By analyzing electronic health records, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified hundreds of new genes associated with tobacco use disorder. They also identified hundreds of potential drug candidates that could help treat the disease. The study was published on April 17, 2024, in Nature Human Behavior.
“Tobacco use disorder has an enormous impact on public health,” said Sandra Sanchez-Roige, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “However, it’s challenging to develop new therapeutics for tobacco use disorder because so much of its underlying genetics is poorly understood.”
According to the World Health Organization, there are about 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide, and 80 percent of these people live in low and middle-income countries. The public health effects of tobacco use extend far beyond those who use it themselves; tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year and an estimated 1.3 million of these deaths are nonsmokers who were exposed to secondhand smoke.
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Top photo credit: Noble Prime/Unsplash
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A 3D rendering of neurons and how they connect and communicate through synaptic connections. (Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys)
Common HIV treatments may aid Alzheimer’s disease patients
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) currently afflicts nearly seven million people in the U.S. With this number expected to grow to nearly 13 million by 2050, the lack of meaningful therapies represents a major unmet medical need. Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys have now identified promising real-world links between common HIV drugs and a reduced incidence of AD. The study, led by Jerold Chun, M.D., was published in Pharmaceuticals.
Chun’s new research builds on his lab’s landmark publication in Nature in 2018 that described how somatic gene recombination in neurons can produce thousands of new gene variants within Alzheimer’s disease brains. Importantly, it also revealed for the first time how the Alzheimer’s-linked gene, APP, is recombined by using the same type of enzyme found in HIV.
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The enzyme, called reverse transcriptase (RT), copies RNA molecules and changes them into complementary DNA duplicates that can then be inserted back into DNA, producing permanent sequence changes within the cell’s DNA blueprint.
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California leaders take sides in monumental
Supreme Court case on homelessness
By Marisa Kendall | CalMatters
The U.S. Supreme Court is about to hear the biggest case about homelessness in decades, and it seems like everyone in California has an opinion. At issue: whether and under what conditions cities can fine or arrest people for camping in public spaces. The ruling will have nationwide implications for how local leaders manage homeless encampments.
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Where does Gov. Gavin Newsom stand on that issue? What about the leaders of California’s major cities? Our law enforcement agencies? Homelessness experts? How about President Joe Biden’s administration?
Many people and organizations have filed amicus briefs to the Supreme Court for the case, which means they’ve written out their opinion and submitted it in writing to the Justices for them to consider.
The case, Johnson v. Grants Pass, stems from a 2018 lawsuit challenging an ordinance approved by the small city in Southern Oregon that essentially made it illegal for homeless residents to camp on all public property throughout the city.
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easyJet is one of the first commercial aircraft partners to use Iris. (Credit: Viasat)
Reducing emissions with Iris Air Traffic Management
Led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in partnership with Viasat, Iris is a ground-breaking ATM program that enables aircraft to fly more fuel-efficient routes by providing digital satellite communications to complement VHF data link, which is nearing a capacity crunch in increasingly congested airspace. By digitally connecting the ATM ecosystem, it enhances collaboration between pilots and air traffic controllers to maximize airspace use and reduce the impact of disruptions for passengers. This means the industry will be able to double or even triple the number of planes in the proximate airspace while flying environmentally optimized trajectories.
Iris is also able to help decarbonize the skies through the use of 4D Trajectory-Based Operations. One of the first airlines to start using the Iris ATM program is easyJet. Using ‘4D trajectories’ that can pinpoint an aircraft in four dimensions – latitude, longitude, altitude, and time – pilots and air traffic controllers can calculate the shortest available routes, cruise at optimum altitudes, and use continuous climb and descent paths. With this real-time information, fuel emissions can be significantly reduced.
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Australia’s first multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton takes to the skies for the first time on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 in Palmdale, Calif. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)
Northrop Grumman expands Australia MQ-4C Triton support team
Northrop Grumman Australia has signed a contract with L3Harris Corporation for the operation and maintenance of command-and-control systems aboard Australia’s MQ-4C Triton multi-intelligence uncrewed aircraft fleet. The collaboration is another milestone in advance of delivery of the platform to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
As prime systems integrator on Triton, Northrop Grumman has collaborated with several suppliers to integrate and maintain key systems and technologies on the platform to provide the capabilities required by the RAAF.
Northrop Grumman successfully completed the first flight of Australia’s MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft at its Palmdale facility in California in November 2023. The flight marks a major production milestone as Northrop Grumman progresses toward delivery of Australia’s first Triton in 2024.
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Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering opens new office in Los Angeles
San Diego-based Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering recently celebrated the expansion of its Southern California presence with the opening of a new office in downtown Los Angeles. Opened in mid-March, Latitude 33’s new office is at The Collection, located at 527 W. 7th St., 9th floor. To help lead the Los Angeles office, Latitude 33 has welcomed Jacqueline Reed, DBIA as Project Development Director. Ms. Reed earned her BS in Civil Engineering from UC Irvine, and brings 13 years of industry experience, most recently in the general contracting sector.
