Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, the Margaret C. Ryan Dean of the School of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, has received the 2026 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award from the CDC Foundation. The award honors a leader who has made significant contributions to health education and health promotion through program development or delivery, policy, advocacy […]
Neuroticism taxes capacity for compassion in all age groups, but youth are more sensitive to stress Times of major stress can impact a person’s ability to think, but the stress response is not the same for all circumstances and ages. Those who become increasingly distressed will face decreasing reserves of compassion and patience, according to […]
Hong Chen’s lab advancing synthetic torpor with focused ultrasound Nature is often the best model for science. For nearly a century, scientists have been trying to recreate the ability of some mammals and birds to survive extreme environmental conditions for brief or extended periods by going into torpor, when their body temperature and metabolic rate […]
Mouse study uncovers mast cells’ role as gatekeepers against pathogens The itching, redness and swelling of an allergic reaction are caused by mast cells — the vigilant first responders of the immune system that spring into action with histamine-filled granules in response to a perceived threat. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. […]
A project that could help scientists identify novel ways to fight disease is one of the research efforts that will get a significant boost under a new collaboration agreement that Washington University in St. Louis has signed with leading science and technology company MilliporeSigma. The partnership builds on nearly a century of shared innovation and […]
A sweeping new analysis from Washington University in St. Louis has found that global progress to promote physical activity — a proven driver of better health — is in danger of stalling or reversing. Shrinking public health budgets, fraying international cooperation and surging military spending are siphoning resources away from prevention efforts. The paper, “Global Progress […]
Chancellor Andrew D. Martin has appointed a committee to begin the process of identifying the next dean of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and the George and Carol Bauer Dean of WashU Medicine, will conclude his deanship on June 30, 2026. “WashU Medicine plays […]
Scientists know that many proteins and pathways are involved in the development and progression of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and that these proteins can be detected in the plasma of people with the conditions. But it hasn’t been clear exactly which proteins are distinct to one disease […]
Christina Stallings (center), a professor of molecular microbiology at WashU Medicine, mentors aspiring scientists training in her lab. Pictured are (left) Kate Wardenburg, in the Medical Scientist Training Program, and Ananda Rankin, in the Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences. (Photo: Matt Miller/WashU Medicine)
Amid growing concern over U.S. public health funding cuts, experts at Washington University in St. Louis warn that pulling support from key data systems could erase decades of progress In a letter published June 7 in The Lancet, first author Lindsay Stark, DrPH, a professor at the WashU School of Public Health, and other scholars argued that […]
Jennifer E. Phillips-Cremins, PhD, an international leader in understanding 3D genome structure and how it affects brain development and neurological diseases, has been named a BJC Investigator at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Phillips-Cremins will join the Department of Genetics as the James McDonnell Professor and have a dual appointment in the Department of Neuroscience. […]
Beverly R. Wendland, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at Washington University in St. Louis, will complete her provost appointment after successfully completing a five-year term in the role. Her transition is effective July 31, according to Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. Since joining WashU in 2020, Wendland has advanced the university’s academic mission, […]
At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting May 2, numerous faculty members were appointed, promoted or granted tenure, with tenure effective July 1 unless otherwise indicated. Appointment with tenure Joanna L. Jankowsky as a professor of neuroscience at the School of Medicine (effective May 2) Sepehr Shahshahani as a professor of law at […]
As more U.S. cities debate whether to remove fluoride from their water systems, public health experts at the Prevention Research Center (PRC) at Washington University in St. Louis are providing clear, evidence-based tools to help local communities make informed choices. Fluoride, long hailed as one of the most effective and low-cost ways to prevent tooth decay, has […]
If you’re anxious about work, finances, the state of the world or anything else, you might try a moment of mindfulness. Paying close attention to the present moment without judgment — the basic idea behind all mindfulness techniques — can help calm anxiety and improve focus, said Resh Gupta, a postdoctoral research associate with the Mindfulness […]
