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Mimicking diet changes of global travel reveals clues to gut health

With the growing understanding of the importance of gut bacteria in human health, researchers at the School of Medicine studied gut motility, measuring the transit time of food moving through the gastrointestinal tract in mice in a way that mimicked the dietary effects of world travel. The study demonstrates ways to uncover how even a single ingredient, such as turmeric, can affect health through interactions of diet and gut microbes.

Campus & Community

Wertsch named David R. Francis Distinguished Professor

James V. Wertsch, PhD, founding director of one of the most successful and innovative global scholarship programs in the world, has been named the inaugural David R. Francis Distinguished Professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Wertsch is vice chancellor for international affairs and director of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy.

Campus & Community

Weidenbaum Lecture Series to explore political polarization beginning Sept. 28

Political polarization — when public opinion goes to two extremes, without moderates or a real middle ground — is the focus of a lecture series that kicks off Monday, Sept. 28, with a talk by Steven S. Smith, PhD, director of the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government and Public Policy at Washington University in St. Louis.

Medicine & Health

Cells’ lack of glucose dulls immune system’s ability to fight cancers

Cancers have many strategies for avoiding attacks from the immune system. But the more scientists are able to understand about them, the more effectively they will be able to use the immune system to fight cancer. To that end, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a new strategy.

Campus & Community

Dissemination and Implementation Speaker Series begins Sept. 30

The Center for Dissemination and Implementation at the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis kicks off its 2015-16 speaker series Sept. 30 with talk from Ross A. Hammond, PhD, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, on policy factors that influence health.

Business & Entrepreneurship

Big data, big interest

Crunching big data, especially from social networking sites, is one of the hottest areas of study in business schools right now. A new center at Washington University in St. Louis is teaching students best practices when it comes to data mining and analysis. Seethu Seetharaman, PhD, the W. Patrick McGinnis Professor of Marketing, is the center’s director.

Arts & Culture

Inside the Hotchner Festival: Cary Simowitz

In “The Divine Buoyancy of Being,” Cary Simowitz explores what happens when youthful dreams collide with economic reality, entry-level positions and the unintended consequences of a governmental shutdown.

Campus & Community

Washington University to host presidential debate Oct. 9, 2016

Washington University in St. Louis will play a prominent role in the national political conversation when it hosts a presidential debate on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. The schedule of four debates — three presidential and one vice presidential — was announced Sept. 23 by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).

Media Advisory: Washington University to announce major event for St. Louis

Mark S. Wrighton, chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis, will announce an event of major importance to the St. Louis region during a news conference at noon Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Athletics Complex Field House.

Campus & Community

‘Great for St. Louis, great for the nation’

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton shared news that Washington University in St. Louis has been selected for a record sixth time to host a debate. In a nod to how the world has changed since our first debate in 1992, he and other leaders gathered at the Field House to spread the news donned ball caps bearing the hashtag #WashUdebate2016.