{"id":4482,"date":"2025-02-14T10:51:52","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T18:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/?page_id=4482"},"modified":"2025-09-12T17:00:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T00:00:38","slug":"improving-lives","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/improving-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"UCSC Research Improves Lives and Livelihoods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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UCSC Research Improves Lives and Livelihoods<\/h1><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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UC Santa Cruz researchers are helping to ensure the United States remains the worldwide leader for innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Email Congress to protect life-saving research<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Support groundbreaking research<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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With federal investment, UC Santa Cruz researchers are conducting cutting-edge research to help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Detect, diagnose and treat cancer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accelerate sustainable agricultural practices<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Pursue personalized medicine<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Develop breakthrough technologies<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Eliminate devastating disease<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Train the nation’s workforce<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

For more than 60 years, UC Santa Cruz researchers have played a pivotal role in tackling some of the most challenging problems affecting individuals and communities, while also preparing the next generation of researchers who will help the nation remain at the forefront of discovery. Our research accomplishments are just a few examples of the extraordinary impacts that federal funding has created over the years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Breaking new ground in cancer detection and treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, UC Santa Cruz researchers have made significant strides in cancer research<\/a> to help inform new detection<\/a> and treatment strategies<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A leader in the pursuit of personalized medicine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

UC Santa Cruz researchers are working across disciplines to unlock the secrets of the human genome<\/a>\u2014the complete set of DNA instructions contained in our cells that guides how our bodies develop and function. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We believe this will allow us to understand why some people get sick from certain infections, environmental factors or behaviors and usher in a new era of personalized medicine that will enable earlier diagnoses, enhanced interventions and deliver targeted treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Seeking cures for devastating diseases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each of us and our loved ones will face unexpected health challenges at some point in our lifetimes. UC Santa Cruz researchers are dedicating their careers to creating solutions that will help save lives. 

Researchers are actively working to develop easier and less expensive screenings for heart disease<\/a>, uncovering new pathways to treat degenerative disease<\/a>, and combining gene therapy with optogenetics to create new treatments for epilepsy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Accelerating sustainable agriculture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At UC Santa Cruz, we\u2019re improving farming in ways that protect people and the environment, while supporting farmer livelihoods<\/a> and making agriculture a viable career path for the next generation<\/a>. 

Our research helps farmers produce the healthy, affordable food our nation needs through resource efficiency<\/a>, pollution reduction<\/a>, and organic alternatives<\/a> to toxic chemicals. We\u2019re also applying emerging technologies like advanced imaging<\/a> and sensors<\/a> in safe and socially responsible ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Developing breakthrough technologies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Researchers are pioneering breakthrough technologies that enhance lives and livelihoods across industries. From revolutionizing DNA sequencing<\/a> to developing smart bandages<\/a>, their work is driving real-world impact. 
Creating energy-efficient AI<\/a>, improving biodiesel production<\/a>, and developing<\/a> powerful new antivirals<\/a> are just a few areas where UC Santa Cruz researchers are making a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Training the nation\u2019s future workforce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

UC Santa Cruz is helping the United States remain the worldwide leader in innovation by teaching students cutting-edge skills<\/a>, by transforming discoveries into breakthrough technologies<\/a>, and creating a climate resilience workforce<\/a> to serve region, state and nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Recent news<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom nanopore sequencing to neutron stars, UC Santa Cruz research advances our understanding, wellbeing\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The federal government has been\u2014and must remain\u2014a critical partner in foundational technological innovation and research breakthroughs. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tProtecting NASA funding ensures breakthroughs in space science and benefits in daily life continue\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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From GPS to innovations in computing and optics, technologies developed for space research touch nearly every aspect of modern life<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAdvocating for federal investment in medical research\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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UC Santa Cruz researchers are sharing examples of how federal funding supports breakthrough innovations in health care.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBasic virology research important for childhood health to continue with new NIH funding\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The Cortez Lab at UC Santa Cruz studies mucosal microbiology and immunology, with research focused on astroviruses<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUC Santa Cruz awarded forest health grant to advance regional wildfire resilience\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The grant will support large-scale vegetation management to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, and promote restoration of sensitive habitats<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGrants expand UC Santa Cruz-led drone workforce development programs for Californians\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Nearly $3 million in regional and state-wide grants will fund the \u2018Drones Uplifting California Communities\u2019 program, serving high schoolers, college students, and the ag tech industry.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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National investments (FY24)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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$52M<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Institutes of Health<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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$25M<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Science Foundation<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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$14M<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Defense <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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$13M<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Energy <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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$9.5M<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Education<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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$6.8M<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Support groundbreaking research<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Email Congress to protect life-saving research<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UC Santa Cruz researchers are helping to ensure the United States remains the worldwide leader for innovation.  With federal investment, UC Santa Cruz researchers are conducting cutting-edge research to help: Detect, diagnose and treat cancer Accelerate sustainable agricultural practices Pursue personalized medicine Develop breakthrough technologies Eliminate devastating disease Train the nation’s workforce For more than […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-no-title","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"[]"},"class_list":["post-4482","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4482"}],"version-history":[{"count":87,"href":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5877,"href":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4482\/revisions\/5877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ucsc.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}