“I am pleased to share that we have reached an agreement that will result in the peaceful conclusion of the encampment by no later than midnight tonight,” Wilcox said in the May 3 letter addressed to the campus community.

Wilcox released a copy of what he called the “full agreement,” and said it would be carried out consistent with state and federal law.

Student protesters at UCR established a campus encampment Monday to speak out against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The students called for the school to end “all investments and endowments” benefiting the Jewish state.

“We are not leaving this encampment day and night until the university complies and meets with us to discuss our demands,” a spokesperson for Students for Justice in Palestine, UCR chapter, told City News Service.

According to the terms of Friday’s agreement, UCR will post to its website all of the UC’s investments and portfolios. A task force that includes students will also be formed to explore separating UCR’s endowment from the UC Investments Office management.

UCR endowments/investments will be reviewed by the task force with an eye toward divesting companies that pose an ethical conflict for the university, such as those dealing in arms manufacturing and delivering, according to the agreement.

The agreement also states that UCR’s School of Business has discontinued global programs in Israel, among other countries, and the university will modify its study-abroad approval process to ensure it’s non-discriminatory.

The agreement also calls for an ongoing review of Sabra hummus, “consistent with existing product review processes … .”

In 2015, UCR stopped selling the Sabra hummus brand in the school’s dining areas due to objections from the on-campus group Students for Justice in Palestine, which has led the current UCR campus protests. Sabra is partially owned by an Israeli company.

UCR quickly reversed course, however, calling the hummus recall a “mistake.”

In addition to Wilcox and other campus officials, Friday’s agreement is signed by Students for Justice in Palestine President Hibah Nassar and lead negotiator Samia Alkam.

Wilcox acknowledged the agreement “does not change the realities of the war in Gaza, or the need to address antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of bias and discrimination,” but said he was “grateful” for the “constructive and peaceful conversations” on how to address the complex issues.

UCR values students’ right to practice peaceful free speech, Wilcox said, adding, “these meetings have been productive, civil, and representative of multiple points of view on how to reach a resolution.”

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Police found an assault rifle, ammunition, and five high-capacity magazines in the student’s dorm room on Friday. UC Riverside announced the student, who was not identified, was placed on interim suspension, the Riverside Press-Enterprise is reporting.

Police also found drawings in a journal depicting violent acts in the student’s dorm room, according to UC Riverside. The content of the drawings was not provided.

UC Riverside police officers executed a search warrant in the student’s dorm room after “finding evidence of a weapon” on campus. UC Riverside officials said the student is not in school and won’t be returning until an administrative hearing.

“A search of a room in the North District residential apartments revealed an assault rifle registered to a student, ammunition, five high- capacity magazines, and hand-drawn images in a journal depicting a violent act,” the school said in a statement.

The school’s policy prohibits students to possess, use, or manufacture a firearm.

The student was not arrested according to UC Riverside police records, and the case was sent to the Riverside County District Attorney who will decide whether to press charges.

UC Riverside officials also said the incident was not a result of “any recent campus events.” Pro-Palestinian demonstrators had set up encampments on campus and were demonstrating.

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The encampment began on April 29 as protestors occupied the area beside Bell Tower. The movement was led by the university’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.

Protestors demanded the university disclose its investments and funding and that it should divest from companies and institutions that are “complicit in the Israeli occupation, apartheid, and genocide” of Palestinians.

There were also calls for UCR to sever ties with Israeli universities, including student exchange programs, according to the Press-Enterprise.

A negotiation meeting took place on May 1 and a planned rally later that day drew several hundred participants to the campus.

On Friday, campus leaders and demonstrators successfully reached an agreement to end the encampment no later than Friday, May 3, by midnight, according to UCR officials.

“I am pleased to share that we have reached an agreement that will result in the peaceful conclusion of the encampment,” said UCR Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox. “It has been my goal to resolve this matter peacefully and I am encouraged by this outcome – which was generated through constructive dialogue.”

