UCLA Research Park community meeting
On June 25, UCLA hosted a community meeting for 200 local residents, community leaders, business owners, and government representatives to discuss plans for the development of UCLA Research Park. The university acquired the former Westside Pavilion mall,
a 700,000-square-foot property located two miles from the main campus, in late 2023. It will be reshaped into a nexus of exploration and discovery called UCLA Research Park. The recent community event featured open house stations that offered attendees an opportunity to learn more about the programming, design, and timeline for Research Park, as well as an opportunity for attendees to provide comments and feedback to UCLA. Following the open house, participants heard from key campus leaders about plans for phase 1 (the east side of the complex), which will initially house the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy and the Quantum Innovation Hub. The event also featured a question-and-answer session that covered an array of topics, including planned uses, design,
community benefits, traffic and environmental impacts, and parking options.
UCLA research: making a difference
A new UCLA research website highlights some of the ways that the university's innovative research affects people's lives, showcasing the significant connection between the lab and real life. Visitors can explore groundbreaking studies in medicine, technology, and environmental science. The website highlights how those studies contribute to healthier communities and meaningful progress for individuals and families, ultimately driving positive change in communities across the globe. From cancer breakthroughs to reconstruction following the Southern California fires, UCLA researchers are not just studying the world; they are changing it.
UCLA TDG Innovation Magazine - July 2025
Hot off the presses! A recent publication from UCLA Technology Development Group (TDG) highlights the latest advancements and successes in innovation and entrepreneurship at UCLA. The July 2025 edition features the inspiring journey of a scientist whose fundamental research led to a biotechnology company, updates on milestone achievements from UCLA startups, and a recap of recent events. The publication is devoted to showcasing the university's ongoing commitment to translating research into real-world impact.
Speaking up for science: Cuts to federal science investments will cost every American
Over the past 80 years, America has led in science and innovation, driving economic growth and advancements in daily life; federal support for research has made this possible. That work is in serious jeopardy now because of current federal actions and additional proposed budget cuts that will significantly harm scientific efforts at universities. Experts warn that reduced funding will hinder the U.S. ability to compete globally in critical areas such as quantum computing and biotechnology, and make opportunities abroad more attractive to our researchers. Government investments in science have historically generated substantial economic returns, created jobs, advanced medical treatments, and strengthened national security. In addition to actions federal policymakers have taken thus far
this year, cuts to research budgets will degrade U.S. scientific and economic leadership. The University of California is pressing Congress to reject proposed cuts to federal science funding and instead reinvest in our national science agencies.
UCLA climatologist elected to National Academy of Sciences
UCLA geography professor Marilyn Raphael was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in April, a recognition of her leadership in Antarctic climate and ocean-atmosphere interactions since joining UCLA in 1998. She previously led the American Association of Geographers, co-chaired the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research’s sea ice group, and currently serves on the National Academies Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate and the Polar Climate Predictability Initiative. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Raphael chaired UCLA’s Department of Geography from 2010-2013 and is the past director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. In her consequential career, Raphael also has mentored many students, including doctoral candidate Michelle De
Luna, who credits Raphael’s teaching for inspiring her research on atmospheric rivers and Antarctic sea ice.
Heat waves growing hotter, lasting longer
New research from UCLA and the Universidad Adolfo Ibañez reveals that climate change will intensify heat waves, making them not only hotter but also longer, with the greatest acceleration occurring in the longest heat waves. The study demonstrates that even small increases in temperature lead to greater impacts, necessitating quicker adaptation strategies to combat the increasing frequency of extreme heat events. By analyzing global temperature data, the researchers project significant changes in regions with less climate variability, particularly in regions with stable climates such as Southeast Asia, equatorial South America, and Africa, where 35-day heat waves may occur 60 times more often by 2020-2044 compared to 1990-2014. The study emphasizes the need for accurate climate
models to inform critical adaptation strategies, even as current federal budget constraints threaten scientific research in this area.
