UCSF Scientist David Julius Has Revealed Molecular Sensors for Heat, Cold, Inflammation and Itch
UC San Francisco biochemist David Julius, PhD, has been awarded the 2020 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience for his foundational work describing the molecular machines that allow us to feel heat, cold, inflammation and related physical sensations. His research has opened up new avenues for the development of safe, targeted painkillers that researchers hope will avoid the addictive properties and other side effects of opioids.
Why Pain Is So Hard To Treat
“We use ‘pain’ as one word, but I think it reflects a panoply of different disorders,” says David Julius, chair of physiology at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, who has spent decades trying to understand how humans perceive pain.
Pain can be recovery from a broken ankle or a pulled wisdom tooth. It can be migraines, or backaches, or the burning of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, or debilitating sickle cell episodes. Pain can be in muscles, bones, nerves.
Dr. Abigail Buchwalter has been awarded the 2019 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR Grant for Junior Faculty.
Dr. Abigail Buchwalter has been awarded for "Defining drivers and consequences of ribosome biogenesis deregulation during mammalian aging."
Drs. Lily and Yuh-Nung Jan (https://janlab.ucsf.edu), named as recipients of the 20th Perl-UNC Neuroscience Prize.
Dr. Lily Jan and Dr. Yuh-Nung Jan have been awarded for the “discovery and functional characterization of potassium channels.”
The 49th Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research has been awarded to Ardem Patapoutian and David Julius for their fundamental and far-reaching studies of the molecular mechanisms of touch, temperature and pain. Read more
David Julius, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Physiology at UC San Francisco, is a winner of the 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences.
Julius, 63, received the prize “for discovering molecules, cells, and mechanisms underlying pain sensation,” according to the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. He is one of four researchers honored with this year’s life sciences award.
Today, the recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) were announced. The PECASE is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government to outstanding scientists and engineers who are beginning their independent research careers and who show exceptional promise for leadership in science and technology. <more>
The Physiology Faculty spend a beautiful day of Science at the renown San Francisco Cliff House. The faculty delighted in a variery of food choices, an amazing view, sunshine and of course exchanging knowledge and insight on research.