Students Relax Before Finals / Pg. 8 December 6
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December 6 2017 Volume 37 / Number 14 today.uic.edu For the community of the University of Illinois at Chicago De-stress with dogs Students relax before finals / pg. 8 Photo: Jenny Fontaine Finish New dean Mural, book semester of College highlight 2 - student voice strong with of Pharmacy history of Near 4 - campus news events, named West Side 11 - people services 2 3 6 12 - sports Facebook / uicnews Twitter / uicnews YouTube / uicmedia Instagram / thisisuic & uicamiridis 2 UIC News | Wednesday, December 6, 2017 Flames finish strong Getting ready for finals? Check out DEC. 11–13 the Flames Finish Strong events and ser- vices to keep you going through the end LATE NIGHT PANCAKE of the semester. BREAKFAST The Academic Center for Excellence Free meal, sponsored by the Center will host Success Coaching from 10 a.m. for Student Involvement. to 5 p.m. Dec. 4–8 in Student Center 10 p.m.–midnight East. Sign up to work with a coach who Dining halls in Stukel Towers and can help with finals preparation at Student Center East excellence.uic.edu Are you a commuter who needs more DEC. 11–13 time on campus during finals week? BUBBLE WRAP ROOM Rent a room at housing.uic.edu/roomuic. Jump and walk on 500-square-feet Cost is $36 per night for a single occu- of packing bubble sheets. pancy room; charges will be added 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m. (fresh bubble wrap to student account on the January bill. brought every morning) For more information, email housing@uic. Montgomery Ward Art Gallery, Stu- edu dent Center East UPCOMING EVENTS: DEC. 12 DEC. 6–8, 11–15 FLAPJACKS FOR FINALS CHILL LOUNGE Enjoy free pancakes, play tabletop Relax in a quiet space with mellow games and connect with commuters. music, low lights, tea and massage chairs 11 a.m.–1 p.m. 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Commuter Student Resource Center Wellness Center Suite 245, Student Center East Suite 238, Student Center East Want to contribute a story? E-mail Christy Levy at [email protected] today.uic.edu UIC News | Wednesday, December 6, 2017 3 A new way to deliver multiple sclerosis drugs to the brain By Sharon Parmet — [email protected] Two researchers in the department of “Extracellular vesicles are secreted by anatomy and cell biology in the UIC Col- lots of cells, and they closely reflect the lege of Medicine have received a seed identity of the cell from which they came,” grant to develop a new drug delivery said Bongarzone, who is a professor of method that holds promise in the treat- anatomy and cell biology at UIC. “If we can ment of multiple sclerosis. manipulate these vesicles to fuse with a Ernesto Bongarzone and Maria Givogri specific cell type and carry a therapeutic are one of only about a dozen research agent or drug, they can be a powerful groups in the nation to receive a Dr. Ralph weapon against a variety of diseases.” and Marian Falk Medical Research Trust Extracellular vesicles are one of many Awards Programs 2017 Catalyst Award. ways cells communicate with each other U.S. Trust, Bank of America, N.A., serves as — especially with distant cells. Materials Trustee for the Falk Medical Research including proteins, molecules and bits of Trust. RNA can be packaged into the vesicles, The $300,000, one-year award is for which travel in the bloodstream, cerebro- conducting preliminary research projects spinal fluid and extracellular fluids until deemed high risk, but also high reward. they fuse with their target cell and dump The Catalyst Awards are a stepping stone their cargo. But their contents may not to eligibility for the Falk Transformational always be benign, explained Givogri, who White arrows point to extracellular vesicles coming off a cell. Awards Program which provides is research assistant professor of anatomy $1,000,000 for a two-year funding cycle and cell biology. “They may play a signifi- to successful Catalyst awardees to contin- cant role in spreading disease as well,” she to bind to specialized cells in the brain other symptoms. ue their work developing new ways to treat said. “There is much more to learn about and spinal cord. These cells, called oligo- “Using extracellular vesicles lets us disease. how they function in this way, including dendrocytes, are responsible for produc- send drugs across the blood-brain barri- Bongarzone and Givogri are interested their role in cancer metastasis.” ing the insulating myelin sheath that er, which many other therapeutic agents in turning naturally occurring extracellular Bongarzone and Givogri will use the surrounds nerve cells. In multiple sclero- cannot cross,” said Bongarzone. “Another vesicles – tiny “bubbles” given off by a award to test methods to optimize the sis, oligodendrocytes do not produce benefit is that we can take mesenchymal range of cell types – into targeted delivery production of extracellular vesicles from enough myelin, and nerve impulses