UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute

August 9th-15th is National Health Center Week!

Community health centers are vital to providing accessible, high-quality medical care and advancing research that serves underserved and diverse populations. UC San Diego Health proudly collaborates with regional partners to bridge gaps in healthcare equity and expand medical access.

ACTRI supports these efforts through our Center for Clinical Research (CCR). By operating dual research locations, the adult and pediatric ACTRI at La Jolla facility and the pediatric-focused ACTRI at Linda Vista Center we offer the physical space, expert nursing staff, thorough regulatory guidance, and clinical coordination necessary to advance high-quality, patient-centered trials across our communities.

Through inclusive initiatives and community-engaged research, we help ensure that clinical breakthroughs are representative of every family's needs.

🔗 Explore how the Center for Clinical Research infrastructure drives equitable patient care: https://ow.ly/tsxn50Z7SjN

Building connections and fostering collaboration 🌟

The current CADRE cohort came together for a networking night focused on mentorship, connection, and community building. Scholars had the opportunity to meet and engage with last year’s CADRE graduates, learn from their experiences, gain valuable insights, and build relationships with peers and mentors.

Thank you to our CADRE alumni, mentors, and scholars for making this event a meaningful opportunity to connect, share knowledge, and support the next generation of researchers.

A recent CRC Training Program graduate has joined Google in a role focused on human participant research, supporting research and development for wearable technologies such as Fitbit and Pixel Watch. In this position, she will contribute to advancing user-centered innovation at the intersection of health, technology, and behavioral science.

Reflecting on her experience in the program, she shared that it “was genuinely such an amazing work experience and it seriously taught me almost everything I know now regarding research with human participants.”

Join the Department of Health Equity for the upcoming Social Determinants of Health Symposia on August 12, 2026, from 12:00–1:30 p.m. This engaging session will explore the impact of social determinants on health outcomes and feature expert insights from Paula Braveman, MD, MPH of UCSF School of Medicine and Seth Berkowitz, MD, MPH of UNC School of Medicine.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from nationally recognized leaders in health equity and engage in meaningful conversations about advancing equitable health care for all.

Register using the Zoom ID listed on the event flyer. We look forward to seeing you there!

August is Psoriasis Action Month, a time to raise awareness for the millions of people living with psoriasis, a chronic immune-mediated condition that affects more than just the skin.

At ACTRI, we support translational research aimed at better understanding the immune and inflammatory pathways underlying psoriasis and related conditions, helping move discoveries from the laboratory into patient care.

UC San Diego researchers are also advancing psoriasis research through ongoing clinical studies that expand treatment options and deepen our understanding of disease progression and long-term outcomes.

Learn more about ongoing clinical trials here: https://clinicaltrials.ucsd.edu/psoriasis

Our 2026 CADRE Cohort recently participated in mock interviews, gaining valuable experience and confidence as they prepare for future career opportunities.

Through these practice sessions, scholars strengthened their communication skills, refined their interview responses, and received feedback to help them effectively highlight their skills, experiences, and career goals.

A special thank you to the mentors who supported our scholars by sharing their insights and helping them prepare for success!

What does a day in the lab look like for CADRE Scholars? 🧬🔬

For CADRE Scholar Kseniia Oblasova, research days include diving into cancer genomics, data analysis, and computational approaches to better understand the complexities of disease.Kseniia participates in twice-weekly lectures at the Center for Novel Therapeutics near Moores Cancer Center, where scholars explore methods for analyzing cancer genomics data and discuss the biology behind cancer.

She is also contributing to a team project using CRISPR screening data from DepMap to identify cancer lethality signatures and cluster cell lines based on genetic dependencies using unsupervised machine learning techniques.

Through hands-on research experiences, CADRE Scholars are building skills at the intersection of genomics, computation, and biomedical discovery while working alongside researchers to advance the future of science. 🌟

August is Appendix Cancer Awareness Month, raising awareness of a rare but increasingly diagnosed cancer that requires specialized care and research.

At Moores Cancer Center, a part of UC San Diego Health, patients with appendix cancer have access to advanced, multidisciplinary care, including specialized surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a treatment designed to target cancer within the abdominal cavity. ACTRI supports translational research and clinical studies that advance improved detection, treatment approaches, and outcomes for patients with rare gastrointestinal cancers.

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

🔬 PI Spotlight: Dr. Rohit Loomba & the MASLD Research Center

Dr. Rohit Loomba and his team are working to transform the future of liver disease care by developing new therapies and reducing the need for invasive liver biopsies. Through innovative research, including the GOLDMINE study, the team is using MRI technology to better predict disease progression, helping make care more precise, patient-centered, and accessible.

This impactful work is supported by the ACTRI Center for Clinical Research, which provides the infrastructure and resources needed to conduct clinical studies and accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into improved patient care.

Today, more than 30 studies are underway, including the San Diego Cirrhosis Registry and the San Diego Liver Study. Community participation plays a vital role in advancing this research. By incorporating tools like the CLAIRE chatbot, an AI-powered assistant that helps potential participants navigate clinical trial information and recruitment, the team is making it easier than ever to connect with research opportunities.

Want to learn more?

Learn more about the GOLDMINE study:
https://gastroenterology.ucsd.edu/research/masld/research/patient-oriented/goldmine.html

Learn more about the ACTRI Center for Clinical Research:
https://actri.ucsd.edu/

Interested in learning more or joining a study?
gastroenterology.ucsd.edu/research/masld/index.html