INSIDE Pitt honors its scholar-athletes...... 4 Pitt-led researchers make quick test for TB...... 8

PittNewspaper of the University of PittsburghChronicle Volume X • Number 10 • March 23, 2009 Pitt Gets $4.7 Million Grant to Reduce Hospital-acquired Infections By Clare Collins

The University of Pittsburgh School to prevent and control hospital-acquired of Medicine has received a four-year, infections, which were diagnosed in 27,000 $4.7 million grant from the Pennsylvania patients in Pennsylvania in 2007. Patients Department of Health to find new ways to with these infections were hospitalized stop deadly hospital-acquired infections three times longer, and their admissions that often are resistant to treatment. The were four times as expensive as those of grant, funded by Pennsylvania’s share of noninfected patients. the national 2008-09 tobacco settlement, Most bacterial infections can be will focus on C. difficile, A. bau- effectively controlled with existing mannii, and the drug-resistant antibiotic drugs, but microbial bacteria known as MRSA, pathogens like C. difficile, A. which cause tens of thou- baumannii, and MRSA have sands of deaths in the U.S. an inherent ability to develop every year. drug resistance through “Infections that are many genetic mechanisms, resistant to antibiotics are making them particularly becoming increasingly difficult to treat. problematic not only in the Pitt School of Medicine United States, but around coinvestigators on the grant the world,” said Lee Harrison, include Scott Curry, clinical principal investigator of the grant assistant professor in the Division and professor of medicine and epi- Lee Harrison of Infectious Diseases; Jo-Anne demiology, University of Pittsburgh. “We Salangsang, a fellow in the Department of not only need to develop new drugs, but Infectious Diseases; Yohei Doi, an assis- also to improve infection surveillance and tant professor of medicine; Bruce Lee, an focus on targeted interventions.” assistant professor of medicine; and Paula The grant will enable investigators to Davis, assistant vice chancellor for diversity, establish a Center of Excellence in Preven- schools of the health sciences. tion and Control of Antibiotic-Resistant The grant was awarded as part of Bacterial Infections at Pitt, and it will the Commonwealth Universal Research Pitt Tests Vaccine to include partnerships with several UPMC Enhancement Program, which supports hospitals, Carnegie Mellon University, clinical, health services, and biomedical and Kane Regional Centers of Allegheny research, and was one of only four awarded County. to address the Pennsylvania 2008-09 Health Prevent Colon Cancer The project will assess the medical Research Advisory Committee’s priori- By Anita Srikameswaran and economic impacts of new strategies ties. Researchers at the University of work via a different mechanism, spe- Pittsburgh School of Medicine cifically by blocking infection have begun testing a vac- with viruses that are linked with cine that might be able to cancer. For example, Garda- Thomas E. Starzl Selected for prevent colon cancer in sil protects against human people at high risk for papilloma virus associated developing the disease. If with cervical cancer, and Prestigious National Award shown to be effective, it hepatitis B vaccine pro- might spare patients the tects against liver cancer. By Megan Grote Quatrini risk and inconvenience “By stimulating an of repeated invasive sur- immune response against University of Pittsburgh transplant “I am deeply honored to receive this veillance tests, such as the MUC1 protein in these pioneer Thomas E. Starzl, known as the award, not as an individual, but rather as a colonoscopy, that are now precancerous growths, father of transplantation, has been selected representative of the outstanding transplan- necessary to spot and remove we may be able to draw the by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. to receive a tation team,” said Starzl. “From the begin- precancerous polyps. immune system’s fire to attack Physician of the Year Award ning, our team included all Colon cancer takes years to Robert E. Schoen and destroy the abnormal cells,” for Lifetime Achievement. components of the Univer- develop and typically Schoen said. “That The prestigious award sity of Pittsburgh, from the starts with a polyp, might not only prevent honors a select group of schools of the health sci- which is a benign but Colorectal cancer is the progression to cancer, physicians who have made ences to the consortium of abnormal growth in third-leading cause of cancer but even polyp recur- notable contributions to the affiliated UPMC hospitals. the intestinal lining, rence.” field of medicine. Honorees I’m proud to have been a explained principal death in the United States. In According to are selected from more than part of this team, which has investigator Robert E. coinvestigator Olivera 600,000 physicians cur- worked tirelessly to advance Schoen, professor of 2008, the American Cancer Finn, professor and rently practicing medicine the field of organ transplan- medicine and epidemi- chair in the Depart- in the United States. An tation and provide hope ology in the University Society estimated that there ment of Immunology award ceremony will be to countless patients who of Pittsburgh School of in Pitt’s School of held in New York City on otherwise had none.” Medicine and Gradu- were more than 108,000 Medicine, MUC1 vac- March 23. Retired from clinical ate School of Public new cases of colon cancer, cines have been tested Starzl is a Distinguished and surgical service since Health, respectively. for safety and immu- Service Professor of Sur- Thomas E. Starzl 1991, Starzl still remains Poly ps that could nearly 41,000 cases of rectal nogenicity in patients gery in the University of Pittsburgh active in research, mapping the become cancerous are with late-stage colon School of Medicine and director emeritus of relationship between donor and recipient called adenomas. cancer, and almost 50,000 cancer and pancreatic the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Insti- cells and developing new therapeutic strat- I n a n o v e l cancer. tute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical egies to achieve immune tolerance after approach to cancer deaths owing to both “Patients were Center (UPMC). He achieved international transplantation. prevention, the Pitt able to generate an acclaim by laying the groundwork for the Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a vaccine is directed diseases. im mune response transplantation field of medicine. Today, the national health care research and infor- against an abnormal despite their cancer- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute mation company established in 1991 by variant of a self-made cell protein called weakened immune systems,” she noted. remains the world leader in transplantation a former medical college board chair MUC1, which is altered and produced in “Patients with advanced adenomas are oth- experience, with more than 10,000 patients and president. The company publishes excess in advanced adenomas and cancer. treated to date. the annual guide America’s Top Doctors. Vaccines currently in use to prevent cancer Continued on page 2 2 • Pitt Chronicle • March 23, 2009 Pitt Tests Vaccine BrieflyNoted To Prevent Colon Cancer Continued from page 1

