Page 873 – The Source | Washington University in St. Louis

$10 million gift supports personalized medicine

The School of Medicine has received a $10 million commitment from longtime benefactors George and Debra Couch to support research that advances personalized medicine. In recognition of their generosity, the research building at 4515 McKinley Ave. has been named the Debra and George W. Couch III Biomedical Research Building.

Humanities & Society

WashU Expert: House GOP tax proposal ‘death of neutrality’ for international tax system

The U.S. House of Representatives Republican tax proposal, released Nov. 2, would institute a number of wholesale changes to the American tax code, including the end of neutrality in the international tax system, says an expert on international tax law at Washington University in St. Louis.

Sam Fox School students win National Organization of Minority Architects competition

A team from the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts took first place in the National Organization of Minority Architects’ (NOMA) annual Student Design Competition.

Campus & Community

Leggett: Teaching students to ‘live amongst difference’

Washington University Student Affairs and Residential Life leaders will lead a panel that explores ways to support students impacted by crises from natural disasters to racist propaganda. The panel, lead by Kawanna Leggett, executive director of residential life, is part of the annual Residential College Symposium.

Campus & Community

Obituary: Milton J. Schlesinger, professor emeritus, 89

Milton J. Schlesinger, professor emeritus of molecular microbiology at the School of Medicine, died of heart failure Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at his home in Berkeley, Calif., after a long period of illness. He was 89.

Medicine & Health

In autism, too many brain connections may be at root of condition

A defective gene linked to autism influences how neurons connect and communicate with each other in the brain, according to a study from the School of Medicine. Rodents that lack the gene form too many connections between brain neurons and have difficulty learning.

Film festival presents Ward-Brown’s ‘Never Been a Time’

“Never Been a Time,” a documentary film by Denise Ward-Brown, associate professor in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, will be screened Nov. 5 as part of the 26th annual St. Louis International Film Festival.

Wysession authors schoolkids’ new science programs

As a lead co-author of the K-12 Next Generation Science Standards being adopted by more than three-quarters of U.S. schools, Michael Wysession, professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences, is presenting an innovative “Elevate Science” instructional program published in October through Pearson Education.

Memorial service for student Gregory Paul Smith Jr. planned Saturday

A memorial service for Gregory Paul Smith Jr., who was entering his junior year at Washington University in St. Louis, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Women’s Building Formal Lounge. Smith died July 27, 2017, while studying abroad in London. He was 20.

Humanities & Society

WashU Expert: Is a bipartisan approach to fixing Obamacare feasible?

The bipartisan bill proposed by U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray, aimed at shoring up the troubled health insurance markets, has some approaches that would help fix the marketplaces, but more changes are needed, says a health economist at Washington University in St. Louis.