Helen Bateup, Associate Professor of Molecular Therapeutics, and her lab are utilizing human brain organoid models to identify the underlying source of seizures in a common pediatric early-onset epilepsy, paving the way for promising treatment strategies.
 

Fyodor Urnov, Professor of Molecular Therapeutics, was honored with the 2026 UC Regents Innovation Gamechanger Award. The Gamechanger Award, recognizing the most impactful product brought to market, went to Urnov for pioneering custom gene therapies for children with rare diseases. By creating a new model that cuts personalized CRISPR development costs by 90%, Urnov has drastically expanded global access to these life-saving treatments. Read more about the 2026 UC Regents Innovation Awards and recipients here.  

Researchers in the lab of Jennifer Doudna at the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) have identified an evolutionary precursor to the CRISPR system, solving a complex genetic puzzle through a blend of artificial intelligence and human analysis. 
 

It is with great sadness that we recognize the passing of Dr. David Rempel, MD, MPH, CPE. A versatile expert in occupational health and long-time member of the Bioengineering Graduate Program, he was a Professor Emeritus of Medicine at UCSF and Bioengineering Berkeley. He will be missed.

Hernan Garcia, Associate Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development, has been named a 2026 Schmidt Science Polymath by Schmidt Sciences. Garcia is among seven other scientists who received the award to pursue novel directions beyond their established areas of research. Learn more about the 2026 Schmidt Science Polymath award and recipients here. 

 

In a new paper out in Nature Nanotechnology, researchers in Niren Murthy’s lab show that there is a simple way to remove the toxicity of lipid nanoparticles while maintaining their ability to effectively deliver therapies to specific cells in the body.

Former UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow Juan Manuel Vazquez conducted a study in which the Myotis genus of bat was investigated for its exceptional ability to survive for long periods of time without disease closely linked to their members' hyperactive immune systems. Read the full story in Berkeley News.

Congratulations to Gokul Upadhyayula on his promotion to MCB Associate Professor in Residence of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology!

Upadhyayula's research interests focus on bridging applied engineering with basic science. They are interested in mechanistic questions addressed at a molecular level using optical imaging acquired with high temporal and spatial resolution. Learn more about their research and the Advanced BioImaging Center (ABC) here. 

Title: Fractal cane design on irregular surfaces Names: Derrick Ma, Briana Gonzalez, Hamreet Pannu, Mridini Vijay. Client:Dr. Janice Schwartz and Dr. Evie Kalmar, UCSF Geriatrics Division.

MCB is pleased to welcome our newest PhD graduate students to the department! Learn fun facts about their favorite model organisms, childhood career aspirations, and more. 
 

Photo credit: Shoey Sindel Photography
 

Interested in becoming a UC Berkeley faculty member in MCB? We are now accepting applications for Assistant Professor positions across three divisions in MCB:
 

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology (BBS)

Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development (GGED)

Assistant Professor of Immunology and Molecular Medicine (IMM)
 

Click the links or scan the QR codes to learn more and apply by October 19, 2026. 

 

Jennifer Doudna, Professor of Molecular Therapeutics, was recently named a 2026 American Chemical Society (ACS) fellow. The ACS Fellows Program recognizes ACS members who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and made substantial contributions to science, the chemical profession, and the American Chemical Society. Read more about the 2026 ACS fellows here. 
 

Three MCB postdoctoral researchers are among the 33 early-career scientists selected for the Life Sciences Research Foundation's (LSRF) prestigious postdoctoral fellowships as part of its 2026 class. 
 

The MCB recipients include:

Jean Jacobs (Zoncu Lab): Valhalla Foundation Fellow
Jack Liu (Whiteman Lab): Simons Foundation International Fellow
Feng Yuan (Drubin Lab): Robertson Foundation Fellow
 

Postdoctoral fellow Jeffrey Groh led a study on the genetic explanation of avocado pollination. All avocado trees are hermaphrodites, but until now, it was unclear how avocado flowers function as female in the morning and male in the afternoon (A-type plants), while B-type plants follow the opposite pattern. Read the full story in UC Davis News.

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) has announced that five MCB faculty are among the ASCB 2026 award winners and fellows. Recipients will receive their awards during the Cell Bio meeting in San Diego, California, in December 2026. 
 

Priya Moorjani, Associate Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development, and her lab have developed a novel genomic analysis method that identified DNA inherited from two previously unknown ancient human relatives and established a timeline for these interbreeding events, providing new insights into the complexity of human evolution.
 

IB professor Jack Tseng, former IB undergrad Leah Kahn, former visiting postdoctoral scholar Adolfo Pacheco-Castro, and collaborators at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and the National Autonomous University of Mexico documented fossil evidence indicating that animals from different latitudes of North and South America intermingled before the formation of the Panamanian land bridge, which linked the two continents. Read the full story in Berkeley News.

Led by FAVE Lab NSF/Marie Curie postdoctoral fellow Narimane Chatar, alongside Huelsenbeck Lab PhD student Levi Raskin, former IB visiting scholars Alex Ramos and Melvin Vankelst, and IB professor Jack Tseng, the team published a paper on mammalian dental evolution. Read the full story, featured as the cover article in Science.

Congratulations to PhD student Maya Overton of Herr Lab, winner of Best Poster at the Single Cell Proteomics Conference (SCP2026)!

Phillip Cleves, Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development, and his lab used their new state-of-the-art laboratory to uncover clues about how the symbiotic relationship between algae and corals evolved.