David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and the George and Carol Bauer Dean of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, will conclude his deanship on June 30, 2026, according to Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. He will remain on the WashU Medicine faculty as the Spencer T. and Ann W. […]
The Food and Drug Administration’s approval in 2023 of lecanemab — a novel Alzheimer’s therapy shown in clinical trials to modestly slow disease progression — was met with enthusiasm by many in the field as it represented the first medication of its kind able to influence the disease. But side effects — brain swelling and […]
Washington University in St. Louis will remove the name of Robert J. Terry, MD, from all university features, including the Robert J. Terry Lecture Series and the Robert J. Terry Professorship at the School of Medicine. This action follows a comprehensive review by the university’s Naming Review Board (NRB) and recommendations unanimously endorsed by the WashU Board […]
Graduating students Kendall Burks and Elijah Darden have faced tough challenges in their young lives, but both have thrived thanks to the love and support of their communities. On Monday, May 12, Burks and Darden will encourage the Class of 2025 to lean on their communities as the navigate life after graduation. Here, Burks, who […]
It’s easy to solve a 3×3 Rubik’s cube, said Shantanu Chakrabartty, PhD, the Clifford W. Murphy Professor and vice dean for research and graduate education in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. Just learn and memorize the steps, then execute them to arrive at the solution. Computers are already good at […]
Eating disorders are one of the deadliest forms of mental illness, but less than 20% of people with these disorders end up finding help. “There’s a huge need for access to care,” said Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, PhD, an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences and of psychiatry at the School of Medicine, all […]
Shannon Lenze, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, knows the grim statistics showing that gun violence, racism, poverty and a lack of access to transportation and nutritious foods can adversely affect mental and physical health during pregnancy, particularly among Black people who suffer disproportionately more than […]
Marco Pignatelli, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received a five-year $6.5 million grant from the Wellcome Trust to unravel little-known brain functions involved in depression. His project focuses on understanding the neurobiology underlying chronic anergia, the debilitating loss of energy and enthusiasm that affects […]
As a new academic year begins, Washington University in St. Louis is unveiling a new visual identity and an enhanced effort to communicate its important contributions in the areas of education, research and patient care to key internal and external audiences. The update includes a new university logo and website and the official adoption of […]
In humans and other animals, signals from a central circadian clock in the brain generate the seasonal and daily rhythms of life. They help the body to prepare for expected changes in the environment and also optimize when to sleep, eat and do other daily activities. Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis are working […]
David Pagliarini, PhD, the Hugo F. & Ina C. Urbauer Professor and a BJC Investigator in the Department of Cell Biology & Physiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator. HHMI will be supporting Pagliarini’s research on mitochondria, organelles embedded within cells that […]
Amyloid-beta (A-beta) aggregates are tangles of proteins most notably associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Despite its constant stint in the limelight, however, researchers have been unable to get a good understanding of how A-beta comes together and breaks apart. “The way A-beta behaves in a variety of environments, including the human brain, is […]
Next January, Sandro Galea, MD, DrPh, will become the Margaret C. Ryan Dean for the planned School of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis. During a June 7 welcome reception, he talked about building a world-class school and shaping a healthier world. Galea also will serve as the Eugene S. and Constance D. Kahn Distinguished […]
Stan Braude, a professor of practice in biology and in environmental studies in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, died at home Saturday, June 1, 2024, after a short illness. He was 62. Braude earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in biology at the University of Michigan, spending summers at the […]
Abhinav Diwan, MD, a highly regarded cardiologist with expertise in the molecular underpinnings of cardiovascular disease, has been named the inaugural Charlie W. Shaeffer, MD, Professor of Cardiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Diwan was installed by David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, the George and Carol […]
A staggering 3 million children die from malnutrition across the globe each year, with many more left with long-lasting deficits in their growth and development. Jeffrey I. Gordon, MD – widely regarded as the father of the microbiome – has dedicated his life’s work to changing this paradigm. Gordon, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. […]
