Celebrating researchers who raise up communities in L.A., nation

UCLA’s Public Impact Research Awards highlight the exceptional efforts of select professors whose work uplifts communities locally and nationally. The 2024 honorees include Terence Keel, Nicholas Shapiro, Steven Shoptaw, Hannah Appel, Gary Blasi, and Ananya Roy. Their projects range from advocating for increased public transparency and independent investigations into deaths in police custody to addressing health justice and equity issues, providing crucial research about incarcerated individuals, and developing an online eviction-defense application to help California tenants facing mass evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. These professors' commitment to social justice and positive change through their research demonstrates UCLA's dedication to making a lasting public impact, an important component of the university’s strategic plan.

UCLA receives $120 million for new California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy

Renowned inventor, surgeon, and philanthropist Gary Michelson and his wife Alya have made a transformative commitment of $120 million to establish the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCLA Research Park. This historic gift, one of the largest in UCLA's history, will allocate $100 million to two main areas: rapid vaccine development and microbiome research. In addition, a $20 million endowment will support young scientists. This collaborative public-private partnership, with the support of additional donors, is expected to drive scientific discovery, economic growth, and community engagement in Los Angeles, with the aim of creating an integrated ecosystem of biotechnology startups and cultivating the next generation of medical researchers. This initiative is poised to positively impact Angelenos and people worldwide for decades to come.

UCLA to help L.A. County cope with extreme heat

Global warming has exposed Los Angeles County to progressively more heat waves; by 2045, the number of annual heat waves is expected to rise tenfold. According to County Health Director Barbara Ferrer, “Heat is the deadliest type of weather event in the U.S. and its effects are increasingly felt across all of L.A. County.” Those most impacted include vulnerable groups such as older adults, young children, and those working and living without air conditioning. To raise awareness, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research awarded the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability a $3 million grant to lead an outreach program in collaboration with 75 regional partners, including the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, the nonprofit Rising Communities and the L.A. County Department of Public Health. The Los Angeles Regional Collaborative: Heat Education, Ambassadors, and Training program aims to raise public awareness and educate communities on preventing heat-related illnesses by staying hydrated, seeking shade, and checking on others.

Climate policy and the tax code: Elections matter

The differences in climate policy under a Kamala Harris or Donald Trump presidency could be significant, with the tax code playing a crucial role. According to Kimberly Clausing, a UCLA law professor and former U.S. Treasury Department official, tax credits and regulations play a major role in fashioning climate initiatives. The Inflation Reduction Act contains provisions for clean energy and could be repealed in a second Trump administration, while Harris has pledged to continue and extend policies to combat climate change. Clausing emphasizes the impact of tax policies on climate efforts and the influence of Senate rules on passing legislation.

Related: UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain hosts “weather and climate office hours” to discuss extreme heat, wildfires, and other climate issues.

The potential lessons of a car-free Olympics in L.A

Los Angeles is considering a car-free Olympics in 2028, with the aim of having a lasting climate impact. UCLA public transit researcher Jacob Wasserman believes that while it's feasible – and may be especially important given the limited parking at L.A. Olympic venues – the more important question is the long-term legacy of such an experiment in a city so long associated with the automobile. Limiting cars from the L.A. games would require the construction of regional infrastructure that would outlive the Olympics themselves, said Wasserman, who also highlighted the historical racial inequality in freeway siting. At the same time, there is danger in failure: residents could face a spike in air pollution if mass transit falls short and the Olympics generate a surge of car traffic.

Related: Opinion: What L.A. needs to produce a (nearly) zero-emission Olympic Games | Los Angeles Times

LAX People Mover now on track for 2026 Opening | UCLA Luskin

Los Angeles wants a ‘no-car’ Olympics. Can the city of drivers turn a corner? | The Guardian

What keeps Los Angeles moving?

