UCSF Innovation Translates Discovery into Life-Saving Diagnostics
June 26, 2026
Diagnosing infections of the brain and central nervous system can be one of medicine's greatest challenges. Patients may be critically ill, yet traditional testing often requires clinicians to guess which pathogen is responsible and order multiple targeted tests. This process can take days or even weeks, delaying treatment when every hour matters. For patients with life-threatening infections, a delayed or missed diagnosis can have devastating consequences.