Notables

Weikai Li, PhD, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received a two-year, $143,000 grant from the American Heart Association for research titled “Mechanism of VKOR Function and Warfarin Inhibition.”

Andrew Gott, teacher of applied music, bassoon, and Adrianne Honnold, teacher of applied music, saxophone, both in Arts & Sciences, were featured in recent performances with the St. Louis Symphony.

David M. Ornitz, PhD, MD, the Alumni Endowed Professor of Developmental Biology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received a three-year, $300,000 grant from the March of Dimes Foundation for research titled “Mechanisms of FGF Signaling in Cochlear Development.”

Spencer Lake, PhD, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis, has received a one-year, $19,919 grant from the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons to study the causes of stiffness and tightening, or contracture, of the joint after an injury to the elbow, called post-traumatic joint stiffness.

Kelly Monk, PhD, assistant professor of developmental biology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received three nerve research grants.

Shelli Kastin, head of publishing production services at Washington University Libraries, received the Jackie Kaiser Volunteer Award in November from the nonprofit agency Provident for her nine years of service as a peer facilitator of Survivors of Suicide support group meetings.

Gaya Amarasinghe, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and immunology and of biochemisry and molecular biophysics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received three grants from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Thaddeus Stappenbeck, PhD, MD, and Matthew Ciorba, MD, assistant professor of medicine, both of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, have received a one-year, $152,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Oregon Health & Science University for research titled “Influence of Gene-environment Interactions on Innate Immune Function.”

Shankar Sastry, PhD, professor of engineering, has been awarded the Hind Rattan Award from the NRI Welfare Society of India. The award recognizes nonresident Indians who have made exceptional contributions to society.

Rebecca Copeland, PhD, is one of two winners of the 2014-15 Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature for her translation of Kirino Natsuo’s “The Goddess Chronicle.” She is chair of the East Asian Languages and Cultures Department in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.