Page 37 – The Source | Washington University in St. Louis

Blood test ‘clocks’ predict when Alzheimer’s symptoms will start

WashU Medicine researchers have developed a method to predict when someone is likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease using a single blood test.

Aging

$80 million supports research into exceptional longevity

WashU Medicine researchers have received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue a study of families with a history of extreme longevity, seeking genetic clues to healthy aging.

Students

Lucas selected for Washington leadership program

WashU sophomore Courtney Lucas II has been selected by the Institute for Responsible Citizenship for its Washington Program, a selective, two-summer program for talented Black male college students.

History & Education

From the vault: Jesse Jackson on running for president

In a 1989 video digitized by WashU Libraries, Jackson reflects on his relationship with Martin Luther King Jr., his role in Chicago politics and how he found himself to be a presidential candidate. Jackson died Feb. 17 at age 84.

Obituaries

Kathleen Finneran, acclaimed memoirist, 68

Kathleen Finneran, senior writer-in-residence in the Department of English in Arts & Sciences, and author of the celebrated memoir “The Tender Land: A Family Love Story” (2000), died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. She was 68.

Awards & Notables

WashU recognized for its support of global research, international students

Members of the Class of 2027, WashU’s most diverse class yet, walk to Convocation Aug. 26. WashU’s 1,834 newest members represent all 50 states as well as 29 countries; 21% of students are Pell Grant-eligible; 17% are the first in their families to attend college; 53% identify as students of color; and 7% are from rural communities. (Photo: Sid Hastings/Washington University)

In recognition of its work to address complex global challenges and support international students and scholars, Washington University in St. Louis is a 2026 recipient of the Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Performing Arts

‘Ties that bind’

The Performing Arts Department will present Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Our Town” in Edison Theatre beginning Feb. 20. Though familiar to generations of audiences, the play’s pastoral setting can disguise its formal inventiveness, says director Andrea Urice.

Awards & Notables