2026: Discovery Talks
Each year, Discovery Talks stands as one of Alumni Weekend’s defining experiences, inviting alumni into the research shaping the future of health and science.
This year, the program returns with a lineup that reflects UCSF at its best: rigorous, curious, and deeply connected to real-world impact.
Designed to be engaging and accessible, these talks emphasize insight and storytelling, offering alumni a deeper look at the questions researchers are asking now — and why they matter beyond the lab.
This year’s program will take place during Alumni Weekend 2026, April 23-25, on UCSF’s Mission Bay campus.
A signature Alumni Weekend experience
Over time, Discovery Talks have become a mainstay of Alumni Weekend because they mirror how UCSF approaches discovery: across disciplines, grounded in evidence, and oriented toward improving lives.
The emerging scholars and speakers’ expertise spans neuroscience, microbiology, computational science, and global health. They will give alumni a behind-the-scenes look at today’s intellectual community and the latest discoveries and innovations that will define tomorrow’s health care.
For many attendees, these conversations are what attract them to Alumni Weekend because they serve as a gateway to the broader slate of storytelling, dialogue, and community-building that unfolds across the weekend.
2026 speakers
Reza Abbasi-Asl, PhD, MSc
Associate Professor, UCSF Department of Neurology and Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences
How artificial intelligence is reshaping our understanding of the brain
Dr. Abbasi-Asl works at the intersection of neuroscience and machine learning, where computational tools are helping researchers map brain structure and function at an unprecedented scale. His research explores how artificial intelligence can integrate complex biological data to reveal patterns underlying cognition and neurological disease, opening new pathways for diagnosis and treatment.
Joanne Chun, PharmD ’93, PhD ’96
Director, Postgraduate Education Programs, UCSF School of Pharmacy
Reimagining drug discovery through computation
Dr. Chun’s work focuses on how artificial intelligence and computational modeling can accelerate drug discovery and development. By using advanced algorithms to predict molecular behavior, her research has the potential to shorten development timelines and improve precision, transforming how therapies move from concept to clinic.
Teresa Kortz, MD, PhD ’23, MS ’15
Associate Professor, UCSF Division of Pediatric Critical Care
Championing equity, innovation, and care in global pediatric medicine
Dr. Kortz brings a global health lens to pediatric critical care, examining how diagnostic tools and treatment strategies can be adapted for resource-limited settings. Her work highlights both the ethical and clinical challenges of delivering life-saving care to children worldwide, while advancing the innovations needed to close persistent gaps in outcomes.
Peter Turnbaugh, PhD
Professor, UCSF Department of Microbiology and Immunology
What the gut microbiome reveals about personalized medicine
A leading voice in microbiome research, Dr. Turnbaugh studies how the trillions of microbes living in the human gut influence nutrition, immunity, and drug response. His work is reshaping how researchers think about individualized treatment and how unseen biological systems shape health in measurable ways.
Emerging scholars: the next generation of discovery
The program also highlights emerging scholars whose work reflects the future of UCSF research.
Atreya Dey, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, UCSF Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences
Dr. Dey’s research in biophysics explores how biological systems organize and adapt at the molecular level, offering insight into the fundamental mechanics underlying health and disease.
Sophia Miliotis, PhD Candidate
UCSF Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics
Miliotis offers a student researcher’s perspective, contributing work that reflects both scientific rigor and the curiosity driving the next generation of UCSF investigators.
Why alumni attend
What draws alumni back year after year is access to ideas, context, and the people advancing UCSF’s mission every day.
Attendees may register for the full Alumni Weekend experience or select individual programs. Many choose these sessions as a starting point, then build a weekend around additional conversations, storytelling, and opportunities to reconnect with the UCSF community.
Register for Alumni Weekend 2026
Alumni Weekend 2026 takes place April 23–25, 2026, on the UCSF Mission Bay campus.
Join the conversation — and reconnect with the ideas that continue to define UCSF.