Newsroom Stories

Washington University’s Department of Music in Arts & Sciences will present its annual sing-along of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in Graham Chapel. John Stewart, director of vocal activities, directs the program.

In the United States, caring for a child with special health care needs usually means higher medical expenses for a family — particularly for low-income families, who spend a disproportionally large share of their income on their child’s care. Yet the amount of financial burden for these families also depends on their state of residence, says Paul T. Shattuck, Ph.D., professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis. “The percentage of low-income families in a given state with out-of-pocket expenses that exceeded 3 percent of their income varied considerably according to state and ranged from 5 percent to 25. 8 percent (District of Columbia and Montana, respectively).” Video available.

A group at Washington University recently tackled a simple circuit in the visual processing area of a chicken’s brain that detects motion in its field of view — with surprising results.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is one of 10 programs nationwide to receive a $2.4 million grant to establish a scholars program. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grant establishes the medical school as a Women’s Reproductive Health Research Career Development Center.

Pancreatic tumors can be identified by a readily detectable marker that shows promise as a basis for immune therapy against the disease, according to research at the School of Medicine.

Washington University’s Department of Music in Arts & Sciences will present its annual sing-along of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in Graham Chapel. John Stewart, director of vocal activities, directs the program.

Research into Alzheimer’s disease seems an unlikely approach to yield a better way to fight urinary tract infections (UTIs), but that’s what scientists at the School of Medicine, and elsewhere report. One element links the disparate areas of research: amyloids, which are fibrous, sticky substances.

In conjunction with World AIDS Day, the School of Medicine’s Infectious Diseases Clinic will offer free, confidential HIV testing Monday, Nov. 30 – Thursday, Dec. 3, from 9 am – 4 pm. No appointment is necessary. Participants will receive a rapid HIV test using a finger prick to obtain a drop of blood. Results will be available 20 minutes after testing.

Should weather conditions create potentially hazardous travel conditions, Washington University will evaluate the situation and take into consideration the safety of the University’s faculty, staff and students as well as the services that must be provided despite the inclement weather. In the unlikely event that WUSTL alters the normal work and/or class schedule, an announcement will be posted on theWUSTL home page, and a number of media outlets also will air an announcement.

Richard M. Hazelton, Ph.D., professor emeritus of English in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. He was 91.