As part of the agreement, university officials settled on these terms:

• All currently public information on UC’s investments will be posted to the UCR campus website. It will continue to be updated as the UC releases more information. The goal is to get full disclosure of the list of companies in the portfolio and the size of the investments.
• The UCR Administration agrees to form a task force that includes students appointed by ASUCR’s Diversity Council and faculty appointed by the Academic Senate to explore the removal of UCR’s endowment from the management of the UC Investments Office, and the investment of said endowment in a manner that will be financially and ethically sound for the university with consideration to the companies involved in arms manufacturing and delivery.
• The goal of this task force is to produce a report to present to the UCR Foundation Board of Trustees by the end of Winter Quarter 2025. The task force will be formed by the end of the Spring 2024 quarter.
• Commitment to bimonthly meetings with the AVC of Auxiliary Services and an ongoing review of Sabra Hummus consistent with existing product review processes until we can find a resolution.
• The School of Business has discontinued Global Programs in Oxford, USA, Cuba, Vietnam, Brazil, China, Egypt, Jordan, and Israel.
• UCR will modify its approval process for all study abroad programs to ensure compliance with UC’s Anti-Discriminatory Policies.

The encampment at UC Riverside is one of many pro-Palestinian demonstrations taking place on college campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas War that began on Oct. 7, 2023.

In Southern California, protests and rallies took place at USC, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Berkeley, Cal State Long Beach, Pitzer College in Claremont and UC San Diego.

Most campus demonstrations remained peaceful despite violence breaking out at UCLA on April 30 when dozens of pro-Israeli protestors, many wearing white masks, swarmed the campus and attempted to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment that overtook Royce Quad since April 25.

The agitators threw fireworks at the encampment and attacked demonstrators with bear or pepper spray. Many people were seen punching and fist-fighting on the lawn during the late-night ambush.

The next day, a large police presence surrounded UCLA and declared the encampment an unlawful assembly. Officers worked overnight to eventually clear the massive encampment. Around 210 people were arrested or detained and hundreds more left the campus voluntarily.

Removal of the tents at the UC Riverside encampment have begun and will be cleared by Friday at midnight.

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — California’s representatives serving in the U.S House appear nearly united in response to the wave of protests at U.S. college campuses — including in Riverside County — that have erupted amid Israel’s actions in Gaza.

In a bipartisan move Wednesday, Riverside County’s Congressional members, along with their colleagues in California and across the nation, passed H.R. 6090, otherwise known as the Antisemitism Awareness Act.

Advocates say the legislation would empower the federal government to crack down on current campus protests by creating “a clear definition of antisemitism” that encompasses threats against Jewish people and certain criticisms of Israel. If it becomes law, the Education Department could use it to cut off funding to colleges that, for example, allow protests like those happening today.

First Amendment advocates, however, say the legislation is dangerous in that it would undo longstanding rights.

In a released statement Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union said H.R. 6090 “threatens to censor political speech critical of Israel on college campuses under the guise of addressing antisemitism.”

Christopher Anders, director of ACLU’s Democracy and Technology Policy Division, said, “Addressing rising antisemitism is critically important, but sacrificing American’s free speech rights is not the way to solve that problem. This bill would throw the full weight of the federal government behind an effort to stifle criticism of Israel and risks politicizing the enforcement of federal civil rights statutes precisely when their robust protections are most needed. The Senate must block this bill that undermines First Amendment protections before it’s too late.”

California has 52 House seats, with one vacancy. During Wednesday’s vote, 27 Golden State Democrats and 11 Republicans voted in favor of H.R. 6090. Eleven California Democrats cast no votes and two did not weigh in. With the exception of Mark Takano (D-39), all Riverside County representatives were in favor. Nationally, the bill was approved by a vote of 320-91, with a majority of Democrats — 133 — joining Republicans.

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-48) represents a large swath of Southwest Riverside County, as well as central and eastern parts of San Diego County. He released a statement following his yes vote. It read, in part, ” … after witnessing for more than six months a widespread and growing tide of antisemitism in America — much of it centered on the campuses of our colleges and universities – a bipartisan supermajority of the Congress took appropriate action.”

