School of Medicine

Studying brain scans and cerebrospinal fluid of healthy adults, scientists have shown that changes in key markers of Alzheimer’s disease during midlife may help identify those who will develop dementia years later, according to new research.

David H. Perlmutter, MD, has been named executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. His tenure begins Dec. 1. A former Washington University faculty member, Perlmutter succeeds Larry J. Shapiro, MD, who is stepping down after leading the School of Medicine for 12 years.

Michael Mullins, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, recently completed the Harvard Global Clinical Scholars Research Training program through Harvard Medical School. The program provides clinicians and clinician-scientists advanced training in clinical research.

Premature babies are at an increased risk for developing autism spectrum disorder. But a small study indicates that preemies who avoid eye contact are less likely to demonstrate symptoms of autism at age 2 than preemies who maintain eye contact during early interactions, according to new research at the School of Medicine.

Rizwan Romee, MD, assistant professor of medicine, has received a three-year, $200,000 career development award from the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Jessica Wagenseil, DSc, associate professor of mechanical engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis, and Robert Mecham, PhD, the Alumni Endowed Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology at the School of Medicine and professor of medicine, of pediatrics and of biomedical engineering, received a four-year, $381,250 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research titled “Vessel Stiffening, Hypertension and Vascular Extracellular Matrix.”

Benjamin D. Humphreys, MD, PhD, a highly regarded physician and  scientist at Harvard Medical School, has been named the director of the Renal Division in the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine.

Project ARK , a Washington University School of Medicine program that provides health-care and support services for children and teens with HIV, will host an area designated for youth at St. Louis’ annual PrideFest, a three-day event downtown that begins Friday. Among activities at the site will be free HIV testing for anyone 25 or younger.

The acidity of urine — as well as the presence of small molecules related to diet — may influence how well bacteria can grow in the urinary tract, a new study shows. The research, led by Jeffrey Henderson, MD, PhD, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, may have implications for treating urinary tract infections, which are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide.

At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting May 1, several faculty members were appointed with tenure or promoted with tenure, effective July 1 unless otherwise indicated.