UCLA team finds high levels of particulates near electric vehicle charging stations
Researchers from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health found that the levels of tiny air pollutants near electric vehicle fast-charging stations in Los Angeles County are much higher than in areas without these stations. In their study published in the journal Environment International, they measured air quality at 50 fast-charging locations and found that the levels of PM 2.5, a harmful type of fine particle, ranged from 7.3 to 39.0 micrograms per cubic meter at charging stations. In comparison, urban sites without fast chargers had levels between 3.6 and 12.4 micrograms. The researchers believe these higher pollution levels come from dust and particles stirred up by cooling fans in the charging equipment.
New UCLA center to support parking reform
The UCLA Center for Parking Policy, launching in summer 2025 with support from Arnold Ventures, will focus on helping cities change their parking regulations to improve housing affordability, reduce traffic congestion, and promote sustainable urban design. Led by professors Adam Millard-Ball and Michael Manville, the center will translate complex research into accessible resources for policymakers, document successful parking reform examples from around the world, and offer courses for urban planners. This initiative builds on the pioneering work of late UCLA professor Donald Shoup, who sparked a global movement in rethinking parking policies.
Early signs of success from L.A. County’s homelessness prevention pilot
A recent report from the California Policy Lab at UCLA highlights the positive impact of Los Angeles County’s Homelessness Prevention Unit (HPU), which uses a predictive model to identify residents at high risk of homelessness and connect them with personalized support. The report reveals that participants in the HPU program are 71% less likely to experience homelessness or seek shelter within 18 months compared to similar individuals who did not enroll. Since its launch in 2021, the program has served 1,498 people, with 86% retaining their housing after completion. The results suggest that the model could be effective at preventing homelessness through proactive outreach and tailored assistance.
UCLA Economic Letter: July 2025
In the UCLA Anderson Forecast’s latest economic letter, UCLA economist S. Sayantani details how rising and fluctuating tariffs could deepen L.A.’s housing crises, especially as the city tries to rebuild following disastrous fires in January.
Seventy years of leadership training
UCLA Extension Technical Management Program (TMP) equips some of the nation’s brightest technical minds—physicists, engineers, IT professionals, data scientists, and game designers—with leadership skills for managerial roles. Launched in 1955 by UCLA Professor Ralph Barnes, the program, originally called the Engineering and Management Program, evolved into TMP to broaden its reach, maintaining a week-long, hands-on format with two annual sessions of about 100 students each. Colt McAnlis, a former Blizzard Entertainment developer, joined TMP in the early 2010s. Through the program, he gained critical management insights and later became an instructor, teaching the popular “Card Games for Soft Skills” course. Other alumni, including Kathryn Rumohr and Jason
Hill from Blizzard and DIRECTV, praise its practical training and relevance. TMP, guided by an advisory board, offers no quizzes but focuses on interpersonal skills, problem-solving strategies, and global networking.
Understanding mpox: UCLA-led team receives NIH grant Researchers at UCLA's Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine successfully competed for a $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance treatments for mpox, a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms and lesions. Led by Dr. Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami, the team works to understand how the virus spreads, as well as to identify genetic changes that make it more dangerous, and to develop new antiviral drugs. This effort is crucial as new strains of the virus emerge, particularly posing risks to children and other vulnerable populations.
Common autoimmune drug helps reverse diabetes in mice Scientists recently found a new type of immune cell that plays a role in a specific kind of diabetes caused by cancer treatments. They discovered that a medication already used for other health issues can help protect the cells in the pancreas that produces insulin. This breakthrough could help prevent serious health problems for patients undergoing cancer therapy.
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles through UCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The UCLA Tarjan Center,
housed within the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, is one of 68 federally designated University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. Since the 1960s, the Center has been a cornerstone of service, innovation, and advocacy in the disability community. Through technical assistance, training, research, and community service, the Center works with policymakers, service providers, individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families to advance mental and physical health, support postsecondary education, and promote equitable employment outcomes.
