UCLA Medical School
Legacy Written in Medical Firsts.
At the David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA Health, research is the engine that drives progress. Our legacy is built on discovery, from identifying the first case of AIDS to pioneering targeted cancer therapies that have redefined treatment. Breakthroughs like these don’t happen by chance; they happen because we invest in science, ask the hard questions, and never stop searching for answers. Through research, we’re not only shaping the future of medicine, we’re changing lives here and around the world.
A historic surgery, the result of years of research, opens the door for improved treatments.
Genomic data is essential to innovations in human health.
UCLA Health's cancer researchers are at the forefront - and have been for over two decades.

Common antidepressants could help the immune system fight cancer
See how the Yang Lab investigatedIt turns out SSRIs don’t just make our brains happier; they also make our T cells happier — even while they’re fighting tumors. These drugs have been widely and safely used to treat depression for decades, so repurposing them for cancer would be a lot easier than developing an entirely new therapy.


Heart ‘tunnel’ linked to stroke and migraines
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Mission: Get more physicians into research
UCLA Health’s unique STAR Program combines clinical and research training. The program celebrated its 30th anniversary during its annual symposium in 2023.

UCLA scientists use mini-organ models to uncover hantavirus secrets, point to treatments
A UCLA-built organoid model paves the way for uncovering treatments for hantaviruses, deadly rodent-borne viruses with no current treatments.

Overweight older adults face lower risk of death after major surgery, new research finds
A new UCLA study points to surprising outcomes in elective surgery on older adults who are overweight.

Many patients with advanced cancer feel their treatment is not aligned with their personal care goals
A new UCLA study suggests communication could be essential to optimize quality of life in advanced cancer care.

Researchers map epigenomic landscapes of fat tissue cells, revealing how they shape obesity risk
Obesity-linked genetic variants give researchers clues about how body fat is regulated and how it might be better controlled.
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