Newsroom Stories

Project ARK and The SPOT have been tapped as a model and mentor to what is hoped will be a similar center in East St. Louis. The new clinic, funded through a federal grant, will emulate The SPOT, a School of Medicine program that celebrated its fifth anniversary in September. The SPOT addresses health risks facing youth ages 13-24 by providing health, social support and prevention services free of charge. Pictured are the center’s medical director, Katie Plax (left), and Kim Donica, the executive director.

The neglected tropical disease known as river blindness is caused by the parasitic worm O. volvulus, pictured, and is spread by the bites of black flies that breed in fast-flowing rivers. Washington University scientists have received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop an improved diagnostic test for the disease, which is most common in sub-Saharan Africa.

American produce is shipped an average of 1,500 miles before reaching its point of sale. In St. Louis, the 14-acre Magic Chef complex sits empty and unused. Graduate student Haley O’Brien wants to address both problems by growing hydroponic tomatoes on The Hill, an historic Italian-American enclave that boasts some of the finest pasta sauces in the Midwest.

Mongolia is a hard land, a place of extremes, of mountains and deserts, of lost empires and tough survivors. On Oct. 20, the “blood brothers” of AnDa Union will bring the stirring, demanding and infectious Music of Inner Mongolia to St. Louis as part of the Edison Ovations Series.

Many deplore the vast scope of the National Security Agency sweep of private phone and electronic communications and question the balance and fairness of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court decisions about such activities. Others contend protection against terrorism requires such activities and that they must remain secret. Reacting to the public debate, President Obama seeks balance by establishing a spokesperson with the court to advocate for constitutional protection. A recent Huffington Post piece by Merton Bernstein, JD, professor of law emeritus at Washington University in St. Louis, says this move is desirable but not sufficient.

Global Health Week featured a visit with the former president and health minister of Ecuador, an international fair, and education about outreach efforts of Global Health Scholars and others. Pictured is Alfredo Palacio, MD, Ecuador’s former president and health minister, while visiting with Washington University students.

New alternative Transportation Coordinator Andrew Heaslet is meeting with departments and individuals to help commuters find workable options. A new website also helps commuters discover easy ways to get from there to here.

A laboratory testing kit that estimates the risk of breast cancer returning after anti-hormone treatment has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The technology is a step toward personalized medicine and could help standardize breast cancer diagnosis around the world. Researchers at the School of Medicine led the test’s development.

George Pepe, PhD, professor of classics in Arts & Sciences, received the David Hadas Teaching Award for his commitment to and excellence in teaching first-year undergraduates. On the WUSTL faculty for nearly 50 years, Pepe received the award Sept. 9 during the annual Arts & Sciences reception, held to celebrate the start of a new academic year, introduce new faculty and recognize the Hadas award winner.

Student Johnny Lee is bringing a taste of Washington University to his native Daejeon, South Korea. Lee just opened Johnny’s Pub, a place for pizza and pint. Beers on tap include Olin, Danforth, Wydown and Brookings. Lee studied business as a freshman, but returned home fulfill his military service obligation. He plans to come back (hopefully with a few growlers of the Brookings) once his service is complete.