Grants fund drug development for tropical diseases

With two grants totaling more than $5.5 million, School of Medicine researchers are working to develop new treatments for river blindness and intestinal worm infections, devastating parasitic infections common in sub-Saharan Africa and Central and South America.

Schools partner for women’s health tech initiative

Researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering and the School of Medicine are launching the Women’s Health Technologies Initiative, which will focus on innovative therapies supporting female reproductive health.

Samuels explores the forces reshaping infrastructure

In cynical times, optimism gets a bad rap. But in her new book, “Infrastructural Optimism,” the Sam Fox School’s Linda C. Samuels argues that optimism is a critical driver of public investment, societal progress and — perhaps — democracy itself.

WashU Experts on future for Ukraine, Kazakhstan

With decades of combined experience in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, social anthropologists Michael Frachetti and James V. Wertsch in Arts & Sciences share their perspectives on the future of these countries following unrest.

Notables

Amye Kim, former director of capital budget and debt at Princeton University, has been appointed associate vice chancellor for finance and treasurer, according to Amy B. Kweskin, executive vice chancellor for finance and chief financial officer.

Notables

The Center for the Humanities in Arts & Sciences recently announced its 2022-23 cohort of faculty fellows. They are: Javier García-Liendo, Lauren Eldridge Stewart and Lori Watson (fall 2022); and Heather Berg, Stephanie Li and Samuel Shearer (spring 2023).

Research Wire

Roberto Galletto at the School of Medicine received a five-year $2.1 million MIRA grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study DNA helicases.

Announcements

Call for honorary degree nominations

It’s time to nominate honorary degree candidates for the May 2023 Commencement. University faculty, staff, students and alumni are encouraged to suggest worthy candidates, from which Commencement speakers also are selected. The deadline is Feb. 1.