Discoveries result from a mix of smarts, creativity, grit, collaboration, serendipity and time. But when scientists must constantly apply for funding, that last factor can be hard to come by.
The Arc Institute, a privately-funded research organization in Palo Alto is hoping to fill that gap with guaranteed funding for up to eight years. This year, it will give nine UCSF faculty members more time to doggedly pursue their boldest research plans.
The institute, which operates in partnership with UCSF, UC Berkeley and Stanford, was founded in 2021 to pioneer new ways of supporting science.
Hani Goodarzi, PhD, UCSF professor of biophysics and biochemistry, was named a core investigator and will relocate his laboratory to the Arc Institute’s campus on the peninsula, while retaining his faculty appointment at UCSF. He will receive full funding for eight years for his research group, as well as access to cutting-edge technology centers.
New frontiers in AI and discovery science
Goodarzi has made progress against cancer and neurodegeneration since joining UCSF’s faculty in 2016, examining cells and molecules to discover new patterns of activity. He is using computational methods to analyze the many genes, proteins and cell types that interact during disease. Artificial intelligence helps make sense of huge amounts of data.
“My goal on the Arc team is to help build a foundation for bringing AI and machine learning to underexplored areas of research in life sciences,” Goodarzi said. “I have learned to also leave room for discoveries that arise from interactions between multidisciplinary teams working together – to be surprised by the unknown unknows.”
Goodarzi joins fellow UCSF faculty member and Arc Core Investigator Luke Gilbert, PhD, professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology on the blossoming Arc Institute team, which is expected to grow to as many as 15 Core Investigators by 2025.
“I can’t wait to join a group of young and ambitious scientists who are rethinking how science can be done,” Goodarzi said. “I’m also excited to take part in shaping the next generation of scientists who will join Arc and our broader research community in the Bay Area, from UCSF to UC Berkeley and Stanford. Our collaborations will be crucial to our long-term success.”
Environment, mutations and the immune system
UCSF’s Isha Jain, PhD, professor of biochemistry and biophysics; Anna Molofsky, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry, and Jimmie Ye, PhD, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, were named innovation investigators at Arc. Each will receive $1 million over five years to fund their research and will maintain their labs at UCSF.