Washington University School of Medicine Digital Commons@Becker Washington University Record Washington University Publications 11-16-2006 Washington University Record, November 16, 2006 Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record Recommended Citation "Washington University Record, November 16, 2006" (2006). Washington University Record. Book 1091. http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record/1091 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]. Kelton & Compton: McDonnell t% Medical News: New model can Washington People: Lawrence Tychsen, gift inaugurates professorship mL predict glaucoma risk in patients M.D., helps children improve their vision 8 Nov. 16, 2006 Volume 31 No. 15 Washington University in StlDuis Young entrepreneurs rewarded in Olin Cup BY SHULA NEUMAN given the same evaluation sheet the judges used earlier in the Entrepreneurship is alive and day," said Kenneth A. Harring- well in St. Louis — and it ton, managing director of the involves audience partici- Skandalaris Center and senior pation. lecturer in entrepreneurship. "It On Nov. 9, 14 semifinalist was a huge opportunity for peo- teams in the Olin Cup Competi- ple to connect and help each tion, the annual business forma- other." tion contest at the John M. Olin This year's semifinalists were School of Business, presented selected from a pool of 25 — al- their business proposals in an "el- most twice as many as last year. evator pitch" (a brief overview so Also up were the number of stu- concise it can be delivered in the dent submissions and life-sci- span of an elevator ride) to a ences submissions. Entries in- panel of judges. cluded a wide range of proposals In a new twist to this year's such as high-tech products that competition, the 14 ideas also monitor food safety, new appli- were presented to a public audi- cations for mobile devices, tech- ence, which voted on which pitch nical writers for start-up busi- should win based on the viability nesses and medical supplements of the business venture and its to slow bone loss. probability of success. The judges, who include The judges halved the number representatives from venture of semifinalists to seven teams, capital firms, incubators, service which were selected to move on providers and other area univer- to the finals in January. sities, selected the following fi- The audience member whose nalists: selections were the closest match • Bio Rankings, which offers to the judges received a $250 cash a statistical data analysis service prize from the Skandalaris Center to provide more easily inter- for Entrepreneurial Studies, preted data to biomedical and which organizes the competition. bio-technology researchers; "The audience members were See Olin, Page 6 Festival Of LiyhtS Members of Ashoka, the University's Indian student group, perform a tradi- tional Indian dance during "Diwali: Festival of Lights," a celebration of the triumph of good over evil and the beginning of a new year. The performance took place Nov. 11 at Edison Theatre. Malaria drug could hold key to Davis wins Lannan Award for 'extraordinary novels' treating heart disease, diabetes BY LIAM OTTEN Foundation. highly particular world with as- BY MICHAEL C. PURDY Scientists know relatively little "She is an un- tonishment, human recognition about metabolic syndrome, which Kathryn Davis, the Fannie M. conventional, and concern. Whether in 18th- Studies of a rare genetic condi- is linked to symptoms that include Hurst Senior Fiction Writer in challenging and century France or a modern tion that increases cancer risk obesity, insulin resistance, high The Writing Program in Arts & daring writer." American small town, she per- have found a blood pressure, low levels of good Sciences, has won a $150,000 David Law- suades us that she is showing the potential treat- cholesterol and high blood sugar Lannan Foundation Literary ton, Ph.D., pro- inside of people's lives, an interi- ment for meta- levels. The number of adults and Award. fessor and chair ority that extends to home and bolic syn- children with the condition is ris- Presented annually, the Lan- of English in animals. We are truly fortunate to drome, which ing sharply in industrial countries, nan Literary Awards honor "es- Arts & Sci- Davis have Kathryn as our senior fiction afflicts as many and diagnoses are increasing in tablished and emerging writers ences, said of writer." as 25 percent of developing countries such as India whose work is of exceptional Davis: "Kathryn's work is a series Davis' work is critically ac- American and China as they adopt Western quality." of thrilling contradictions: witty claimed. Her debut, Labrador adults and puts living standards. "In six extraordinary novels, and engaged, surreal and sharply (1988), examines the relationship them at In findings