Pitt’s University Club to Hold Pitt Dance Ensemble to Perform in About a dozen people have Open Houses for Faculty, Staff “Disengaged” received the experimental vaccine The University of Pittsburgh’s University Club The University of Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble will so far, and the researchers intend will offer Pitt faculty and staff a sneak preview of the present “Disengaged”—a formal dance concert with club’s newly renovated facilities through a series of choreography by students and professional guests featuring to enroll another 50 or so in the open house tours. The time and dates of the tours, ballet, jazz, tap, and modern styles of dance—at study. which will showcase the publicly accessible banquet 8:15 p.m. March 26, 27, and 28 in the Trees Hall Dance and conference centers, as well as the members-only Studio. faculty and staff club, follow: This year’s guest choreographers include Michelle erwise healthy, so they would be expected to Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Hall Dawson, a former dancer with the Dance Alloy Theater generate a stronger immune response. That Friday, March 27, noon- 4 p.m.; and in Pittsburgh, and Greer Reed-Jones, the education director may be able to stop precancerous lesions Monday, March 30, 3-6 p.m. for the Dance Alloy Theater. from transforming into malignant tumors.” Dawson’s piece, titled “In the Station,” is set to About a dozen people have received In addition to more than 18,000 square feet the experimental vaccine so far, and the of conference and banquet space, the club will also Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata and features seven of the researchers intend to enroll another 50 or so offer such amenities as first-class dining facilities, ensemble’s dancers. According to Dawson, “In the Station” in the study. Participants must be between 40 a state-of-the-art fitness center, a College Room depicts “the passing of love and time and the eternity of Alan Hall and 70 years old and have a history of devel- lounge, a library with wireless Internet, and special waiting, knowing that personal loss and grief can arrive in oping adenomas that are deemed advanced, events on the Rooftop Terrace, which provides a view some unexpected ways.” This work also was performed meaning they are greater than or equal to 1 of Oakland. earlier this month at the American College Dance Festival at Cell Biologist Alan Hall to centimeter in size, are typed as villous or The University Club, located in a historic Pennsylvania State University. Launch Medical School Lecture tubulovillous, or contain severely dysplastic, building at 123 University Place that was designed In a strikingly different dance style, Reed-Jones’ Series or abnormal, cells. After an initial dose of by architect Henry Hornbostel, originally opened as a piece for the ensemble, titled “Hot Jambalaya,” showcases vaccine, the participants will get shots again two and 10 weeks later. Blood samples will private club in 1923. Acquired 18 ensemble members. The Alan Hall, chair of the Cell Biology Program in New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, be drawn to measure immune response at by Pitt in 2005, the club has work celebrates the spirit of those time points as well as 12 weeks, 28 undergone $20 million in New Orleans and the strength will be the first speaker in the 2009 Senior Vice Chancellor’s Laureate Lecture Series. The yearlong weeks, and one year later. renovations in preparation for of that community following the People who develop advanced ade- its grand reopening April 1. devastation of Hurricane Katrina. series in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of nomas undergo regular surveillance with —Anthony M. Moore Pitt student choreographers Medicine spotlights some of the top biomedical colonoscopy so that recurrent polyps, which for “Disengaged” include Lauren researchers in their fields. Hall will speak at noon are common, can be removed before matters GSPIA to Honor Brune, who choreographed a on Thursday, March 26, in the University of Pitts- get worse, Schoen said. ballet; Greg McCummings, who burgh School of Medicine, Scaife Hall, Auditorium 6. “Immunotherapy might be a good Gen. Roscoe The lecture is free and open to the public. alternative to colonoscopy because it is Robinson Jr. choreographed a hip-hop piece; and Christiana Thurton, Leah Hall’s lecture will deal with the family of noninvasive and nontoxic,” he noted. “And, proteins known as Rho GTPases that constitutes it could provide long-term protection.” The University of Dowdy, Kelli Gabriel, Liz Chebra, Colorectal cancer is the third leading Lauren MacLaughlin, and Kaitlin a primary focus of his research. By exploring Pittsburgh’s Graduate School how these proteins regulate cell migration and cause of cancer death in the United States. Weaver, who choreographed In 2008, the American Cancer Society esti- of Public and International tissue organization and the biochemical pathways Affairs (GSPIA) will recognize Gen. Roscoe Robinson Jr. modern dance works. Kristin mated that there were more than 108,000 Haughney’s tap dance, “Unified through which they act, Hall’s work has significantly new cases of colon cancer, nearly 41,000 the achievements of the late advanced the understanding of the metastatic General Roscoe Robinson Jr. (1928-93), a Pitt alum- Discordance,” will feature 15 students dancing to the music cases of rectal cancer, and almost 50,000 process by which cancer cells migrate throughout deaths owing to both diseases. nus and the first African American four-star general of Janet Jackson. General seating tickets for “Disengaged” are $6 for the body. Pitt’s colon cancer vaccine is sponsored in the U.S. Army, with the dedication of a classroom Before joining Memorial Sloan-Kettering, by the National Cancer Institute and The in his honor and the inaugural Gen. Roscoe Robinson the public and $3 for students and may be purchased at the door. For more information, contact Susan Gillis-Kruman where he holds an Alfred P. Sloan Chair, Hall served Nathan S. Arenson Fund for Pancreatic Jr. Lecture on Public Service and Diversity. The event, in the Institute for Cancer Research and in Univer- Cancer Research. Its adjuvant component, which will be held at 1:30 p.m. March 27 in 3800 at 412-648-8262 or [email protected]. which enhances the immune system’s abil- —Patricia Lomando White sity College in London. He earned his doctorate in Posvar Hall, is free and open to the public. chemistry at Harvard University and is a graduate of ity to respond to the target protein, was developed and provided by Washington, During the dedication, GSPIA Dean John T. S. the University of Oxford. He is a fellow of the U.K.’s Keeler will comment on Robinson’s impact on diver- D.C.-based Oncovir, Inc. Royal Society. sity in public service and the U.S. military, as well as Arthur S. Levine is the senior vice chancellor GSPIA’s efforts to advance discussion and awareness for the health sciences and dean of the School of of diversity in public service. Immediately following Medicine at Pitt. the dedication of 3800 Posvar Hall, Major General —Kristin Beaver Edward B. Atkeson, a West Point classmate and per- sonal friend of Robinson’s, will deliver the inaugural PittChronicle lecture. Atkeson (U.S. Army, Retired) is a senior Newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh fellow at the Institute of Land Warfare, Association of PUBLISHER Robert Hill the U.S. Army, and an ARMY Magazine contributing ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER John Harvith editor. A brief question-and-answer session will follow EXECUTIVE EDITOR Linda K. Schmitmeyer Atkeson’s lecture. EDITOR Jane-Ellen Robinet Robinson graduated from the U.S. Military ART DIRECTOR Gary Cravener Academy at West Point in 1951 and thereafter STAFF WRITERS Sharon S. Blake earned the Bronze Star Medal for his service as a John Fedele rifle company commander in the Korean War. He Morgan Kelly attended the Command and General Staff Col- Amanda Leff lege at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in 1963 and Anthony M. Moore Patricia Lomando White earned his MPIA degree at Pitt in 1964. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kristin Beaver —Amanda Leff Clare Collins Robert Knipple Megan Grote Quatrini Anita Srikameswaran HAPPENINGS EDITOR Lauren O’Leary The Pitt Chronicle is published throughout the year by University News and Magazines, University of Pittsburgh, 400 Craig Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, Phone: 412-624-1033, Fax: 412-624-4895, E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.chronicle.pitt.edu The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution that does not discriminate upon any basis prohibited by law. March 23, 2009 • University of Pittsburgh • 3