Republican Congressman Ken Calvert represents District 41, which stretches from Lake Elsinore to part of the Coachella Valley. After his yes vote, he posted a statement on X.

“I just joined a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives in passing the Antisemitism Awareness Act on the first day of Jewish American Heritage Month. This bill reinforces Civil Rights Act protections for Jewish students who are subjected to antisemitism,” he wrote.

But in nearby San Diego, Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-51), who is Jewish, cast a no vote. In a released statement, she expressed deep concern about rising antisemitism but said H.R. 6090 is not the answer:

It’s unclear what the prospects are for the Antisemitism Awareness Act in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

As Washington debates the legislation, campus protests continue in California. Students at UC Riverside established a campus encampment Monday to protest Israel’s actions in Gaza. The students are calling for the school to end “all investments and endowments” benefiting the Jewish state.

“We are joining the student movement, the student Intifada,” a spokesperson for Students for Justice in Palestine, UCR chapter, told City News Service. “We are not leaving this encampment day and night until the university complies and meets with us to discuss our demands.”

There have been no reports of violence at UCR amid the protest, unlike others in the Golden State. A nine-hour standoff came to a tense and chaotic end at UCLA when police in riot gear breached and dismantled a pro-Palestine encampment at the school early Thursday, terminating a weeklong protest and taking over 100 into custody.

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With the back-to-back one-point wins, the Terriers improve to 11-5. They overcame a 1-4 performance in doubles by capturing eight of the 12 available singles points, including seven in straight sets.

Sophomore Corey Craig (#1), sophomore Alejandro Licea (#2) and senior Ben Letzer (#6) all went a perfect 2-0 in their respective singles matches to lead the way.

BU will next compete in a doubleheader against UC San Diego with action slated to begin at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET.

Boston University – 4, UC Riverside – 3

SINGLES
1) Corey Craig (BU) def. Roth (UCR): 6-2, 6-0
2) Alejandro Licea (BU) def. Lamy (UCR): 6-3, 6-4
3) Jonah Dickson (BU) def. Suarez (UCR): 7-6(4), 7-6(4)
4) DeGrande (UCR) def. Gustavs Dambins (BU): 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
5) Sane (UCR) def. Dion Loutas (BU): 6-1, 6-4
6) Ben Letzer (BU) def. Hyunh (UCR): 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-2

DOUBLES
1) Johann Sajonz / Licea (BU) led Roth/Lamy (UCR): 5-4
2) Sane/Hyunh (UCR) def. Dickson / Adrian Pawlowski (BU): 6-3
3) Suarez/DeGrande (UCR) def. Craig / Jakob Esterowitz (BU): 6-3

Boston University – 4, Redlands – 3

SINGLES
1) Corey Craig (BU) def. Calixto (UR): 6-0, 6-1
2) Alejandro Licea (BU) def. Nir (UR): 6-3, 6-4
3) Anderson (UR) def. Gustavs Dambins (BU): 7-6(4), 3-6, 1-0(7)
4) Marcanth (UR) def. Dion Loutas (BU): 6-2, 6-3
5) Jose Maria Robalino (BU) def. Ledwith (UR): 6-1, 6-3
6) Ben Letzer (BU) def. Nbuyen (UR): 6-1, 6-4

DOUBLES
1) Calixto/Nir (UR) def. Johann Sajonz / Licea (BU): 7-6(4)
2) Robalino / Adrian Pawlowski (BU) def. Abarca/Ledwith (UR): 6-1
3) Anderson/Fanshawe (UR) def. Craig/Jakob Esterowitz (BU): 6-3

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The School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, will serve as lead site for a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating ecopipam, an investigational first-in-class drug being tested for the treatment of stuttering in adults and Tourette syndrome in pediatric patients.

Emalex Biosciences Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that developed ecopipam, is conducting the clinical trial. The first adult patient has been dosed to evaluate ecopipam, the company announced.

