Newsroom Stories

By analyzing the DNA in more than 3,000 tumors, scientists led by Li Ding, PhD, at The Genome Institute have identified 127 repeatedly mutated genes that likely drive the growth of a range of cancers in the body. The discovery sets the stage for devising new diagnostic tools and more personalized cancer treatments.

WUSTL students, faculty and physicians and members of the community packed Brown Hall on Friday evening, Oct. 4, to hear Jonathan Gruber, one of the foremost authorities on the Affordable Care Act.

Groundbreaking study on African-American health in St. Louis, ‘For the Sake of All’ releases third brief recommending several areas mental health in the St. Louis region can be improved. Darrell Hudson, PhD, assistant professor of the Brown School and lead author of the study, emphasizes that a combined effort between government and private sector is necessary.

Nirupama Rao, Indian Ambassador to the United States, will speak about U.S. and India relations during a visit to the university Saturday, Oct. 19. Rao will present the McDonnell International Scholars Academy 2013 S.T. Lee Distinguished Lecture at 5:30 p.m. in Simon Hall’s May Auditorium. Rao’s lecture will serve as the capstone to the Washington University in St. Louis-Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Corporate Conclave.​

Ramanath Cowsik, internationally recognized for his contributions to neutrino physics and to the understanding of dark matter in the universe, was installed as the James S. McDonnell Professor of Space Sciences in Arts & Sciences in a ceremony Oct. 7 in Holmes Lounge.

At a ceremony held at Washington University on May 28, Debra Haire-Joshu, PhD, an internationally renowned researcher in obesity and diabetes prevention, received the dual honor of being installed as the first Joyce Wood Professor, which also happens to be the university’s first endowed professorship in public health.

New research at the School of Medicine shows that chronic itching, which can occur in many medical conditions, is different from the urge to scratch a mosquito bite. Chronic itching appears to incorporate more than just the nerve cells that normally transmit itch signals. In the image shown, researchers identified elevated signaling (in red) in nerve cells involved in both itch and in pain.

Valerie S. Ratts, MD, has been named the new associate dean for admissions at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, effective Jan. 1.

Sixty-five years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court — in a unanimous decision — ruled that housing covenants restricting home ownership based on race violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. The case was Shelley v. Kraemer. Leading the charge in that historic 1948 case was Margaret Bush Wilson, an African-American lawyer and civil rights activist. Margaret Bush Wilson’s legacy will be explored in a 1.0 credit CLE event, “Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of Shelley v. Kraemer and the Legacy of Margaret Bush Wilson: Where Are We Now?”, at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22,  in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom of Washington University School of Law. The celebration will feature Theodore M. Shaw, JD, professor of professional practice at Columbia University School of Law. The event is free and open to students, faculty, staff, and the community.

Leaders from two of the world’s top research universities and several major international corporations will gather in St. Louis Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19-20, for the Washington University in St. Louis-Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Corporate Conclave, aimed at strengthening the U.S.-India connection around innovation and education, particularly in addressing pressing global issues.