Newsroom Stories

As immigration reform once again heads to the front-burner of American politics, the nation’s politicians and voters have an opportunity to decide whether a fringe coalition of racist groups will once again be allowed to sabotage serious efforts to reach a rational compromise on critical immigration issues, suggests Robert W. Sussman, author of a new book on enduring scientific myths behind modern racism.

New research by Ting Wang, PhD, (left) and graduate student Vasavi Sundaram has uncovered some striking differences in the genomes of humans and mice that can help scientists determine when a mouse may be a good stand-in to study human biology and disease.

The antibiotic azithromycin may reduce the risk of recurrent wheezing in infants hospitalized with a common respiratory infection, according to a small pilot study at the School of Medicine. Reduced wheezing may lower an infant’s risk of developing asthma over the next several years, according to the researchers, including first author Avraham Beigelman, MD.

Washington University in St. Louis undergraduates Kilian Suchocki (left) and Taylor Francis take a shift on the dance floor during the 15th Dance Marathon, a 12-hour fundraiser held Nov. 15-16 at the Danforth University Center. The annual student event raised more than $150,000 for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

Rose Windmiller, assistant vice chancellor for government and community relations at Washington University in St. Louis, has been appointed a member of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s special Ferguson Commission. She is one of 16 members who were announced during a news conference held Nov. 18 at the Missouri History Museum.

L. Lewis Wall, MD, DPhil (right), has received a gold medal for his “meritorius contributions” to medical education at Mekelle University College of Medical and Health Sciences in Mekelle, Ethiopia. He is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Washington University School of Medicine and of anthropology in Arts & Sciences.

An investigational treatment for Marfan syndrome is as effective as the standard therapy at slowing enlargement of the aorta, the large artery of the heart that delivers blood to the body, according to a new study co-authored by Alan C. Braverman, MD. Slowing aortic growth in Marfan syndrome is important in protecting against the tearing of the aorta.

The second season of “The Frontline for Hope,” a documentary series following patients, families and clinicians at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, will premiere Saturday, Nov. 22. The series highlights School of Medicine physicians and staff and St. Louis Children’s patients and their families.

What: Dance Marathon, a benefit for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals​ When: 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 to 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 16 Where: The Danforth University Center (The DUC), Washington University in St. Louis Hundreds of students will dress up in colorful costumes to enjoy themed dance hours, performances, games and visits from Miracle kids […]

Scientists have mostly ignored mRNA, the molecule that ferries information from DNA to the cellular machines that make proteins, because these DNA transcripts are ephemeral and soon destroyed. But mRNA can be just as important as DNA scientists at Washington University in St. Louis say. They found that oxidized messenger RNA jams the cellular machines that make protein. The failure to clear the jams and chew up bad messengers is associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.