UC Irvine Giving Day

Approximately 100 million individuals in the U.S. are affected by one of about a thousand different neurological disorders. This includes Alzheimer’s disease, the most common neurodegenerative disorder, Parkinson’s disease, the fastest growing neurodegenerative disorder, and rare diseases like ALS. Other neurological disorders such as stroke and traumatic brain injury, migraine and epilepsy are among the most burdensome in the U.S. population, taking people away from their families, friends, hobbies and jobs. At UC Irvine, with our medical center working with a powerhouse research campus, we are meeting the moment. We are conducting leading-edge research to understand the mechanisms of neurological diseases so we can identify treatable molecular targets, identify improved tests for precise diagnosis and predict treatment response. We are dedicated to identifying new treatments including medications, gene therapy, implantable devices and stem cell-based treatments. 

In the Department of Neurology, our core vision remains centered on precision neurology, a precision health approach that integrates data-driven decisions with compassionate patient care to bring the most personalized, leading-edge care to the community. This involves leveraging elements like genetics, biomarkers, genomics and predictive modeling, as well as considering environmental factors and social determinants of health, to ensure the right treatment and support at the right time to the right person.

Taking Our Department to the Next Level

Our department is stepping boldly into the future—taking things to the next level by transforming how we understand, study and care for the brain. Guided by the principles of precision medicine, we are aligning our people, partnerships and infrastructure to deliver care and discovery that are as individualized as the patients we serve.

We are strategically bringing in exceptional new faculty whose expertise spans genetics, multi-omics, data science and computational modeling—leaders who are helping us unlock the biological and technological frontiers of neurological disease and support our compassionate and patient-centered physicians. 

Our partnerships with translational medicine are turning scientific discovery into real-world impact. By connecting laboratory insights with clinical practice, we are accelerating the journey from biomarker discovery to personalized therapies, bridging the gap between what we know and how we heal.

To support this transformation, we are building the critical infrastructure that precision neurology demands: a systematic data collection system derived from the electronic health record and a linked clinical data repository. This powerful, integrated platform will allow us to capture and analyze data at every level—from molecular signatures to patient outcomes—fueling insights that will shape the next generation of diagnostics and treatments.

Together, these efforts represent more than progress—they embody a shared vision of medicine that is predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory. By combining strategic hiring, faculty development, translational partnerships and data-driven infrastructure, our department is redefining what is possible in neurology and setting a new standard for precision care.

We are not just building the future of neurology—we are leading it, one discovery, one patient and one idea at a time.

This Giving Day, we ask that you please consider making a gift in support of the Precision Neurology Program or to support our other many clinical, research and training programs. The generosity of forward-thinking philanthropists who share our commitment to the mission remains one of the most powerful ways to propel and advance our research in service of humanity and the common good. Your support is critical. We cannot do this work without you. Please join us today.