Professor of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Greg Barton, has received the 2026 Lupus Insight Prize (LIP) from the Lupus Research Alliance. Barton, along with Associate Professor at Cincinnati Children’s Olivia Majer, were recognized for their discoveries defining how UNC93B1 regulates TLR7 signaling in lupus. Their LIP Lectureship will take place at the ACR Convergence on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM ET. Learn more about the Lupus Research Alliance here. 

IB Professor Peter Sudmant, a genome scientist and expert in computational biology, and Ph.D. candidate Michael Singer are researching the "extreme" immune systems of bats through long-read sequencing which provides data for predicting and preventing future bat-borne viral transmission to human populations. The grant will support faculty and their graduate student collaborators to maintain progress on high-risk, high-impact work. Read the full story in Berkeley Inspire.

Laura Alexander, IB PhD 2025, made the cover of Nature Health as a co-first author on her major study entitled "Ecological and demographic drivers of Oropouche virus transmission". Read the full article here. 

Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology, Ahmad Nabhan, has been named a 2026 Pew-Stewart Scholar for Cancer Research. The Pew-Stewart Scholars Program for Cancer Research is a national initiative that recognizes outstanding early-career scientists whose work has the potential to accelerate discoveries and advance progress toward cancer cures. Nabhan is one of five researchers selected for the 2026 class, with each scholar receiving a four-year grant to support innovative research aimed at improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Division of Biological Sciences recently announced the recruitment of five new faculty members who “represent the best and brightest from across the country.” Among the new hires are Tycho Mevissen and Michael Ward, who are joining the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology. Read more in the Letters & Science news article here. 

Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development, Megan Martik, and Assistant Professor of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Molly Ohainle, were named 2026-27 Hellman Fellows. This award, from the Society of Hellman Fellows Fund, was designed to support early career faculty who have shown evidence of their promise for distinction in research. Read more about the Society of Hellman Fellows here.

Congratulations to PhD students Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna and Maria Astolfi, both named to the 2026-27 cohort of CEND Fellows.

Congratulations to Michel DuPage on his promotion to MCB Associate Professor of Immunology and Molecular Medicine!

The DuPage Lab focuses on epigenetic control of the functional plasticity of T cells in disease. Read more about the DuPage Lab and their research here. 

Congratulations to our MCB PhD, MBT, and BA Class of 2026 graduates!

The MCB Department is proud of our newest graduates and all that they have accomplished! Please help us celebrate the 2026 MCB Commencement Honors awardees listed below.

 

2026 MCB PhD Commencement Honors
The following are the recipients of our annual PhD graduate awards for research, academic, and community achievement.