• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced that the National Science Foundation is bringing $18 million over six years to UC Santa Barbara’s Materials Research Laboratory, according to a July 7 statement from Carbajal’s office. UCSB’s Materials Research Laboratory has been deemed one of the top five materials research facilities in the world, and this funding will go toward supporting this world-class facility. This award will also help sustain ongoing projects to develop new processing methods to enable manufacturing of more sustainable and recyclable polymers and create biomaterials that utilize touch and movement for control. “As the Central Coast’s representative in Congress, it brings me great pride to witness all of the technological innovations taking place right here in our community. This new funding ensures that UCSB researchers will continue to open doors in scientific advancement while benefiting our entire community through the results of their work,” Carbajal said in a statement. “With these resources, our local community and businesses are able to gain access to top-tier facilities and cutting-edge research.” UCSB was one of nine institutions selected for this award, which designates the university as an NSF Research Science and Engineering Center.
• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) announced that California was awarded an initial $67 million in funding, the most of any state this year, through the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program, according to a July 6 statement from Padilla’s office. This funding—included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and modeled after Padilla’s POWER ON Act—will minimize the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters on California’s electrical grid while ensuring the benefits of clean, safe, affordable, and reliable energy are shared by all. Selected projects will be used to advance California’s goal of achieving 100 percent clean energy through resilience solutions that deploy zero-carbon energy resources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. “I’m proud that the critical funding secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, modeled off of my POWER ON Act, has brought home millions of dollars that will help California avoid shut-offs and keep the lights on,” Padilla said in the statement. “As once-in-a-generation weather events test the resiliency of our grid, these life-saving investments will ensure families—especially ones in disadvantaged communities—are not left in the dark.”
• The California Department of Health Care Access and Information issued a request for information for its naloxone initiative as the state continues to take critical action to fight the ongoing opioid crisis, according to a July 6 statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. The state aims to have low-cost, over-the-counter naloxone nasal products available and accessible across the state through the CalRx Initiative. Naloxone is an essential medication used to reverse opioid overdoses and save lives. Access to this medication is expected to improve with the recent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of Narcan, a 4-milligram naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray product, for over-the-counter use. However, California recognizes that this development may not sufficiently address the needs of those who are most vulnerable, such as low-income, uninsured, or underinsured individuals and their families. According to the governor’s office, a more affordable version of this medication is critical to making naloxone more accessible in communities across California. Under the CalRx Naloxone Access Initiative—unveiled by Newsom earlier this year—the state will allocate $30 million to support a partner, or partners, in developing, manufacturing, procuring, and/or distributing a naloxone nasal product under the CalRx label. “One more fatal overdose is one too many. California is tackling the opioid epidemic from all sides,” Newsom said in the statement. “Naloxone is, quite literally, a lifesaver—so we are making it more accessible and affordable for anyone who needs it.”
This article appears in Jul 13-23, 2023.