In addition to experiencing decreased insulin signaling and chronic hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus (DM) patients suffer from diminished cutaneous wound healing responses, increasing their risk of limb amputation caused by minor ulcers. To address this, our lab sought to create a treatment that could restore the cellular processes required for wound repair. Previously, we discovered that the fibromodulin (FMOD) protein increases the expression of genes involved in fibroblast migration, myofibroblast activation and contraction, and collagen cross-linking, which all contribute to more rapid wound closure. We developed a treatment using an FMOD-derived peptide called SLI-F06 that was tested on diabetic preclinical rodent and swine models. After generating excisional wounds, mice received intradermal SLI-F06 injections over a two-week period, while pigs received a topical SLI-F06 treatment over a three- to five-week period. We found that in mice, treated wounds healed 30.2% faster during the proliferative phase compared to controls; in pigs, 100% of treated wounds closed by the end of the study period, compared to 28.6% in controls. Our results support SLI-F06 as a promising treatment for enhancing wound healing in diabetic patients and highlights its potential for clinical translation.

Access to adequate nutrition remains a significant public health challenge in underserved communities. This study was conducted in collaboration with Flying Samaritans to support patients at a free clinic in Rancho Escondido, where nutritional education resources are limited. The research question examined whether commonly consumed Mexican dishes provide at least 33% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) per meal for key micronutrients. Twenty-five representative dishes were selected, and standardized recipes were developed to ensure consistency. Nutritional content was analyzed using Cronometer, focusing on vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B12, folate, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and potassium. Values were converted to %RDA based on adult female dietary reference standards. A one-sample t-test (n = 25, df = 24) was used to compare mean nutrient values to the expected 33% per-meal benchmark. Results indicated that most micronutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B12, folate, iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, were significantly below the expected intake (p < 0.05), while zinc was not significantly different (p = 0.47). These findings highlight potential micronutrient gaps in commonly consumed meals and will inform patient-centered nutritional education at the clinic. This project is significant in promoting health equity by providing actionable dietary guidance to underserved populations.

Within isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant diffuse glioma subclassifications, individual survival varies significantly based on the demographic background of the patient and the pathologic features of the tumor. While traditional statistical methods reveal general trends in patient prognosis, novel methods using artificial intelligence (AI) can output more precise survival timelines unique to each patient, helping physicians optimize treatment plans and improving patient coping. In this project, demographic and pathologic data from initial surgical resection, along with survival outcomes, from 939 IDH-mutant patients treated at UCLA between 1998 to 2025 were used to train an XGBoost artificial intelligence model predicting overall survival probabilities at specific checkpoints: 1 year, 5 year, 10 year, and 15 year survival. Nested cross-validation was used during training, and final performance of the model was assessed based on Area Under Curve (AUC) and Integrated Brier Score (IBS) from the validation set. The model showed the strongest predictive power for 1 year survival probabilities with an overall AUC of 0.88 and IBS of 0.04, followed by 5 year survival with an AUC of 0.79 and IBS of 0.15 , 15 year survival with an AUC of 0.78 and IBS of 0.17, and 10 year survival with an AUC of 0.75 and IBS of 0.21. Thus, the model has strong predictive power for 1 year survival probabilities and acceptable predictions for 5 and 15 year survival, demonstrating potential for clinical application.

Time is a limited resource in primary care, with physicians spending an average of only 18 minutes per patient appointment (Neprash et al., 2023), limiting opportunities to identify upstream factors that influence health outcomes. For the first time since 2003, SCOPE Patient Health Advocates at UCLA Health Santa Monica analyzed intake data to identify and examine patients’ unmet social needs. Our Qualtrics intake survey was redesigned in February 2025 to systematically capture patient concerns across multiple domains, including mental health, housing, financial and grocery assistance, childcare, transportation, nutrition, and access to preventive and community services, informed by patient-centered best practices and national screening tools. Analysis of 145 responses revealed trends that were both common across the clinic population and specific to particular demographic groups, highlighting needs that might not emerge during routine encounters. These findings demonstrate the critical role of patient advocacy and screening tools in supporting holistic, tailored care within the UCLA Health system.

Sleep is widely considered an essential component of healthy human life. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation has a confirmed relationship with a range of health disorders including hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and immune compromise. Our aim is to understand and delve into the “sleep gap” that disproportionately affects Black and marginalized communities in Los Angeles. Through the Los Angeles Sleep Equity Project, community members, neuroscientists, and researchers have co-created a new model of community-partnered neurosciences. Using a neighborhood-based sleep survey, community dialogue, and participatory research, we conducted the first extensive survey to map barriers to healthy sleep and identify locally meaningful solutions. Preliminary findings show that economic factors, noise pollution, and community values all have implications in the duration and quality of participants' sleep. Results from this study aim to influence the future policy and political decisions that affect Angelino's sleep.