Pitt Magazine’s Phenomenal Women

Pitt Magazine, in its Winter 2009 issue, highlighted the successes and contributions of 12 University of Pittsburgh women. In honor of the nationally cel- ebrated Women’s History Month in March, the maga- zine’s editors and

publisher assem- PHOTOS BY HARRY GIGLIO bled a contempo- rary cross-section Angela M. Gronenborn Yuan Chang Eleanor Ott of women from the UPMC Rosalind Franklin Professor and Chair Professor of Pathology Class of ’09 Pittsburgh campus, Department of Structural Biology Department of Pathology 2008 Truman Scholar representing School of Medicine School of Medicine Senior, School of Arts and Sciences students, faculty, University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh and Honors College

Women staff, alumni, and trustees. The edi- Member, National Academy of Sciences Cowinner, 2003 Charles S. Mott Prize University of Pittsburgh tors wrote profiles Fellow, American Association of these 12 “Phe- for the Advancement of Science nomenal Women” and the Pitt Chron- erman-born Angela Gronen- rofessor Yuan Chang lives in a etween classes, Pitt senior icle is reprinting born loves to walk. For her, them as a series in hilly, wooded section of Pittsburgh, Eleanor Ott walks to a walking is a way to stimulate not far from campus. Although the nearby high school every the March 16, 23, thinking and stay fit. As a and 30 issues. surroundings are urban, her fam- week to tutor refugees graduate student at the Uni- ily’s yard gets visits from deer, rac- who’ve come to the United versity of Cologne, she walked the city. coons, and even wild turkeys. She shares this States seeking better lives. Patiently, Pitt G P B As a postdoctoral fellow and scientist in setting with her scientist husband, Patrick she repeats English words and rules of London, she walked to her research lab Moore, and the two “collaborate” to bring up grammar, helping students to learn the in Mill Hill. She enjoyed hiking the Alps their son, Jackson. They also work together tongue of their new country. and exploring Munich in her time at the in a University lab, looking for viruses that Max Planck Institute. And she combined cause cancers. “To develop effective thera- As president of the student organi- Metro rides with urban strolls during her pies and to gain a basic understanding of zation FORGEPitt, she also leads other years as chief of structural biology at the cancer, we need to know why some viruses Pitt students in tutoring refugees. Ott National Institutes of Health (NIH) near evolve to cause cancers while others cause was one of the first members of Pitt’s Washington, D.C. nothing worse than the common cold,” says chapter of Facilitating Opportunities for As a leading structural biologist and Chang, a neuropathologist. Refugee Growth and Empowerment, a expert in nuclear magnetic resonance Many scientists have searched for such national refugee advocacy organization. (NMR) spectroscopy, Gronenborn has a links, with few outright successes. Only Through the group, Ott—a triple major lot to think about. In her work, she uses seven viruses are known to cause human in chemistry, history, and French—also massive magnets to decipher the structure cancers—and two of them were found by has spent summers working at a refugee of proteins and other biomolecules at the Chang and Moore, who is a Pitt professor camp in Zambia. atomic level. Today, Gronenborn is the of microbiology and molecular genetics. In UPMC Rosalind Franklin Professor and 2003, they shared the prestigious Charles Ott’s academic accomplishments, Chair in the Pitt School of Medicine’s S. Mott Prize for pegging KSHV, a herpes community service, and leadership won Department of Structural Biology. virus, as the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma, her a Harry S. Truman Scholarship, a “If you want to know how proteins the leading AIDS malignancy. In 2008, the highly competitive, merit-based federal interact with one another, you need to know Chang-Moore lab discovered that Merkel award named after President Harry S. their shapes and the location of their bind- cell polyomavirus causes an aggressive skin Truman. She was one of only 65 stu- ing sites,” she says. This knowledge aids cancer. dents nationwide to receive the honor in understanding cellular processes and Chang is one of only a few scientists, and in 2008. The award provides support suggests structure-based avenues for drug the lone woman, to have such phenomenal for the nation’s top undergraduates to development and treatment approaches. success in the virus-cancer field. One reason attend graduate school in preparation While at NIH, Gronenborn detected a way is that she and Moore developed a technique for public service careers. to inhibit the AIDS virus. Using magnetic called digital transcript subtraction (DTS), fields, she unmasked the structure of a which allows them to cross-compare tumor After graduate school, Ott aspires particular protein that binds to certain versus healthy gene sequences in the national to be a United Nations protection offi- sugars on the virus, blocking the virus from Human Genome Project database. With DTS, cer in a refugee camp—a job that will infecting human cells. This led to a new they can quickly eliminate healthy genetic allow her to use both her intellect and strategy for inactivating HIV. Her group strands from errant strands. On very good her compassion. also pioneered three- and four-dimensional days, they may even be able to match an NMR methods that reveal enormous struc- errant strand with a known virus strand, a “I’ve talked with refugees who tural detail. Gronenborn—who was elected telltale breakthrough. feel like the world has turned its back a member of the elite National Academy Chang serves on editorial boards and on them,” says Ott. “I try to give them of Sciences in 2007 and a fellow of the has received numerous awards, includ- hope and help them improve their lives. prestigious American Association for the ing the Meyenburg Foundation Award for Change can only happen with resources

Phenomenal Advancement of Science in 2003—con- Cancer Research, the Robert Koch Prize, and the belief that it is possible. It is my tinues to decipher proteins, looking for and the New York Academy of Sciences’ life’s passion to see that through.” other potential pathways to prevent and Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Science treat diseases. and Technology. Wherever she goes, she pursues life Although Chang is passionate about with European flair. Research, she says, searching for the links between viruses and requires as many adventurous minds as cancers, she also loves the broader wonders possible. in her life—home, garden, family, and a yard full of wildlife. March 23, 2009 • University of Pittsburgh • 4 Pitt Honors 283 Scholar-Athletes 25 Panthers earned Perfect 4.0 GPA Awards

and Lisa Taylor Men’s Soccer Justin Boehm, Morgan Faust Jr., Andrew Kalas, Patrick Kerr, Zachary Mathews, and Marshall Stula Women’s Soccer A’idah Clinton, Shannon Cody, Ashley Habbel, Morie Kephart, Brittany Pfaff, and Kylie Veverka Softball Alicia Broudy, Valerie Mihalik, Rebecca Stottlemyer, and Kayla Zinger Men’s Swimming and Diving Jonathan Buchanan, William Conklyn, Charles Hauser, Stephen Jackson, Patrick Mansfield, Jared Martin, and Geoffrey Morgan Women’s Swimming and Diving Hanna Bratton, Allison Horvath, Tamara Lelli, Sarah Looney, Erin Meehan, Cookie McIntyre, Kristen McMullan, Beth Newell, Kelly O’Hara, Erika Rodriguez, Megan Sculley, Megan Sisko, and Sara Sullivan Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country