Legal Aid Society of San Diego dedicates
building in honor of its late CEO Gregory E. Knoll
The Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD) unveiled and dedicated its Midtown building in honor of its late CEO Gregory E. Knoll. The dedication took place on Thursday, April 18, at 1764 San Diego Ave., San Diego. Knoll grew LASSD from a small group of attorneys with a budget of $700,000 in 1974 to an organization that today has a staff of 230, including 80 full-time attorneys, 200 volunteers, and a budget of $28 million. He revolutionized the delivery of public healthcare to low-income people.
New owners group takes over The Harp in Ocean Beach
There is a new ownership team at the iconic Irish bar The Harp in Ocean Beach. The new management lineup includes Miles Doughty, frontman for OB-based reggae-rock band Slightly Stoopid; long-time Sunshine Company bartender Steve Ashton; industry veteran Tyson Green, and Hodad’s company president/CEO Jeremy Diem. The new ownership group is interested in transforming The Harp into “a place for all the locals, all of the community to come with ther families and kids.”
Crowe PR and Movetic announce strategic alliance
Crowe PR, a national integrated public relations agency announced its strategic alliance with Movetic, a brand consultancy. The long-time agency partners are formalizing their relationship to better service and help grow food and beverage, wellness and apparel brands with a more robust creative services offering. Crowe PR and Movetic have collaboratively supported consumer goods brands for over six years. The partnership began during their work on Skrewball Whiskey.
San Diego Public Library launches program to erase library fines
The San Diego Public Library (SDPL) is removing barriers to library access with the new Fresh Start program. The program offers one-time fine forgiveness for patrons whose juvenile accounts have been suspended for unreturned items, allowing them full access to library programs and services. Fresh Start will erase any past debts owed by SDPL library card holders under the age of 18 and lift suspensions on those accounts. There are currently more than 2,770 people under the age of 18 whose SDPL accounts have been suspended because they did not return items.
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Frontwave Arena selects Levy to craft food & beverage at multi-purpose venue
Frontwave Arena has selected Levy, the market leader in creating world-class hospitality at iconic sports and entertainment venues, to partner on an elevated food and beverage experience at the new multi-purpose venue in Oceanside. Levy will oversee evey aspect of hospitality for the 7,500 person arena, from concourse concessiond to premium suites, VIP viewing decks, exclusive lounges, bars, and an open-air patio. Frontwave will open in September.
Edwina Williams honored with Regina Stanback Stroud Diversity Award
MiraCosta College part-time faculty Edwina Williams earns the 2024 Regina Stanback Stroud Diversity Award. The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges generously sponsors this accolade for California Community Colleges. It celebrates faculty members who significantly contribute to fostering intercultural harmony, equity, and diversity across their campuses. Williams has been at the forefront of incorporating evidence-based teaching and learning strategies,
Airport features live performances inspired by the sounds of airport terminals
San Diego International Airport has resumed its Performing Arts Residency Programm which cultivates the local performing arts community by inviting artist groups to develop and perform new works in the terminals. After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, DrumatiX, a creative percussion company, was selected to develop, rehearse, and perfirm new percussion-based dances in the airport terminals that are inspired by sounds heard during the travelers’ airport journey.
Scripps Encinitas named among top 100 hospitals in the U.S.
Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas has been named among the top 100 hospitals in the nation, based on a study conducted by health care technology and services platform PINC AI. Recognized in the medium community hospitals category, Scripps Encinitas was the only hospital in Southern California to make the prestigious list this year. Scripps Encinitas was ranked No. 10 among the 20 medium community hospitals included in the overall top 100 list.
San Diego plans to install over 400 EV chargers in parking lots
In its continuing efforts to combat climate change and create a regional network encouraging consumers to switch to electric vehicles, the City of San Diego has approved a plan to install 400-plus EV chargers in city parking lots including libraries, beaches, parks and recreation centers. True Upside Consulting has also been selected by the city to contract with it to build a regional EV charging station network. The City Council is expected to consider that contract, which requires no upfront City investment while requiring the contractor to pay for the use of city property, in May.
Padres roster review: Miguel Andujar – San Diego Union-Tribune
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MIGUEL ANDUJAR
Position(s): Third base, left field, first base
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
2026 opening day age: 31
Height / Weight: 6-foot / 211 pounds
How acquired: Signed as a free agent in February 2026
Contract status: Will make $1.5 million in 2026, with the opportunity to earn another $2 million-plus in performance bonuses; his $4 million guarantee includes a $2.5 million buyout against an $8 million mutual option for 2027.
.986 — Andujar’s OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025, the second-highest mark of his career and well above his career .807 OPS against southpaws. Andujar had been below .600 in 2021 and 2022 before jumping to .871 in 2023 and a career-high .995 in 2024.
