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Medicine & Health

Age, obesity, dopamine appear to influence preference for sweet foods

As young people reach adulthood, preferences for sweet foods typically decline. But for people with obesity, research from the School of Medicine suggests that the drop-off may not be as steep and that the brain’s reward system operates differently in obese people than in thinner people. The findings are published in the journal Diabetes.

Olin names new assistant dean

The Olin Business School announced that Ruthie Pyles will join the school as assistant dean and director of graduate programs admissions and financial aid.
Medicine & Health

New insight into role of amyloid beta in Alzheimer’s disease

John Cirrito
New Alzheimer’s disease research details a technique that speedily measures levels in the brain of a damaging protein fragment, and insight into why mutations in a specific gene increase the risk of developing the disease. Both studies, from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, are available online in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Flags lowered to half-staff in memory of Florida victims

The U.S. and university flags over Brookings Hall are lowered to half-staff until sunset Thursday, June 16, as a mark of respect for those killed in the nightclub shooting June 12 in Orlando. Read the presidential proclamation. 
Campus & Community

Washington People: Caitlin Kelleher

Caitlin Kelleher photo
Caitlin Kelleher, the Hugo F. & Ina Champ Urbauer Career Development Associate Professor in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, focuses on how programming environments can support kids ages 10-17 to most effectively learn computer programming to help them develop problem-solving skills, express creativity and understand its relevance to nearly everything.
Medicine & Health

Probing proteins’ 3-D structures suggests existing drugs may work for many cancers

Examining databases of proteins’ 3-D shapes, scientists at School of Medicine have identified more than 850 DNA mutations that appear to be linked to cancer. The information may expand the number of cancer patients who can benefit from existing drugs. The study, published June 13 in Nature Genetics, detailed a list of the mutations and associated drugs that may work against them.

Pakrasi makes presentation on sustainable energy

Himadri Pakrasi, the Myron and Sonya Glassberg/Albert and Blanche Greensfelder Distinguished University Professor in Arts & Sciences and director of the International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability, presented the lead address at the “Sustainable and Affordable Energy Challenge for the World” symposium at Columbia University.