The Speak Freely Study is for adults who were diagnosed with a stuttering disorder as a child and who still struggle with speaking clearly. The study examines the safety of ecopipam and whether it may help a person’s ability to speak without stuttering. The trial is being conducted in eight sites across the U.S. and is StutteringResearch@medsch.ucr.edu“>seeking volunteers. Enrollment is planned to continue through April 2021.

“Knowing first-hand how stuttering can be detrimental to a person’s overall well-being, I am excited to be part of this journey and the meaningful work being done by Emalex,” said Dr. Gerald Maguire, professor and chair of psychiatry and neuroscience at UC Riverside and a world-class expert on stuttering who has spent the bulk of his professional career seeking an effective treatment for the childhood-onset fluency disorder. “Many people are unaware that stuttering is a treatable neurological condition, so there is a significant educational opportunity here that will serve those who stutter, their families, and even the public.”

It is estimated that more than 3 million people in America and over 70 million people worldwide stutter, with males affected more frequently than females. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any medications for the treatment of stuttering.

“Having the first patient dosed is a huge stride toward developing a safe and effective treatment for people who stutter,” said Dr. Atul Mahableshwarkar, chief medical officer and senior vice president of drug development at Emalex. “We are very optimistic that clinical trial outcomes will result in a life-changing treatment for people who stutter and the Emalex team is deeply committed to achieving that goal in this area of significant unmet need.”

Ecopipam has been generally well tolerated in clinical trials conducted to date, including a previous Phase 2a study in adults who stutter. Adverse events affecting primarily the central nervous system — sedation, insomnia, psychiatric changes — and the gastrointestinal system — nausea and vomiting — are the most frequently reported side effects.

The drug selectively blocks the actions of the neurotransmitter dopamine at the D1 receptor. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and its receptors have been classified into two families based on their genetic structure: “D1” (including subtypes D1 and D5) and “D2” (including subtypes D2, D3, and D4). D1-receptor super-sensitivity may be a mechanism for the repetitive and compulsive behaviors associated with Tourette syndrome.

“If ecopipam is found at the end of this trial to be a potentially safe and effective treatment for stuttering, it would help millions of people who stutter, including myself,” Maguire said. “By helping us communicate more freely, it has the potential to greatly improve the quality of our lives and be a tremendous opportunity for an underserved patient population.”

Above is a modified version of the Emalex news release written by Evelyn M. O’Connor.

The University of California, Riverside (http://www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California’s diverse culture, UCR’s enrollment is more than 24,000 students. The campus opened a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of almost $2 billion. To learn more, email news@ucr.edu.

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UCR received a $1.75 million University of California Multicampus Research Programs & Initiatives — MRPI — award for the purpose of forming a “Coronavirus Assembly Research Consortium.”

Physics professor Roya Zandi will be the principal investigator overseeing the project, which also involves UC Davis and UC Merced.

“This consortium will aim to understand the physical principles underlying the formation of coronaviruses,” Zandi said. “We will also explore the impact of some drugs on the assembly process.”

Scientists are still sorting out the elements at work in the replication of SARS-COV-2 pathogens and their assembly pathways, using in vitro experiments and computer simulations to gain understanding.

However, a complete picture is lacking, and having one may enable researchers to improve methods of combating COVID-19 and its cohorts, according to UCR.

“With the goal of determining ways to disrupt viral assembly, this consortium will investigate the roles of structural proteins in SARS-CoV-2 assembly, using an integrated, multidisciplinary approach across multiple scales and environments,” Zandi said.

The grant funds are required to be expended over the next four years.

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UC Riverside led by as many as 13 points in the second haft, but Washington cut it to 44-38 with 9:03 remaining. That would be Washington’s final basket as the Huskies missed their final 12 shots down the stretch.

Magpayo missed UC Riverside’s opening loss to Pacific last Wednesday after flying back to southern California to be with his wife for the birth of their child. Magpayo, who is the first Division I men’s coach of Asian descent, was named the head coach in July after David Patrick accepted a coaching position at Arkansas.

