For questions, please reach out to Shannon Clarke at shannon.clarke@duke.edu.

Innovation Ventures has been building a full program of entrepreneurship offerings this year and wanted you to know about our new course, Startup 101. It will be offered this fall in-person at MB for Faculty, PhD/PharmD’s, Postdocs, Grad Students, MDs, Residents and Fellows. The course is taught over 10 weeks by Silicon Valley business practitioners: CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs, executives, consultants and attorneys. Classes will be held at night once per week. 

 

The course covers the main topics for a life sciences/healthcare startup including opportunity assessment, business models, team building, IP, FDA and investment. Our goals are to inform about the importance of business in creating a successful company and to build the UCSF entrepreneurship community. 

 

To help us assess interest, we’re asking people to sign up on the “interest list” before opening enrollment next month:   https://forms.gle/KBMRWF8obXPeyLo29   

 

Stephanie K. Marrus

Managing Director, Entrepreneurship

Innovation Ventures

University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

In the News

Human Chromosomes Evolved at Hyperspeed to Give Us Better Brains

How did humans evolve brains capable of complex language, civilization, and more?

The answer could lie in exceptional DNA. Scientists at UC San Francisco found that parts of our chromosomes have evolved at breakneck speeds to give us an edge in brain development compared to apes. But it might also put us at risk for uniquely human brain disorders.

The research focused on parts of chromosomes known as human accelerated regions (HARs), which have evolved most rapidly since humans split from chimpanzees on the evolutionary tree – changing 10 times faster than the expected rate of evolution in other mammals.

The scientists, led by Yin Shen, PhD, professor in the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and the UCSF Institute for Human Genetics, studied the effects of HARs in artificial neurons derived from human and chimpanzee cell lines.

Supporting IHG

We invite you to be part of our journey! Help us grow our Institute and support our efforts to further human genetics research and education and the application of this important work to human disease and patient care. Donations of all sizes expand our impact across the field of human genetics and, in particular, to our faculty and student researchers. Please consider making a tax deductible donation. We are most grateful!


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