2013 Press Releases

December 17, 2013 
Cancer genetics pioneer Janet Rowley, 1925-2013 
A pioneer in connecting the development of cancer with genetic abnormalities, Janet D. Rowley, MD, the Blum-Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology and Human Genetics at the University of Chicago, died from complications of ovarian cancer on December, 17, 2013, at her home. She was 88.

December 13, 2013 
University of Chicago's Sulmasy wins prestigious bioethics award 
Daniel P. Sulmasy, MD, PhD, the Kilbride-Clinton Professor of Medicine and Ethics in the Department of Medicine and Divinity School at the University of Chicago, has won the 2014 Paul Ramsey Award for Excellence in Bioethics.

December 12, 2013 
Multi-gene test could help spot breast cancer patients most at risk 
A new test has the potential to help physicians identify patients with the most lethal forms of triple-negative breast cancer, a disease which requires aggressive and innovative treatment.

December 12, 2013 
Richard Baron named Chairman of the Board for RSNA2 
Richard L. Baron, M.D., FACR, professor of radiology at the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences, has been named chairman of the Board of Directors of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), one of the world's largest specialty organizations with more than 55,000 members worldwide.

November 26, 2013 
When the living and the deceased don't agree on organ donation 
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the 2006 Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) or enacted similar legislation giving individuals the "First Person Authorization" (FPA) to consent to organ donation after death via a signed donor card or driver's license, or by enrollment in a donor registry. 

November 21, 2013 
David T. Rubin to head digestive diseases at University of Chicago Medicine 
David T. Rubin, MD, a nationally recognized authority on digestive disease, investigational therapies and medical ethics, has been named interim section chief of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at the University of Chicago Medicine.

November 19, 2013 
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria turns immune system against itself 
Around 20 percent of all humans are persistently colonized with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, a leading cause of skin infections and one of the major sources of hospital-acquired infections, including the antibiotic-resistant strain MRSA.

November 19, 2013 
UChicago Medicine, Franciscan Alliance Announce Regional Partnership 
The University of Chicago Medicine and Franciscan Alliance have entered into a master affiliation agreement that creates a novel partnership between a prominent academic medical center and a leading regional health system. 

November 19, 2013 
Study to identify functions of hypothetical genes in two infectious disease pathogens 
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded the University of Chicago $4.4 million over five years to study genes of unknown function in bacteria that cause plague and brucellosis.

November 12, 2013 
25th Anniversary Dorothy MacLean Fellows Conference Nov. 15-16 
The MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics is celebrating its 25th Annual Dorothy J. MacLean Fellows Conference on Nov. 15 and 16, 2013, marking a milestone for the program that pioneered the formal study of clinical medical ethics in the early 1980s.

November 12, 2013 
Kurt+Peter Foundation funds research into potential treatment for rare form of muscular dystrophy 
The Kurt+Peter Foundation has awarded a two-year grant to Elizabeth McNally, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and human genetics at the University of Chicago, to study a potential treatment for limb girdle muscular dystrophy, type 2C -- a rare but severe form of muscular dystrophy.

November 11, 2013 
MRI-guided procedure tested as non-invasive study procedure for uterine fibroids 
On April 11, 2013, Kimberly Dull became the first woman in Illinois -- and one of the first in the United States -- to take part in a clinical trial of an investigational, non-invasive procedure for uterine fibroids.

November 6, 2013 
RNA controls splicing during gene expression, further evidence of 'RNA world' origin in modern life 
RNA is the key functional component of spliceosomes, molecular machines that control how genes are expressed, report scientists from the University of Chicago online, Nov. 6 in Nature. The discovery establishes that RNA, not protein, is responsible for catalyzing this fundamental biological process and enriches the hypothesis that life on earth began in a world based solely on RNA.

November 4, 2013 
Karen Stratton named VP for Women's and Children's Services 
Karen Stratton, PhD, RN, NE-BC, has been promoted to Vice President for Women's and Children's Services after distinguishing herself as a key leader since joining the University of Chicago Medicine in May 2012.

October 31, 2013 
Evolution of new species requires few genetic changes 
Only a few genetic changes are needed to spur the evolution of new species -- even if the original populations are still in contact and exchanging genes. Once started, however, evolutionary divergence evolves rapidly, ultimately leading to fully genetically isolated species, report scientists from the University of Chicago in the Oct. 31 Cell Reports.

