Newsroom Stories

Photo by Kevin LowderAlejandra Ponce de Leon (left) and Senayt Rahwa act out a scene in the Black Anthology production of “Refrain: A Cautionary Tale” Feb 2-3 at Edison Theatre.

Researchers linked anticancer agents to a PET tracer to deliver treatment directly to tumors in mice (red and yellow shows highest amounts of tracer).Cancer cells keep growing because they don’t react to internal signals urging them to die. Now researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found an efficient way to get a messenger into cancer cells that forces them to respond to death signals. And they did it using one of the most sinister pathogens around — HIV.

Americans are bombarded with antismoking messages, yet at least 65 million of us continue to light up. Genetic factors play an important role in this continuing addiction to cigarettes, suggest scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. They show that certain genetic variations can influence smoking behaviors and contribute to a person’s risk for nicotine dependence.

Three early stage companies received commitments for funding and mentoring support at the annual Olin Cup Awards Ceremony Feb. 1. The top prize of $50,000 went to medical device company Neurolife. Two other companies received $20,000 in funding: Senetric, a company that developed software to reduce the cost of Radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor networks; and Smart DNA Solutions, a company that offers affordable genetic testing. The $5,000 student award went to Peter Braxton of Neurolife.

Newborns with respiratory distress should be evaluated for primary ciliary dyskinesia, a rare genetic disease that has features similar to cystic fibrosis, says Thomas Ferkol from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He reports finding that about 80 percent of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) have a history of newborn respiratory distress.

The acclaimed fiction writer is the author of five short story collections, most recently “Twilight of the Super Heroes: Stories” (2006).

Photo by Jennifer SilverbergAn enthusiastic crowd urges on Arts & Sciences sophomore Jake Galgon (center) at the St. Louis Indoor Rowing Championships Feb. 3 in Francis Gym. Washington University Crew and the St. Louis Rowing Club host the annual competition, which has averaged more than 100 participants a year for 12 years.

On January 18, 2007, Min-Sun Son, a dual-degree undergraduate student in biomedical and mechanical engineering logged on to Telesis, Washington University’s Web-based course management system. She recorded the one-millionth log on to Telesis since the program’s inception in the spring 2004 semester.

The center will provide support and training on empirical legal research to students and colleagues by offering courses and seminars in the law school, as well as training institutes for law school and social science faculty.

The program offers a step-by-step plan for quitting and does not use force or scare tactics.