FACULTY

Ayala School’s Impact Feature:

On the Forefront of the Huntington’s Fight

“Many describe the symptoms of Huntington’s disease as having Lou Gehrigs disease, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – simultaneously.” – Huntington’s Disease Society of America

The fatal genetic disorder Huntington’s, which often first appears in mid-life, breaks down nerve cells in the brain, eroding physical and mental capacities over time. With no current cure, Leslie M. Thompson (Ph.D. ’89, Biological Sciences), Chancellor’s Fellow and Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior and Psychiatry and Human Behavior, has devoted two decades searching for one.

Professor Thompson’s lab is at the forefront of using stem cells to better understand the disease and design new treatments. Centering on Huntington’s molecular and cellular basis, her lab takes a multidisciplinary approach that has allowed Professor Thompson to collaborate with many faculty at UC Irvine and other institutions.

Her interest in the issue was sparked during graduate school at UCI, where she obtained her doctorate in biological sciences. “I took a course on human genetics and I was struck by the potential and excitement of this approach to understanding diseases,” said Professor Thompson, who majored in biology at UC San Diego and earned a master’s degree in molecular biology from UC Santa Barbara. She conducted her postdoctoral training under Professor John J. Wasmuth at UCI, studying the molecular genetics of Huntington’s. “Then I started meeting families and going to Venezuela to work with a large Huntington’s disease population there,” she said. “As I learned more and saw its devastation, I became committed to trying to understand the disease and find ways to intervene.”

Professor Thompson, the founding co-editor of the Journal of Huntington’s Disease, was recently awarded a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to further her work toward using human-derived stem cells in clinical trials. She is the principal investigator of UCI-based NeuroLINCS. Funded by the federal government, NeuroLINCS is one of six national centers creating a database of human cellular responses and imaging to speed efforts to develop new therapies for diseases. The specific mission of NeuroLINCS is to better understand brain cell functioning and help develop drugs for neurological disorders. About 30,000 Americans currently have Huntington’s symptoms and over 200,000 more are at risk of inheriting the disease, according to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.

A Living Legend:

Professor James L. McGaugh

When James L. McGaugh, Ph.D. came to the University of California, Irvine in 1964, only a few temporary buildings stood on the newly-opened campus. “I agreed to visit Irvine and on arrival, learned that there was no city of Irvine,” he recalls. “There was just a ranch with that name back then.”

McGaugh had been recruited to serve as the first chair of what is now the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, then known as Psychobiology. During the following decades, this pioneer in the field of learning and memory helped lay the foundation for the university and the Ayala School of Biological Sciences, which he helped found. His integrity and academic achievement have won admiration from his colleagues and mentees, establishing him as a living legend throughout higher learning.

Born in Long Beach, Calif., McGaugh spent much of his youth in a small Arizona town near the Mexican border. As a youngster, McGaugh became ill with the bacterial infection brucellosis and was ordered to stay in bed for over a year. His mother took over his education during that time, instilling in him its importance.

Eventually, the young McGaugh and his family returned to California, where his father passed away. “Following his death, I believed I learned important and lasting lessons,” says McGaugh. “I learned that difficulty does not mean disaster. I also learned that good things did not come my way by chance. My personal initiative was critical.”

Science held little appeal for McGaugh in middle and high school; he favored drama, literature and music. Those interests led him to San Jose State College, where after a time, his attention shifted to psychology. Declaring a major in that field, McGaugh landed a job as a psychiatric technician at a veteran’s hospital, spurring his interest in science. He decided to pursue a doctorate degree in experimental and physiological psychology, seeking to better understand the biological bases of behavior.

McGaugh entered graduate school at UC Berkley, where he studied under several of the nation’s leading psychologists. He focused on the learningperformance problem, an area of research that would guide most of his scientific career. This line of inquiry led McGaugh to examine the effect of drugs on post-learning memory consolidation, which is the process of storing recollections in long-term memory, and the neurobiological systems underlying how memories are established. After receiving his Ph.D., McGaugh returned to San Jose State College as an assistant professor. While San Jose State emphasized teaching at that time, he found ways to continue his research and established an active program that received the first research NIH grant ever awarded to a San Jose State faculty member.

“I learned that difficulty does not mean disaster. I also learned that good things did not come my way by chance. My personal initiative was critical.”

He was also a National Academy of Sciences postdoctoral fellowship recipient, enabling him to study neuropharmacology with Nobel Laureate Daniel Bovet in Rome, Italy. Returning to the U.S., he served on the faculty of the University of Oregon for two years before receiving the phone call that brought him to Irvine in 1964.

It came from Edward Steinhaus, the founding Dean of the School of Biological Sciences at UCI, who invited McGaugh to become chair of the first academic department focusing on brain and behavior. After McGaugh accepted, one of the first things he did was recruit founding faculty member Norman Weinberger, Ph.D.

McGaugh went on to serve many major administrative roles for both the Ayala School and UCI, including Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, Academic Vice Chancellor, Executive Vice Chancellor, and Director of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, which McGaugh co-founded with Weinberger and Gary Lynch, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Anatomy and Neurobiology.