TRENDING
Up — Signed for $700,000 out of the Dominican Republic as a 16-year-old in the international amateur market, Andujar needed two years to get out of the Yankees’ rookie-ball affiliate in the Gulf Coast League and finally cracked top-100 lists ahead of the 2018 season — No. 59 at Baseball America and No. 65 at MLB.com — after reaching Triple-A following a 16-homer season (.850 OPS). Andujar even made his MLB debut as a 22-year-old in 2017 and looked like he’d be a big part of the Yankees’ future after pairing 27 homers and 92 RBIs with an .855 OPS in finishing second to Shohei Ohtani in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. But a right shoulder labrum tear derailed Andujar in 2019 and Andujar was never able to grab a starting job again in New York. The Pirates claimed him late in 2022 and then the Athletics claimed him after the 2023 season. By then, he’d developed into a platoon player with defensive limitations. Andujar had a .697 OPS in 75 games in his first year with the Athletics and a .765 OPS in 60 games last year when, after missing time with a right oblique strain, he was shipped to the Reds for a minor league pitcher. Andujar went on to hit .359/.400/.544 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games to help the Reds lock up a wild-card spot. He was 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout in the NL Wild Card Series sweep at the hands of the Dodgers.
Miguel Andujar #41 of the San Diego Padres participates in drills during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
2026 OUTLOOK
The need for right-handed balance in the lineup was painfully obvious in the Padres’ NL Wild Card Series loss to the Cubs, so Andujar became a target after 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn walked as a free agent. Expect Andujar to get at-bats against lefties as either a DH, first base, third base or left field — the spots he’s been playing in spring training.
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Chaldean Catholic bishop of San Diego, California, a decision announced Tuesday by the Vatican after the bishop was arrested on embezzlement charges. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said last week it had arrested Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta on Thursday at San Diego International Airport as he tried to leave the country, reports the AP. The office said it acted after someone from Shaleta’s church provided a statement and documentation “showing potential embezzlement from the church.” Shaleta was being held on $125,000 bail on eight counts of embezzlement, money laundering, and aggravated white collar crime, the statement said. Shaleta pleaded not guilty on Monday, reports NBC San Diego.
“He was on his way to Germany,” prosecutor Joel Madero said. “Given his access to funds, the fact that he had over $9,000 in the bag when he was stopped, and the fact that he has these international ties … I do believe that some bail to ensure he shows up is appropriate.” There was no immediate reply to an email sent to Shaleta’s parish, St. Peter Chaldean Church, seeking comment and contact information for his attorney. The Vatican said in its daily bulletin Tuesday that Leo had accepted Shaleta’s resignation under the code of canon law for eastern rite churches that allows for the pope to agree if a bishop asks to step down.
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Leo actually accepted the resignation when Shaleta presented it in February, but an announcement was not made until Tuesday, according to the Vatican embassy in Washington. The Holy See appears to have waited to announce the decision to avoid interfering with the police investigation. Leo named Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as a temporary administrator. Shaleta, 69, was ordained a priest of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Detroit in 1984. He was named to the San Diego branch of the eastern rite Catholic Church in the US in 2017.
36.9 — The percentage of groundballs that Márquez yielded in 2025, a career low and significantly below his career average (48%). Márquez’s groundball rate was regularly above 50% before requiring Tommy John surgery in early 2023. He made one start in 2024 and struggled mightily while making 26 starts last year.
TRENDING
Down — Márquez had a 4.40 ERA through his first seven years in the majors, not bad considering he pitched roughly half his games at one of the best hitting environments in the majors. In fact, Márquez has a 5.17 ERA in his career at Coors Field and a 4.22 ERA in road environments. But Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery early in 2023, made one start in the majors in mid-July in 2024 (4 IP, 3 ER) and struggled throughout his first full year back in the Rockies rotation. The season was so difficult for Márquez that he was actually worse on the road (7.32 ERA) than he was in 11 starts at Coors Field (5.98 ERA). His strikeout rate (5.9 per nine innings) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.73) were the worst of his careers, as was his walk rate (3.4 per nine innings), while his hit rate (12.0 per nine innings) was the second worst of his career. On top of that, Márquez’s groundball rate was also the lowest of his career (see stat to note) and ranked in the bottom 22nd percentile of the league and his hard-hit rate (48.5%) and average exit velocity (91.7 mph) both ranked in the bottom 2 percentile of the league. One reason: a 94.8 mph four-seamer is down a few ticks than the height of his effectiveness. Márquez reached free agency after the season and signed with the Padres in February.
2026 OUTLOOK
Márquez has a big-league deal with the Padres, but he’ll have to rediscover his pre-elbow-reconstruction form to hold onto a roster spot, as RHP Griffin Canning (Achilles) is expected to push for a spot at some point this season and the likes of LHP JP Sears, RHP Matt Waldron and minor league signees like Marco Gonzales could warrant looks if Márquez’s struggles continue into 2026.
German Marquez #33 of the San Diego Padres participates in drills during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