This year, the Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies at UCLA provided support to 15 student fellows to tackle critical issues related to housing affordability and transportation access and equity in Los Angeles. The graduate students collaborated with stakeholders to research transportation challenges, including the lack of shade at bus stops, the impact of extreme commutes on communities, the progress of Los Angeles County's sustainable transit plan, and the travel patterns of car-free residents. Their research highlighted spatial inequalities at bus stops, the effects of long commutes on physical and mental health, the relationship between housing affordability and transit mode choice, and the need to increase awareness and participation in transit subsidy programs. The work of these students aims to guide policymakers as they confront the dizzying challenges associated with getting around Los Angeles.

Urgent challenges in electric heavy-duty vehicle deployment

Large semi-trucks and buses are major contributors to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, especially in low-income communities. While zero-emission electric versions of these vehicles are increasingly available, significant infrastructure is needed to support them, with California estimated to require 114,500 chargers by 2030. Additionally, financial assistance is crucial for purchasing these vehicles, as upfront costs for battery-powered vehicles are considerably higher than their fossil-fueled counterparts.

A recent report by the UCLA School of Law Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the UC Berkeley School of Law Center for Law, Energy and the Environment proposes that state agencies improve energization timelines, create executive-level oversight, modify funding incentives, and facilitate private-sector lending to address these challenges and accelerate the decarbonization of heavy-duty vehicles.

Related: New report: Charging and financing electric trucks | Legal Planet

Homeownership inequality and mortgage access in California

The UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies recently published a brief examining the impact of loan outcomes and neighborhood racial composition on homeownership inequality in Los Angeles, Fresno, and Sacramento. The study revealed that Black and Latino homebuyers face greater challenges in obtaining mortgages, often receiving high-cost loans or experiencing mortgage denials. The findings underscore the importance of addressing disparities in homeownership access to promote greater equity, particularly for communities of color. The policy recommendations aim to promote more equitable homeownership opportunities in California and beyond.

Fighting words: former President Donald Trump’s violent language

A UCLA working paper titled "Donald Trump's Words" examined the Republican presidential nominee's rhetoric within a broader historical context. The study, co-authored by UCLA graduate student Nikita Savin and professor Daniel Treisman, analyzed transcripts of 99 Trump speeches from April 2015 to June 2024. The study looks at Trump’s language from political rallies, mass meetings, and speeches to political parties, conferences, and labor unions. The researchers compared Trump's vocabulary to that of other major past and present politicians and foreign dictators.

Published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the paper concluded that Trump’s rhetoric has become increasingly violent and has more aggressively divided groups. The effect – and effectiveness – of that language will be tested over the coming months.

University of California President Michael Drake to step down next year

University of California President Michael Drake will step down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year after leading the university system for five years. During his tenure, Drake prioritized the safety of the university community during the Covid-19 pandemic, maintained educational quality, expanded access to quality healthcare, and increased enrollment of California students from diverse backgrounds. President Drake's leadership resulted in stronger partnerships with lawmakers and historic state investments in the University. Governor Gavin Newsom and UC Board of Regents Chair Janet Reilly expressed gratitude for his dedication to advancing the University's mission, commitment to student diversity, and inclusive excellence. Chair Reilly will soon appoint a committee to begin a comprehensive national search for the next UC president.

Twelve years after a terminal prognosis, Maui attorney gives others hope

Maui resident Jamil Newirth was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer at the age of 32 and was given only 17 months to live. Now 44, Newirth credits his survival to a novel cancer vaccine developed by UCLA. He has turned his fight against glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer, into hope for others.

UCLA researchers awarded NIH grant to reduce chronic student absenteeism

Can Manuka honey combat breast cancer?

Construction underway for new car-free plaza in Westwood Village | Urbanize LA

Mercury partners with UCLA Anderson Forecast on climate change | Mercury Insurance

UCLA study finds toxic levels of lead in public housing tap water | KCAL-TV

UCLA Luskin's Chris Tilly on raising California’s minimum wage  | CalMatters

Trump v. Harris: A tale of two housing crises | Fortune

Yaroslavsky on Olympics’ legacy in L.A.  | Los Angeles Daily News

What will L.A. do with the unhoused during the 2028 Olympics? | Los Angeles Times

Unhoused students face unique challenges. How can schools help?  | KQED