Newsroom Stories

After preliminary success using artificial bone to replace degenerative spinal disks in the neck and lower back, neurosurgeons at the School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital are preparing a study to formally compare the performance of the synthetic material against that of real bone.

Despite lack of a key component of the immune system, a line of genetically engineered mice can control chronic herpes virus infections, researchers at the School of Medicine have found. Scientists suspect the missing component has a previously unrecognized backup that fills the void left by its absence. If so, that backup may become a new focus for efforts to design antiviral vaccines.

Washington University in St. Louis awarded honorary degrees to five prominent people, including a 2004 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry and a pioneering scholar of African and African-American literature, during the university’s 145th Commencement ceremony May 19. During the ceremony in Brookings Quadrangle, the university also bestowed academic degrees on more than 2,500 students.

Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis recognized the achievements of five alumni and a special friend at a ceremony May 19 in the Arts & Sciences Laboratory Science Building. Edward S. Macias, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor, dean of Arts & Sciences and the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences, presented Distinguished Alumni Awards to five individuals who have attained distinction in their academic or professional careers and have demonstrated service to their communities and to the university. Macias also presented the Dean’s Medal to John A. Berg, associate vice chancellor for undergraduate admissions, for his support and dedication to Arts & Sciences.

Fred U. Rosenberger, D.Sc., senior professor of computer science and engineering, died Sunday , May 14, 2006 , of pancreatic cancer at Bethesda Dilworth nursing home. He was 66.

The Right Honorable Sir John Major delivers the Commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis.Just because graduates have received their degrees does not mean that the learning process has stopped, Sir John Major told the graduating class of 2006 during the 145th Commencement at Washington University in St. Louis. The former prime minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland spoke to an audience of more than 13,000, including some 2,500 graduates, during the May 19 ceremony held in Brookings Quadrangle. “Learning continues well beyond academia. In the university of life, it never stops,” said Major, in his 25-minute Commencement address.

Cheers resound, smiles abound at Commencement – http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7205.html?e Student Commencement speaker Ravi emphasizes ‘culture of caring’ – http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7211.html?e University to host ‘Foundation for Innovation’ symposium – http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7214.html?e Med students, older adults communicate through art – http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7198.html?e Danforth Campus renaming events scheduled for fall – http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7225.html?e RECORD HOME PAGE: http://record.wustl.edu =============== Gallery of Graduates: Read profiles of some of the University’s most interesting graduates. – http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7221.html?e =============== MORE NEWS: Washington People — Mahendra Gupta: http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7224.html?e Medical News: http://record.wustl.edu/issue/page/normal/812.html?s=medicine Calendar: http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7222.html?e Notables: http://record.wustl.edu/issue/page/normal/812.html?s=notables Sports: http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7237.html?e =============== EDITOR’S NOTE: After this issue, the Record will phase into its monthly summer publication schedule. Look for the next issue in June. =============== CONTACT THE RECORD: – For general comments and story ideas, e-mail Kevin Kiley at recordeditor1@wustl.edu. – Have a Calendar item? Check out our Calendar guidelines: http://record.wustl.edu/guide.html. – Know a Washington University faculty or staff member or student who has recently been awarded a grant, received an award, spoken at a conference, been published in a journal? E-mail these and other items for our Notables section to Andy Clendennen at andyc@wustl.edu.

The School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital researchers will receive $300,000 annually for five years to study how infections are acquired in health-care settings.

There is no Campus Watch for this issue of the Record.

He recently entered “Light of Tomorrow,” a conceptual design competition sponsored by VELUX, the European skylight manufacturer.