Health Happening wellness fair Oct. 28

Plan to visit this fall’s Health Happening health and wellness fair, titled “Walk this Way.” The fair will be held from 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in the McDonnell Pediatric Research Building atrium. It is open to university faculty, staff and students.

Fischer Duo at Danforth University Center Oct. 26

In a musical partnership stretching back nearly 40 years, the Fischer Duo has drawn critical acclaim for its performances of classical repertoire, for rediscovering neglected works of the past and for commissioning new works by contemporary composers. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, the Fischer Duo will showcase all three themes in a free concert for the Danforth University Center Chamber Music Series.

2011 WUSTL policy reminder

To ensure broad communication, certain key university policies are published on an annual basis in a special policy section of the Record. All members of the university community are essential to the continued endeavor for excellence in WUSTL’s teaching, research, service and patient-care missions.

Brain scans reveal drugs’ effects on attention

Dopamine scan
Scientists have developed a way to evaluate new treatments for some forms of attention deficit disorder. Working in mice, researchers at the School of Medicine showed that they can use brain scans to quickly test whether drugs increase levels of dopamine. The same group found that raising dopamine levels in mice alleviates attention deficits caused by neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a condition that affects more than 100,000 people in the United States.

Researchers block morphine’s itchy side effect

Itching is one of the most prevalent side effects of powerful, pain-killing drugs like morphine, oxycodone and other opioids. For many years, scientists have scratched their own heads about why the drugs so often induce itch while they are suppressing pain. Now researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown they can control the opioid-induced itching without interfering with a drug’s ability to relieve pain.  

Biswas installed as the Lucy & Stanley Lopata Professor

Pratim Biswas, PhD, is the new Lucy & Stanley Lopata Professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton installed him in a ceremony Monday, Oct. 10, in Whitaker Hall. Biswas, chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (EECE), is one of the world’s leading experts in aerosol science.

Advertising goes to the dogs

Nestlé Purina’s latest commercial for its Beneful dog food, aimed directly at canines by using high-frequency noises inaudible to humans, should serve to increase the bond owners feel with their pets, says a marketing expert at Washington University in St. Louis.

Jerome Cox, Jonathan Turner to receive 2011 Chancellor’s Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Jerome R. Cox Jr., ScD, senior professor, and Jonathan S. Turner, PhD, the Barbara J. and Jerome R. Cox, Jr. Professor, both in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, will receive the 2011 Chancellor’s Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship during the Faculty Achievement Awards ceremony at 6 p.m. Dec. 3 in Simon Hall Auditorium.