Victoria Colliver
Oakland
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Writer. Californian. Media relations/comms @UCSF. Former POLITICO health care reporter, San Francisco Chronicle alum. victoria.colliver@ucsf.edu.
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Articles by Victoria Colliver
Q&A: How FDA decision is speeding development of new osteoporosis drugs
Credit: CC0 Public Domain Osteoporosis weakens bones and makes them more likely to break. The disease affects about 10 million Americans over age 50, including one in five women. And those numbers are expected to rise as the share of Americans 65 and older climbs from 18.9% to 23.4% by 2060. Until now, clinical researchers have tested the effectiveness of drug treatments to strengthen patients' bones by tracking whether the patients suffered fractures.
How a New Long-Acting HIV Drug Combo Tackles Resistance
A new long-acting HIV treatment could expand options for people who have trouble taking daily pills and whose virus is resistant to some commonly used HIV drugs, according to a new UC San Francisco study. Unlike daily HIV pills, long-acting treatments can be given weeks or months apart, which can make it easier for people who struggle to take medication every day. The only approved long-acting combination pairs cabotegravir with rilpivirine.
Can Psychedelic Clinical Trials Be Better? Researchers Say Yes
UC San Francisco researchers are weighing in on one of the biggest challenges in psychedelic science, arguing that clinical trials need more convincing placebo treatments to better measure the drugs’ true effects. The debate hinges on “masking,” the clinical trial gold standard that keeps patients and researchers from knowing who receives the active drug or a placebo. Because psychedelics produce such distinctive effects, participants can almost always tell whether they got the real thing.
UCSF Launches First Public Archive of Firearm Industry Records
UC San Francisco’s Industry Documents Library, in partnership with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, has made public nearly 700 internal documents from a Midwest retailer as part of the state’s lawsuit alleging the company ignored an internal warning before selling firearms to a straw buyer. The Aug.
How U.S. HIV Funding Cuts Quickly Affected Care in East Africa
The U.S. government’s withdrawal of funding for global HIV programs in January 2025 sharply reduced the number of people entering HIV care across East Africa within weeks, according to findings led by UC San Francisco researchers. The results, considered the first to use patient-level data to measure the immediate, real-world effects of the funding cuts, were drawn from HIV clinics in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania during the first five weeks after the funding withdrawal.
FDA clears Zyn: Nicotine pouches may hook a new generation, says expert
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The company can now market flavored pouches as less harmful than cigarettes, alarming health experts. UC San Francisco researchers say federal regulators have handed the tobacco industry a potent new marketing tool—one that could help the largest nicotine pouch maker lure a new generation of users.
A new AI framework that can help doctors build better tools
The HACHI framework uses LLMs with humans-in-the-loop to build an elective clinical prediction model (CPM). Credit: npj Digital Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41746-026-02838-5 Artificial intelligence can help predict a patient's risk for conditions such as sepsis, heart disease and cancer. But many of these tools fall short in real-life clinical practice because they are difficult for doctors to interpret and trust.
Women with HIV Are More Likely to Die from Trauma than the Virus
Women with HIV most often die from preventable, trauma-related conditions like substance use and mental illness — not the virus itself. Yet, these leading causes are largely missing from official death records, according to new research by UC San Francisco. The study is the first to compare death certificates to the causes of death identified by doctors, nurses, social workers, and pharmacists who knew them well.
How a New AI Framework Can Help Doctors Build Better Tools
Artificial intelligence can help predict a patient’s risk for conditions such as sepsis, heart disease, and cancer. But many of these tools fall short in real-life clinical practice because they are difficult for doctors to interpret and trust. Researchers at UC San Francisco have developed a new way to use AI to build clinical prediction tools that combines the speed of artificial intelligence with the judgment of human experts.
Abortion Hotline Use Soared Even Before Supreme Court Decision
A new study of more than 16,000 people who sought help from a nationwide abortion and miscarriage hotline found demand for confidential clinical support surged both before and after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned federal abortion protections. Researchers found that the use of the Miscarriage & Abortion Hotline spiked 210% from June 2022 to June 2023, the year after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling overturned Roe v. Wade.
Talmadge King Jr., Dean Who Led Through Listening and Trust, to Step Down
In meetings, Talmadge King Jr., MD, is rarely the first to speak. But he is often the last. As the issue is debated, the dean of the UCSF School of Medicine listens as others weigh in. Minutes pass. Then, just as the hour is about to run out, King leans in. “He’ll listen to people debate a topic for most of the meeting,” says Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Catherine Lucey, MD. “And then, right at the end, he’ll reframe the whole problem.” He’s known for his rock-solid integrity.