Washington, which last led at 3-2, finished 16 of 52 (29.6%) from the field and was outrebounded 49-33 by the Highlanders of the Big West Conference.

Zion Pullin added nine rebounds and nine assists for UC Riverside (1-1). Perry was 9 of 15 from the field and Chidom 4 for 13.

Perry had 14 points in the first half on 7-of-10 shooting and Pullin had four points, six rebounds and seven assists as UC Riverside led 29-22 after forcing nine turnovers and not allowing an offensive rebound.

Quade Green scored 18 points for Washington (0-2), which returned just 35% of its scoring from last season and was picked by the media to finish ninth in the Pac-12. Hameir Wright had seven points, six rebounds and four steals, but he was just 1 of 10 from 3-point range.

It was a last-minute addition to the schedule for both teams. Washington lost to No. 2 Baylor on Sunday, and opted to stay in Las Vegas before its scheduled Pac-12 opener on Thursday at Utah. UC Riverside’s scheduled game against Fresno State on Monday was canceled do to a positive COVID-19 test within the Bulldogs program.

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UC Riverside-led study describes first published survey documenting nature and extent of caregiver mistreatment of this population

Four in 10 people with advanced multiple sclerosis, or MS, are emotionally abused by someone responsible for caring for them, reports a study led by the University of California, Riverside. 

Further, the study finds one quarter are financially exploited, one in six are neglected, one in nine are battered, and one in 12 are sexually assaulted by a caregiver. 

“We knew we would find some level of abuse and neglect, but we were surprised by how prevalent it is,” said Dr. Elizabeth Morrison-Banks, a health sciences clinical professor at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, who led the study. “The findings of this study represent a collective cry for help from so many families affected by multiple sclerosis across the United States.”

MS is an autoimmune disease that affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. This chronic, degenerative neurological condition periodically shutters communication between the brain and other parts of the body, resulting in symptoms that include numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, as well as blindness and paralysis.

“MS affects people in different ways,” Morrison-Banks said. “Some people live with MS for many years but with milder symptoms, and they may remain completely self-sufficient and never require a caregiver. Others are less fortunate and develop neurological disability that can make them vulnerable to abuse and neglect if they are unable to move around independently, take care of their own finances, or get away from the situation when family conflict escalates. These problems are compounded if the person with MS and family lack financial resources.” 

Morrison-Banks explained that for families who are struggling economically, relying on a paid caregiver is often not an option, and family caregivers have to step in to fill the breach. 

“Some family caregivers are also working full time, caring for children or other family members, and sometimes dealing with health issues of their own,” she said. “All of these challenges can increase risk of mistreatment. I want to emphasize that the majority of family caregivers do not mistreat those they care for, even in situations that can be very challenging. Nonetheless, it is important to recognize the risk factors for mistreatment of people with disabilities, and do what we can to identify, mitigate, and prevent abuse and neglect.”

Study results appear in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. According to Morrison-Banks and her colleagues, the research paper is the first published survey documenting the nature and extent of caregiver mistreatment of adults with MS in the United States. The research team collaborated with the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis to conduct a telephone survey of 206 American adults with advanced MS living across the United States. 

The preliminary study found nearly 55% of respondents disclosed undergoing some form of mistreatment since they started receiving care from a family member or friend.

The researchers do not fully understand all the risk factors for mistreatment. Their anonymous telephone survey did find, however, that family members who had to be the primary caregiver every day, day in and day out, were at higher risk of mistreating the person with MS. Other risk factors included the person with MS having higher levels of cognitive impairment or fatigue, the caregiver having a mental health diagnosis, alcohol use by the caregiver or by the person with MS, and lower levels of social support within the family. 

As an MS specialist at UCR Health, Morrison-Banks has worked for years with many families affected by MS. 

“Being a full-time family caregiver for someone with substantial neurological disability often presents significant challenges,” she said. “Many families take these challenges in stride, but others end up in situations of abuse and/or neglect.” 