Seanna Leath, PhD, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has been selected to receive the Society for Research on Adolescence’s Early Career Award. The award is given for outstanding contributions to the study of adolescent development. Leath studies identity development and well-being processes among […]
Nine faculty members at Washington University in St. Louis are among the 502 new fellows selected by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the most distinct honors in the scientific community. The 2023 class includes: Deanna Barch, Laura Bierut, Kendall Blumer, Andreas Burkhalter, Jennifer Heemstra, Kathleen McDermott, Jeffrey Miner, Camillo Padoa-Schioppa and David Perlmutter. It is also the 150th year […]
Founded in 2004 to celebrate Washington University’s 150th year, the Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award recognizes a select group of individuals from the WashU community who show exemplary commitment to service and engagement within the St. Louis area. This year’s honorees possess compassion, selflessness and a talent to inspire action in others — qualities […]
A drug used to treat children with epilepsy prevents brain tumor formation and growth in two mouse models of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. NF1 is a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, including the […]
At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting March 1, numerous faculty members were appointed with tenure, promoted with tenure or granted tenure. Their new roles and titles take effect July 1, unless otherwise indicated. Appointment with tenure Steven Miles as a professor of history in Arts & Sciences. Granting of tenure Paul […]
Philip Needleman, a Washington University in St. Louis emeritus trustee, longtime benefactor and former department head at the School of Medicine, died in an accident Monday, March 25, 2024, in Creve Coeur, Mo. He was 85. “Phil was a pioneering pharmacologist, an esteemed faculty member and a generous benefactor whose impact on our university and the […]
Higher levels of well-being have been robustly associated with a lower risk for future dementia, researchers have found. Happiness is potentially protective against cognitive decline. Emily Willroth, PhD, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis further elaborates in chapter four of this year’s World Happiness […]
Can better design improve patient outcomes? Can energy-efficient architecture contribute to public health? Over the past year, a team of architects, medical professionals and engineers, including students, from Washington University in St. Louis and Chicago-based architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) have explored these questions and more through a series of interdisciplinary design studios […]
Scientists from Washington University in St. Louis and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have been awarded a five-year $3.1 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, an affiliate of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Rohit Pappu, PhD, the Edwin H. Murty Professor of Engineering in the Department of Biomedical Engineering […]
To the Class of 2020: Thank you. For your commitment to academic excellence. For your service to the St. Louis community. For your support of your fellow students. For your devotion to your labs, your teams, your campus organizations. You made Washington University in St. Louis better. We wish we could express our gratitude to […]
Researchers in the laboratory of Meredith Jackrel, assistant professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, discovered that proteins implicated in Ewing’s sarcoma and liposarcoma can be dissolved by protein disaggregases, a finding that could be used to combat disease. The new research is published in the Journal of Biological […]
Joel S. Perlmutter, MD, the Elliot H. Stein Family Professor of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named scientific director of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes excessive, involuntary muscle contractions and abnormal postures. An expert on Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders […]
From the WashU Newsroom… Eleven faculty members at Washington University in St. Louis — the most in a decade-and-a-half — are among 416 new fellows selected by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society. Samuel Achilefu; Victoria J. Fraser, MD; Robert W. Gereau; Kathleen B. Hall; Joseph […]
From the WashU Newsroom… At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting Oct. 5, the following faculty were appointed with tenure or promoted with tenure, effective that day. Appointment with tenure John Gorcsan III, MD, as professor of medicine at the School of Medicine; Jianjun Guan as professor of mechanical engineering and […]
From the WashU’s Campus Voices… In the new book “The Fragmented Personality,” Dragan Svrakic, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine, and Mirjana Divac-Jovanovic, of Sigidunum University in Serbia, introduce a new model for diagnosing and caring for patients with personality disorder. The approach yields a diagnosis sensitive to fluctuations in mental […]