UCLA Depression Grand Challenge Director Nelson Freimer, MD, participated in a summit centered on the launch of a new UCLA mental health initiative, Hope Connects Us, at UCLA on Feb. 23, 2026. The initiative aims to expand prevention and early support resources, strengthen the coordination of campus mental health services, and ensure effective care for students in crisis.

Freimer participated in an expert panel alongside DGC-affiliated researcher Daniel Eisenberg, PhD, and Nicole Presley, PhD, UCLA senior executive director of student resilience and mental health services. The panel discussed key research findings, national trends, campus-specific data and challenges, and prevention strategies and best practices.

Chancellor Julio Frenk — who has championed the importance of sustaining transformative research and serves as DGC Leadership Council co-char — referred to campus researchers, clinicians, faculty, staff and student leaders as a “remarkable brain trust” for advancing the field of mental health and for strengthening the systems that support UCLA students. 

Read more about the campaign at UCLA Newsroom, or read Frenk’s full remarks at the UCLA Office of the Chancellor website.