PHOTOS BY PETE MADIA Anthony Casciano, Johnny Dogun, William Grinstead, Curtis Larimer, Pitt’s scholar-athletes with perfect 4.0 grade point averages (GPAs) gathered during the University’s March 4 Scholar-Athlete Awards Breakfast in Alumni Hall. The two women kneeling Zachary Mueller, Matthew Raquet, in front are Lauren Zammerilla (left) and Chrissy Colalillo. Second row, beginning from left with student in blue shirt, Zachary Mueller, Sarah Looney, Erin Meehan, Jonathan Buchanan, and Samson Weiser Philip Konieczny, Victoria Toso, and Justin Boehm. Back row, beginning with Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor James V. Maher on far left, Aaron Hassett, Meagan Dooley, Lauren Women’s Track and Field/Cross Hartman, William (B.J.) Conklyn, Scott McKillop, Mycaiah Clemons, Healther Lezanic, Andrew Kalas, Pitt Athletic Director Steve Pederson, and Pitt Alumni Association President-elect Country Jack Smith. Janelle Adams, Patricia Anyanwu, Monica Bhattacharjee, Nicole Bielick, Rachel Botham, Alexandra Briggs, The Pitt Alumni Association hon- GOLD AWARDS (3.5-3.99 GPA) Elizabeth Calabrese, Mycaiah ored 283 student-athletes who earned Baseball Clemons, Caitlin Cocilova, grade-point averages (GPAs) of 3.0 or Raymond Black, Kaitlyn Flynn, Prachi Gupta, higher during the Spring 2008 and Brian Chrisman, Kari Hedderick, Kristin Johnson, Fall 2009 semesters. The athletes Sean Conley, Lindsay Kramer, Heather Lezanic, were recognized at the Alumni Christopher Harner, Alicia Lichvar, Carrie Mavrikis, Association’s annual Univer- David Kaye, Aurielle McCauley, Virginia Thistle, sity of Pittsburgh Scholar- Philip Konieczny, Victoria Toso, Leah Ulizio, Athlete Awards Breakfast on and Nicholas Mullins and Alexis Wilder March 4 in Alumni Hall. Men’s Basketball Women’s Tennis The women’s volley- Ryan Tiesi Adela Aprodu, Kristy Borz, ball team received the Top Women’s Basketball Anna Broverman, Marie Women’s Team Award and Kate Popovec and Eanes-Fennelly, Minh Evans, Fran the Overall Top GPA Award Sylvie Tafen Liebenguth, and Sabrina Visram for the third consecutive Cheer and Dance Team Volleyball year. Four team members— Beth Abbott, Kelly Campbell, Meagan Dooley, Meagan Dooley, Lauren Megan Barna, Melissa Ferguson, Lauren Hartman, Hartman, Jessica Moses, Christie Blondek, Allyson Hodnik, Rachel Kalberer, and Stephanie Ross—were Christie Bonk, Monica Macellari, Jessica Moses, among the 25 scholar-athletes Tracy Clinton, TaraRohall, Stephanie Ross, honored during the breakfast for Chrissy Colalillo, Nicole Taurence, and Amy Town perfect 4.0 GPAs. An additional Casey Crudden, Wrestling eight team members received Gold Sara Fabanich, Joseph Ciampoli, Matthew Darnell, Awards for GPAs ranging from 3.5 Cathryn Hoel, Christian Fagan, Mark Generalovich, to 3.9. Lauren Hunt, Ethan Headlee, David The men’s swimming and diving Brittany Jackson, Katelynn Kapetanovich Jr., Nicholas Orio, team was honored as the Top Men’s Jackson, Nicole Jacob Pelletier, Zachary Sheaffer, Team. Two team members, Jon Buch- William (B.J.) Conklyn Jackson, Gina Klemz, and Ryan Tomei anan and William Conklyn, earned Kyle Loftus, Lauren perfect 4.0 GPAs and an additional five McCormick, Aimee Moore, BLUE AWARDS (3.0-3.49 GPA) team members earned Gold Awards. Erica Nickels, Nick Passe, Maddie Baseball The men’s basketball team was and Scott McKillop Rendulich, Kelly Scanlon, Ricky Breymier, Zachary Duggan, named the Most Improved GPA Men’s Swimming and Diving Samantha Schenk, Brooke Ryan Fairbrother, Hugh Henry, Team. Jonathan Buchanan and William Slemons, Kristen Weir, Kayla Joseph Leonard, Matthew Litzinger, A list of the award winners fol- Conklyn Younge, and Lauren Zammerilla Daniel Pfister, Nathan Reed, lows. Cheer and Dance Football John Schultz, Joshua Smith, Chrissy Colalillo and Lauren Lucas Briggs, Myles Caragein, Brian Trymbiski, and Michael Wood PERFECT 4.0 GPA AWARDS Zammerilla Patrick Costello, Mark Estermyer, Men’s Basketball Men’s Soccer Volleyball Adam Gunn, Aaron Hassett, Gilbert Brown Jr., Ashton Gibbs, Justin Boehm and Andrew Meagan Dooley, Lauren Hartman, Andrew Janocko, Scott McKillop, and Bradley Wanamaker Kalas Jessica Moses, and Stephanie Ross John Pelusi, Scott Shrake, Kevan Women’s Basketball Women’s Track and Field Baseball Smith, Tyler Tkach, Dustin Walters, Chelsea Cole., Karlyle Lim, Rachel Botham, Alexandra Philip Konieczny and Caleb Wilson Selena Nwude, Sarah Ogoke, Briggs, Mycaiah Clemons, Women’s Swimming and Diving Gymnastics and Shayla Scott Kari Hedderick, Heather Sarah Looney and Erin Meehan Anya Chayka, Alix Croop, Cheer and Dance Team Lezanic, Victoria Toso, and Men’s Track and Field Samantha DeBone, Andrea Joe Bickel, Megan Cunningham, Anna Yoney Zachary Mueller Konesky, Nicole Kujawski, Michael Degenhart, Amanda Eggert, Football Softball Jennifer Liberato, Shannon Tiffany Golonka, Thomas Gresko, Lucas Briggs, Aaron Hassett, Kayla Zinger McConnell, Krista Rubini, Caylen Harris, Erin Kenny, March 23, 2009 • University of Pittsburgh • 5 Newsmakers HOMER S. BROWN LAW ASSOCIATION MARY JANE BENT/CIDDE The Homer S. Brown Law Association honored Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg with the 2009 Spirit Award during a Feb. 26 dinner at the Rivers Club, Downtown. Presenting the glass award is Nicole King (A&S ‘02, LAW ‘05), association president and a staff attorney and assistant corporate secretary for EQT Corporation. The Homer S. Brown Law Association, an affiliate of the National Bar Association, is a professional organization with 200 African American attorneys and jurists.