October 29, 2013 
A potential new class of fast-acting antidepressant 
More than 1 in 10 Americans take antidepressants, but these medications can take weeks -- and for some patients, months -- before they begin to alleviate symptoms. Now, scientists from the University of Chicago have discovered that selectively blocking a serotonin receptor subtype induces fast-acting antidepressant effects in mice, indicating a potential new class of therapeutics for depression.

October 24, 2013 
Genetic analysis reveals novel insights into the genetic architecture of obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome 
An international research consortium led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Chicago has answered several questions about the genetic background of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome (TS), providing the first direct confirmation that both are highly heritable and also revealing major differences between the underlying genetic makeup of the disorders.

October 23, 2013 
University of Chicago Medicine's 'A' safety score reaffirmed 
The University of Chicago Medicine maintained its "A" grade in hospital safety, according to the latest survey of more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals by non-profit The Leapfrog Group. 

October 22, 2013 
James C. Tyree Diabetes Education Library Dedication 
The University of Chicago Medicine Kovler Diabetes Center will dedicate a new diabetes education library to honor the legacy of the late James C. Tyree, former chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial Holdings, chairman of Sun-Times Media Group and a board member at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

October 21, 2013 
University of Chicago Medicine invests $254.1M in community 
The University of Chicago Medicine contributed more than 21 percent, or $254.1 million, of its operating expenses in fiscal 2012 to improve the health of the South Side and the broader Chicago area, according to its recently published second annual Community Benefit Report.

October 17, 2013 
Gene regulation differences between humans and chimpanzees more complex than thought 
Changes in gene regulation have been used to study the evolutionary chasm that exists between humans and chimpanzees despite their largely identical DNA.

October 14, 2013 
A blueprint for restoring touch with a prosthetic hand 
New research at the University of Chicago is laying the groundwork for touch-sensitive prosthetic limbs that one day could convey real-time sensory information to amputees via a direct interface with the brain.

October 11, 2013 
University of Chicago Medicine first in Chicago to gain comprehensive stroke center status 
The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association have recognized the University of Chicago Medicine as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center, a new level of certification reserved for institutions with specific abilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases.

October 11, 2013 
Lymphedema treatment pioneer David Chang, MD, joins plastic and reconstructive team at the University of Chicago Medicine 
David W. Chang, MD, FACS, a leading authority on surgical treatment of lymphedema, has been appointed professor of plastic surgery at the University of Chicago Medicine, effective Sept. 11, 2013.

October 11, 2013 
Women's health a focus at Global Health Week 2013 
The University of Chicago's Center for Global Health is hosting Global Health Week 2013, a three-day series of events from October 16-18 to promote awareness and highlight the importance of supporting global health in communities at home and abroad.

October 3, 2013 
NSF grant funds study to unlock secrets of biodiversity 
The tropics are home to a far greater diversity of life than any other region on the planet, but the reasons for this disparity have puzzled scientists for centuries. Today, the need for a clear understanding of how biodiversity is created and maintained has intensified in the face of mass extinctions driven by human activity.

September 30, 2013 
Skin receptors convey sensation of texture through vibrations 
New research shows that humans distinguish the difference between fine textures, such as silk or satin, through vibrations, which are picked up by two separate sets of nerve receptors in the skin and relayed to the brain.

September 29, 2013 
Stephen Family donates $10 Million, Name to Comer Children's Hospital NICU 
A dozen members of the Stephen family, founders of Palatine-based Weber-Stephen Products Co., the company behind the iconic dome-shaped Weber Grill, have donated $10 million to support neonatal care at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital.  

September 27, 2013 
Death, Dying and the Doctor-Patient Relationship 
Advances in modern medicine and biotechnology have changed the way people die. Unfortunately, families of dying patients are often critical of and report dissatisfaction with what they view as highly medicalized deaths.

September 26, 2013 
Bucksbaum Institute Names New Cohort of Student Scholars 
The Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence has chosen four second-year Pritzker School of Medicine students to become Bucksbaum Student Scholars, the third cohort of students chosen since the institute was founded in 2011. 

September 26, 2013 
A genetic map for complex diseases 
Although heavily studied, the specific genetic causes of "complex diseases," a category of disorders which includes autism, diabetes and heart disease, are largely unknown due to byzantine genetic and environmental interactions.

