Signaling an important milestone in its pioneering stem cell efforts, UCSF School of Medicine has announced the first director of its Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program.

Promising research into the causes of Alzheimer's disease, with an emphasis on the roles of such proteins as amyloid-beta and apolipoprotein E, will be the subject of a plenary session presentation on April 29 at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 56th Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Five UCSF faculty members have been named for top honors for distinguished research and teaching.

The UCSF Medal -- the University's highest honor -- will be awarded to four distinguished individuals at the annual Founders Day banquet on Tuesday, April 27.

Four faculty scientists at UCSF have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, considered one of the highest honors for an American scientist. The new elections bring to 34 the number of UCSF faculty who are members of the Academy.

A dramatic reading of letters between critically ill adults and healthy teenagers will be performed on Wednesday, May 19, in San Rafael.

The UCSF School of Nursing has received a $2.1 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, to establish the Betty Irene Moore Accelerated Doctoral Program in Nursing.

Cholesterol-busting statins, the largest-selling prescription drugs in the U.S., may protect older people from blindness, a new study shows. Aspirin also appears to provide significant protection, according to the research.

Kathleen Rydar has been named president of That Man May See, the eye research foundation that supports the UCSF School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology as well as patient care at UCSF Medical Center. Her appointment took effect on April 1.

The UCSF Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is offering new classes in health and healing during May and June. All classes are open to the public.