A pediatrician smiles at a young boy in a clinical setting.

Health care

Healthy communities, powered by UC science 

There’s a good chance that you or someone you care about has benefited from a health care innovation that got its start at the University of California. 

Across UC’s 10 campuses, 6 academic health centers and 21 hospitals, scientists and researchers are working relentlessly to develop new treatments and cures — and training the next generation of medical professionals to help everyday people access revolutionary care.

From saving stroke patients to combating cancer, UC medical breakthroughs reach far beyond our state, enabling lifesaving treatments for millions of people across the country and around the world. 

Leading the world in Alzheimer’s treatment

The outlook for dementia is rapidly improving. UC researchers are at the forefront of the change, contributing some of the most important discoveries and innovations in Alzheimer’s science and care.  

Explore the latest discoveries

A man with outstretched arms is examined by a smiling healthcare professional.

Discover UC medical breakthroughs

From curing rare diseases to developing new treatments for conditions that affect large swaths of Americans, UC medical innovations have a life-changing impact for millions of people. 

A researcher in a lab coat stands in a laboratory, smiling confidently. Lab equipment are arranged on the counter.

3 ways UC science is healing broken hearts

More than 800,000 Americans will have a heart attack this year. UC scientists are developing new treatments that not only prevent damage after a heart attack, but actually help the heart heal. 

Illustration of three cells with textured surfaces and nodules against a blue gradient background.

New hope for pancreatic cancer

It’s not every day a clinical trial earns a standing ovation, but scientists are heralding a new era in the treatment of one of the deadliest cancers thanks to foundational science from the University of California.

Three people smiling in a lab with a robotic arm in the foreground.

Thrilling advances in brain-computer interfaces

UC researchers are helping restore speech and movement functions for patients with paralysis and neurological disorders using technology that connects computers with the human mind. 

Campuses & Locations
UC Berkeley |

A promising new weight loss and diabetes treatment helps burn fat while keeping muscle

Unlike GLP-1s, which work by suppressing appetite and lowering energy intake, a molecular compound identified by UC Berkeley scientists helps cells burn extra energy with no change in food intake or exercise, and shows promise in mouse models.
UC Riverside |

Culture change may help firefighters reduce cancer risk

Soot-caked gear has long been a symbol of grit and experience among American firefighters. Yet exposure to contaminated equipment can increase the risk of cancer. Now, attitudes toward protective wear and other safety measures may be shifting in California…
UC Newsroom |

Why a UC food safety expert still eats salad during a Cyclospora lettuce outbreak

A Cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce has many Americans wondering whether it's still safe to eat leafy greens. We asked UC Davis food safety expert Erin DiCaprio what consumers should actually know.
UC Newsroom |

Wildfire smoke is worse than you think

Scientists at the University of California are studying how this growing crisis affects our health — and the findings are alarming.