New snack foods nurture healthy gut microbiome

New research led by the School of Medicine has identified fiber ingredients for snack food prototypes that have been formulated to deliberately change the gut microbiome in ways that can be linked to health.

Male dragonflies lose their ‘bling’ in hotter climates

A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences led by Michael Moore, a postdoctoral fellow with the Living Earth Collaborative, finds that dragonfly males have consistently evolved less breeding coloration in regions with hotter climates.

Investigational Alzheimer’s drug improves biomarkers

In a phase 2/3 clinical trial led by School of Medicine researchers, an investigational Alzheimer’s drug reduced molecular markers of disease and curbed neurodegeneration in the brain without demonstrating evidence of cognitive benefit.

University recommits to American Talent Initiative

Washington University has renewed its commitment to the American Talent Initiative’s Accelerating Opportunity campaign, a nationwide effort to graduate an additional 50,000 low- and moderate-income students from ATI member colleges and universities by 2025.

Aagaard, Scheel, Stanton named vice chancellors

Three top administrators at the School of Medicine have been named vice chancellors. They are: Eva M. Aagaard, MD, for medical education; Paul J. Scheel Jr., MD (center), for clinical affairs; and Richard J. Stanton for medical finance and administration.

Notables

William Acree, professor of Spanish in Arts & Sciences, has been appointed interim co-director of the university’s Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity. Acree has served as an associate director since the center’s founding in 2019.

Notables

The Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum has received a $75,000 grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Inc. to support a major new installation by artist Nicole Miller.

Announcements

Update on international travel for fall semester

The university’s International Travel Oversight Committee recently announced an update to its international travel policy for faculty, staff and graduate and professional students starting Aug. 1.

Robert Wykes, professor emeritus of music, 95

Renowned composer Robert Wykes, professor emeritus of music in Arts & Sciences, died June 29 in St. Louis. He was 95. Wykes scored nearly 20 films, now part of the National Archives, for producer Charles Guggenheim. A memorial service will be held later.