‘Stride boldly through the portal of the pandemic’

Julie L. Gerberding, MD, the first woman to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, addressed the pandemic Class of 2020 on May 30, imploring them to apply the unique lessons learned during the past 15 months.

Class of 2020 reunites for delayed ceremony

More than 1,300 members of the Class of 2020 returned to the Danforth Campus on May 30 to celebrate an in-person Commencement on Francis Olympic Field.

Electric fish pause before communicating key points

Biologist Bruce Carlson in Arts & Sciences draws parallels between human language and electric communication in fish. His new research published in Current Biology reveals an underlying mechanism for how pauses allow neurons in the midbrain to recover from stimulation.

Delaying lung cancer surgery associated with higher risks

New research from the School of Medicine shows that postponing lung cancer surgery for more than 12 weeks from the date of diagnosis with a CT scan is associated with a higher risk of recurrence and death.

WHO accepts COVID-19 reform recommendations

A report on COVID-19 reforms convened by the School of Law’s Harris Institute, in partnership with the McDonnell International Scholars Academy, was accepted by a World Health Organization panel working on a pandemic preparedness report.

Research Wire

Peter M. Burgers, at the School of Medicine, received a five-year $3.5 million renewal grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his research titled “Mechanisms of DNA replication and maintenance in eukaryotes.”

Research Wire

A multidisciplinary team at Washington University led by Hong Chen has developed a new brain stimulation technique using focused ultrasound that is able to turn specific types of neurons in the brain on and off and precisely control motor activity without surgical device implantation.

Announcements

Open parking in effect

Parking and Transportation Services has moved to open parking operations on the Danforth Campus. Parking is now complimentary in visitor and yellow designated parking spaces. Normal operations will resume Aug. 16.

Announcements

Outdoor BearFit classes now available

The Office of Recreation is hosting a variety of outdoor BearFit classes this summer on the third floor of the Snow Way parking garage. Anyone with a WUSTLkey can register and participate.

David Patterson Silver Wolf, associate professor, 57

David Patterson Silver Wolf, associate professor at the Brown School, died May 14 in hospice in St. Louis after being diagnosed with cancer last fall. He was 57. Patterson Silver Wolf’s research focused on substance abuse recovery and advocating for underrepresented minority college students.

John Turk, endowed professor of endocrinology, 73

John Turk, MD, PhD, a pioneer in mass spectrometry research and a deeply respected faculty member at the School of Medicine, died May 26 in Eureka, Mo., after a brief illness. He was 73. Visitation will be Thursday, June 3, in Kirkwood, Mo., with funeral services June 4.