How big tobacco helped shape the design of ultra-processed foods
Lunchables Product Evolution Showing (a) Original (1988), (b) Low Fat (1995), (c) Maxed Out (1999), and(d) US National School Lunch Program (2023). Credit: American Journal of Public Health (2026). DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2026.308491 A new UC San Francisco study reveals how Philip Morris Companies Inc. used cigarette research, flavor engineering, and behavioral science to turn Lunchables into one of America's most successful ultra-processed foods for children.
FDA Clears Zyn: Will Nicotine Pouches Hook a New Generation?
UC San Francisco researchers say federal regulators have handed the tobacco industry a potent new marketing tool — one that could help the largest nicotine pouch maker lure a new generation of users.
Can pregnancy risks be telegraphed in the cellular mom-baby link?
Using advanced single-cell and spatial tools, the researchers analyzed about 200,000 individual cells and compared them with nearly 1 million cells in their original positions within the uterine and placental tissue. This enabled them to identify different cell types, track how they develop, and see how they are linked to pregnancy complications.
Can Pregnancy Risks Be Telegraphed in the Cellular Mom-Baby Link?
The biological connection between a pregnant woman and her developing baby has been mapped in unprecedented detail by UC San Francisco scientists, revealing new cell types and insights into conditions such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage. Using advanced single-cell and spatial tools, the researchers analyzed about 200,000 individual cells and compared them with nearly 1 million cells in their original positions within the uterine and placental tissue.
Are Psychedelics Better than Antidepressants? New Study by UC San Francisco Scientist Says No
With an innovative approach, scientists try to get around the problem of participant expectation in tests of psychedelics April 6, 2026 - By Victoria Colliver - A new study is dampening some of the hype surrounding psychedelic therapy. It found that drugs like LSD and psilocybin are only as good as — but no better than — antidepressants when it comes to treating major depression.
Are Psychedelics Better than Antidepressants? New Study Says No
A new study is dampening some of the hype surrounding psychedelic therapy. It found that drugs like LSD and psilocybin are only as good as — but no better than — antidepressants when it comes to treating major depression. Previous studies have suggested that psychedelics may be more powerful than standard antidepressants for conditions like depression.
Brian Smith to Retire as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer
UC San Francisco’s chief ethics and compliance officer (CECO), Brian Smith, JD, MBA, will retire Aug. 1 after 11 years of service to the university and health system, including more than seven years in the campus’s top compliance role. Smith was appointed CECO in October 2019 and had served as interim since 2017. As senior associate vice chancellor for research infrastructure and operations, he serves in the Chancellor’s Cabinet.
Inappropriate Antibiotic Use for COVID-19 Is Linked to Resistance
Taking azithromycin for as little as one day triggers antibiotic resistance in the respiratory tract, according to a first-of-its kind look by scientists at UC San Francisco of the changes that occur in the microbiome of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Azithromycin is one of the most widely used antibiotics in the world, and it is essential for treating certain classes of bacterial infections that cause strep throat, pneumonia, and sexually transmitted diseases.
UCSF Scientist Wins Pew Award in Marine and Biomedical Science
UC San Francisco environmental epidemiologist and toxicologist Matthew Gribble, PhD, was named by The Pew Charitable Trusts as the 2026 recipient of the Pew-Hoover Fellowship in Marine and Biomedical Science.
As Health Care Goes Digital, Patients Are Being Left Behind
Patients are now expected to navigate much of their care online — from seeing their doctor on a screen to booking appointments, refilling prescriptions, and checking test results through health care portals. Yet, according to a new study by UC San Francisco, most health systems are skipping a crucial step: asking whether their patients have the access and skills to use these digital tools. Remove this text and use the embed button to add an image.
Solving Long COVID: How Decades of HIV Research Paved the Way
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, UC San Francisco researchers were already seeing signs of lingering symptoms in some who had been infected. Importantly, this was when experts still viewed the illness as a transient respiratory virus and before long COVID even had a name, let alone a diagnosis. Clinicians were hearing young, previously healthy people with no other medical problems talk about how they couldn’t shake the virus.
Why this Little-Known Birth Control Option Deserves More Attention
Self-administered injectable contraception has been available in the U.S. for more than two decades, yet a new study found that only about a quarter of reproductive health experts prescribe it — and many are unaware it’s even an option. The study is the first to document the barriers that prevent widespread U.S. adoption of self-administered injectable contraception. It was published Jan. 8 in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Thirdhand smoke: This hidden danger puts kids and adults at risk
Most people know secondhand smoke is harmfulbut thirdhand smoke? That's the toxic residue tobacco leaves behind on surfaces like carpets, furniture, wallboards, and clothing, where it can linger for years. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest sci-tech news updates. Researchers from UC San Francisco leading the California Thirdhand Smoke Research Consortium, which includes San Diego State University and Lawrence Berkeley Lab, have been studying its health risks.
