utnews.utoledo.edu JULY 23, 2018 VOLUME 18, ISSUE 37 UT neuroscientist awarded $1.75 million to develop method to modify traumatic memories, treat PTSD By Christine Billau neuroscientist at The University of Toledo is creating a new way to help A people face their fears. The National Institute of Mental Health awarded Dr. Jianyang Du, assistant professor in the UT Department of Biological Sciences, a five-year, $1.75 million grant to develop a method to modify fearful memories, which could lead to new treatment options for mental health illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. “Excessive fear memories such as war-time trauma or a near-death experience can be crippling,” Du said. “However, fear memories also can be critical for survival. Developing means to either erase or to strengthen fear memory could SCREEN TIME: Dr. Jianyang Du, shown here in his lab, is researching how to modify fearful memories. Photo by Daniel Miller continued on p. 2 Art on the Mall to return to campus July 29 By Marla Gootee rt on the Mall will take over UT’s A total of 115 artists will have artwork include Big C’s Smoked ACentennial Mall Sunday, July 29, from for sale by cash, or guests can pay using a Barbeque, Karen Anne’s 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. credit card at the artist’s booth or credit card Kettle Corn, Opa! This summer marks the free, public station located in the Thompson Student Gyros, Java Sensations/ event’s 26th year of showcasing a variety Union. Let’s Go Nuts, Quinn’s of art on Main Campus. Attendees will Representatives from the Ft. Wayne Concessions, Jeanie’s have the opportunity to view all kinds of Museum of Art will jury the works with Comfort Cuisine, Snowie art, including acrylic, glass, jewelry, mixed prizes being awarded to the top artists. UT’s Daze, the Petite Fleet, and media, photography, pottery and more. Best of Show award will be given to an K & K Concessions. “We welcome and encourage everyone artist with an affiliation to the University; A beer and wine to attend one of northwest Ohio’s signature students, faculty, staff, retirees, alumni and garden will be at Art art shows,” said Ansley Abrams-Frederick, parents are eligible for this honor. on the Mall and offer director of alumni programming in the UT Throughout the event, guests can listen a selection of adult Office of Alumni and Annual Engagement. to live jazz with performances from UT beverages for guests 21 “It’s a great way to spend a summer day — student and alumni groups Minor Frett and and older with a valid ID. looking at amazing artwork on our beautiful the Twenty TwentyFour. This year the show will campus.” Food and beverages will be for sale feature three varieties of throughout the day from vendors that will craft beer from one of the continued on p. 5 LOOK FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF UT NEWS AUG. 6 JULY 23, 2018 NEWS UT recruiting police officers to join force Neuroscientist continued from p. 1 By Meghan Cunningham aid understanding of how memories are he University of Toledo Police Depart- formed and may suggest novel therapeutic ment is looking to add two new law T strategies.” enforcement officers to its force. Du, who studies how protons regulate “We are looking to add to our team brain circuits and behaviors, found in individuals who are excited about joining mouse brains that manipulating pH in the the UT community and who are committed amygdala can influence or control fear to our No. 1 priority of ensuring our campus memories during recollection, creating a remains a safe and welcoming place for short window of increased susceptibility to everyone to study and work,” UT Police either erase or enhance the memory. Chief Jeff Newton said. “I look forward Du manipulates the pH levels by to welcoming new officers to the team to using carbon dioxide inhalation and replace those who have retired recently.” activating key molecular components Officer candidates must be at least 21 of the central nervous system called years of age at the time of appointment with acid-sensing ion channels, which spread a valid driver’s license. They also must throughout the body and allow for possess a valid Ohio Peace Officer Training transmission of signals in the nervous Academy (OPOTA) certificate or be system. The acid-sensing ion channels are currently enrolled in or registered to attend important targets for pharmaceutical drug an OPOTA-certified academy. designers because of their importance to To be considered for the position, To provide more convenience to Candidates who test on or before learning and memory. candidates also must pass physical fitness, potential candidates, UTPD is using Wednesday, Aug. 15, will be considered “Our goal is to uncover the cellular psychological, drug and polygraph exams, the