People with diabetes often develop clogged arteries that cause heart disease. New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that when vitamin D levels are adequate in people with diabetes, blood vessels are less likely to clog. But in patients with insufficient vitamin D, immune cells bind to blood vessels near the heart, then trap cholesterol to block those blood vessels.
The School of Medicine has received a $50 million grant to help speed the translation of scientific discoveries into improvements in human health. The grant supports the School of Medicine’s Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, led by Bradley A. Evanoff, MD.
Over the course of 30-plus years and more than 20 documentaries, Ken Burns’ films have illuminated the country’s past and brought history to life through techniques such as first person narration. For these lasting contributions, Burns will receive WUSTL’s International Humanities Medal. The event on Friday, Nov. 16, includes a preview and commentary of his upcoming films.
The No. 3 women’s soccer team advanced to the Sweet 16 with a pair of victories at home last weekend. WUSTL advances to the sectional semifinals for the second-straight season and will take on No. 14 Concordia College (Moorhead) at 3 p.m. Friday at Francis Field. The Bears will host the NCAA Sectional for the first time in school history. In the other Sectional semifinal Friday, No. 2 Hardin-Simmons University will take on No. 11 Wheaton College (Ill.) at 5:30 p.m.
The region’s first maternal-fetal transport service that includes both obstetrics and pediatrics expertise is being launched this month by the School of Medicine and St. Louis Children’s and Barnes-Jewish hospitals.
Nov. 12-16 is Geography Awareness Week at WUSTL. The Geographic Information Systems office at WUSTL is sponsoring a number of sessions highlighting resources available through the university. Attendees can learn how to organize, analyze and present spatial information.
On November 8, 2012, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton announced the appointment of three new science envoys, including
Barbara Schaal, the Mary-Dell Chilton Distinguished Professor of
Biology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. The science envoys travel in their capacity as private
citizens and advise the White House, the U.S. Department of State, and
the U.S. scientific community about the insights they gain from their
travels and interactions.
Acclaimed poet Carl Phillips will help relaunch WUSTL’s Modern Literature Reading Series when he does a reading of the late poet Robert Creeley’s work at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12. The event, which is sponsored by University Libraries’ Department of Special Collections, will also feature two master of fine arts students reading the work of two 20th-century poets.
Excitement is building at WUSTL in anticipation of hosting the 2013 Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) next April. CGI U application workshops are under way and two graduate biology students are seeing their hard work from CGI U 2012 come to life through their initiativecalled ProSPER. The next CGI U application workshops are Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 12 and 13.
