2008-09 Spring Quarter Research News and Honors
Chad Mirkin Receives Lemelson-MIT Prize for Invention
Chad Mirkin, one of the world's leaders in nanotechnology research and its application, received the prestigious 2009 $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Unfit Young Adults on Road to Diabetes in Middle Age
Research shows that young adults with low aerobic fitness levels are two to three times more likely to develop diabetes in 20 years compared to those who are fit.
Dean J. Larry Jameson Honored for Endocrine Research
J. Larry Jameson, M.D., vice president for medical affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine, received the Fred Conrad Koch Award, the highest honor bestowed by The Endocrine Society.
New Method Separates Cancer Cells from Normal Cells
Researchers have demonstrated a novel and simple method that can direct and separate cancer cells from normal cells, preventing the spread of cancer cells from their primary site to other parts of the body.
Stimulus Helps Fund Science Experience for Young Women
The stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will allow Northwestern to continue educating, mentoring, and directing high school girls through the pipeline toward future careers in science.
Study Finds New Risk for Snoring Pregnant Women
A new study has found that women who reported frequent snoring during pregnancy were more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
Tobin Marks Receives Nelson Taylor Award for Photonics Work
Tobin J. Marks, chemistry and materials science and engineering, has received the 2009 Nelson W. Taylor Award from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State University.
Enabling Graphene-Based Technology Via Chemical Functionalization
Researchers have identified conditions for chemically functionalizing graphene with an organic semiconductor.
Few Pharmacies Can Translate Prescription Labels Into Spanish
The first multi-state study investigating the ability of pharmacies to translate prescription labels found more than half of the pharmacies were unable to translate any labels or could do only a limited number of translations.
Less Toxic Drug Prolongs Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Research from the Feinberg School found that a less toxic, solvent-free chemotherapy drug more effectively prevents the progression of metastatic breast cancer.
One Sponge-Like Material, Three Different Applications
A new material designed by Northwestern chemists can remove mercury from polluted water, easily separate hydrogen from other gases and is an effective catalyst to pull sulfur out of crude oil.
Popular Cancer Drug Linked to Often Fatal "Brain Eating" Virus
Researchers have found that an important and widely used cancer drug for lymphoma can lead to a viral brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalitis.
Study Examines Inflammatory Bowel Disease
A Northwestern clinical health psychologist is leading a behavioral study of inflammatory bowel disease, which affects gastrointestinal health of 250,000 to 500,000 people in the U.S.
Is There a Relationship Between Facebook and Grades?
Attempts by researchers to replicate the results of a widely publicized preliminary study failed to find any robust relationship between use of Facebook and diminished grades.
RNA Snippet Helps Make Individuals Remarkably Alike
Researchers have identified a type of molecule that plays a specific role in maintaining uniformity: a little snippet of RNA called a microRNA.
Charles Manski Elected to National Academy of Sciences
Charles F. Manski, economics, is among 72 new members elected to the National Academy of Sciences for distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
Motherhood and Success Event May 18
Northwestern and the University of Chicago are coming together to present a set of panel discussions on how to achieve the balance between a science and technology career and motherhood.
Swine Flu Scenarios: Computer Simulations
Dirk Brockmann, engineering sciences and applied mathematics, runs large-scale computer simulations to show worst-case scenario projections of swine flu in the United States.
Two Energy Frontier Research Centers at Northwestern
Northwestern will be home to two of the 46 new multi-million-dollar Energy Frontier Research Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. The funded centers are Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research (ANSER) and the new Center for Integrated Training in Far-From Equilibrium and Adaptive Materials.
Composing Their Thoughts: Empowering Creative Voices
Maud Hickey, music studies, works with teachers in schools and at professional meetings to debunk the myth that only highly trained individuals can compose or improvise music.
Mirkin Named to Obama's Science and Technology Advisory Council
Chad A. Mirkin, the world's top-cited researcher in nanomedicine and one of the most widely cited chemists, has been named to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Whiter Laundry and a Surprising New Treatment for Kids' Eczema
Simple household bleach has a surprising new role as an effective treatment for kids' chronic eczema.
In Defense of Animal Research: Pro-test Takes on Protest
Extremists protesting against animal research at UCLA were met by a rally of 400 UCLA scientists and their supporters on April 22.
The Medical School: 150 Years and Counting
The Feinberg School of Medicine is in the midst of a year-long celebration of its sesquicentennial. The school's roots date back to 1859 when seven physicians left Rush Medical College and signed an agreement with Lind University to form its new medical department.
Vassar Receives Potamkin Prize for Alzheimer's Research
Robert J. Vassar, cell and molecular biology, received the Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's, and Related Diseases from the American Academy of Neurology.
Don't Be Late to Innovate: Biomedical Business Plans Sought
May 10 is the deadline for graduate students to submit summary plans for businesses with medical relevance to enter a competition sponsored by the Chicago Biomedical Consortium.
Harold Kung Named Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellow
Harold H. Kung, chemical and biological engineering, has been awarded the Dorothy Ann and Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellowship, the University's first endowed award for excellence in research by a faculty member.
Finding: Stem Cells Reset Immune Systems in Diabetes
Patients with Type 1 diabetes who underwent transplantation with their own stem cells to reset their immune systems became insulin free.
Social Networking: If Only We Knew What We Know
Noshir Contractor studies how social networks and the cyberinfrastructure that support them have fundamentally transformed the way we work, play, and live.
Study Says Stop Prescribing Heartburn Medication to Asthma Patients Without Acid Reflux
A new national study has found that the longstanding practice of prescribing heartburn medication is ineffective and unnecessarily expensive for asthma patients who don't exhibit symptoms associated with acid reflux.
McCormick Students Win $10,000 for Global Sustainability Research
Two individuals and one team -- all Northwestern students -- have each received $10,000 for their research contributing to global sustainability from a challenge sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company.
Tobin Marks Receives Herman Pines Award for Catalysis Work
Tobin Marks, professor of chemistry and materials science and engineering, has received the 2009 Herman Pines Award from the Chicago Catalysis Society for his contributions in the areas of homogenous and heterogenous catalysis.
Study Finds a Surprisingly High Rate of Patients Readmitted to Hospital Within a Month
A new national study has found that one out of five Medicare patients are back in the hospital within a month of being discharged, costing billions in health care.
Three Win Prestigious NSF Awards for Young Faculty
Frank Calegari, mathematics; Jason Hartline, electrical engineering and computer science; and Dean Ho, biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering, have received Faculty Early Career Development awards from the National Science Foundation.
Evidence That Patients' Own Stem Cells Could Treat Their Heart Disease
The largest adult stem cell study for heart disease has shown the first evidence that delivering a potent form of adult stem cells into the heart muscle of patients with severe angina may result in less pain and improved exercise tolerance.
Soviet Realism: The Ignored Segment of Modern Art
Christina Kiaer, art history, says the standard models used to analyze modern art prevent serious consideration of socialist realism, the official standard of art in the Soviet Union.
NU and Argonne Explore Collaboration to Offer Energy Solutions
Members from the Northwestern and Argonne research communities worked together at the Workshop in Energy Demand.
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