School of Medicine

Huntington’s disease is a devastating, incurable disorder that results from the death of certain neurons in the brain. Rohit Pappu, PhD, and colleagues in the engineering and medical schools are conducting studies to learn from nature’s own strategies to battle the disease.

Widely used treatments for type 2 diabetes have different effects on the hearts of men and women, even as the drugs control blood sugar equally well in both sexes, according to researchers at the School of Medicine. The investigators used PET scans to measure heart and whole-body metabolism in patients taking common diabetes drugs. Pictured are researchers Janet B. McGill, MD, and Robert J. Gropler, MD.

Students from the School of Medicine and Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences recently shared their musical talents at the fall coffeehouse at the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center. Coffeehouses are hosted by the School of Medicine Arts Commission. Shown are Charise Garber (on piano) and her sister, Kristen Garber.

Human breast tumors transplanted into mice are excellent models of metastatic cancer and are providing insights into how to attack breast cancers that no longer respond to the drugs used to treat them, according to research led by Matthew J. Ellis, MD, PhD, from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Four WUSTL faculty members were recognized for their accomplishments during the Faculty Achievement Awards ceremony Dec. 7 in Simon Hall. (From left) David M. Holtzman, MD, and Randall J. Bateman, MD, received the Chancellor’s Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award from Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. James V. Wertsch, PhD, and Richard H. Gelberman, MD, received the Arthur Holly Compton Faculty Achievement Award and the Carl and Gerty Cori Faculty Achievement Award, respectively.

A team led by researchers at the School of Medicine has identified variations in a gene that double a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Pictured are Carlos Cruchaga, PhD (left), and Alison M. Goate, DPhil, who led the research effort.

WUSTL experts explore the science of stress and offer practical ways to beat back chronic stress during the hectic holiday season. 

​Ann Marie Dale, PhD, (right) of the School of Medicine has conducted studies to evaluate methods to reduce injuries construction workers suffer at work. She currently is studying whether participatory ergonomics can lessen such injuries. She is shown here with Lisa Jaegers (left), also of the School of Medicine, and Fritz Hoffmeister, safety director of C&R Mechanical Co., at the Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis construction site.

WUSTL physicians say stress management for those suffering from diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia and other conditions. Plus, how much do you know about stress? Take our “stress test” and find out.

Thalachallour Mohanakumar, PhD, the Jacqueline G. and William E. Maritz Professor of Surgery at the School of Medicine, has received the Paul I. Terasaki Clinical Science Award. He was given the award Nov. 20 at the 39th annual meeting of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics in Chicago.