UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute

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UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute

Translating scientific discoveries into improved health through research.

10/01/2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of breast health, early detection, regular screenings, and ongoing research to improve outcomes for people affected by breast cancer.

At UC San Diego Health, our nationally ranked breast cancer program provides comprehensive, personalized care for every type and stage of breast cancer. As the region's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, patients have access to advanced diagnostics, innovative treatments, genetic testing, and leading clinical trials.

ACTRI is proud to support this work by providing the clinical and translational research infrastructure that helps accelerate discoveries from bench to bedside, advancing new approaches to breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Learn more about breast cancer care at UC San Diego Health: https://health.ucsd.edu/care/cancer/cancers-we-treat/breast/

09/28/2026

🧪 What does a day in the life of a CADRE Scholar look like?

For Lucy Mellinger, it meant treating her cell culture with rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor she researched and selected to use alongside spironolactone, a drug previously shown to suppress HIV.

Lucy’s research explored how mTOR may influence spironolactone-induced HIV suppression in microglial cells, giving her hands-on experience investigating complex questions in HIV research.

09/24/2026

Join us in congratulating Sofia Mendez Hernandez on graduating from the 2026 CADRE Cohort!

For her final presentation, Sofia shared a comprehensive look at her research journey and the skills and experiences she gained throughout the program.

This summer, Sofia’s research in the Gur-Cohen Lab focused on modifying a fluorescent reporter plasmid to better study cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Her work involved replacing a green-fluorescing GFP with a blue-fluorescing mTagBFP2.

Because Sox9+ cells already fluoresce green in their genetic model, this modification allows researchers to clearly distinguish between the two signals during imaging. Through these experiences, Sofia gained valuable hands-on skills while contributing to advanced imaging capabilities in tumor biology.

Congratulations, Sofia, on your hard work and outstanding scientific achievements!

Are you a Mesa College student interested in research? This could be you in the 2027 cohort!

Learn more about the CADRE Program: https://ow.ly/LSTs50ZBGxa

Explore Mesa College internships: https://ow.ly/MLwh50ZBGxg

09/23/2026

Join us in congratulating Harpuneet Virk on graduating from the 2026 CADRE Cohort! For her final presentation, Harpuneet shared a comprehensive look at her research journey and the skills and experiences she gained throughout the program.

This summer, Harpuneet’s research focused on studying the functions of the ear and exploring potential treatments for inner ear disorders, including Mal de Débarquement Syndrome. With guidance from Dr. Matsuoka, an ENT physician, her work involved culturing otic neuronal progenitor cells (ONPs) from stem cells to help mimic the reception of different sound frequencies and develop synthetic cochlear models. Through these experiences, Harpuneet gained valuable hands-on research skills while contributing to innovative approaches in inner ear research.

Congratulations, Harpuneet, on your hard work and outstanding scientific achievements!

Are you a Mesa College student interested in research? This could be you in the 2027 cohort!

Learn more about the CADRE Program: https://ow.ly/FkJq50ZCJRk

Explore Mesa College internships: https://ow.ly/9eWr50ZCJRj

09/21/2026

Join us in congratulating Lucy Mellinger on graduating from the 2026 CADRE Cohort! For her final presentation, Lucy shared a comprehensive look at her research journey and the skills and experiences she gained throughout the program.

This summer, Lucy’s research focused on studying HIV latency in microglial cells. Her work incorporated multiple research approaches, including cell culture, brain-on-a-chip models, post-mortem tissue analysis, cell counting, and flow cytometry. Through these experiences, Lucy gained valuable hands-on skills while contributing to a deeper understanding of HIV latency in the brain.

Congratulations, Lucy, on your hard work and outstanding scientific achievements!

Are you a Mesa College student interested in research? This could be you in the 2027 cohort!

Learn more about the CADRE Program: https://ow.ly/7u0V50ZBFNe

Explore Mesa College internships: https://ow.ly/OJVG50ZBFNf

09/18/2026

Join us in congratulating Kseniia Oblasova on graduating from the 2026 CADRE Cohort!

For her final presentation, Kseniia shared a look at her journey in Dr. Pablo Tamayo’s lab, where she explored how computational techniques can help researchers better understand the complexity of cancer genomics.

This summer, Kseniia and her team created a catalog of cancer archetypes with corresponding genetic sensitivity signatures using CRISPR data. Their findings have potential applications in drug discovery and drug repurposing. She also developed valuable skills in data dimensionality reduction, including NMF and PCA, as well as clustering using SOM.

Kseniia also reflected on how CADRE’s professional development sessions and connections with fellow cohort members contributed to her growth throughout the program.

Congratulations, Kseniia, on your hard work and outstanding research achievements!

Are you a Mesa College student interested in research? This could be you in the 2027 cohort!

Learn more about the CADRE Program: https://ow.ly/OPOe50ZA8tT

Explore Mesa College internships: https://ow.ly/2sS750ZA8tQ

09/16/2026

🌟 ACTRI Student Spotlight: Sheanna Cinco 🌟

At the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, our student employees are a vital part of our daily operations. Today, we are proud to highlight Sheanna Cinco and her fantastic contributions to our clinic team!

Reflecting on her experience with us, Sheanna shared:

"As an ACTRI student employee, I have gained administrative experience, and have learned to become a detail-oriented person. My favorite part of my role is being able to interact with all the moving parts of the clinic, such as the patients, nurses, and coordinators! I have had a wonderful experience getting to be behind the scenes of clinic visits, and this will definitely help with my career goal of becoming a dentist."

Thank you, Sheanna, for your dedication and all your hard work behind the scenes. We are thrilled to support you on your path to dentistry! 🩺✨

09/15/2026

ACTRI recently welcomed students to the La Jolla Clinic for an inside look at how clinical trials are conducted. From exam and overnight study rooms to exercise testing areas and laboratory spaces, students gained firsthand insight into the specialized facilities, research procedures, and multidisciplinary teamwork that support high-quality clinical research and participant care.

Thank you to Bernadette Cale, MSN, RN, Assistant Clinical Director, and Emily Rizo, NP, for sharing their expertise and making this informative tour possible!

09/14/2026

Don't miss the upcoming "Social Determinants of Health" Symposia hosted by the Department of Health Equity! Join us on September 16, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, for a focused session on critical public health issues.

We are excited to welcome Blanca Melendrez from the Center for Community Health as a featured speaker. Her work in community health will bring invaluable perspectives to the discussion. This event offers an excellent opportunity to learn from and connect with key voices in health equity.

Secure your spot for September 16, and find registration details coming soon via the Zoom ID link! Let's work together to understand and improve health outcomes for everyone.

09/11/2026

🩺 Sepsis Awareness Month

September is Sepsis Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to infection causes widespread inflammation and can lead to organ damage, tissue failure, and death if not recognized and treated promptly.

Early detection is critical. Researchers and clinicians at UC San Diego Health are working to improve sepsis diagnosis, treatment strategies, and patient outcomes through innovative clinical research and evidence-based care. Studies focused on infection response, critical care medicine, and precision health approaches are helping advance our understanding of this complex condition.

ACTRI supports this work by providing the clinical and translational research infrastructure that helps move scientific discoveries from the laboratory into real-world healthcare settings, accelerating the development of new approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Through research, education, and community awareness, we can improve recognition of sepsis and help save lives.

Learn more:
🔗 https://health.ucsd.edu/care/critical-care/
🔗 https://actri.ucsd.edu

Address

9500 Gilman Drive
San Diego, CA
92093

Telephone

+18585342230

Website

http://actri.ucsd.edu/

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