Newsroom Stories

Listed below are this month’s featured news stories. • Breaking down Alzheimer’s (week of Nov. 1) • Preventing transplant rejection (week of Nov. 8) • Predicting glaucoma (week of Nov. 15) • No-incision stomach stapling (week of Nov. 22) • Organ donor health (week of Nov. 29)

The large globules in the liver cells on the left are characteristic of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. The image on the right shows normal liver cells.Research performed at the School of Medicine sheds light on the mechanisms that contribute to liver disease in alpha-1-AT deficiency patients. People with alpha-1-deficiency have a genetic mutation that can lead to emphysema at an early age and to liver damage. Using an experimental mouse model of the disorder, the researchers investigated the effects of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) on liver injury.

School of Medicine researchers found that a malaria drug eased many symptoms of metabolic syndrome in mice. Study findings were published in the November issue of Cell Metabolism, and senior author Clay F. Semenkovich, M.D., professor of medicine and of cell biology and physiology, says funding for a clinical trial has been received.

The No. 2 volleyball team picked up three 3-0 wins Nov. 9-11 at the NCAA Central Region Championship at the Field House.

Results from School of Medicine research suggest that a drug could save millions in health-care costs by preventing immune attacks following kidney transplants.

Photo by Mary ButkusThe campus Knit-In brings together knitting enthusiasts from across campus and the community.

Photo by Tim ParkerThe Corpus Delicti: Just Desserts play analyzes the ethics of dissection using a life-sized cadaver from gelatin with fruits and vegetables for organs.

Robert Heider, Ph.D., adjunct professor of chemical engineering, and Milorad P. Dudukovic, Ph.D., the Laura and William Jens Professor and director of the Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory, have received a two-year, $111,650 grant from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville for research titled “Utilizing the National Corn to Ethanol Pilot Plant to Develop a Predictive Model for Distillers Dried Grain for the Fuel Ethanol and Animal Feed Industries.” … Roger J. Phillips, Ph.D., professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences, has received a three-year, $238,002 grant from NASA for research titled “Tharsis and the Geodynamical and Hydrogeological Evolution of Mars.” … Ibrahim M. Saeed, M.D., clinical cardiology fellow in internal medicine, received the 2006 Leadership Award from the American Medical Association Foundation. The award provides special training to develop their skills as future leaders in medicine. Saeed was one of 55 individuals, residents and fellows to receive the national award, which recognizes those who show outstanding non-clinical leadership skills in advocacy, community service and education, and provides special training to medical students, residents, fellows and physicians to develop their skills as future leaders in organized medicine. … Jacob Schaefer, Ph.D., the Charles Allen Thomas Professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences, has received a four-year, $420,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for research titled “Solid-state NMR Analysis of Chain Packing and Dynamics in Polycarbonates.”

F. Sessions Cole, M.D., has been named assistant vice chancellor for children’s health at the School of Medicine.

School of Medicine investigators have developed a model to identify patients at high risk of developing glaucoma.