Newsroom Stories

More than 1,000 Oklahoma babies are receiving a $1,000 jumpstart on saving for college thanks to SEED for Oklahoma Kids (SEED OK), a seven-year study designed to determine the economic and educational impact of “seeding” a college savings account for children at birth. SEED OK, announced June 3 by Governor Brad Henry and State Treasurer Scott Meacham, is a collaboration between the Oklahoma State Treasurer and the Center for Social Development (CSD) at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis.

A goal of the Center for Social Development (CSD) at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis is to inform and influence a universal, progressive Child Development Account (CDA) policy in the United States. To reach this goal, CSD and partner organizations conceived and designed the project known as SEED for Oklahoma Kids or “SEED OK”.

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are the first to identify two proteins responsible for mechanosensitive ion channel activities in plant roots. Scientists have long known that plant cells respond to physical forces. Until now, however, the proteins controlling the ion channel response remained a mystery.

The Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC) announce a new partnership designed to advance research, teaching and cultural understanding. The agreement facilitates the creation of joint publications, conferences and research projects. It also establishes new and innovative exchange programs for faculty and students.

A recently released Department of Defense report shows a 50 percent increase in documented PTSD cases in 2007. Monica Matthieu, Ph.D., an expert on veteran mental health and an assistant professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis, says that “While it is important to know the number of men and women returning from war with PTSD, it is also critical that veterans and their family members know where to go to access mental health services.”

The proper timing of pregnancies, Washington University researchers say, can decrease a woman’s risk of having a baby born prematurely with a host of health problems.

Research is shedding new light on what happens in the brains of children and adults affected by clinical depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia, according to Washington University in St. Louis studies presented at a recent mental health symposium. The findings, which come as America celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, point to new treatment options for preschool-aged children with significant clinical depression and for severely depressed adults who don’t respond to standard treatments, such as antidepressants and psychotherapy.

When patches of red, flaky and itchy skin on newborn mice led rapidly to their deaths, researchers at the School of Medicine looked for the reason why. What they found was a molecular alarm system that serves as a sentinel to monitor the integrity of skin — the body’s essential protective barrier. The fatal effects of raising this alarm in the lab mice suggests generally that certain kinds of impairments to the skin’s structure can potentially trigger harmful effects in other areas of the body, according to the researchers.

StamilioDavid M. Stamilio, M.D., has been named director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the School of Medicine, effective July 1. Stamilio is replacing Yoel Sadovsky, M.D., who became director of the Magee-Womens Research Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. Stamilio’s appointment was announced by George Macones, M.D., chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Courtesy photo*Masked Marvels & Wondertales*Since 1973 the Edison Theatre OVATIONS! series has presented both new works and innovative interpretations of classical material by nationally and internationally renowned artists. The 2008-09 season, the Edison’s 36th, will feature more than a dozen dance, music and theatrical events — including several St. Louis and world premieres — designed to challenge, educate and inspire.