Around Town: UC Irvine researchers receive $1.3-million JDRF grant
Two UC Irvine researchers have received a nearly $1.3-million grant from JDRF.
Elliot Botvinick and Jonathan Lakey will use the money to optimize their design for a pancreatic islet implantation device, which could eliminate the need to take lifelong anti-rejection drugs.
“Perhaps the greatest challenge in the field of islet transplantation is to make the metabolic benefits available to patients with Type 1 diabetes without the need for chronic immunosuppression,” Lakey said in a statement. “I believe that this approach has great promise for realizing our goal, and this welcome support from the JDRF should speed our progress.”
Mariners Christian enters year two of fundraising for Gulu
Students of Mariners Christian School in Costa Mesa plan to begin their second year of fundraising to help communities in Gulu, Uganda with a Lunch on the Lawn event Friday at campus for Mariners families to attend.
In June, the school collected $25,000 for the Christ the Center Ministries in Gulu, which helped build two classrooms in a middle school and fund a feeding program.
This year, Mariners’ goal is to help build a chapel and auditorium for the school.
Mesa grad hired as O.C. fairgrounds executive
Adam Carleton has been hired by the O.C. Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa as its new vice president of finance and administration.
Carleton will oversee the state-run fairgrounds’ accounting, finance, purchasing and contracts, and also establish financial and administrative programs, policies and controls, according to a news release.
Carleton, a Costa Mesa High School and Orange Coast College alumnus, lives in Huntington Beach. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cal State Long Beach.
“I am thrilled and honored to be part of this world-class venue,” Carleton said in a statement. “It is a wonderful facility with a host of activities. Orange County is a dynamic area with a diverse population, and I look forward to putting my business experience to work so more of our community can enjoy the O.C. Fair & Event Center.”
Chabad Center to host free High Holiday services
The Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Newport Beach is hosting free community High Holiday services and children’s programs.
The services are geared to the tens of thousands of unaffiliated Jewish families in Orange County, according to a news release.
“Many families don’t attend services because the synagogue environment is foreign to them,” said Rabbi Reuven Mintz in a statement. “There is a need to reach out and ensure that they too are welcomed to services on these holiest days of the Jewish year.”
For reservations and more information, visit www.JewishNewport.com or call (949) 721-9800.