As the world awaits vaccines to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control, UC San Francisco scientists have devised a novel approach to halting the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease. Led by UCSF graduate student Michael Schoof, a team of researchers engineered a completely synthetic, production-ready molecule…

As cases of the novel coronavirus infection, COVID-19, increase across the U.S., many people may be feeling anxious. We spoke to UC San Francisco psychologist Elissa Epel, PhD, who studies stress, about the difference between anxiety and panic, and steps you can take to prevent panic and be prepared. Some anxiety is normal, but our anxious minds can easily go into panic mode “The…

A novel coronavirus that first appeared in Wuhan, China, in December continues to sicken tens of thousands of people around the world — and scientists are working round the clock to better understand the virus, contain the outbreak, and treat the disease. In the weeks since the outbreak, the disease…

Researchers and Clinicians Are Trying to Unlock the Mystery of Why the Fungus Makes Some People So Sick and Not Others The disease that doctors at first thought was lung cancer was likely carried on a speck of dust. A few years ago, Kevin Pierce, a laconic retired sheriff who has lived his whole life in the Central Valley of California, went to see his family physician about some chest pains…

Lara Stuart and her husband, David Lodge, first noticed the peculiar rash on their son Quincy’s face when he was just shy of 4 months old. Trips to the pediatrician and a dermatologist didn’t offer up any concrete answers — and within weeks, Quincy’s abdomen started to swell. Stuart and…

Researchers Explain Why Some Lotions Do More Harm Than Good Visit any drugstore and you’ll find a dizzying array of choices for skin-care products. That’s no surprise, says UC San Francisco dermatology professor Peter Elias, MD, since at least half of Americans, maybe more, have sensitive skin or a diagnosed skin condition such as eczema, atopic dermatitis or rosacea. But…