Author: Kelly Wiese Niemeyer

Collins E. Lewis, MD, associate professor emeritus of psychiatry at the School of Medicine, has received the 2020 National Citizen Scientist Cornerstone Award from the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation. He was honored in recognition of his extraordinary efforts to support Alzheimer’s research by participating in and promoting diversity in clinical trials.

Toast of WU, one of three Toastmasters clubs at Washington University in St. Louis, attained Toastmasters International’s president’s distinguished level, the highest performance level achievable. In addition, some members achieved awards and served in Toastmasters leadership roles for the St. Louis district. 

Applications are open for the Global Impact Award competition, which awards up to $50,000 to Washington University students, postdoctoral researchers and recent alumni whose ventures are scalable and sustainable with a broad impact. 

Carl J. DeSelm, MD, PhD, assistant professor of radiation oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received the 2020 Agilent Early Career Professor Award. The honor recognizes early-career investigators who have made major research contributions in their respective fields and show outstanding potential to continue making key future discoveries.

The School of Medicine is a testing site for a phase 3 clinical research study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an investigational COVID-19 vaccine candidate from the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies. The school will enroll up to 500 adults ages 18 and older in the St. Louis region.

With so many university meetings and classes continuing to be held via Zoom, the Office of Public Affairs created a new set of WashU-themed virtual backgrounds with fall and winter themes for the community to use.

The Office of Sustainability has updated its virtual tour of campus sustainability features to include the various buildings and elements of the recently completed east end project. 

Simona Sarafinovska, a Washington University Medical Scientist Training Program student, has been named the inaugural recipient of The brAvery Foundation Award. The foundation, dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide, created the award to recognize an exceptional medical student or resident who has demonstrated a commitment to a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. 

Question: Charles M. Rice won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine this month for work he conducted while on the School of Medicine faculty. What was the medical advancement that warranted the Nobel?

The Office of Sustainability is holding electronics recycling drives and lightbulb swaps. They will take place Oct. 29 on the Medical Campus and Nov. 5 on the Danforth Campus.