Human & Animal Health

Students Listen, Learn and Lead on Environmental Justice in Davis

In a cozy college town known for bikes and farmers markets, a group of UC Davis students spent their spring and summer doing work beyond the classroom. They immersed themselves in the stories of people in Davis who often go unheard: farmworkers, immigrants, people facing housing challenges and more. As part of a course on environmental justice, they turned those conversations into recommendations for the city’s long-term planning efforts.

Expanding Access to Breastfeeding Care

The early days with a baby can be overwhelming. Having someone who understands, especially in your own language, can make all the difference. A recent donation to UC Davis is helping ease financial barriers for bilingual students training to become lactation consultants, so they can bring that care to their communities.

Could Dietary Changes—Even After Obesity—Help Prevent Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, killing 87% of patients within five years. Previous studies have shown that obesity can increase pancreatic cancer risk by around 50%. In a new study from the University of California, Davis, researchers showed evidence that switching from a high-fat diet to a low-fat diet slowed pancreatic precancer development in mice, even after weight gain and precancerous changes began. The research was published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Study Creates First Comprehensive Genetic Map of Chickens

An international team of researchers led by Professor Huaijun Zhou from University of California, Davis, created the first-ever detailed map of how genes are regulated in chickens—a breakthrough that could help scientists breed birds that are more resistant to diseases like avian influenza.

Bird Flu's Varied Impacts on Egg and Milk Markets

University of California, Davis agricultural economists explore the reasons for reduced egg supplies and high egg prices in a recent article and assess what producers and consumers can expect now that the pathogen has spread through California dairies. The authors find that California egg production in December 2024 was 30% lower than in January 2022, while national production, which is the source of most of California’s retail supply, had declined by much less.

FST Professor Maria Marco Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

Maria Marco, microbiologist and professor with the Department of Food Science and Technology, has been elected to the 2025 class of fellows for the American Academy of Microbiology. 

Marco has been with UC Davis faculty since 2008 and teaches two upper division food microbiology courses on campus. She has built an internationally recognized research program on fermented foods, probiotics and how diet affects microbes in the gut. Her research examines the beneficial compounds these microbes produce and their impact on human well-being.