Page 59 – The Source | Washington University in St. Louis

The drive

Rob King replaced a legend in the broadcast booth of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he was ready for his moment because, as he says, he spent a lifetime preparing for it.

Alumnus Rob King, an English literature major at WashU, has reached the pinnacle of Pittsburgh broadcasting as play-by-play announcer for the Steelers.

Performing Arts

Novel approach: Performance artist types Elkin’s ‘The Dick Gibson Show’ live on KWUR

As part of his “100 Novels Project,” performance artist Tim Youd is retyping, word for word, “The Dick Gibson Show,” Stanley Elkin’s novel about a late-night disc jockey, on KWUR, WashU’s student radio station. Assuming the role as overnight DJ himself, Youd will type until 5 a.m. every morning until May 1. This will be the 84th novel Youd has typed in full.

Medicine

Alternative to hip replacement keeps aging athletes in the game

WashU Medicine surgeons led a long-term study that showed patients who received a hip resurfacing procedure maintained a higher level of athletic activity years after their surgery than those who received a total hip replacement.

Cancer Research

Brain pathway links inflammation to loss of motivation, energy in advanced cancer

Researchers at WashU Medicine described, in mice, a brain pathway that connects the loss of motivation characteristic of advanced cancer to cancer-related inflammation and identified opportunities to block this pathway and restore motivation.

St. Louis Region

From brain science to basketball: WashU students engage and educate St. Louis children

Many WashU students volunteer with clubs committed to supporting St. Louis kids. Projects range from teaching hospital patients the science of slime to introducing elementary students to the joys of dance. All aim to get the next generation excited about learning.

Awards & Notables

Leuthardt, Mitra selected as AIMBE fellows

WashU Medicine’s Eric C. Leuthardt, MD, and Robi Mitra, PhD, have been named fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Engineering

Study to explore influence of estrogen on aortic aneurysm progression

Researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering will investigate the effect of estrogen on thoracic aortic aneurysm development and develop patient-specific biomarkers to manage the disease.

Medicine

Baldridge receives Global Grant for Gut Health award

Megan Tierney Baldridge, MD, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at WashU Medicine, received a $100,000 grant to explore the interactions between the viruses that infect bacteria, known as bacteriophages, and human intestinal epithelial cells.

Space

How to (theoretically) spot an alien

Physicist Mikhail Tikhonov in Arts & Sciences proposes an outside-the-box idea for detecting alien biology. His new study is published in Nature Communications.

Cultural Studies

‘Play Harder: The Triumph of Black Baseball in America’

In “Play Harder: The Triumph of Black Baseball in America,” WashU’s Gerald Early explores how Black Americans have shaped the game since its emergence during Reconstruction, from the formation of the Negro Leagues, through Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier and into the present day.