be- stem cells from a patient and use them to vehicles for drugs to treat multiple sclero- mesenchymal stem cells and tag them come disrupted leading to muscle weak- generate vesicles for drug delivery, which sis. with receptors that will allow the vesicles ness, pain and vision problems, among will remove issues of rejection.” Pharmacoeconomist named dean of College of Pharmacy By Sharon Parmet — [email protected] Glen Schumock, professor and head of pharmacy systems, outcomes and policy, in the College of Pharmacy, will become dean of the UIC College of Pharmacy, ef- fective Jan. 1, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. “The College of Pharmacy is one of the best colleges of pharmacy in the nation, and it plays a critical role in improving the lives of people in Chicago through its re- search and training programs,” said Robert Donors raise $117K for UIC Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs. “Glen Schumock has been an outstanding Nearly 700 donors raised support UIC last week.” leader in the UIC College of Pharmacy for $117,928 for UIC during IGNITE Giv- Donations will support a larger cam- many years, and in his new role, I am con- ing Tuesday. paign called IGNITE, which aims to fident he will ensure the college advances Glen Schumock Donations were accepted online raise $750 million over five years to as a major innovator in education, re- last week in honor of the Giving Tues- advance UIC. search, drug discovery and delivery.” ness Research Education. He is founding day global holiday. Through IGNITE, the university will Schumock’s research focuses on the director of the UIC Center for Pharmaco- “I am blown away by the participa- raise funds to provide student scholar- economic impact, clinical effectiveness epidemiology and Pharmacoeconomic tion we saw on Giving Tuesday, with ships, support new endowed faculty and safety of pharmaceuticals and related Research. our dedicated faculty and staff leading positions to retain and attract top services and policies. He has received “The UIC College of Pharmacy is mak- the charge,” said Jeff Nearhoof, vice scholars and researchers, equip faculty more than $6 million in funding as a prin- ing a big impact on the lives of patients chancellor for advancement. “Together with the latest technologies for teach- cipal investigator or co-principal investiga- through innovations in the provision of with our alumni and friends, and even ing and research, and build new facili- tor, and his research has been continually pharmacy care and use of medication, students and parents, we’ve shown ties to improve the physical funded since 2000. Schumock is co- and by discovering new drugs from natu- that participation matters and that all infrastructure of the campus to meet principal investigator of the UIC Center ral products and by developing drugs gifts can make an impact. I’m grateful the growing needs of students and the for Excellence in Comparative Effective- synthetically,” said Schumock. to everyone who took a moment to community. 4 UIC News | Wednesday, December 6, 2017 CAMPUS NEWS Library collection highlights decades of social justice by Quaker group By Carlos Sadovi — [email protected] After the American Friends Service nization’s contributions to the peace and War II, in the United States Committee began in 1917, it helped ref- civil rights movements, as well as its ef- the AFSC focused on elimi- ugees flee Nazi Germany, contributed to forts to combat poverty and assist un- nating social injustices that the peace and civil rights movements derprivileged groups in the area. targeted the poor, minority that shaped the 20th century, and The documents also include minutes groups, migrant workers and earned a Nobel Peace Prize. of meetings, speeches, promotional liter- other disenfranchised peo- The Chicago regional office of the ature, reports, newsletters, photos and ple. American Friends Service Committee, or other materials that detail how the Chi- Among the programs AFSC, served as a major center where cago office collaborated with other local highlighted in the collection the Quaker organization could tackle charities and helped AFSC expand its is the work the group took social justice issues in Chicago, its sub- outreach and confront needs of the time, to educate high school and urbs, and parts of Indiana and Wiscon- according to library officials. college students about so- sin. “The records of the American Friends cial activism, civil liberties UIC’s Richard J. Daley Library an- Service Committee complement the li- and civic engagement. nounced that it has made its AFSC col- brary’s many collections documenting To access the American lection available to researchers. The social justice initiatives. Together, these Friends Service Committee collection is made up of 63 linear feet of collections help researchers examine the collection, visit the Special records produced between 1931 and long history of advocacy for social jus- Collections and University 1968.