BIG IDEAS ON MICROFINANCE

Erin Lageman, Alyssa Miller, Sabrina Jennings, Kayla Missigman, Michael Nuzzo, Ryann Kishbaugh, Agnes Mago, Teresa Pipak, Ashley Rader, Caitlin Tiffany Malatesta, Danielle Scott, Timoney, Amanda Tomich, Ruth Seiffert, Elena Spak, Morgan and Megan Worbs Speece, and Brittany Stevens Football Women’s Tennis John Bachman, Patrick Bostick, Elizabeth Adams, Shannon Benic, Christopher Bova, Steven Dell, Leah Friedman, Stephanie Justin Hargrove, Kevin Harper, Scheinoff, and Carlie Smith Shariff Harris, Robert Houser, Volleyball Henry Hynoski Jr., Brian Kaiser, Melissa Stadelman Frank Kochin, Zachary Latimore, Men’s Track and Field/Cross Conor Lee, LeSean McCoy, Marco Country Pecora, Austin Ransom, Cody Samuel Bair III, Joshua

Sawhill, Justin Virbitsky, Christopher, Antony Hobwana, JOE KAPELEWSKI/CIDDE and Spencer Whipple Kelvin IsomIan Johnson, Eric Jonathan Morduch was the keynote speaker for a Feb. 13 Microfinance and the Law conference in the Barco Law Gymnastics Jones, Kyle Kaminski, Garrett Building that was sponsored by Pitt’s School of Law, Journal of Law and Commerce, and Law and Entrepreneur- Mallory Brewer, Danielle Bryan, Larkin, Jermaine Lowery, Jessica Catalano, Kaitlin Harrison, Nicholas Malenka, Edward Miller, ship Program. Morduch is a professor of public policy and economics in New York University’s (NYU) Robert Victoria McGuigan-Carl, Molly and John Morrow F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He also is managing director of the Financial Access Initiative, a Moyer, Alicia Talucci, Sarah Women’s Track and Field/Cross consortium of researchers at NYU, Harvard University, Yale University, and Innovations for Poverty Action that Thompson, and Shannon Vafiadou Country focuses on expanding access to quality financial services for low-income individuals. Men’s Soccer Melissa Alauzen, Kathryn Samuli Ahola, Wils Alpern, Matthew Bannantine, Alycia Brown, Baker, Eric Barnes, Orane Gordon, Brianna Broyles, Shanea Calhoun, RORY COOPER SPORTS CARDS Matthew Langton, Connor Malone, Heather Calisto-Marsden, Jordan Marks, Erin McCormick, Omowunmi Fapohunda, Adam Monteverde, Joseph Prince- June Farley, Martina Hallman, Wright, and Christopher Wilcox Rachel Hess, Jazmin Hunt, Anita Women’s Soccer James, Miya Johnson, Da’Lynn Laura Berbert, Elizabeth Carroll, Mills, Janessa Murphy, Selena Kathleen Caslin, Maura Caslin, Sappleton, Stephanie Stambaugh, Alison Finch, Janean Gardner, Molly Melissa Vignetti, Kelsey Voltz, Griganavicius, Molly McGeehin, and Kari Wimerskirch Kaitlyn Kacsuta, Christina Nicassio, Wrestling Renee Pilch, Samantha Regney, Ryan Bosso, Adam Counterman, Katelyn Ruhe, Rachel Vecchio, Joseph Ecklof, Brad Gentzle, Alan and Katherine Weiler Hunte, Victor Konno, Daniel Softball Mahoney, Brock Mantella, Mark Ashley Amistade, Cory Berliner, Powell, and Sean Richmond Nicole Cognigni, Ciera Damon, Mollie Illenberger, Kelly Murphy, Alyssa O’Connell, and Kaitlyn Schuster Men’s Swimming and Diving Eric Becker, Christoph Berger, COURTESY OF GENERAL MILLS Andrzej Dubiel, Jason Erdeljac, A picture of Rory Cooper, director of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories—a partnership among the Collin Forner, Rousseau Kluever, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System—is featured on a special edition George Krakowski, Andrew Cheerios box and “sports hero cards,” produced by General Mills. The box and cards are part of a national campaign Kyrejko, Zane McLain, David organized by the U.S. Veterans Administration, VA Canteen Services, and General Mills to honor 12 gold medal McLaren, Jeremy Stultz, winners of the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Cooper, who won four gold medals for swimming during Aleksandr Volovetski, and Charles Zettel those games, is the FISA/PVA Endowed Chair and a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Women’s Swimming and Diving Science and Technology, Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Science. The special-edition Cheerios box and Sophie Cross, Caitlyn Harrington, sports hero cards are sold exclusively in military markets and VA Canteen Services retail stores. 6 • Pitt Chronicle • March 23, 2009 Awards&More students in Cincinnati’s McMicken College Southern Illinois University Law of Arts and Sciences and will give a poetry School also will welcome 40 students reading and two public presentations. Sup- for an intensive prelaw program at ported by the George Elliston Poetry Fund its summer institute. CLEO, created and the University of Cincinnati Department in 1968, is a federally funded pro- of English and Comparative Literature, this gram to enhance diversity in legal position has been offered to one poet annu- education. More than 7,500 economi- ally for more than 50 years. The Elliston cally disadvantaged students have poet-in-residence position has an illustrious participated in CLEO since it began. history and includes such poets as Robert Frost, Randall Jarrell, and Robert Lowell. Director of Pitt’s Writing Program, Emanuel is the author of four collections of poetry: Hotel Fiesta (University of Georgia Press, 1984); The Dig (University of Illinois Press, 1992), a National Poetry Series Award winner; Then, Suddenly—(University of Pittsburgh Press, 1999), a selection of the Two Pitt faculty members have Carnegie Mellon University and the Univer- Academy of American Poets’ Poetry Book been selected as 2009 Alfred P. Sloan sity of Pennsylvania also received two fel- Club and Eric Matthieu King Award; and, Research Fellows. Brent Doiron, an lowships and Pennsylvania State University forthcoming, Mob and Torch. assistant professor in the Department received one. of Mathematics, and Michael Grabe, Peter Brusilovsky, a professor in Pitt’s an assistant professor in the Department University Professor of Chemistry School of Information Sciences, was recently of Biological Sciences, will receive Peter Wipf has been awarded the 2009 nominated by the Association for Comput- two-year, $50,000 awards from the New Ernest Guenther Award in the Chemistry of ing Machinery (ACM) as a senior member. York-based Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Natural Products. The honor will be awarded The senior member grade recognizes those The Sloan fellowships are presented to March 24 during the American Chemical ACM members with at least 10 years of young science researchers. Society’s Spring 2009 National Meeting and professional experience and five years of Doiron’s research focuses on the Exposition in Salt Lake City. Wipf, who also continuous professional membership who creation and study of mathemati- is a professor of pharmaceutical studies in have demonstrated performance that sets cal models of neural processing, an Pitt’s School of Pharmacy, serves as director them apart from their peers. ACM is the larg- important step in understanding brain of Pitt’s Center for Chemical Methodolo- est international educational and scientific function. gies and Library Development as well as its computing society for computing educators, Grabe, in his research, devel- Combinatorial Chemistry Center researchers, and professionals. ops computer models that help and codirecor of Pitt’s Drug Brusilovsky is known for his research in Richard K. Verma explain biological phenom- Discovery Institute. He has several areas, including adaptive Web-based ena, and his Sloan fellow- been a fellow of the American systems, adaptive hypermedia, adaptive ship research could enable Association for the Advance- interfaces, intelligent tutoring systems, and UPJ Advisory Board a better understanding of ment of Science, the United artificial intelligence. how proteins interact with Kingdom’s Royal Society Member Nominated cellular membranes. of Chemistry, and the Japan Doiron and Grabe are Society for the Promotion of The University of Pittsburgh School of By Obama to Serve among the 118 junior profes- Science. Law has been selected as one of two host sors from 61 universities in institutions for the Council on Legal Edu- In State Department the United States and Canada Lynn Emanuel, University of cation Opportunity (CLEO) 2009 Summer who received 2009 Sloan fellow- Lynn Emanuel Pittsburgh professor of English, Regional Institutes. This is the eighth time University of Pittsburgh-John- ships, including faculty members poet, and author, has been named since 1993 that the CLEO Institute has been stown Advisory Board Member at Cornell University, Duke University, the 2009 Elliston Distinguished Poet-in- held at Pitt. Pitt’s law faculty will challenge Richard K. Verma has been nomi- Harvard University, the Massachusetts Residence at the University of Cincinnati. 40 CLEO Fellows with an intensive six- nated by President Barack Obama Institute of Technology, and the Univer- The position carries an award of $20,000. week law school curriculum as the students to serve as assistant secretary for sity of California at Berkeley. As poet-in-residence, Emanuel will teach immerse themselves in the world of legal legislative affairs in the U.S. State Among Pennsylvania institutions, an intensive five-week course for graduate analysis. Department. In his new role, Verma will work closely with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. “This is a most impressive accomplishment for Rich, who has been a true friend to Pitt-Johnstown Pitt’s School of Information Sciences Honors Alumni and an exemplary member of our Advisory Board,” said Pitt-John- The University of Pittsburgh’s Borgman is the author of Scholarship in of a new facility. His efforts came to stown President Jem Spectar. School of Information Sciences the Digital Age: Information, Infrastructure, fruition with the October 2007 opening A partner at the international will honor three alumni at the 2009 and the Internet (MIT Press, 2007) and From of the William A. Anderson Library of law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Distinguished Alumni and Profes- Gutenberg to the Global Information Infra- Penn Hills. Mandell also is a member of Verma served for several years as sional Achievement Awards at 6 p.m. structure: Access to Information the American Library senior national security advisor March 26 in the William Pitt Union in a Networked World (MIT Press, Association, as well to Senate Majority Leader Harry Ballroom. The event will feature 2000), both of which have won as the Pennsylvania Reed. In 2008, he was appointed a reception followed by an awards the Best Information Science Library Association. to serve on the U.S. Commission ceremony at 7 p.m. Book Award from the American Reinsel has been on the Prevention of Weapons of The Distinguished Alumni and Society for Information Science a strategist and vision- Mass Destruction Proliferation and Professional Achievement Awards and Technology. She has authored ary in the information- Terrorism. Verma is a veteran of the were established in 1967 to recognize more than 180 journal articles, technology (IT) man- U.S. Air Force and a former country the outstanding achievements made conference papers, and books in agement industry for director for the National Democratic by Pitt’s School of Information Sci- the fields of information studies, more than 17 years. Institute for International Affairs. ences graduates. The 2009 honorees computer science, and com- From 1997 through He also served as a member of the are Distinguished Alumni Award munications. In addition, Borg- 2007, Reinsel founded, Obama/Biden Defense Department winner Christine Borgman (’74G), man is a fellow of the American Christine Borgman grew, and then sold Transition Team. a professor and presidential chair in Association for the Advancement of Pepperweed Consulting, Verma holds degrees from the information studies at the University Science and a member of the U.S. National a technology consulting firm based Georgetown University Law Center, of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Academies’ Board on Research Data and in Sewickley, Pa. He also worked for American University’s Washington and Professional Achievement Award Information. Eli Lilly and Company in various College of Law, and Lehigh Univer- winners Edward Mandell (’65G), a Mandell has more than 40 years of analyst roles and team-leader positions sity. He is a member of the Council founding member of the Allegheny experience promoting public libraries as focusing on process alignment and IT on Foreign Relations and was for- County Library Association, and community centers. He has served as branch infrastructure management decisions. merly one of the council’s Interna- Thomas Reinsel (’90, ‘91G), an manager and director in community libraries He also was a founding member of the tional Affairs Fellows. Verma also executive-in-residence at Sewickley in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. In 1992, he HP worldwide users group in 1993 and has served on the National Academy Oak Capital. became director of the Penn Hills Library, has hosted numerous software user of Sciences’ Panel on Critical Infra- Brief biographies of the honor- where he established the Penn Hills Library conferences. structure Protection and the Law. ees follow. Foundation to raise funding for construction —Anthony M. Moore —Robert Knipple March 23, 2009 • University of Pittsburgh • 7

