Many scientific and medical studies at UCLA face an uncertain future amid federal cuts. Pictured is UCLA Medical Center. (Mel Bouzad / Getty Images North America )

Potential stroke and dementia therapies, along with oral health discoveries, put on hold at UCLA

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In an LAist report, researchers describe how suspended funding endangers critical advances and risks a ‘brain drain’ from science

Click to read Newsroom article here

Click to read LAist article by Jacob Margolis

“The UCLA neuroscience program and UCLA Undergraduate Research Center had a tremendous impact on my early career development as a scientist. Along with learning from directly from the exceptional faculty, through these funding sources I was able to work for several years in the Istvan Mody laboratory and build foundational research skills. The financial support provided by UCLA enabled me to pursue graduate education in neuroscience and continue to my current role in neuroscience drug discovery. These funding cuts will have an impact on the similar path for neuroscience research trainees. Please consider supporting UCLA neuroscience students at this time. Reach out Tama Hasson or Gina R. Poe for ways to provide support.” – Matt Kelley

Research Opportunities at ucla

Mechanisms to rejuvenate and protect livers from graft rejection following organ transplantation

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**THIS POSITION IS NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS AND WILL REOPEN IN SPRING 2026**

UCLA PI Name: Jerzy Kupiec-Weglinski
Division/Department: Liver and Pancreas Transplantation/Department of Surgery
Expected Weekly Time Commitment: 8-10 h

Our lab focuses on molecular approaches to study the immunology of liver graft rejection, with a particular emphasis on ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). We study how immune responses, gene regulation, and cellular interactions contribute to liver damage and explore novel therapeutic strategies to prevent graft rejection. We seek motivated individuals eager to learn cutting-edge techniques, contribute to our collaborative efforts, and gain valuable experience in this innovative field. We are specifically interested in understanding how the interface of the hepatocytes interact with infiltrating immune cells during sterile inflammation. We are developing small molecules to modulate the antigen expression of certain surface receptors to negatively regulate the immune response. The methodologies we use involve mouse animal models, molecular and cellular based assays, and flow cytometry. The student should be available for at least 8-10 h per week. The research opportunity may be used in conjunction with independent research study or appropriate class for a class grade.

Please register at this site: https://forms.gle/TUH1w29Zetvf5yRj6

An illustration of a pencil, scissors, a DNA molecule, a fish, a bird, a penguin, medical supplies, a heart, a brain, leaves, a light bulb, a microscope, laboratory testing tubes, three screens depicting people in a virtual meeting, a thermometer, planet Earth and a recycling sign in front of a blue and yellow background.

The Next 100 Years

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Did our wise forebears have any idea just how much incredible progress would occur in the first century of the UCLA College? Their highest hopes would be borne out by the world-changing research, education and service spearheaded by the Bruins who came after. As we find ourselves at the beginning of the UCLA College’s second century, we asked a selection of our leaders those same true-blue-and-gold questions: What’s next? And how will the UCLA College lead the way?

Read full UCLA Magazine article here. (August 2025)

“We hope that the next 100 years of undergraduate research at UCLA will bring more: more research opportunities, more mentorship, more scholarships for our students, more research, more knowledge, more discovery! Every day the Undergraduate Research Centers work to make undergraduate research more accessible at UCLA, and we hope that in 100 years (or even better, much sooner), every undergraduate at UCLA who wants to do research will have the opportunity to do so!”

—Jacquelyn Ardam, director, URC – Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
—Tama Hasson, assistant dean for undergraduate research and director, URC – Sciences