As one of the nation’s leading research universities, UC Riverside makes world-changing — and life-saving — breakthroughs on the strength of federal research dollars. With critical NIH funding, UCR research is identifying strategies to address health challenges such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. Our scientists are creating more resilient, disease-resistant food crops. And they use federal defense funding to address a virus that threatens populations in much of the world – including U.S. troops stationed abroad.
Below are some of the ways UC Riverside researchers are putting federal dollars to work.
AI is very, very thirsty
Discussions about AI tend to focus on ethics. But research from UCR electrical and computer engineer Shaolei Ren is exploring AI’s massive water footprint. Soon, AI could consume billions of liters of water every year — much of it drinking water. In a Ted Talk, Ren talks about reducing AI’s impact.
Source: Ted Talks
Impacts of UCR research
The UCR Aging Initiative is chasing Alzheimer’s
UCR researchers, operating under the umbrella of the cross-disciplinary UCR Aging Institute, are pursuing a range of options to better understand, slow, and even halt Alzheimer’s Disease. These include studies on how inflammation influences Alzheimer’s, the role of sleep disorders, how mild cognitive impairment in younger people may be a predictor, and a noninvasive brain stimulation method that targets the connection between hippocampal function and memory quality.
The avocado that has it all
There’s a checklist that has to be satisfied before a fruit can be mass-marketed. The Luna UCR™, developed over a half-century at the university, checks all the boxes. Great taste? Check. Long shelf life? Check. No guessing when it’s ripe? Less watering? Less land needed to grow them on? Check, check, check. Additionally, the Luna UCR™ is a friend to other avocado trees, such as the Haas, because it pollinizes those varieties.
The next-generation mosquito repellant
Mosquito repellents are a must-have, given the propensity of mosquitoes to carry life-altering — even deadly — diseases including West Nile virus, Lyme disease, malaria, and Zika. A novel mosquito repellant developed at UC Riverside addresses several concerns about commercial sprays such as DEET. Professor Anand Ray’s repellant is safe, long-lasting, cost-effective, and even has a pleasant smell. The sources are all natural. Behind an NIH grant, Ray and his team will work to better understand human skin compounds that influence mosquito landing behavior.
Grass that stays greener, longer
Coachella™ turfgrass developed at UC Riverside may well become the go-to lawn in California. It’s a bermudagrass that requires 40% less water than the go-to grass of Californians, tall fescue. It’s presently being installed on Southern California golf courses; within a couple of years, consumers should be able to buy the sod from their local home improvements store. It was developed from decades of research at UCR’s turfgrass breeding program – the only turfgrass research station on the West Coast.
Worldwide leaders in citrus’ fight for survival
Citrus greening disease has reduced Florida’s citrus trees by 75% in the past 15 years. The disease, which results in bitter and worthless citrus fruits, comes from the Asian citrus psyllid, and it’s on the move, having been detected in Texas and California. With $11 million in grants from the USDA, UC Riverside researchers are fighting the disease on three fronts: Below ground, in the rootstocks; above ground in the shoots and branches, and systemically, with a peptide that would move throughout the tree.
A three-day vaccine to end a deadly virus
The often-fatal Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, or CCHFV, virus is a tick-borne disease found across Africa, Europe, and Asia. CCHFV is a threat worldwide to U.S. military personnel, having been designated as a biosafety level 4 pathogen (the highest level of biocontainment). With National Institutes of Health funding, 30-year U.S. military veteran Dr. Scott Pegan and his team discovered human antibodies that can protect against the disease, supporting efforts to develop a vaccine that can protect humans in as little as three days with one shot.
Better understanding obesity
Obesity impacts 40% of Americans, causing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and increase risk for infection. It’s also a leading economic burden on our health system, requiring lifelong healthcare management. In her NIH-funded research, Dr. Meera Nair seeks to better understand the role of the immune system in obesity and metabolic disease, seeking cells that may be targeted against obesity.
Reducing the discomfort of IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two chronic disease that cause inflammation of the intestines. It affects three million adults in the U.S., and symptoms include diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and stomach cramps. Dr. Declan McCole and his team have identified a gene that – when targeted – can lead to reduced symptoms.
Charting the course of traumatic brain injury
Evidence suggests that a single concussion can lead to long-term effects on the brain. Dr. Andre Obenhaus studies the consequences of such traumatic brain injury, including whether it may be a factor in developing or accelerating Alzheimer’s symptoms. His lab’s research relies on federal and university funds to pay for expensive MRI and PET equipment to track changes in the brain.
Commentary
Slashing NIH funding means slashing innovative research
In an opinion article, UC Riverside Chancellor Kim Wilcox speaks to the model of federal research funding that has for 70 years made the United States the worldwide standard for innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does the federal government fund research?
- Through “direct costs,” which covers the scientists, lab supplies, equipment, and travel needed to conduct a government-funded project.
- Via “facilities and administrative (F&A) costs,” which are essential costs that are not tied to a single project. That can include lab space and support personnel, such as those who manage the paperwork to maintain facilities, to keep the lights on, and to pay for personnel to support the project and ensure compliance to many federal requirements.
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What research costs have been targeted by the federal government?
Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs have been targeted. These are the essential costs required to conduct research.
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With the NIH funding that has been targeted by the federal government, how much does UCR stand to lose?
UCR could lose up to $12 million this year from its loss of NIH funding. That figure could climb to more than $20 million if other federal agencies such as NSF begin cuts.
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What percentage of UCR’s research costs is F&A?
F&A stands for Facilities and Administrative costs. The percentage for F&A is 57% of which the A part is capped at 26%. Above 26%, the university pays for any additional administrative costs, even though much of those costs are tied to federal rules and regulations to which the university is required to comply.
By the Numbers: Total UCR Research Expenditures
$214M
total UCR research expenditures
$41M
Dept. of Health and Human Services, which includes the National Institutes of Health
$33.1M
National Science Foundation
$19.6M
Dept. Of Agriculture
$11.6M
Dept. Of Defense
$9.8M
Dept. Of Energy