One UCLA: Elevating our mission with a renewed focus on our future
As UCLA begins a new academic year, Chancellor Julio Frenk highlights key themes of unity, resilience, and progress amid unprecedented challenges for higher education. Consistent with UCLA’s Strategic Plan (2023-2028), the launch of One UCLA is shaped by the vision and insights that faculty, staff, students, and alumni shared with the chancellor during his listening exercise
earlier this year. This fall, UCLA pursues four key initiatives: bridging divides and connecting communities through the UCLA Connects initiative, which fosters a healthy and inclusive campus climate; advancing research and innovation in partnership with industry and philanthropy via the Research and Innovation Compact; elevating education through UCLA for Life, which seeks to expand access to education; and enhancing institutional effectiveness to ensure maximum value and investment. These efforts reaffirm UCLA’s core values, uniting the community as we welcome more than 10,000 new students.
Strong public support for UCLA and UC
A recent poll conducted by the nonpartisan UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies reveals strong support for the University of California (UC) among registered Republican and Democratic voters in California. The poll shows that 58% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats believe UC research benefits their communities, while 75% of Republicans and 80% of Democrats value the importance of UC academic health centers like UCLA Health. Additionally, 62% of voters without a college degree view UC research as beneficial. These findings indicate a widespread recognition of the UC system's contributions to the state’s public higher education landscape.
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State of Mind
UCLA College researchers break new ground in understanding what it means to be human. They explore everything from the brain's inner workings to quantum mysteries, highlighting creativity and innovation. Discover their inspiring stories and join the journey of discovery.
Math genius’ research faces uncertainty
Terence Tao, a renowned mathematician at UCLA, has significantly advanced pure theoretical mathematics, contributing to fields like engineering and medicine. His research has led to practical applications, such as algorithms that enhance MRI scan efficiency. Recently, Tao spoke out against federal funding cuts at UCLA, which impacted his research projects and forced him to personally support his graduate students financially. He warns that without stable funding, young scientists may seek opportunities abroad, threatening the talent pipeline essential for scientific progress in the U.S.
UCLA research drives breakthroughs – and federal support matters
Patrick Allard, a professor at UCLA, highlights the diverse backgrounds and experiences of his trainees in an opinion piece for The Scientist. These trainees, including a toxicology student from Midland, Texas, a neuroscience enthusiast inspired by a sports injury, and a first-generation college student pursuing medicine, demonstrate how personal experiences drive their research. Allard emphasizes the impact of recent funding freezes on his lab and the broader scientific community, noting that the suspension of federal grants disrupts vital research and threatens the future of talented young scientists in academia.
CPL Awarded a 2025 UCLA Public Impact Research Award
The California Policy Lab (CPL) at UCLA received the 2025 Public Impact Research Award
for its significant contributions to public policy through research partnerships with government agencies, with a focus on labor and employment issues and strategies to address homelessness, producing over 20 rapid-response publications during the COVID-19 pandemic to analyze its effects on California's workforce. Notable projects include a predictive model developed with LA County to identify residents at risk of homelessness, providing targeted support and prevention measures. Since its establishment in 2017, CPL has launched more than 230 research projects, contributing to more than 125 reports that inform policy improvements across various sectors.
Wildfire safety insights
An analysis of air quality data sources and a study of tiny airborne particles provide valuable information to help people make safer choices during wildfires, as shown by two recent studies from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. The first study assessed the effectiveness of federal monitoring stations, low-cost sensors, and satellite data during the 2025 Los Angeles fires, revealing the strengths and limitations of each source. The second study examined the 2018 California fires, finding that the largest infernos significantly contributed to downwind concentrations of harmful PM2.5 particles. Together, these findings deliver helpful insights regarding timely and accurate air quality information during wildfire events, enabling people to minimize their exposure to danger.
