A recent UCLA study reveals that deaths in the Los Angeles County jail system have escalated over the past 15 years, primarily due to longer incarceration periods and rising substance abuse. The median time from arrest to death was 57.5 days, with most deaths occurring weeks into incarceration rather than immediately after arrest. Many of those who died were pretrial detainees; the study highlighted the connection between poor healthcare, mental health issues, and mortality in jail. Factors such as drug overdoses, chronic conditions, and the opioid crisis significantly contribute to the increased risk of death in this environment. The state of Los Angeles jails has been a matter of concern for the Board of Supervisors and the sheriff’s department for decades.
The UCLA Police Department hosted its inaugural National Night Out on August 4 at the UCPD Station. The free event attracted students, faculty, staff, and Westwood residents, offering BBQ prepared by officers, kids' games, and opportunities to meet K9s Rocket and Nova. This gathering focused on fostering community connections and enhancing safety.
The UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center High School Outreach Program, launched in 2023, connects undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career physician-scientists with high school students in Los Angeles. Through hands-on presentations, these researchers share their work and personal stories, helping students understand the relevance of scientific research to their education. Since its inception, the program has reached more than 1,200 students across five Los Angeles-area high schools.
L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath recently visited UCLA to commend the women’s basketball team for its NCAA championship victory this past spring, and to emphasize the program's commitment to both athletic excellence and mental health support. Horvath highlighted Head Coach Cori Close's efforts in developing confident, resilient leaders who are inspiring the next generation of women athletes.
Undergraduates aboard the UCLA Zodiac explore oceanic "fronts" — narrow boundaries between bodies of water with different temperatures and densities — and collect marine samples in the Santa Monica Bay. The crew, primarily composed of students, uses advanced equipment such as an acoustic Doppler current profiler and a thermosalinograph to study water movement, temperature, and salinity. Through hands-on experiences in this floating lab, students from various academic backgrounds work under the guidance of faculty and experienced staff and apply classroom knowledge to real-world research. The program also emphasizes environmental stewardship, as the crew actively retrieves trash from the bay.
The UCLA 2026 Site Planning studio focused on the redevelopment of the former Santa Monica Airport site and the adjacent Santa Monica Business Park, an area long under review by residents and other interests. Luskin urban planning students engaged with key stakeholders, including community organizations and city officials, to explore land use, housing, open space, and economic-development possibilities. Throughout the quarter, students received feedback on their proposals, which emphasized the complexities of large-scale redevelopment and the importance of inclusive planning processes. Assistant Professor Minjee Kim, who led the 2026 Site Planning studio, highlighted the project as a valuable training opportunity.
Aaron Bauer, a veteran and UCLA law school graduate, became inspired to practice law while working with military attorneys during his service. As a student, he participated in the UCLA Veterans Legal Clinic, focusing on assisting fellow veterans in navigating the often-dense process of applying for federal benefits. Established in 2017, the clinic helps more than 250 veterans yearly, addressing urgent issues such as disability benefits and housing stability. It has also expanded its services to tackle broader legal challenges faced by veterans, including landlord disputes and criminal record clearance.
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs released its Impact Report, which details faculty, student and alumni research, education and partnerships that advance solutions in policy, planning, social welfare, real estate, and global affairs. The report features achievements from research centers and real-world initiatives that strengthen equitable and resilient communities in Los Angeles, California and beyond.
UCLA Technology Development Group closed the fiscal year with nearly $70 million in industry-sponsored research funding, including $31 million for a public mental health partnership, 411 invention disclosures, and 37 exclusive transactions. Eleven states have adopted an educational assessment system developed at UCLA, LABEST Week 2026 set attendance records, and the group launched its first AI-driven explainer video along with a series on startup milestones.
