Newsroom Stories

Archaeologists from Washington University in St. Louis discovered evidence for domestic yak in the Tibetan Plateau dating back 2,500 years.

Smoking shrinks the brain and effectively causes premature brain aging, according to a study by researchers at the School of Medicine. The findings help explain why smokers are at high risk of age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

David T. Curiel, MD, PhD, and James W. Janetka, PhD, professors at the School of Medicine, have been elected fellows of the National Academy of Inventors.

A woman who never developed Alzheimer’s despite a strong genetic predisposition may hold the key to stopping the disease in its tracks. Researchers at the School of Medicine found clues that could help cut the link between the early, asymptomatic stage and the late stage, when cognitive decline sets in.

Washington University in St. Louis researchers will adapt their COVID-19-detecting breathalyzer to one that can also screen for common seasonal viruses with a two-year $3.6 million grant from Flu Lab. With the funding, they plan to take the technology from bench into clinical trials with the goal of preparing the handheld rapid screening breath test for commercial application and FDA registration.

Bayard Rustin was the little-known architect behind the 1963 March on Washington, a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement. A new movie, “Rustin,” tells his story. In a video digitized by University Libraries, Rustin explained why the march mattered.

The Brown School’s Paz Galupo, whose research focuses on the intersection of sexual orientation and gender identity, has been installed as the Audre Lorde Distinguished Professor in Sexual Health & Education.

WashU will begin to roll out Workday Student, the replacement for most of the university’s student information systems, next fall. To learn what is changing and to preview the system, faculty and staff are encouraged to register for Workday Student “Sneak Peeks,” a monthly webinar series beginning in January.

A committee comprised of WashU faculty and staff, along with key community partners, is working to identify the Confluence Collaborative’s inaugural faculty executive director.

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Abuja in Nigeria have received grants to work with community organizations in St. Louis and Abuja to improve cardiovascular health during and after pregnancy.