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Kristin Hannah is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels, including The Nightingale. Her 2024 novel, The Women, is a historical fiction about female nurses in the Vietnam War. Hannah wrote it during the Covid pandemic lockdown, seeing similarities to the nation's political division of the Vietnam era. A theme of Hannah's writing is the marginalization of women and the power of female friendship. In front of a packed house, Hannah joins host Dean Nelson for a lively conversation at Point Loma Nazarene University. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 41658]

Heart repair is moving beyond a single strategy. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., Ehtisham Mahmud, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, Eric Adler, M.D., Karen Christman, Ph.D., and set designer Robert Brill discuss approaches to preventing and repairing heart damage. Mahmud describes a model linking cardiovascular care, training and clinical research. Adler explains how patient skin cells can be turned into beating heart cells to study genetic cardiomyopathies and develop targeted therapies. Christman discusses injectable extracellular matrix materials designed to reduce inflammation, limit scar formation and support repair after a heart attack. Brill connects the science to The Heart, a theatrical work shaped by medicine, organ donation and community. Together, the discussion shows how collaboration across medicine, bioengineering and the arts can expand approaches to heart disease and healing. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41544]

As a small, family-run operation in Napa Valley, Matthiasson Winery relied on a federally funded research partnership with UC Davis to study how smoke affects grapes and ways to mitigate the damage. This collaboration gave them access to advanced scientific tools and expertise they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.The research was especially valuable because it was close to producing practical solutions to reduce or prevent smoke taint — solutions that could save harvests and protect wine quality. Then the funding was cut. "It’s unthinkable to conduct our business and try to be farmerswithout having that resource that we can rely upon to help us navigatea constantly changing landscape.” — Steve Matthaisson Series: "UC Davis News" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 41736]

As we age, experiences of loss often become more common, but so can our capacity for resilience. Danielle Glorioso, executive director of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging, explores the psychological and emotional processes that help older adults adapt to bereavement and other significant life losses. Drawing on current research and clinical insights, participants will learn how resilience develops over time and how it supports healing during periods of grief. Rather than viewing grief as a disorder to overcome, Glorioso reframes it as a natural, adaptive response to attachment that can coexist with personal growth, strength, and healthy aging. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41700]

A federally funded clinical trial played a pivotal role in Tom Mugno’s journey after a diagnosis of lymphoma that was not responding to chemotherapy. With guidance from Dr. Joseph Tuscano at ‪UC Davis Health‬, Mugno enrolled in a National Cancer Institute–funded study exploring a novel immunotherapy-based research approach. His experience offers a personal perspective on how clinical research can translate into real-world impact, and celebrates his complete remission. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41739]

Vaginal microbiome research may offer new ways to understand infections, fertility, preterm birth and other areas of women’s health. Pita Navarro, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Evvy, joins Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, M.D., M.S., of UC San Diego Health, to explain how patient-contributed samples and health information can support research and product development. Navarro describes Evvy’s direct-to-consumer testing model, its work to build a large metagenomic data set and the importance of distinguishing established findings from emerging evidence. She also discusses clinical validation, patient trust, academic partnerships and the challenges of bringing scientific discoveries into everyday care. Their conversation shows why successful health startups need more than promising science: they must solve meaningful problems, fit real-world workflows and stay close to the patients they aim to serve. Series: "UC San Diego Women's Health Symposium" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41657]

Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, M.D., is a UC San Diego Health perinatologist and professor who cares for patients with complex pregnancies, including those affected by diabetes. She explains how immigrating from Peru, learning from her grandmother and wanting to serve Spanish-speaking communities shaped her work. Ramos also describes feeling out of place in college and not getting into medical school on her first attempt. Research, mentors, supportive peers and a UC Irvine medical school preparation program helped her strengthen her skills and confidence. Today, she uses her bilingual skills and cultural knowledge to build trust, discuss nutrition and health beliefs, and help patients work toward safe pregnancies and healthy babies. Her experience also shapes the guidance she gives students pursuing medicine. Series: "Career Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Education] [Show ID: 41599]