McGaugh’s groundbreaking work on learning and memory has brought him numerous honors, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Science, the Karl Lashley Award from the American Philosophical Society the William James Fellow award from the Association for Psychological Science and the Grawemeyer Award. The campus has also bestowed upon him its highest honor, the UCI Medal. In strolling the grounds, one can literally see the respect he commands, for McGaugh Hall is named in his honor. Inspiring young women to become scientists has been a passion for Barbara A. Hamkalo, Ph.D. since retiring as a tenured Professor with the Ayala School in 2004. It’s why she’s deeply involved in Tech Trek, a summer camp that exposes middle-school girls to science and technology. The program is held by the American Association of University Women, of which Professor Hamkalo is an active member and former president of the Laguna Beach Chapter.

“I am proud of my work with the AAUW,” says Professor Hamkalo. “The Tech Trek program has been a tremendous success in California. The students who complete the program go on to take higher-level math and science courses than their peers, both male and female, and are better informed about careers in the sciences.”

Professor Hamkalo is also an Orange County Achievement Rewards for College Sciences Foundation (ARCS) member. The national all-female non-profit funds scholar awards for U.S. citizens pursuing advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Professor Hamkalo has served as a president and donor, has written grants to support ARCS Scholars and organizes field trips.

A very highly regarded professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, she joined UCI in 1973. Her research focused on uncovering why genes are grouped in chromosomes, and the role of chromosome organization and structure in turning genes on and off. She was a staunch advocate for the Ayala School’s postdoctoral and graduate trainees and deeply committed to university service. About a year after her retirement, she was named a prestigious UCI Edward A. Dickson Endowed Emeritus Professor. During this time, she strove to improve the quality of the graduate and postdoctoral experience at UCI. She worked to establish the Graduate Student Resource Center and served as one of UCI’s representatives during labor negotiations with the United Auto Workers, who had unionized the UC Postdoctoral Scholars.

In keeping with her zest for service, Professor Hamkalo became the president of the UCI Emeriti Association and currently chairs its program committee. Besides her university and educational work, she serves on the executive committee of the Laguna Beach Community Clinic and as staff to her mixed-breed dog Remy Martin.

Where are They Now?

Faculty Accolades

Foundational Genomics Research Award

Department of Energy Associate Professor Steven D. Allison, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

2016 Champions of Hope in Science

Global Genes Non-profit Organization Associate Professor Anne L. Calof, Ph.D. Developmental and Cell Biology

UCI Donald Bren Professor Appointment

Distinguished Professor Steven A. Frank, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Why I Give

As an alumnus of the School of Biological Sciences, I give back to UCI to provide funding for graduate student fellowships to support research training of PhD students studying molecular biology. Support for PhD students is critical for training the next generation of biomedical researchers in both academia and industry. – Bert L. Semler, Ph.D. (B.S. ’74)

2016 Lauds & Laurels Outstanding University Service Award

Professor Travis E. Huxman, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

2016 Founders’ Memorial Award

Entomological Society of America Donald Bren Professor Anthony A. James, Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

2016 Distinguished Achievement in Medical and Scientific Research Award

Association of Sicilian Societies Dean Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior

2016 Champions of Hope in Science

Global Genes Non-profit Organization Donald Bren Professor Arthur D. Lander, M.D., Ph.D. Developmental and Cell Biology

2016 Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Award

Entomological Society of America Professor Catherine Loudon, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Rated 42nd Most Eminent Psychologist of the Modern Era

American Psychological Association Emeritus Professor James L. McGaugh, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior

2016 Royal Society of Canada Fellow

Distinguished Professor Bruce McNaughton, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior

2016 Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Teaching

Ayala School of Biological Sciences Professor Justin F. Schaffer Developmental and Cell Biology

James L. McGaugh Chair Appointment

Ayala School of Biological Sciences Professor Craig E. L. Stark, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior

2016-17 Hellman Fellowship Award

Assistant Professor Sha Sun, Ph.D. Developmental and Cell Biology

2016 Müller-Eberhard Memorial Lecture

The University of Texas Professor Andrea J. Tenner, Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

2016 Elected Fellow

Ecological Society of America Professor Kathleen K. Treseder, Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

2016-2017 UCI Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching

Professor Marcelo A. Wood, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior

2016 Quad-L-Early Career Award

Associate Professor Michael Yassa, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Behavior

Pew Biomedical Scholar

Assistant Professor of Developmental and Cell Biology Maksim “Max” Plikus was selected as a 2016 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. Professor Plikus was one of only 22 researchers nationally to receive this highly-coveted recognition, which goes to scientists who are at the start of their careers. The award will help support his work on skin wound healing. His research seeks to stimulate scar-free skin repair and skin anti-aging treatments through the body’s natural regeneration responses.

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Professors David A. Fruman and Sheryl Tsai have been named

fellows of the American Association for the

Advancement of Science (AAAS). The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society, serving 10 million individuals in more than 90 countries around the globe. The multidisciplinary scientific organization seeks to “advance science, engineering and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people.”