losis Institute, 412-624-1895, to register La Bohéme, by Giacomo Puccini, visit www.pamaaetc.org/events.asp. sung in Italian with English supertitles, March 28, 31; April 3, 5, Benedum “Ethical Leadership: The ‘Tipping Center, 719 Liberty Ave., Downtown, Point’ in a Financial Crisis,” Barbara Pittsburgh Opera, 412-281-0912, www. Happenings Porco, accounting professor and director pittsburghopera.org. of program development at Fordham University’s College of Business Admin- Mary’s Wedding, by Stephen Massi- istration, 7 p.m. March 24, Ferguson cotte, directed by Stuart Carden, through Theater, Pitt-Greensburg, free, 4th Annual April 5, City Theatre, 1300 Bingham and Free at Last? Slavery Dr. Bernard Cobetto Lecture Series, 13th streets, South Side, 412-431-CITY, in Pittsburgh in 724-836-7497, www.upg.pitt.edu. www.citytheatrecompany.org. the 18th and 19th Centuries, “Imaging Dance at the Bauhaus,” The World Goes ‘Round, songs by John Senator John Heinz Susan Funkenstein, Pitt visiting professor Kander and Fred Ebb, through April History Center, of the history of art and architecture, noon 5, O’Reilly Theatre, 621 Penn Ave., through April 5 March 25, 203 Frick Fine Arts Audito- Downtown, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, rium, Department of the History of Art 412-316-1600, www.ppt.org. and Architecture, 412-648-2400, www. haa.pitt.edu. My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, through May 10, 719 Liberty “Las Luchas Feministas y La Nueva Jane Goodall Ave., Downtown, CLO Cabaret Theater, Constitucion Politica en Bolivia,” Heinz Hall 412-281-3973, www.pittsburghclo.org. Julieta Paredes, Aymara/Bolivian feminist, March 25 lesbian activist, and poet addresses the challenge of a radical feminist agenda Pitt PhD Dissertation under Bolivian President Juan Evo “Scholarship in the Digital Age: Morales Ayma, 3 p.m. March 25, 232 Information, Infrastructure, and the Defenses Cathedral of Learning, delivered in Internet,” Christine L. Borgman, profes- Spanish with an English translation, sor and Presidential Chair in Information Jennifer Collinger, Swanson School of Pitt Center for Latin American Studies, Studies at UCLA, 4 p.m. March 26, Engineering’s Department of Bioengi- 412-648-7392, www.ucis.pitt.edu/main. Kurtzman Room, William Pitt Union, neereing, “Acute Biceps and Supraspi- iSchool Colloquium Series, Pitt’s School natus Tendon Changes Associated With “The Empire of French Soccer,” Lau- of Information Sciences, 412-624-2677, Wheelchair Propulsion,” 3 p.m. March rent DuBois, Duke University professor www.ischool.pitt.edu. 23, Room 6014 Biomedical Science of French and history, 4 p.m. March 25, Tower 3. 3703 Posvar Hall, Pitt’s Graduate Program “L’Arme and Gli Amori: Gendered Speaker Series, 412-648-7451, www.pitt. Identity in Titian’s Portraits for the Janet A. Cipkala-Gaffin, Graduate edu/~pitthist. Este Court of Ferrara,” Joanna Woods- School of Public Health’s Department of Marsden, UCLA professor of art history, Epidemiology, “An Evaluation of Psy- Jane Goodall, wildlife activist and con- 4:30 p.m. March 26, 202 Frick Fine chosocial and Socio-demographic Factors servationist, 8 p.m. March 25, Heinz Hall, Arts Auditorium, Pitt Women’s Studies Associated with Metabolic Syndrome and 600 Penn Ave., Downtown, Robert Morris Program, 412-624-6485, www.wstudies. Cardiovascular Risk in Polycystic Ovary University’s Pittsburgh Speakers Series, pitt.edu. Syndrome Cases and Controls,” 1 p.m. 412-392-4900, www.pittsburghspeakers- March 24, Room 523 Crabtree Hall. series.org. “Portraying War and Its Aftermath: A Personal Perspective,” Ed Robbins, Daniel J. Grimminger, School of Arts “How to Hide a Religion: Dissimula- documentarian, writer, and videographer, and Sciences’ Department of Music, tion as a Transformative Process 6 p.m. March 26, 113 Barco Law Build- “Pennsylvania Tune and Chorale Books in the History of a Modern Secre- ing, Pitt’s Global Issues Lecture Series, in the Early Republic: Sung Culture and tive Shin Buddhist Association,” 412-624-2918, www.ucis.pitt.edu/main. the Musical Means of Cultural Assimila- Clark Chilson, Pitt assistant professor of tion,” 1 p.m. March 25, Room 302 Music religious studies, noon March 26, 4130 Fourth Annual Springboard 2009: A Building. Posvar Hall, Asia Over Lunch Lecture Monthlong Celebration of Under- Series, 412-383-3062, www.ucis.pitt.edu/ graduate Research and Creativity, Bonnie (Pang-ning) Teng, Swanson main. event encompassing undergraduate School of Engineering’s Department of research fairs, poster sessions, mini-con- Bioengineering, “Mineralized Tissue “The Death of Empire: British ferences, art exhibitions, and creative per- Engineering, Stem Cell Therapies, and Concerts Film Cemeteries in Alexandria, Egypt, formances occurring across the University Proteomics Approaches,” 10 a.m. March 1827-1972,” Shane Minkin, New during April, 412-624-7674, www.pitt. 26, Room 501 Salk Hall. Sivan Magen, internationally acclaimed Does Torture Work? four short films pre- York University doctoral candidate in edu/~provost/undergrad_research.html. harpist, featuring pieces by Marcel sented on the issue of torture concerning history and Middle Eastern and Islamic Howie Lim, Graduate School of Public Grandjany, J.S. Bach, Pierre Sancan, and Guantanamo Bay and the Iraq War, 7 p.m. studies, 1:30 p.m. March 26, 4130 “Building on Darwin’s Insight in Health’s Department of Epidemiology, Chopin, 2 p.m. March 28, PNC Recital March 25, Shadow Lounge, 5972 Baum Posvar Hall, Pitt Global Studies Program, Uncovering the Origins of Horse “Trajectories of Health Behaviors Among Hall, Mary Pappert School of Music, Blvd., East Liberty, Amnesty International 412-624-2918, www.ucis.pitt.edu/main. Domestication,” Sandra Olsen, curator a Cohort of Middle-aged and Older Men Duquesne University, 500 Forbes Ave., Film Group, www.amnestypgh.org. of anthropology for Carnegie Museum of in the Pitt Men’s Study,” 2 p.m. Uptown, Pittsburgh Chapter of the Ameri- Natural History, 3 p.m. March 27, Bayer March 26, Stoner Conference Room, can Harp Society, 412-247-3916, www. El Exilio de Gardel (1985), directed by “An Overview and New Results 3520 Fifth Ave. Describing the Tectonics and Devel- Learning Center, Pappert Lecture Hall, sivanmegen.com. Fernando Solanas, 7:30 p.m. March 25, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave., Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Pitt’s Center opment of the Caribbean Plate Katherine M. Stone, School of Arts Region,” Edward Lidiak, Pitt emeritus Uptown; also 1 p.m. March 28, Carnegie University of Pittsburgh Symphony for Latin American Studies, Amigos del Museum of Art Theater, 4400 Forbes and Sciences’ Department of Chemistry, Cine Latino Americano Spring 2009 professor of geology and planetary sci- “Structural Insights of Oligomeric Protein Orchestra, pieces by Gilda Lyons, ence, 4 p.m. March 26, Room 11 Thaw Ave., Oakland, Evidence for Evolution: Schumann, and Dvorak, 8 p.m. March 25, Series, amigosdelcinelatinoamericano. A Celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th Complexes by Electron Spin Resonance,” blogspot.com. Hall, Colloquium Speakers Series, 10 a.m. March 27, 307 Eberly Hall. Bellefield Hall Auditorium, Pitt Depart- Department of Geology Birthday Lecture Series, www.sepa.duq. ment of Music, 412-624-4126, www. edu/darwin/talks.html. The Great Global Warming Swindle and Planetary Science, Maeve Eberhardt-Carroll, School music.pitt.edu. 412-624-8780, www. (2007), directed by Martin Durkin, 3 Spike Lee, director, actor, producer, of Arts and Sciences’ Department of p.m. March 27, 4130 Posvar Hall, Pitt’s geology.pitt.edu/ Linguistics, “An Acoustic Analysis of Noseda & Schubert’s “Great,” colloquium.html. and author, 8:30 p.m. March 31, doors Gianandrea Noseda, conductor; Nikolaj Global Studies Program, 412-624-2918, open at 7:00 p.m., Room 120, David A. Regional African American English: Iden- Znaider, violinist; March 27 and 29, www.ucis.pitt.edu/main. Lawrence Hall, free, Pitt Black Action tities and Local Speech in Pittsburgh,” Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Downtown, Society, 412-648-7880, programming. 10 a.m. March 27, Room 2816 Cathedral Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, BNY Secret Sunshine (2007), directed by [email protected]. of Learning. Mellon Grand Classics, 412-392-4900, Chang-dong Lee, 6 p.m. March 27, 4130 www.pittsburghsymphony.org. Posvar Hall, Pitt’s Korean Film Festival, Joanna Ruth Smolko, School of Arts Asian Studies Center, 412-624-5562, and Sciences’ Department of Music, www.ucis.pitt.edu/main. Opera/Theater/ “Reshaping American Music: The Quota- tion of Shape-Note Hymns by Twentieth- Exhibitions Dance Century American Composers,” 1 p.m. Free at Last? Slavery in Pittsburgh in Lectures/Seminars/ Willy Wonka Junior, musical, March 27, Room 302 Music Building. the 18th and 19th Centuries, through March 26-29, New Hazlett The- April 5, exhibition by the University Readings ater, Allegheny Square East, North Nathan Stansell, School of Arts and of Pittsburgh at the Senator John Heinz Side, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Sciences’ Department of Geology and History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Strip “Nusantara/Nanyan/Southeast 412-539-0900, www.pittsburghmusi- Planetary Science, “Rapid Climate District, 412-454-6000, www.pghhistory. Asia: Public Enactments of Religious cals.com. Change in the Tropical Americas During org. Belief,” Ricardo D. Trimillos, University the Late-glacial and Holocene,” 2 p.m. of Hawaii at Manoa Asian Studies chair Let Them Eat Cake, Lewis Black, March 27, 214 Space Research Coordina- Mattress Factory, Predrive: After Tech- and ethnomusicology professor, 3 p.m. stand-up comedian, 8 p.m. March 28, tion Center. nology, through April 5, 500 Sampsonia March 24, 4130 Posvar Hall, Pitt Asian Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Downtown, Way, North Side, 412-231-3169, www. Studies Center, Department of Music, 412-392-4900, www.pittsburghsymphony. mattress.org. 412-648-7426, www.ucis.pitt.edu/main. org.