Post-fire air quality concerns
UCLA and UC Davis research found higher levels of hexavalent chromium and silver in air samples from the debris cleanup areas affected by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires in January 2025. They noted that chromium-6, a harmful substance linked to respiratory problems, was present in the most impacted communities. Silver, mostly found in tiny particles, can also cause inflammation. The researchers point out that while the current levels may not significantly increase cancer risk, ongoing monitoring is important because continued elevated levels could pose long-term health risks.
Training for wildfire cleanup
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health has trained more than 300 construction workers in response to the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires, focusing on those with little experience in handling hazardous debris. Funded by the California State Department of Public Health, the initiative provides workers, including temporary and day laborers, with essential training on respiratory protection and health risks associated with cleanup work. The program ensures these workers have access to the necessary safety equipment, like respirators, and addresses the challenges faced by those in informal employment. Training sessions take place throughout Los Angeles County, preparing workers for fire-related cleanup and reconstruction tasks.
California’s K-12 schools often lack sufficient shade and natural surfaces
A study by researchers from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health shows that about half of California's K-12 students attend schools with little to no tree cover, with many schools having up to 60% of their grounds covered in blacktop (also known as asphalt). The research identifies solutions to increase tree canopy and improve outdoor environments for students, as trees help reduce heat and provide healthier spaces for play and learning. The project involves collaboration with various organizations and includes data collection on tree cover, heat levels, and maintenance practices in schoolyards, with plans for statewide workshops to promote beneficial changes.
Economic insecurity for seniors
Federal poverty level guidelines leave many older Californians economically insecure. A recent UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) update shows that even seniors above the federal poverty level struggle with basic living expenses. For example, a single older renter needs about $32,100 a year while the federal poverty level sits at $14,580, revealing a significant income gap. The number of economically insecure older adults living alone rose by 19% from 2015 to 2023, highlighting the inadequacy of federal guidelines in reflecting California's high living costs. The California Elder Index offers a clearer view of these economic challenges by accurately representing local living expenses.
During a webinar on September 10th, CHPR will present the updated California Elder Index dashboard, which measures basic living costs across California's 58 counties.
Off-the-shelf cancer vaccine shows promise in fighting pancreatic and colorectal cancer
A new cancer vaccine called ELI-002 2P has shown encouraging results in treating pancreatic and colorectal cancers, which can be difficult to treat. Researchers at UCLA found that the vaccine helps the immune system target a common mutation called KRAS that drives these cancers. In a study with 25 patients, those who generated strong immune responses had much longer times without cancer returning and greater overall survival than those with weaker responses. This vaccine is designed to be a one-size-fits-all solution, so it doesn’t require complicated customization for each patient. Researchers have started a larger study to learn more about its effectiveness.
Speed of mRNA degradation is linked to autoimmune disease risk
UCLA researchers have developed RNAtracker, a free computational tool that reveals how the stability of messenger RNA (mRNA) impacts disease risk and gene regulation. The research highlights that while mRNA production is often studied, the rate of mRNA decay is equally significant in influencing protein levels and, ultimately, health. By analyzing specific genetic variants that alter mRNA stability, the team found links to autoimmune diseases, including lupus, diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, and allergic rhinitis. These findings could pave the way for new therapeutic targets and a better understanding of complex diseases.
A model for scaling emergency department addiction treatment
A UCLA-led study highlights the success of the California Bridge program (CA Bridge), which offers opioid use disorder treatment in more than 80% of the state's emergency departments. From July 2022 to December 2023, the program reached more than 165,000 patients and provided nearly 45,000 buprenorphine treatments. With funding, training, and support for patient navigators, CA Bridge demonstrates that emergency departments can effectively initiate addiction care. Despite only a small percentage of emergency department patients nationwide receiving medication for opioid use disorder, this program serves as a potential model for expanding similar services across the country.
Supporting Communities: UCLA's Impact
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 Center for Mexican Studiesis dedicated to organizing and sponsoring graduate student and faculty research on Mexico, faculty and student exchanges with Mexican universities, and Mexico-related events at UCLA. The Center promotes collaborative and bilateral research on Mexican social, cultural and economic issues, relations between the U.S. and Mexico, and Mexico's prominent place in global affairs.