A team of physicists, engineers, and computer scientists received $4 million from the National Science Foundation to design a fault-tolerant quantum computer. Led by UCLA physics professor Eric Hudson, the project will create a blueprint for a machine that uses special error-protected units called logical qubits. These units help the computer keep working accurately even when small outside disturbances cause problems. If successful, the design would allow quantum computers to run long, dependable calculations that today’s machines cannot handle.
California — known for beaches, mountains, and deserts; for tech, entertainment, real estate, and hospitality; for automotive and aerospace — also is the largest agricultural state in the U.S. and the supplier of much of the world’s food. Renowned for its economic outlooks at the national, state, and regional levels, the UCLA Anderson Forecast has increasingly turned its attention to industries vital to California’s economic identity, focusing on sectors such as agriculture, which generates $61.2 billion in output and significantly affects the state's GDP and global markets. The Forecast has co-hosted dedicated agricultural economic outlook events in Bakersfield and Fresno, two of the country’s most productive agricultural regions, and plans to expand by
adding an economist specializing in agriculture. The emphasis on agriculture reflects that sector’s huge share of the state’s economy as well as recognizing its complexity and importance amid challenges such as labor availability and climate regulations.
Kari Nadeau officially began her role as dean of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health on July 1 and highlighted her commitment to enhancing student scholarships, addressing federal research funding challenges, and building public trust in health systems. In an interview with the Daily Bruin, she noted the strong focus on student support and mentoring within the school and emphasized her intent to create career opportunities for students. Nadeau said she plans to work with various community and governmental entities to secure funding and strengthen interdisciplinary research initiatives, reflecting her belief in the interconnectedness of public health and other fields such as law, business, and engineering.
A new brief published by UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) finds that federal borrowing limits that took effect on July 1 could make medical school less accessible for Latino students, 35% of whom borrowed more than the new $50,000 cap during the 2019-2020 school year. Currently, Latinos make up 7% of physicians nationwide, and the new policy changes could further limit efforts to build a physician workforce that reflects our communities.
The Ebony Project, a partnership between the UCLA Congo Basin Institute and Taylor Guitars, focuses on restoring ebony tree populations in the Congo Basin while empowering local communities in Cameroon. This initiative marks its tenth anniversary by integrating environmental science, community engagement, and sustainability.
UCLA Health has been named to U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals Honor Roll for the 37th consecutive year, achieving top rankings in California and Los Angeles. Among nearly 4,500 hospitals evaluated, UCLA Health was one of only 20 recognized for its excellence in various specialties and procedures, including a national ranking in 12 specialties, with five in the top 10. It received the highest rating for 18 common procedures and conditions, showcasing its commitment to high-quality patient care across its extensive network of clinics and hospitals.
A recent study suggests that relabeling Grade Group 1 prostate cancer as a precancerous condition could significantly reduce unnecessary treatments and help prevent nearly 2,400 prostate cancer deaths each year. The research indicates that this change may encourage more men to undergo prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening by alleviating concerns about overdiagnosis. Data show that Grade Group 1 tumors pose minimal risk, and guidelines recommend active surveillance rather than immediate treatment, but many men still opt for aggressive interventions after being told of the tumors. The findings challenge the traditional view that retaining the cancer label is essential for patient monitoring and could lead to a reevaluation of terminology surrounding prostate
cancer.
The UCLA Space Medicine Center, led by Dr. Haig Aintablian (above), provides critical medical screenings and training for astronauts while conducting research to support spaceflight and the evolving field of space tourism. Since founding the first space medicine fellowship in the U.S. at UCLA Health, Aintablian has focused on how the human body adapts to space, studying conditions such as spaceflight-associated neuroocular syndrome, a medical condition affecting astronauts during long-duration space missions. As space exploration grows, understanding the physiological changes caused by microgravity, radiation, and vacuum conditions will benefit both astronauts and wider health applications on Earth.
Supporting communities: UCLA's impact
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles throughUCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies aims to generate knowledge and action around the critical issues of housing affordability and transportation equity, with an emphasis on how these areas intersect to shape the quality of life for all residents.