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Casey “My Back Is Killing Me: How Disc Reas/Marius Watz: New Generative Form, Research Could Save Your (Quality curated by Golan Levin; Zoo. Logic+ of) Life,” James Kang, UPMC Endowed by Pat Bellan-Gillen; Transformations, Chair in Orthopaedic Spine Surgery, 4:30 p.m. March 24, 2500 Posvar Hall, exhibition of local and national bead Willy Wonka Junior, artists; all through April 15, 6300 Fifth Provost’s Inaugural Lecture Series, Ave., Shadyside, Associated Artists of 412-624-4222, www.provost.pitt.edu. New Hazlett Theater, Pittsburgh, 412-361-0873, www.pitts- March 26-29 burgharts.org. “Pathogenesis, Treatment & Control of Tuberculosis—A Global Perspec- Carnegie Museum of Art, Laboratory tive and World TB Day,” Alfred of Architecture, exhibition about works Lardizabal, a professor of medicine in the by Mexican architect Fernando Romero, Division of Pulmonology at New Jersey through May 31; Matsubara: A Celebra- Medical School, 6:30-8:30 p.m. tion in Pittsburgh, woodblock prints by March 24, Room G-23 Parran Hall, Pitt Matsubara Naoko, through June 7; 4400 Graduate School of Public Health, Public Health Grand Rounds, Pennsylvania/ Sivan Magen, Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-622-3131, Duquesne University, www.cmoa.org. MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center, New Jersey March 28 Medical School Global Tubercu- Pitt Chronicle University News and Magazines University of Pittsburgh 400 Craig Hall 200 South Craig Street Pittsburgh, PA 15260