Sacramento is working on the largest water recycling project on the West Coast, and UC Davis research is behind the technology used to filter and recycle wastewater for such projects. Mike Falk, received his Ph.D. from UC Davis, and was a consultant for the project. He works on large civil infrastructure projects for public utilities like Sacramento Sewer. Falk said federal funding helps advance the science to inform decisions and find new, innovative solutions that preserve public health and the environment. Series: "UC Davis News" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41734]

More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association. UC Davis researcher Alyssa Weakley is working on I-Care, a new technology that's helping Alzheimer's patients live longer in their own homes. At UC Davis, our researchers are working to better understand the causes of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, its most common form, while advancing understanding and improving care for those affected. Through innovative studies, we’re paving the way for new treatments and strategies to slow, prevent and ultimately transform how we approach these complex neurological conditions. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41737]

Social isolation may influence how the body recovers from pelvic floor injury after childbirth. Lindsay Burnett, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor and physician-scientist at UC San Diego, studies factors during pregnancy and postpartum that may affect pelvic floor muscle recovery, including medications, diet, exercise and social interaction. Her research grew from clinical observations connecting patients’ perceptions of traumatic births with physical outcomes such as fecal incontinence. In a preclinical model, social support was associated with improved pelvic floor muscle regeneration and distinct metabolic changes. Burnett is investigating metabolites involved in wound healing and skeletal muscle regeneration, along with possible connections between social interaction, the gut microbiome and systemic metabolism. The research offers a biological perspective on why emotional and social support may matter during postpartum recovery. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41640]

Grecia Paola Siono Gutierrez and Jose Enrique Siono Gutierrez share how family, mentorship and community shaped their path from Mexicali to studying electrical engineering at UC San Diego. The siblings describe beginning at community college, transferring together and adjusting to classrooms where they often saw few students who shared their background. Grecia discusses finding support through the Raza Resource Centro, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and research mentorship, while Jose explains how studying music strengthened his discipline and inspired projects connecting sound and electrical engineering. They also reflect on their parents’ sacrifices, the importance of role models and their own support for one another. Their advice to students is to seek supportive communities, learn from setbacks and keep pursuing ambitious goals even when the path is not straightforward. Series: "Career Channel" [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 41495]

Mechanical forces may help the body coordinate pregnancy and labor. Yunxiao Zhang, Ph.D., of Scripps Research Institute, examines how PIEZO1 and PIEZO2, proteins that open in response to stretch, contribute to uterine contractions and the timing of birth. Zhang finds PIEZO1 in uterine smooth muscle and PIEZO2 in sensory nerve fibers around the cervix. In mouse models, removing both channels weakens labor contractions, delays the start of delivery and increases the time between pups. The findings suggest that PIEZO1 helps prepare uterine muscle for stronger contractions, while PIEZO2 helps sensory nerves detect cervical stretch. Zhang also discusses how fats in cell membranes may change PIEZO1 sensitivity and why uterine cells and sensory nerves have connected roles. This research offers a new way to study how physical forces help regulate labor. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41642]

Feline infectious peritonitis, a form of coronavirus, is almost 100% deadly for cats. Through a federally funded trial, UC Davis researchers found a cure for FIP and the treatment for cats could be used in the future to treat humans with long COVID. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41740]

UC Davis students are experiencing Shakespeare's plays in a new world — a virtual world. English professor Gina Bloom is teaching “Interactive Shakespeare: From VR to AI,” a class where students learn about Shakespeare and perform his plays in the virtual reality game "Play the Knave VR." Watch as students act out a scene from "Romeo and Juliet" in the virtual world. Series: "UC Davis News" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 41732]

David Brockman suffered a traumatic accident in 2019 that led to the amputation of his hand from the wrist down. Following his surgery at the UC Davis Medical Center, he was connected with engineering professor Jonathon Schofield, who collaborates with Ph.D. students on prosthetic technology. Through federally funded research projects, these students were able to design and provide Brockman with a custom myoelectric hand —a prosthetic he can control electronically. He emphasizes that without federal funding, schools and researchers wouldn’t have the resources to develop these innovations. "My hand prosthetic would not have been available to me without funding.Without that money, these schools can’t do that and give people a chance to see what is possible.” — David Brockman Series: "UC Davis News" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41733]