published in the Davis has bent and inventively ex- perceptive. She's incapable of between two sisters coming of age sharply Semenkovich November issue of Cell Metabo- plored the novel form itself," writing a dull sentence, yet she in 1960s New Hampshire, while increased risk lism, researchers at the School of noted Jo Chapman, literary pro- never writes a mannered one; and The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf of type 2 diabetes and clogged Medicine and St. Jude Children's gram officer for the Lannan she makes her readers look at a See Davis, Page 6 arteries. See Drug, Page 6 A different kind of football playbook BY ANDY CLENDENNEN various business people, entrepreneurs,- "I did it the first time back in 1998," television personalities and those from Kindbom said. "I wrote several people Coaches have different methods of the world of sports, among other fields, around the world who had achieved motivating their football teams. asking only in return a letter to his team success in their respective professions. Some, like Pittsburgh Steelers coach to inspire the student-athletes to be the The list was a 'who's who' kind of a list. Bill Cowher, growl, scowl, rant and rave best contributors they can be. I acknowledged that I was coaching at and pace the sidelines. Some, like for- This year, he's taken the responses Washington University, and we had a mer Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, talk and self-published a book, Playbook of stellar group of student-athletes on our up the opposition to national champi- Champions, giving the student-athletes a football team who would benefit from onship levels. And some, like Division collection of some 120 letters, including the wisdom of someone who had al- III St. John's University coach John one from each of their high-school ready achieved success in their lifetime." Gagliardi, make sure not to take them- coaches. In other years, he would read a According to Kindbom, the response selves too seriously. letter to the players before practice and was fantastic. Kelleher was the first to Then there's University head football then post it on the team bulletin board. respond to the more than 100 letters coach Larry Kindbom, who chooses to Kindbom has received responses from Kindbom originally sent out, and the use stories of past success as a motiva- people such as former U.S. Sen. Bob coach immediately knew he was onto o tor. But it's not his successes he uses — Dole, Vice President Al Gore, Southwest something good. | it's the successes of well-known people Airlines executive Herb Kelleher, sports- "When the CEO of a company that jg from all walks of life. caster Bob Costas, basketball coaches has been in the black for over 20 Head football coach Larry Kindbom's Playbook of For the past eight years, Kindbom Mike Krzyzewski and Bobby Knight and straight years has time to write a per- Champions inspires student-athletes for life. has taken it upon himself to write to a host of other notables. See Football, Page 6 ^ 2 RECORD WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS Kelton named Compton professor, a gift from the McDonnells BY BARBARA REA leadership, McDonnell is imme- diate past chairman of the Board Kenneth F. Kelton, Ph.D., pro- of Trustees. For Arts & Sciences, fessor of physics in Arts & McDonnell was a founding mem- Sciences, has been named the ber of its National Council; he first Arthur Holly Compton Pro- now serves on the School of En- fessor in Arts & Sciences. gineering & Applied Sciences' John F. McDonnell, vice chair- National Council. He and his man of the Board of Trustees and wife, Anne, are life members of retired chairman of the board of the William Greenleaf Eliot Soci- McDonnell Douglas Corp., with ety and sustaining charter mem- JSM Charitable Trust, endowed bers of the society's Danforth the new professorship, which is Circle. intended for academic and re- Among his most significant search leadership in materials sci- gifts is a $10 million endowment, ence. The installation was held in established in 2005 with the JSM Holmes Lounge Oct. 17. Charitable Trust, to create the "Ken Kelton is an outstanding McDonnell International Schol- teacher and researcher, and he ars Academy. In addition, he will undoubtedly continue to served as chair of the leadership make important new discoveries phase for the Campaign for in materials physics," said Edward Washington University. S. Macias, Ph.D., executive vice Within the field of materials chancellor, dean of Arts & Sci- physics, Kelton's work is concen- ences and the Barbara and David trated in complex stable and Thomas Distinguished Professor metastable phases, with particu- in Arts & Sciences. lar interest in novel phases such Kelton's professorship is the as titanium-based quasicrystals (From left) Edward S.