8 • Pitt Chronicle • March 23, 2009 A Healthy Glow Pitt-led researchers create quick fluorescent detector for TB, drug-resistant strains resistant strains at the The group constructed www.hhmi.org/news/ local clinic. This test krith20090319.html provides a quick diagno- bacteriophages specific “The develop- sis so the patient can be ment of reporter fluo- isolated and treated.” to TB that have a green rophages,” Jacobs said, The group con- “allows us to bypass structed bacteriophages fluorescence protein (GFP) the existing method specific to TB that have implanted in their genome. of diagnosing TB, a green fluorescence which requires culti- protein (GFP) implanted Bacteriophages spread by vating slow-growing in their genome. Bac- bacteria in a biosafety teriophages spread by injecting their DNA into bac- level-3 environment, injecting their DNA a time-consuming into bacterial cells—in terial cells—in this case, the and costly process. this case, the GFP gene GFP gene accompanies the By infecting live M. accompanies the DNA tuberculosis cells with into the TB cell, caus- DNA into the TB cell, causing a fluorophage, a quick ing the cell to glow. A and highly sensitive clinician can detect the the cell to glow. visual reading can be GFP’s glow with equip- done. We are optimis- ment available at many tic that we can move clinics. the diagnostic process Besides quick diagnosis, the test also from several weeks to several days or even By Morgan Kelly could be used to distinguish treatable TB hours, which could have a significant impact strains from those that are drug resistant, a on treatment.” Researchers from the University of by TB, explained the paper’s senior author, chore that can normally take months, Hat- The PLoS ONE paper is available on Pittsburgh and the Albert Einstein College of Graham Hatfull, chair and Eberly Family full said. Hatfull and his colleagues treated Pitt’s Web site at www.pitt.edu/news2009/ Medicine have developed an onsite method Professor of Biological Sciences in Pitt’s M. tuberculosis with antibiotics at the same Hatfull-paper.pdf to quickly diagnose tuberculosis (TB) and School of Arts and Sciences. Hatfull con- time the bacteriophages were introduced; the expose the deadly drug-resis- ducted the research with Pro- TB strains that were sensitive to antibiotics tant strains of Mycobacterium fessor William Jacobs Jr. of the died, but the drug-resistant cells survived and tuberculosis that can mingle Department of Microbiology continued to glow. undetected with treatable and Immunology in the Albert The group’s research was funded as PUBLICATION NOTICE The next edition of strains. The researchers engi- Einstein College of Medicine part of a major new research initiative from Pitt Chronicle will be published March 30. neered bacteriophages—tiny of Yeshiva University in New Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Items for publication in the newspaper’s viruses that attack bacteria— York and Pitt postdoctoral The institute announced March 19 that it will Happenings calendar (see page 7) should to inject TB bacteria with a fellow Mariana Piuri. partner with South Africa’s University of be received six working days prior to the glowing, fluorescent-green desired publication date. Happenings items “A report from South KwaZulu-Natal to establish an international should include the following information: protein. They report their Africa showed that the exten- research center focused on the TB and HIV title of the event, name and title of speaker(s), findings in the March 19 sively drug-resistant TB strains coepidemics in Africa called KwaZulu-Natal date, time, location, sponsor(s), and a phone edition of PLoS ONE, a peer- can kill within 16 days, on Research Institute for TB-HIV. Jacobs will number and Web site for additional infor- reviewed online journal from average,” Hatfull said. “In direct research into developing rapid and mation. Items may be e-mailed to chron@ the Public Library of Sci- pitt.edu, faxed to 412-624-4895, or sent by Graham Hatfull rural Africa, it takes too long effective TB tests, one of the new institute’s ence. to collect samples, send them primary objectives. His work with Hatfull campus mail to 422 Craig Hall. For more The method must next undergo clinical off, do the test, and have the data sent back. and Piuri was related to that effort. More information, call 412-624-1033 or e-mail trials, but it has potential as a valuable, time- Clinicians need rapid, relatively cheap, and information about the HHMI initiative [email protected]. saving tool in rural African areas besieged simple methods for detecting TB and drug- is available on the institute’s Web site, at