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Health and Medicine

Our research in medicine produces life-saving developments, advances human health and keeps our society thriving.

Tsimané fishing with bows and arrows
Photo Credit
Michael Gurven
Compared to industrialized counterparts Tsimané people of lowland Bolivia have less food availability and must expend more effort to get it

New study adds nuance to the understanding of dementia in the Tsimané and Mosetén of lowland Bolivia

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Mother and child in her lap
Photo Credit
Michel Chaplin
A mother and child in Bangladesh, where UCSB anthropologist Kathrine Starkweather conducted field research.

For working mothers, flexibility may not be enough
an image of a glioblastoma tumor in the brain
Photo Credit
iStock
Glioblastoma tumors are aggressive and difficult to access for treatment

Light-triggered stress response suppresses glioblastoma spread in 3D models
a pair of elderly hands hold onto a walker

Researchers find direct human evidence for a neural circuit that may help better understand a mystery of Parkinson’s Disease
hand holding a pair of prosthetic glasses
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
UCSB’s Michael Beyeler is using AI to improve visual cortical prostheses, or “bionic eyes.”

Deep learning refines how bionic eyes communicate with the brain
A collection of dark green lines and small dots on a pale green background
Photo Credit
Courtesy UCSB Engineering
A close-up view of anaerobic gut fungi under the microscope. Armed with powerful plant-degrading enzymes and a dense network of hyphae, these specialized microbes break down tough lignocellulosic plant matter in the absence of oxygen.

Two UCSB-led projects selected for DOE’s Genesis Mission
Purple, pink and blue rope-like 3D structures fold over each other, illustrating the protein-folding process.
Photo Credit
iStock / quantic69
Scientific illustration of a 3D protein molecules structure, formed by amino acids and peptides, reflecting the protein-folding process.

New tools to study protein assembly may help in the search for neurodegenerative disease therapeutics
A mosquito feeds on a person's skin.
Photo Credit
panom via iStock
California's warming climate is making the state more hospitable to dengue virus, and to the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry it.

As California warms, cases of dengue fever are expected to grow
Black woman with glasses in beauty aisle looking at products
Photo Credit
iStock

‘Clean’ beauty products for textured hair often contain hidden hazards
person at drafting table leans over a drawing with a pencil in hand
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
College of Creative Studies student Jake Tran

Watching art films can make you a more creative thinker
A man pours milk into cereal bowls for his children.
Photo Credit
Jacoblund via iStock
Milk is often fortified with nutrients like vitamin D, vitamin A, iron and folic acid.

Food fortification prevents 7 billion nutrient gaps annually — but could triple its impact
child at table with big colored crayons drawing on white paper
Photo Credit
Stephen Andrews, Unsplash

New study explores links between early-life gut microbiome and neurodevelopment
red and purple blotches like blurry watercolor strokes like floating in yellowish gell with pick splotches and red strokes
Photo Credit
National Cancer Institute
Acute Myelocytic Leukaemia

UCSB researchers develop a genetic sensor that could allow MRIs to image molecular-level changes
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