Thirdhand Smoke: This Hidden Danger Puts Kids and Adults at Risk
Most people know secondhand smoke is harmful — but thirdhand smoke? That’s the toxic residue tobacco leaves behind on surfaces like carpets, furniture, wall boards, and clothing, where it can linger for years. Researchers from UC San Francisco leading the California Thirdhand Smoke Research Consortium, which includes San Diego State University and Lawrence Berkeley Lab, have been studying its health risks.
Long-Term HIV Control: Could this Combination Therapy Be the Key?
A new study from UC San Francisco shows it may be possible to control HIV without long-term antiviral treatment — an advance that points the way toward a possible cure for a disease that affects 40 million people around the world. Treatment with a combination of experimental immunotherapy agents enabled 7 out of 10 participants to keep the virus at low levels for many months after going off antiretroviral therapy (ART). The results appear on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, in Nature.
How nursing home residents got caught in the opioid backlash
Since the height of the opioid epidemic, doctors have been prescribing fewer of these medications. A new study from UC San Francisco shows that this trend extends to nursing home residents who may need opioids to manage chronic pain. Analyzing data on nearly 3 million U.S. nursing home residents between 2011 and 2022, researchers found the probability of receiving an opioid declined across the board, even for nursing home residents with severe chronic pain.
How Nursing Home Residents Got Caught in the Opioid Backlash
Since the height of the opioid epidemic, doctors have been prescribing fewer of these medications. A new study from UC San Francisco shows this trend extends to nursing home residents who may need opioids to manage chronic pain. Analyzing data on nearly 3 million U.S. nursing home residents between 2011 and 2022, researchers found the probability of receiving an opioid declined across the board, even for nursing home residents with severe chronic pain.
How dual smokers of pot and tobacco feel the burn of higher prices
People who smoke both tobacco and cannabis are more sensitive to paying more for cigarettes than those who just smoke cigarettes, according to a new UC San Francisco study. Raising the cost of a pack of cigarettes, whether because of taxes or price hikes, has long been associated with lower consumption. But little is known about how it affects those who use both cannabis and cigarettes.
How Dual Smokers of Pot and Tobacco Feel the Burn of Higher Prices
People who smoke both tobacco and cannabis are more sensitive to paying more for cigarettes than those who just smoke cigarettes, according to a new UC San Francisco study. Raising the cost of a pack of cigarettes, whether because of taxes or price hikes, has long been associated with lower consumption. But little is known about how it affects those who use both cannabis and cigarettes.
Two UCSF Faculty Elected to National Academy of Medicine in 2025
Two UC San Francisco faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) this year, one of the highest honors in the field of health and medicine. NAM membership recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievements and commitment to service in the medical sciences, health care, and public health. Christine E.
Inhaling Cannabis May Greatly Increase Your Risk of Lung Disease
If you’re looking to reduce your chances of developing lung disease, say experts at UC San Francisco, then it may be smart to avoid inhaling cannabis. A new study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that inhaling marijuana every day is associated with a 44% increased chance of developing asthma. It also increases the odds of developing a common set of lung diseases known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 27%. Remove this text and use the embed button to add an image.
How a Malaria-Fighting Breakthrough Provides Lasting Protection
A relatively new class of insecticide that can be disseminated on something the size of a sheet of paper offers protection for up to a year against mosquitoes that spread malaria, as well as dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, and Zika, UC San Francisco researchers have found.
How UCSF Is Helping African Infectious Disease Researchers Take the Lead
UC San Francisco is launching a new initiative to help African scientists collaborate with infectious disease experts around the world and build a foundation for sustainable research. The Paul Farmer African Initiative for Research (PFAIR) builds upon the success of the First International West Africa Symposium & Workshops on Infectious Diseases, which was hosted last year by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and the Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) in the UCSF School of Pharmacy.
How State Bans Increase Costs and Delay Abortion Care
People in states that have banned abortion were more than twice as likely to receive them later in pregnancy, according to a new study by researchers at UC San Francisco. The delays are primarily due to the additional time and costs associated with traveling longer distances to obtain care, according to researchers from Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) at UCSF. Delays can make abortion care more complex.
How ‘magic mushrooms’ could help Parkinson’s disease patients
Psilocybin’s lasting mood and motor effects Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by uncontrolled movements due to abnormal brain activity, affects about 1 million Americans. While medications like levodopa can relieve symptoms, there are no approved therapies to slow the progression or reverse the disease itself.
'Magic mushrooms' show promise for improving motor function and mood in Parkinson's patients
Psilocybin, a natural compound found in certain mushrooms, has shown promise in treating depression and anxiety. UC San Francisco researchers wanted to know if it could be used to help Parkinson's patients who often experience debilitating mood dysfunction in addition to their motor symptoms and don't respond well to antidepressants or other medications. The results were surprising.
