New Alzheimer’s prevention trial in young people

The School of Medicine is launching an international clinical trial aimed at preventing Alzheimer’s in people genetically destined to develop the illness at a young age. This trial will enroll people before the disease has taken hold.

$11.5M commitment supports new Alzheimer’s trial

Philanthropist Joanne Knight has committed up to $11.5 million to the School of Medicine to support a clinical trial aimed at preventing Alzheimer’s disease by treating people before the first signs of the illness appear in the brain.

Growing algae outside of wastewater

Zhen (Jason) He, professor at the McKelvey School of Engineering, has cleaned up the process for using wastewater to grow algae. He used wastewater from University Dining Services to research algae-growing methods.

A pathway emerges

Scientists at Washington University described for the first time the structure of a bifunctional protein, called CcsBA, that transports heme and attaches it to cytochromes. The study was led by Robert Kranz, professor of biology in Arts & Sciences.

Scientists detect world’s lightest magnesium

A new isotope of magnesium — magnesium-18 — was discovered by a team that includes Robert Charity (left) and Lee Sobotka, both in Arts & Sciences, as reported in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Research Wire

Sachiko Amari, research professor of physics in Arts & Sciences, won a $973,810 award from NASA to support research on presolar graphite in CM chondrites.

Research Wire

Four faculty members in the Department of Neuroscience at the School of Medicine — Yao Chen, Thomas Papouin, Jason Yi and Guoyan Zhao — have been awarded their first R01 grants through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Announcements

Vaccine booster clinics offered for faculty, staff

The university is offering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster clinics for faculty and staff starting this week at the Athletic Complex on the Danforth Campus. The clinics are open to all university faculty and staff, but appointments are required.

Guido L. Weiss, professor emeritus of mathematics, 92

Guido L. Weiss, the Elinor Anheuser Professor Emeritus of Mathematics in Arts & Sciences, died Dec. 25 of Alzheimer’s disease. Weiss was a prominent mathematician, former chair of the math department and an active member of the university community. He was 92.