Bio Sci Professors

Capture Prestigious Recognition

Professor Fruman’s research aims to better understand signal transduction in immune cells, which could prove useful in the development of treatments for immunological diseases and cancer. Professor Tsai studies the natural product biosynthesis of bioactive molecules called polyketides, which are used to treat many diseases.

New Faculty

Celia Faiola, Ph.D.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Improving the accuracy of climate change predictions is a focus of Professor Celia Faiola's research into the biological production, release, and fate of gaseous organic molecules emitted into the atmosphere by plants and microbes. Professor Faiola's research combines laboratory experiments, field measurements, and modeling approaches to develop an improved predictive framework for describing the ecophysiological controls on these emissions and their atmospheric products in a changing environment.

IIhem Messaoudi, Ph.D.

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Several factors, including age and nutrition, influence how your immune system responds to microbial pathogens. Professor IIhem Messaoudi seeks to understand how these factors affect the immune system’s ability to function. Research in Professor Messaoudi’s lab focuses on three general areas: The impact of advanced age on immune fitness; how alcohol use and obesity change immune function; and ways viruses undermine the immune system.

Faculty Retirements

Luis Villareal, Ph.D.

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Founding Director of the Center for Virus Research, Professor Villarreal focused a large part of his research investigating the general role of virus evolution on life. He was interested in understanding how and why specific viruses were able to maintain a persistent presence in their host and sometimes integrate into the host genome.

New Campus Leadership

Hung Fan, Ph.D.

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives

Emeritus Professor Hung Fan first joined the faculty at UCI in 1981. In addition to his research over the years, he has served in a wide variety of leadership positions, including Director of the Cancer Research Institute and the Associate Director and Co-Director of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. As the Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives, he will work with campus stakeholders to help advance the university’s research and creative enterprise.

Wenqi Wang, Ph.D.

Developmental and Cell Biology

Human development depends on the growth of cells and tissues, as we develop from a single cell into a complex organism. However, cell growth can become unregulated, leading to tissue damage and disease. Professor Wenqi Wang is interested in the signaling networks underlying normal tissue function and organ size, as well as their role in abnormal tumor development and growth. His current research focuses on deciphering the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway, which is crucial in organ size control, and its role in cancer development.

Craig M. Walsh, Ph.D.

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Engagement

Professor Craig Walsh joined the faculty at UCI in 2001. Since that time, he has served as a member for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and founding member of the Animal Research Advisory Committee. He also served as the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Center and Interim Co-Director and Associate Director for the Institute for Immunology. In this new role, he will work with the campus research community to facilitate effective and efficient research administration processes.

In Memoriam

Ralph J. Cicerone, Ph.D.

Fourth UCI Chancellor

Professor Cicerone helped to shape environmental policy at the highest levels nationally and globally. He joined UCI in 1989 as founding chair of the Department of Earth System Science and was later Dean of the School of Physical Sciences. He played a central role in moving UCI to a premier position as a top research university. As chancellor from 1998 to 2005, he oversaw a rapid rise in academic capabilities, construction of major research halls and the teaching hospital at UCI Medical Center. He was president of the National Academy of Sciences from 2005 to 2016. His extraordinary contributions to UCI will be celebrated for years to come.

Krishna Tewari, Ph.D.

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

For more than three decades, Professor Tewari was a wellrespected faculty member of the Ayala School and a leading figure in his field. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Lucknow University and worked as an Assistant Researcher at UCLA before arriving at UCI. As a faculty member, Professor Tewari held a number of positions during his career, including serving as Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry for many years. In addition to his groundbreaking research, he helped create the School’s Master’s program in Biotechnology. The loss of such a dedicated professor is deeply felt by those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Norman M. Weinberger, Ph.D.

Neurobiology and Behavior

Professor Norman M. Weinberger was a pioneering faculty member at UCI and a leading figure in the field of neurobehavioral research. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Western Reserve University in 1961 before joining UCI in 1965 to help form the Department of Psychobiology (now Neurobiology and Behavior). He was also instrumental in the formation of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. A proven leader, respected mentor, colleague and friend, he remained active in his laboratory until his death.

Robert K. Josephson, Ph.D.

Neurobiology and Behavior and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Over a career spanning more than half a century, Professor Josephson became widely known and venerated as a mentor, teacher, colleague, physiologist and friend. He earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from UCLA and went on to become a pioneer in the use of computers to model animal behavioral responses. In 2005, he retired from UCI after 34 years with faculty appointments in both the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He was a dedicated instructor and mentor, compassionate and committed to the success of the School.

Jared M. Roberts

Neurobiology and Behavior

Mr. Roberts was a graduate student in the laboratory of Professor Michael Yassa. A graduate of the University of Utah, he was an exceptional student with a passion for learning. His fellow students in Professor Yassa’s laboratory characterized him as a brilliant scientist, gifted mentor, and selfless friend. He had a constant desire for learning and new technology, and his award-winning work led to insights in how the brain works and how it is affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Year in Review