UC Irvine Star Clusters
A Health Affairs Recruitment Program for Frontier Researchers
The Star Cluster Concept
When brilliant minds come together to focus on a specific area of healthcare and wellness, there is no limit to what they can accomplish. At UC Irvine, we are intentional about recruiting frontier researchers, or “stars,” to attract and lead clusters of investigators. This collaborative synergy leads to scientific breakthroughs and redefines how we are improving the lives of people in our community and around the globe.
The overall strategy is based on the fundamental premise of creating teams of researchers who will build on existing faculty strengths and enhance the research portfolio in Health Affairs by creating a highly competitive critical mass of investigators.
By hiring these Star Clusters, UC Irvine will:
Speed growth of a robust research faculty at all levels, including top researchers with a track record for securing external funding.
Integrate clinical and research strengths that have potential for research breakthroughs, philanthropy, clinical progress and population health impact.
Motivate, inspire and support research efforts for all UC Irvine Health Affairs faculty.
Empowered by One Health Collaboration
UC Irvine Health Affairs champions a distinctive One Health alliance that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. Empowered by this approach, Star Cluster hires will be qualified to become faculty and staff in the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences — comprising the schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences, population & public health, research centers and institutes including the pioneering Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute — and UCI Health, our regional healthcare delivery system. With brilliant minds working together instead of in silos, our teams will push the boundaries of innovation and facilitate fundamental discoveries in science.
An important goal of Star Cluster recruiting is to advance the alignment of basic and clinical research activities across UC Irvine Health Affairs and seek the highest caliber multidisciplinary teams to:
Open new arenas of research
Enhance the research enterprise
Amplify existing strengths in basic and translational research
Innovate across different disciplines
Advance the mission to educate future leaders
Examples of Opportunities for Star Clusters
UC Irvine’s distinguished Star Cluster program will enable us to attract and retain world-class experts in human genome therapies, AI data-driven medicine, nanotechnologies, bio-immunotherapy techniques, robotics, cellular therapies, and other high-impact areas that will revolutionize healthcare. These are only a few of the many possibilities. With the right partners, our potential for advancing health and wellness is boundless.
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for the Future of Nursing
Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing
Revolutionizing Health through Genomic Engineering and AI
School of Medicine
Pioneering Drug Discovery and Development
School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Advancing Nutritional Sciences Through Collaboration & Innovation
Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health
Ushering in a New Era of Patient-Centric Treatment and Care
Institute for Precision Health
Join Us in Making an Impact
Discovery is part of our mission. That is why UC Irvine Health Affairs strives to attract and retain experts who push the boundaries in their fields. Your support of our research-driven initiatives will change the trajectory of healthcare to benefit patients here in Orange County and beyond.
We are seeking philanthropic partners to fund Star Cluster hires that will strengthen our entire research enterprise. A philanthropic investment can be allocated to a specific area of research to:
✦ Establish a named endowed chair with start-up funds to recruit a top-tier, renowned Star Cluster leader.
✦ Endow two named professorships to recruit Star Cluster faculty.
✦ Provide essential current-use seed funds and endowments for research and capital to launch and maintain the Star Cluster.
We invite you to join the UC Irvine community in our pursuit of a brilliant future. Collaboration drives our constant progress toward a greater tomorrow for all.
When you join us as a philanthropic partner, you will forever link your legacy to these distinguished Star Clusters and the impact of their innovative research. Philanthropic gifts will fund the recruitment and support of the Star Cluster leader and faculty.
In perpetuity, your name will be recognized with the work of the endowed chairs and their publications. We will further recognize your gift in a variety of UC Irvine news publications. To express our gratitude for your philanthropic investment, we will offer you the opportunity to become a member of UCI CareConnect+, our premier stewardship program for UCI Health donors.