How ‘Magic Mushrooms’ Could Help Parkinson’s Disease Patients
Psilocybin, a natural compound found in certain mushrooms, has shown promise in treating depression and anxiety. UC San Francisco researchers wanted to know if it could be used to help Parkinson’s patients who often experience debilitating mood dysfunction in addition to their motor symptoms and don’t respond well to antidepressants or other medications. The results were surprising.
Equity in Maternal Care: Going Beyond One Birth at a Time
Ebony Marcelle, the director of midwifery at Community of Hope in Washington, D.C., started her doctoral degree after more than a decade of working as a midwife. A Georgetown University School of Nursing graduate, Marcelle got her master’s degree in midwifery at Philadelphia University and started working in clinical leadership and advocating for issues concerning Black maternal health. But she wanted to go even further to advance systemic change at a policy-making level.
Injectable Therapy Is ‘Magic’ for Those Who Can’t Take HIV Pills
Patients who struggle to take daily HIV pills can benefit from long-acting injectable treatments, a new study by researchers at UC San Francisco has found. The strategy could also help stop the spread of HIV by keeping more patients from being infectious. In 2021, federal regulators approved the first long-acting antiretroviral (LA-ART) injectable, which is a combination of long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine.
I'm a long COVID researcher-and I have long COVID
About 5% of U.S. adults are estimated to be living with long COVID-19, and one of them is UC San Francisco epidemiologist and long COVID researcher Alison Cohen, Ph.D., MPH. Cohen, who was involved in COVID-19 research since the beginning of the pandemic, was infected for the first and only time in January 2022. Debilitating symptoms such as fatigue and the inability to sit or stand for long periods of time have never gone away.
I’m a Long COVID Researcher. And I Have Long COVID
About 5% of U.S. adults are estimated to be living with long COVID-19, and one of them is UC San Francisco epidemiologist and long COVID researcher Alison Cohen, PhD, MPH. Cohen, who was involved in COVID-19 research since the beginning of the pandemic, was infected for the first and only time in January 2022. Debilitating symptoms such as fatigue and the inability to sit or stand for long periods of time have never gone away.
How Common Is Illegal Drug Use Among People Who Are Homeless?
Less than half of people experiencing homelessness regularly used illicit drugs in the prior six months. The most common drugs used by this population aren’t opioids but methamphetamines. And a significant percentage of people who are homeless and use drugs regularly have tried, but have been unable to receive treatment.
Doctors Test a New Way to Help People Quit Fentanyl
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when fentanyl overdoses surged, doctors were desperate to find ways of helping their patients. They knew that buprenorphine could help people stop using opioids, but it was much harder to start the treatment for those who used fentanyl, which lasts longer in the body. Taking buprenorphine while fentanyl is still active can push someone abruptly into withdrawal.
Microplastics in the Air May Be Leading to Lung and Colon Cancers
Tires and degrading garbage shed tiny pieces of plastic into the air, creating a form of air pollution that UC San Francisco researchers suspect may be causing respiratory and other illnesses. A review of some 3,000 studies implicates these particles in a variety of serious health problems. These include male and female infertility, colon cancer and poor lung function. The particles also may contribute to chronic pulmonary inflammation, which can increase the risk of lung cancer.
How We Could Test for Unhealthy Alcohol Use Before It’s Too Late
Excessive drinking can damage the liver. Yet, unlike obesity or high cholesterol, clinicians only screen for alcohol use by asking their patients how much they drink. Turns out that method is not always reliable, and a blood test can help determine whether a person’s drinking may be causing liver disease. Researchers at UC San Francisco say it would be a more reliable way to assess a person’s drinking, so clinicians can intervene in time to prevent more serious damage.
UCSF to Lead Expansion of AANHPI Research Registry
A UC San Francisco-based research registry that has already recruited more than 10,000 Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants has received $16 million in federal funding to double its efforts and expand research into this growing but underrepresented population of the U.S. population.
UCSF Health Atlas Expands Its Reach with Nationwide Mapping Tool
UCSF Health Atlas, an interactive mapping tool for measuring health inequities that debuted just as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, is relaunching this month with data from all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, along with new climate and other data.
How Doxycycline for STI Prevention Affects the Gut Microbiome
Taking a dose of the oral antibiotic doxycycline after a high-risk sexual encounter has dramatically reduced the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in places where the strategy is being tried. Despite its effectiveness, the new strategy, known as doxy-PEP, may come with risks, especially with chronic use.
UCSF Breaks Ground on Bakar Research and Academic Building
“As a leader in innovative research that advances health quality and equity for the diverse communities we serve, the School of Nursing looks forward to its new permanent home in the Bakar Research and Academic Building,” said Carol Dawson-Rose, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the UCSF School of Nursing and associate vice chancellor for Nursing Affairs.
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