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Of note

Christina Gurnett, M.D., Ph.D., instructor in neurology, has received a one-year, $50,000 grant from the American Epilepsy Society for research titled “Determination of Seizure Susceptibility Gene Common to Mendelian and Complex Epilepsy.” … Elaine Majerus, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine, has received a one-year, $60,000 grant from the Edward Mallinckrodt Jr. Foundation for research titled “Study of Characterization of ADAMTS13 and Its Interaction with Endothelial Cells.” … Thomas Meuser, Ph.D., research assistant professor of neurology, has received a one-year, $58,979 grant from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety for research titled “Medical Fitness to Drive & a Voluntary State Reporting Law.” … Rakesh Nagarajan, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology and immunology, has received a one-year, $50,000 grant from Microsoft Research for research titled “Function Express Gold: A caBIG Grid-aware Microarray Analysis Application.”

Campus Watch

Feb. 6 2:31 p.m. — A student observed concrete falling from a 50 foot overhang located on Jolley Hall and striking the hood of a vehicle parked on Throop Drive, causing damage to the vehicle. No injuries were reported. Maintenance and Environmental Health and Safety were informed of this incident. Transportation responded to the scene and blocked off the area. 7:52 p.m. — Property was stolen from an unsecured, open dressing room in the lower level of Mallinckrodt Student Center during rehearsal. Total loss is estimated at $290.
Arts & Culture

Free symphony orchestra concert Feb. 11

KWUR (90.3 FM), Washington University’s student-run radio station, will launch KWUR WEEK, a series of on-campus events, with a free concert by four of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra’s newest—and youngest—players. The program will include string quartets by Franz Joseph Haydn and Johannes Brahms.
Medicine & Health

Eberlein receives Sheen Award for his contributions to medicine

EberleinTimothy Eberlein received the 2006 Dr. Rodman L. Sheen and Thomas G. Sheen Award, given each year for outstanding contributions to the medical profession. Eberlein is Bixby Professor and chairman of the Department of Surgery, the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor and director of the Siteman Cancer Center at the School of Medicine and surgeon-in-chief at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

All the world’s a stage

Photo by Kevin LowderAlejandra Ponce de Leon (left) and Senayt Rahwa act out a scene in the Black Anthology production of “Refrain: A Cautionary Tale” Feb 2-3 at Edison Theatre.
Medicine & Health

HIV protein enlisted to help kill cancer cells

Researchers linked anticancer agents to a PET tracer to deliver treatment directly to tumors in mice (red and yellow shows highest amounts of tracer).Cancer cells keep growing because they don’t react to internal signals urging them to die. Now researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found an efficient way to get a messenger into cancer cells that forces them to respond to death signals. And they did it using one of the most sinister pathogens around — HIV.
Medicine & Health

Studies identify DNA regions linked to nicotine dependence

Americans are bombarded with antismoking messages, yet at least 65 million of us continue to light up. Genetic factors play an important role in this continuing addiction to cigarettes, suggest scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. They show that certain genetic variations can influence smoking behaviors and contribute to a person’s risk for nicotine dependence.