Washington University has launched the Center for Health Economics and Policy, which will be housed in the Institute for Public Health. The goal of the new center is to improve population health in America by encouraging health policy and economics research and dissemination.

Building on wireless technology that has the potential to interfere with pain, scientists have developed flexible, implantable devices that can activate — and, in theory, block — pain signals in the body and spinal cord before those signals reach the brain. The research is from scientists at the School of Medicine and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Arch Grants recently announced its latest cohort of awardees, and once again, Washington University had a strong showing among the selected startups. Of the 11 businesses awarded $50,000 capital funding grants, four have direct ties to the university.

The trial of former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Hotlzclaw, accused of 36 charges resulting from assaults against several black women while on duty, is underway. African-Americans make up about 16 percent of the population of Oklahoma County, but there are no black jurors serving. The jury selection process allowed for the controversial makeup, said criminal justice expert Peter Joy, JD.