UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute

Explore how your innovative idea can have real-world impact with I-Corps ASPIRE.

Courses are available year-round to help you bridge the gap between research and commercialization. Gain valuable skills in:

Customer Discovery: Engage directly with real stakeholders.

Problem-Solution Fit: Test and validate your innovation early.

Market Exploration: Identify pathways for real-world applications.

Expert Coaching: Learn from experienced I-Corps instructors.

Apply now to start your journey: desertpacificicorps.org

Last week, we welcomed the 2026 CADRE Cohort during our Welcome Day! 🎉

We are excited to support five students from San Diego Mesa College as they begin their journey in the CADRE Program.

The CADRE Program provides students with hands-on research experience, mentorship from faculty and research professionals, and exposure to careers in clinical and translational research. Throughout the program, students will develop valuable research skills, participate in professional development activities, engage with research teams, and gain insight into the process of advancing healthcare discoveries from the laboratory to patient care.

During Welcome Day, students enjoyed a tour of the University of California San Diego campus, connected with mentors and program staff, learned more about upcoming research opportunities, and enjoyed lunch together.

We are excited to see all that this cohort accomplishes and look forward to supporting them throughout their CADRE experience!

Migraine and Headache Awareness Month highlights the significant impact of neurological pain disorders on daily life and long-term health. ACTRI supports clinical research focused on improving diagnosis, symptom tracking, and treatment strategies to enhance outcomes and quality of life for patients living with migraine and headache disorders.

At UC San Diego, continued innovation in neurological care is advancing treatment for headache and migraine conditions through multidisciplinary care, neuromodulation therapies, and ongoing clinical trials. The UC San Diego Health Headache Center was established in 2022 to bring together specialized expertise in headache and traumatic brain injury care while expanding access to research-driven treatments and patient-centered care.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/qgiM50YK723

Maximize Your Impact: TSBM Workshop for Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE)

Join the San Diego HIV Implementation Science Hub, UC San Diego ACTRI DISC, and the San Diego CFAR for an interactive virtual workshop. Learn how to use the Translational Science Benefits Model (TSBM) to plan, measure, and communicate the real-world impact of your EHE work.

📅 Date: June 15, 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM PT
💻 Format: Virtual
🩺 Credits: Up to 3.5 CME credits available

What You’ll Gain:
Strategies to track clinical, community, economic, and policy outcomes.
Hands-on breakout sessions with expert guidance, tools, and templates.
Networking opportunities with fellow EHE researchers, practitioners, and community partners.

👉 Register at: https://ucsd.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6VeIi5lWvhmUNiS

Ready to take your research from the lab to the market? Apply for the fully funded NSF I-Corps Regional program at the BIO International Convention in San Diego!

This program combines entrepreneurial training with immersive customer discovery at one of the world's largest biotech events.

Key Dates:
Virtual Kickoff: June 16–17
In-Person (San Diego): June 22–25
Virtual Sessions: July 1, 8, 15

The program covers BIO Convention access and travel. Don't miss this opportunity to advance your innovation.

National Cancer Survivors Day is June 7. UC San Diego Health and the Moores Cancer Center, San Diego’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, are dedicated to supporting patients from the moment of diagnosis through long-term recovery.

Current research at UC San Diego focuses on personalizing the survivorship journey. This includes the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program, which provides proactive follow-up care and monitoring to manage long-term side effects. Additionally, ACTRI supports innovative pilot studies, such as digital exercise programs like Strong Survivor, designed to improve physical recovery and resilience for survivors through video-assisted movement.

By integrating genomic data through the Molecular Tumor Board and leveraging translational infrastructure, ACTRI helps researchers turn clinical findings into care solutions that enhance long-term health and well-being of patients.

Learn more about the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program: https://ow.ly/nmVL50YCVXQ

Meet Troy Lance Cuevas '26!

Troy Lance is a dedicated student research assistant at the Translational Research Hub.
Driven by a commitment to the research realm, he is focusing his efforts on the bridge between laboratory work and patient-centered clinical care.

His journey at the Bridge Lab is a testament to the impact of student researchers in advancing the future of academia and medicine.

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month highlights the critical importance of neurology research in addressing neurodegenerative disease. At UC San Diego, groundbreaking work is being led by the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), where investigators are exploring the root causes of memory disorders.

Current research at UC San Diego includes a first-in-human gene therapy clinical trial designed to deliver Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) directly to the brain to prevent cell loss. Additionally, researchers are investigating the impact of lifestyle factors, such as the TREAD study on time-restricted eating, to understand how daily habits influence cognitive health.
ACTRI supports these efforts by providing the essential infrastructure for both observational studies and interventional clinical trials. From specialized cognitive testing rooms to regulatory guidance, our resources enable investigators to focus on biomarker discovery and diagnostic innovation.

Learn more about the BDNF Gene Therapy Trial:
https://ow.ly/Njal50YCW7t

Strengthen your federal funding competitiveness with the Regional NSF I-Corps Aspire Course. This program helps faculty-led research teams generate stakeholder-validated data to strengthen proposals and Broader Impacts narratives.

Course Benefits:

Validated Evidence: Generate data that clarifies real-world applications and strengthens translational positioning.

TIP Alignment: Position your research within NSF TIP priorities through clarified translational pathways.

Broader Impacts: Develop a strategy that strengthens societal relevance and proposal competitiveness.

Courses are offered year-round. Apply today at desertpacificicorps.org/apply.

Meet Olivia Ghilardi, a dedicated research intern at the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute! Olivia is making significant contributions as a research intern at the Dissemination and Implementation Science Center (DISC) at UCSD.

Her work focuses on implementation frameworks in public health and data analysis, bridging the gap between scientific literature and real-world application. With a passion for creating equitable, modern, and realistic health systems, Olivia is a valuable asset to our team. We are thrilled to support Olivia’s journey as she shapes the future of implementation science!