Retrospective coverage for October 23, 2026. First published October 26, 2026 06:07 -07:00 (Pacific time). This is an AI-assisted brief compiled from linked public source records; the coverage date is not the publication date.
Two UC San Diego researchers received NIH director's awards for unconventional biomedical research, the university announced Oct. 23. Melissa Campbell and Geoffrey Chang were selected through the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program supported by the NIH Common Fund. University announcement
Campbell's New Innovator Award totals nearly $2.4 million over five years. Her laboratory is developing a platform combining human placental and developing brain tissue with sensors to study how environmental exposures affect development.
Chang's Transformative Research Award totals $3.2 million over five years. His project aims to make fluorescent biosensors that signal when particular small molecules are present, building on an engineered protein.
The projects are research-stage efforts, with possible future applications in drug discovery, disease research and environmental monitoring.