National Testing Network to offer first; however, candidates may test with and molecular mechanisms by which as well as written and oral testing, and a initial police testing. Testing centers the National Testing Network after this traumatic memories are stored in the thorough background investigation. are located throughout Ohio, and date to be considered for future positions. brain and how carbon-dioxide inhalation Applicants need to have completed candidates may choose the date, time and For more information, visit and acid-sensing ion channels influence 96 quarter hours or 64 semester hours testing center. On the testing website, utoledo.edu/depts/police/officer.html. or control emotional behaviors, such as of college credits, or have at least two nationaltestingnetwork.com, find the UT anxiety and depression,” Du said. “The years of continuous active full-time law position in the job listing by selecting law ability to rewire the brain to modify enforcement experience. enforcement as the job class and the state existing fearful memories is very of Ohio. important as it relates to mental disorders.” Picnic time President Sharon L. Gaber and Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, and executive vice president for clinical affairs, posed for a photo at the July 11 picnic. Tammie Coleman of Environmental Services smiled on the red carpet, which was rolled out during Photos by Daniel Miller the picnic on Health Photos by Daniel Miller Science Campus. Faculty, staff, students and volunteers recently attended UT Medical Center’s thank-you picnic. Meals were provided for employees who work other shifts. 2 NEWS JULY 23, 2018 Neuroscientist View Mars at observatory as red planet comes closest to Earth continued from p. 1 in 15 years By Christine Billau to meet in the lobby of ars will be visible to the naked eye McMaster Hall, where Min late July as the planet approaches they will be guided up to its closet point to Earth since 2003 — 35.8 the observatory. million miles away. “Mars is the planet Astronomers at The University of that has fascinated Toledo are hosting Mars Watch 2018 to humanity for the longest,” share the UT telescope with the public for Mak said. “From its a view of what is called opposition, the retrograde motion in the point when Mars and the sun are on directly sky and its blood red color opposite sides of the Earth as the planets to the question of whether orbit around the sun. Mars has or had life, it is a “Due to the orbit of Mars and Earth, planet that has never failed Mars is really only well-placed for to make us wonder.” observing from Earth for a month or two The event is every two years or so,” Alex Mak, associate dependent on clear skies. director of UT Ritter Planetarium, said. Admission is $2 for “The end of July and early August mark one adults and $1 for children of those opportunities.” 5 through 12. Children 4 The Brooks Observatory in McMaster and younger are admitted Hall will be open to the public for four free. nights — from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, July 26; Monday, July 30; Tuesday, July 31; and Wednesday, Aug. 1. Visitors are invited Congratulations Moving up Photo by Daniel Miller Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, and executive vice presi- dent for clinical affairs, left, congratulated Dr. Terry Hinds, assistant professor in the Department of U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Penney, right, was congratulated by U.S. Army Col. Mike Getchell, Physiology and Pharmacology and the Department of Urology, who received a $50,000 grant from who conducted the July 6 promotion ceremony for the professor and chair of the UT Military the Medical Research Society. Hinds will use the award to fund his research on obesity-induced dia- Science and Leadership Department. Penney, who was a major when he joined the faculty last betes. Hinds received his PhD in cardiovascular biology and metabolic disease from the UT College summer, will remain at UT for one more year and then take command of a battalion in South of Medicine in 2010 and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University. Carolina. “My role as head of the ROTC program here at UT is one of the most important and rewarding jobs the Army has given to me to this point,” he said. “Leader development is crucial in the Army of today, and having some impact on the lives of future Army leaders is one of the best jobs.” 3 JULY 23, 2018 ARTS Glacity Theatre to present world premiere of ‘Wilkes’ U.S. citizen is accused of a heinous thing would never happen again, in 2001, “Wilkes” will run Friday through crime, but rather than receiving a trial as part of the Patriot Act, these laws were Sunday, July 27-29, and Thursday through A by jury as constitutionally mandated, he is superseded.