Newsroom Stories

Members of the Eliot Society, who provide the largest source of unrestricted support to Washington University, gathered at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel April 21. Former first lady Laura Bush was keynote speaker, and the society’s Search Award was presented this year to retired medical school dean Larry Shapiro. Eliot Society president Gil Bickel welcomed the group of 700 and introduced the keynote speaker, former First Lady Laura Bush, who is a life-long advocate for literacy and education.

Extended use of drugs to treat heartburn, ulcers and acid reflux may lead to serious kidney damage, including kidney failure, according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System.

Consuming a high-fructose diet during pregnancy may cause defects in the placenta and restrict fetal growth, potentially increasing a baby’s risk for metabolic health problems later in life, according to research in mice and people by a team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

A study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis describes a newborn screening test that identifies infants with Niemann-Pick type C, an often fatal condition in which cholesterol builds up and eventually destroys brain cells. Early detection may save lives and improve prospects for managing the disease.

An ongoing experiment — an “architectural twin study” — conducted by students, faculty and staff at Washington University on two 100-year-old St. Louis brick buildings produced some remarkable results.

IDEA Labs, a student-run bioengineering and design incubator started at Washington University in St. Louis, will expand its national reach through a partnership with the American Medical Association. The collaboration is aimed at supporting cutting-edge medical technology development from the next generation of young entrepreneurs.

The dramatic 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal one year ago left behind a landscape littered with crumbled homes, buildings and roads. While infrastructure can be rebuilt, the disaster may have a more lasting impact on the nation’s culture, suggests an interdisciplinary team studying the aftermath as part of a rapid response grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Feeding premature babies mostly breast milk during the first month of life appears to spur more robust brain growth, compared with babies given little or no breast milk, finds researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Cathy Rodgers, former fashion design faculty member in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, died April 6 at her home in Ladue. She was 87. She taught tailoring and pattern-making to generations of designers, including such fashion luminaries as Carolyne Roehm, Kay Unger, Judd Waddell and Paul Dillinger.

Engineers at Washington University in St. Louis are using nanoparticle technology in an effort to meet the ever-increasing demand for food. Their innovative technique boosts the growth of a protein-rich bean by improving the way it absorbs nutrients, while reducing the need for fertilizer.