Author: Chris Amelung

As the frightful holiday of Halloween approaches, a physician and ethicist at Washington University School of Medicine would have us asking questions first posed by the teenage author of a timeless scary story: Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. This riveting tale is often portrayed as a horror story of gruesome thrills. However, Ira Kodner, director of Washington University’s Center for the Study of Ethics and Human Values, thinks Shelley’s seminal novel foreshadows many of the ethical, medical and social challenges our society confronts today.

The School of Medicine is participating in the largest study of child and human health ever conducted in the United States. The National Institutes of Health has selected the city of St. Louis and Macoupin County, Ill., as sites for the National Children’s Study, an extensive population-based study looking at the health and development of children by following them from before birth to adulthood.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility Wednesday, November 14 7 – 8:30 p.m. Eric P. Newman Education Center, Seminar Room B 320 South Euclid Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110 Infertility is an issue facing many people who dream of becoming parents. Join us for this free lecture featuring reproductive endocrinologists from the Washington University Infertility and […]

Thursday, May 20 The School of Medicine is hosting a reception for graduates and their families and guests from 5-7 p.m. May 20 in the Atrium/Hearth of the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center (FLTC). The FLTC is located on the School of Medicine campus at 520 S. Euclid. Surface parking is available on McKinley Avenue […]

Dean Larry Shapiro spoke recently to School of Medicine staff about new initiatives underway at the institution and future plans. He outlined multidisciplinary research collaborations among scientists to investigate the causes of illness, including neurological disorders, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Listed below are this month’s featured news stories. • Peanut-butter staves off starvation (week of Sept. 5) • Self-managing diabetes (week of Sept. 12) • Genes and blood thinners (week of Sept. 19) • Dangers of crib bumper pads (week of Sept. 26)

Psychiatry researchers at the School of Medicine have had good results in early research using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat patients with depression. Now they are testing TMS as a potential treatment for new mothers with post-partum depression.

More than 30 million Americans suffer from debilitating migraine headaches, but a current worldwide clinical trial may have many on the road to relief. Closing a small hole in the heart has already alleviated migraine symptoms for a group of stroke patients, says WUSM physician John Lasala. Now, a clinical trial of hundreds of patients is trying to better gauge the effectiveness of the procedure.

Sign up today to donate blood or volunteer at Washington University’s first campus-wide blood drive. The event will be held Tuesday, September 11 at 12 locations and a variety of times to fit your schedule. All students, staff, and faculty are invited to articipate in this exciting effort, where one hour of your time as a blood donor can save up to three lives.

In an effort to create more diversity at the research bench, eight college students – all minorities majoring in science – spent their summer in St. Louis, getting their first laboratory research experience as part of the Genome Sequencing Center’s new Opportunities in Genomics Research summer program.