At UC San Diego , Global Is Local
When UC San Diego medical students saw the extreme disparities in the health of marginalized populations just miles away in Tijuana , Mexico , they sought to make a difference . The student-run Health Frontiers in Tijuana free clinic was established in 2011 , providing accessible , quality healthcare for the underserved in a respectful environment where students , health professionals , patients and community members from the border region learn from one another .
As the product of a truly binational partnership between the UC San Diego School of Medicine , the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California School of Medicine ( UABC ) and community grassroots organizations in Tijuana , the clinic cares for the community while imparting students with skills in community-based research , cultural competency and knowledge of health and social issues specific to the U . S . -Mexico border region .
Effecting changes in health at a global scale requires big ideas — like the concept of active genetics , a new field pioneered by biologist Ethan Bier and postdoctoral fellow , Valentino Gantz . Leveraging a novel method dubbed “ gene drive ,” genetic mutations can be effected within a single generation , which could lead to a solution for vector-borne diseases like malaria , which afflicts hundreds of millions of people living in tropical regions .
In partnership with India ’ s Tata Trusts , UC San Diego ’ s Tata Institute for Active Genetics will spark the potential of active genetic technology to not only eradicate disease , but enable new forms of cell therapy , develop ways to control microbial pathogens , and improve the sustainability and yield of the world ’ s agricultural crops .
Mental health issues impose an enormous disease burden on societies across the world . Depression alone affects 350 million people globally and is the leading cause of disability worldwide . Neuroscientist Gentry Patrick studies the processes of our brain with the hopes that understanding the dynamics of mental disorders will help alleviate the stigma , prejudice and fear that drives these conditions into the shadows .
Neuroscientist Gentry Patrick studies the brain to better understand mental health disorders that afflict millions of people across the globe .
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