Washington University Record, November 12, 2009

Washington University School of Medicine Digital Commons@Becker Washington University Record Washington University Publications 11-12-2009 Washington University Record, November 12, 2009 Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record Recommended Citation "Washington University Record, November 12, 2009" (2009). Washington University Record. Book 1195. http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record/1195 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Washington University Publications at Digital Commons@Becker. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington University Record by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Becker. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Medical News: Center spans ^ Dark Comedy: 'PiHowman' M Washington People: Tokarz © disciplines to solve problems 3 performances begin Nov. 19 HT fosters new role for lawyers O ^J(Miington University in St Louis Nov. 12, 2009 record.wustl.edu $80 million in stimulus grants awarded to WUSTL BY CAROLINE ARBANAS "The research funding we have been able generate comprehensive genetic maps of technique that has the potential to deter- to attract to Washington University will lead mutations that underlie 20 different types of mine whether the heart muscle is alive or Washington University has been to new discoveries that will have direct cancer. The researchers will sequence the dead more accurately than currently avail- awarded nearly $80 million in fund- benefit to people throughout our region and, DNA of cancer patients and compare it with able tests. The technique offers unprecedent- ing from the 2009 American indeed, across the world," Chancellor Mark DNA from tumor samples of the same pa- ed precision in locating damaged and non- Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to S. Wrighton said. "Our successful competi- tients to identify genetic changes that may functioning areas of the heart and may help support research across a broad range of tion for this funding is in large measure due be important to cancer. Over time, the proj- to improve the effectiveness of cardiac projects, including cancer, Alzheimer's to our many talented and experienced fac- ect is expected to lead to new ways to diag- surgery. disease, renewable energy, diabetes and ulty who have distinguished themselves as nose, treat or even prevent cancer. • Investigating ways to diagnose climate change. world-class researchers. I am proud of the Other awards include: Alzheimer's disease before the onset of As of Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal extra effort that many in our community • Developing the technology to produce dementia by combining information from year, University faculty had received 207 made to bring this funding to St. Louis." lithium iron phosphate nanoparticles, which brain scans that image amyloid plaques — a awards. Some $73 million came from the In all, 175 faculty members from the have the potential to improve rechargeable key feature of Alzheimer's — with an analy- National Institutes of Health (NIH), ranking School of Medicine, Arts & Sciences, School batteries used in portable electronic devices sis of key proteins in spinal fluid. Earlier Washington University among the top 10 of Engineering & Applied Science and the as well as electric cars. Batteries using these diagnosis could allow patients to receive academic institutions in NIH stimulus George Warren Brown School of Social nanoparticles are likely to be less expensive, new treatments before the disease causes funds. Other awards were received from the Work received awards. hold a greater charge and last longer than irreversible brain changes that lead to mem- National Science Foundation and the The largest chunk — $10 million — went those currently on the market. ory loss. Department of Energy. to the Genome Center for a project to • Testing an MRI-based heart imaging See Grants, Page 2 Nearly half of all U.S. children will use food stamps, expert says BY JESSICA MARTIN • Ninety percent of black children will be in a household that Holidays and tables full of deli- uses food stamps. This compares cious food usually go hand-in- with 37 percent of white children. hand, but for nearly half of the • Nearly one-quarter of all children in the United States, this American children will be in is not guaranteed. households that use food stamps "Forty-nine percent of all for five or more years during U.S. children will be in a house- childhood. hold that uses food stamps at some • Ninety-one percent of chil- point during their childhood," said dren with single parents will be in Mark R. Rank, Ph.D., the a household receiving Herbert S. Hadley food stamps, compared Professor of Social with 37 percent of chil- Welfare in the George dren in married Warren Brown School of households. Social Work. "Food • Looking at race, stamp use is a clear sign marital status and educa- of poverty and food tion simultaneously, insecurity, two of the children who are black most detrimental eco- and whose head of house- nomic conditions affect- hold is not married with ing a child's health." Rank less than 12 years of According to Rank, education have a cumula- the substantial risk of a child being tive percentage of residing in a in a family that uses food stamps is food stamp household of 97 per- Looking toward Olir energy future Steven F. Leer (left), president and CEO of Arch Coal, and consistent with a wider body of cent by age 10. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton listen as Maxine L. Savitz, Ph.D., vice president of the National research demonstrating that U.S. "Understanding the degree to Academy of Engineering and a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and children face considerable eco- which American children are Technology, answers a question from the audience at America's Energy Future, a symposium to nomic risk throughout their child- exposed to the risks of poverty and discuss the National Research Council's roadmap for the country's energy future. The symposium hood years. food insecurity across childhood is was held Nov. 2 in Simon Hall and was sponsored by the International Center for Advanced "Rather than being a time of essential information for the Renewable Energy and Sustainability (l-CARES). Wrighton delivered the keynote address summariz- security and safety, the childhood health-care and social service ing the council's report. years for many American children communities," Rank said. "Even are a time of economic turmoil, limited exposure to poverty can risk and hardship," Rank said. have detrimental effects upon a Rank's study "Estimating the child's overall quality of health and Skills tests like 'connect the dots' Risk of Food Stamp Use and well-being." Impoverishment During The study, co-authored with Childhood" is published in the Thomas Hirschl, Ph.D., professor maybe early Alzheimer's indicator current issue of the Archives of at Cornell University, is based on Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. an analysis of 30 years of informa- BY MICHAEL C. PURDY we look for as the earliest signs of Neurology. Other study findings include: tion taken from the Panel Study of mental change associated with Galvin and his co-authors Income Dynamics (PSID) and A study of mental decline in the Alzheimer's disease," said senior analyzed long-term data from looks at children between the ages years prior to diagnosis of author James Galvin, M.D., asso- volunteers at the Memory and Record to go of 1 and 20. The PSID is a longitu- Alzheimer's disease suggests that ciate professor of neurology, of Aging Project at the University's dinal survey of a representative changing the focus of testing may neurobiology Alzheimer's Disease Research all-electronic sample of U.S. individuals and allow physicians to detect signs of and of psychia- Center (ADRC). For three de- their families interviewed annually the disease three years earlier. try. "If we can cades, researchers have been The Record, which is distrib- since 1968. Current cognitive testing typi- better recog- regularly conducting extensive uted in both print and Rank's areas of research and cally focuses on episodic memory, nize the first testing of volunteers to uncover digital formats, will go entirely teaching have focused on issues or the ability to remember things signs of dis- the factors associated with the digital in January 2010 to related to poverty, social welfare, such as word lists or information ease, we can normal, healthy retention of men- improve timely communica- economic inequality and social from a reading. But School of start treating tal function in seniors. The new tions to the University com- policy. His first book, "Living on Medicine scientists found that patients earlier, study analyzes data on 444 volun- munity and to reduce printing the Edge: The Realities of Welfare another class of mental abilities and, hopefully teers ages 60-101 that were gath- costs. in America," was published in known as visuospatial skills begins with new ered between 1979-2006. The last issue of the print 1994 and explored the circum- to deteriorate up to three years Galvin treatments, we Scientists categorized cognitive Record will be Dec. 10. The stances of surviving on public prior to diagnosis. These skills are can slow or testing results into a global mea- Record will resurface in its assistance and achieved wide- tested with tasks such as connect- perhaps even stop their progress sure of cognitive abilities as well as all-digital format when classes spread critical acclaim. ing the dots or using a guide to into dementia." three specific types of mental resume in January. His book "One Nation, build a structure with blocks. The results were published in skills: episodic memory, See Food stamps, Page 2 "We may need to rethink what the October issue of Archives of See Tests, Page 2 '! 2 RECORD WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST.

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