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Brian and Paula Powers Launch Inspiration Challenge for Scholarships with $1M Gift
UC San Diego received a $1 million gift to establish the Brian and Paula Powers Chancellor’s Associates Inspiration Challenge, a philanthropic initiative designed to expand support for the Chancellor’s Associates Scholarship Program (CASP).
Birch Aquarium Opens New Living Seas Gallery
With a ceremonial “kelp cutting,” Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography officially unveiled its newest exhibition — now named Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery — in recognition of a generous gift from The Adam R. Scripps Foundation.
Prebys Foundation Announces $7 Million in Emergency Support for Biomedical Research
As federal funding for medical and life sciences research faces deep cuts, Prebys Foundation is stepping in with a rapid response package totaling $7 million to defend San Diego’s biomedical research sector — one of the world’s leading innovation hubs.
Moores Cancer Center Receives $1M from Pfizer for Early Cancer Detection
Funding will support Moores Cancer Center’s efforts to develop a unique, large-scale program to drive early detection and prevention of cancer among San Diegans, focusing on those in greatest need in our community.
Donation Fuels Research of DMT on Mental Health
UC San Diego School of Medicine has received a gift from the nonprofit organization DMT Quest to support research on the effects of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful psychedelic that has been used for centuries by indigenous cultures.
Groundbreaking Step in Battling Angioedema
UC San Diego has established the Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) Community Endowed Chair in Angioedema Clinical Excellence, marking an important milestone in the fight against hereditary angioedema, a rare and potentially life-threatening genetic condition.
Celebrating Visionary Philanthropists
Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla recently recognized three extraordinary alumni with the 2025 Chancellor’s Medal Award and Evelyn and Ernest Rady with the Lifetime Legacy Award. In addition, Irwin M. Jacobs and the late Joan Jacobs were honored with the UC Presidential Medal.
Protecting the Future of Discovery
Behind every breakthrough at UC San Diego is a team of researchers fueled by curiosity and driven to make a difference. But without federal support, progress stalls. Learn why protecting research funding matters — and explore UC San Diego’s new Behind Every Breakthrough initiative and website.
Gift Celebrates Entrepreneurship Efforts at Jacobs School of Engineering
San Diego-based business leader and philanthropist Aiiso Yufeng Li (Jeff) and his wife DongDong Li (Doreen) have made a new $3 million gift to the Jacobs School of Engineering.
Haifa Partnership Fosters Archaeo-Diplomacy in Action
Originally launched in 2020 with a $1.3 million award from the Koret Foundation, the project studies climate and environmental change on Israel’s Mediterranean coast over the last 10,000 years through cyber- and marine archaeology.
A collaboration between the Arts and Humanities and the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) to increase the number of students studying and embarking on successful careers in the arts and humanities is receiving a $3 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Joan and Irwin Jacobs Honored with UC Presidential Medals
The University of California’s highest honor will be presented to philanthropist and business leader Irwin Jacobs, and in honor of his late wife and community leader, Joan, in recognition of their positive impact in education, health care, technology, the arts and more.
Eddy Keming Chen, associate professor of philosophy at the School of Arts and Humanities, was awarded the grant to study quantum foundations.
UC San Diego Electrical Engineering Professor Honored by Schmidt Sciences for AI Research
Just one of 20 faculty to be named to receive the honor — and the only one in the UC system — electrical engineering professor Yuanyuan Shi focuses on developing AI models for sustainable energy systems.
For the first time ever, this year’s Chancellor’s Medal recipients are all UC San Diego alumni: David Goeddel ’72; Ken Kroner, PhD ’88; and Sally WongAvery ’75, while the Lifetime Legacy Award will go to local philanthropists and community leaders, Evelyn and Ernest Rady.
Read more about Philanthropy in the News.