The researchers were surprised to find no published studies documenting how many people with MS have experienced mistreatment. 

“We all felt it was important to study this topic in order to help families dealing with advanced MS,” Morrison-Banks said, adding the first step toward addressing the problem is to recognize that people with MS are at high risk of mistreatment. 

Community service organizations such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, and in Riverside County a local organization called Act for MS provide support and services for families in need. 

“Our study is a good reminder for all that mistreatment is occurring out there for people with MS and other disabling conditions,” Morrison-Banks said. “Health care professionals should maintain a high index of suspicion. We can’t assume that all people with advanced MS are living in safe situations, even if they don’t bring up their concerns on their own.”

The study did not include paid caregivers or trained clinicians. A study of paid caregivers is an important next step for the researchers, requiring different methods for data collection. Morrison-Banks’s team would study mistreatment involving paid caregivers, including those working in nursing facilities and other institutions. Another important area for future research for the team is to study the effectiveness of interventions to detect and prevent abuse and neglect of people living with advanced multiple sclerosis. 

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society funded the study.

Morrison-Banks was joined in the research by Dara Sorkin of UC Irvine; Dr. Laura Mosqueda of the University of Southern California; and Dr. Napatkamon Ayutyanont of the Hospital Corporation of America, Graduate Medical Education – Far West Division in Nevada.

The research paper is titled “Abuse and Neglect of People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Survey with the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS).”

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by University of California, Riverside

People have different susceptibilities to SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, and develop varying degrees of fever, fatigue, and breathing problems — common symptoms of the illness. What might explain this variation?

Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, and University of Southern California may have an answer to this mystery.

In a paper published in Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, the researchers show for the first time that the observed COVID-19 variability may have underlying molecular sources. The finding could help in the development of effective prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against the disease.

“Based on biomarkers and molecular profiles of individuals, one would hope to develop better medical tests to accommodate these variations in monitoring virus transmission and disease pathology, which helps guide mitigation and treatment options,” said Sika Zheng, an associate professor of biomedical sciences at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, who led the study.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus hijacks human host molecules for fusion and virus replication, attacking human cellular functions. These human host molecules are collectively called SARS-CoV-2 host genes. The researchers systematically analyzed SARS-CoV-2 host gene expression, their variations, and age- and sex-dependency in the human population using large-scale genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.

They first found similarity of host gene expression is generally correlated with tissue vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among the six most variably expressed genes in the population they identified ACE2, CLEC4G, and CLEC4M, which are known to interact with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Higher expression of these genes likely increases the possibility of being infected and of developing severe symptoms. Other variable genes include SLC27A2 and PKP2, both known to inhibit virus replication; and PTGS2, which mediates fever response. The authors also identified genetic variants linked to variable expression of these genes.

According to the Zheng, the expression profiles of these marker genes may help better categorize risk groups.

“More comprehensive risk assessment can better guide the early stage of vaccine distribution,” he said. “Tests can also be developed to include these molecular markers to better monitor disease progression. They can also be used to stratify patients to assess and ultimately enhance treatment effectiveness.”

In addition to identifying the most variable SARS-CoV-2 host genes, results from the study suggest genetic and multiple biological factors underlie the population variation in SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptom severity.

“Of course, these will need confirmation with more data. But the results indicate a potential value of a large scale eQTL project to profile genotypes and transcriptome of COVID-19 patients,” Zheng said.

Next, the researchers plan to further analyze large scale genotypes and transcriptome data of COVID-19 patients when made available and to refine the results for higher association and accuracy.

Zheng was joined in the research by Liang Chen of USC. Grants from the National Institutes of Health supported the study.

The title of the research paper is “Understand variability of COVID-19 through population and tissue variations in expression of SARS-CoV-2 host genes.”

The University of California, Riverside (http://www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California’s diverse culture, UCR’s enrollment is more than 24,000 students. The campus opened a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of almost $2 billion. To learn more, email news@ucr.edu.

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