September 24, 2013 
MacLean Center wins prestigious Cornerstone Award 
The University of Chicago Medicine's MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics has been awarded the prestigious Cornerstone Award from the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities for "outstanding contributions from an institution that has helped shape the direction of the fields of bioethics and/or medical humanities."

September 23, 2013 
Celiac research to highlight international symposium 
Preliminary results from a multinational project to study the impact of early childhood nutrition on celiac disease will be among the highlights of this month's 15th International Celiac Disease Symposium, hosted by the University of Chicago Medicine Celiac Disease Center.

September 20, 2013 
Ernst Lengyel named chair of obstetrics and gynecology 
Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD, has been named chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago, effective September 1, 2013.

September 20, 2013 
University of Chicago Medicine's Suskind joins Clinton's 'Too Small to Fail' initiative 
Preliminary results from a multinational project to study the impact of early childhood nutrition on celiac disease will be among the highlights of this month's 15th International Celiac Disease Symposium, hosted by the University of Chicago Medicine Celiac Disease Center.

September 20, 2013 
Royal Bank of Canada becomes title sponsor of Comer Children's Hospital 5K 
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has signed on as the title sponsor for the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital's premier fundraising event, lending its name and support to the hospital's 5K run through 2016.

September 18, 2013 
NIH awards University of Chicago $1.5 million to study novel therapy for multiple sclerosis 
Researchers from the University of Chicago have been awarded a five-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop stimulated dendritic cell-derived exosomes that show remarkable promise as a treatment for multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases involving loss of myelin, the insulation around nerve fibers.

September 6, 2013 
Notice of data event from former third-party vendor 
ICS Collection Service Inc. recently notified the University of Chicago Physicians Group of a potential incident that may have affected the protected health information of up to 1,344 patient files.

September 4, 2013 
Geoffrey Greene named chair of Ben May Department for Cancer Research 
Geoffrey L. Greene, PhD, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research at the University of Chicago, has been named chair of the Ben May Department for Cancer Research, effective Sept. 1, 2013.

August 26, 2013 
New method generates unlimited, high-quality antibodies for genetics research 
Modern genomic studies rely on precise and sophisticated technology, but the antibodies used to identify proteins that control gene expression can be unreliable as a research tool, placing time, money and study results at risk.

August 23, 2013 
Study adds lung damage to harmful effects of arsenic 
A new study confirms that exposure to low to moderate amounts of arsenic in drinking water can impair lung function. Doses of about 120 parts per billion of arsenic in well water -- about 12 times the dose generally considered safe -- produced lung damage comparable to decades of smoking tobacco. Smoking, especially by males, made arsenic-related damage even worse.

August 22, 2013 
Gut microbes drive gender bias in autoimmune diseases 
Intestinal bacteria already have been implicated in a variety of unexpected functions, such as sensitivity to pain, behavior modification and development of the immune system.

August 19, 2013 
Peter Huttenlocher, MD, 1931-2013 
A pioneering neuroscientist and highly respected pediatric neurologist, Peter Huttenlocher, MD, professor emeritus and former section chief of pediatric neurology at the University of Chicago Medicine, died in Chicago of pneumonia and complications of Parkinson's disease on Aug. 15, 2013. He was 82.

August 15, 2013 
Earliest complete fossil from major group of ancient mammal discovered 
Flexible ankles and versatile ridged teeth were the key adaptations that allowed mutituberculates to become the most successful group of ancient mammals, as revealed with the discovery of a 160 million-year-old fossil -- the earliest known complete skeleton of a multituberculate.

August 14, 2013 
Walter Stadler, MD, named section chief of hematology/oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine 
Walter M. Stadler, MD, an internationally recognized authority on prostate, kidney, bladder and testicular cancers, has been named Chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine, effective Aug. 15, 2013. 

August 7, 2013 
New proto-mammal fossil sheds light on evolution of earliest mammals 
A newly discovered fossil reveals the evolutionary adaptations of a 165-million-year-old proto-mammal, providing evidence that traits such as hair and fur originated well before the rise of the first true mammals.

August 1, 2013 
Gov. Pat Quinn signs law legalizing medical marijuana 
Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes in Illinois at a ceremony today in the University of Chicago Medicine Center for Care and Discovery.

July 29, 2013 
Water molecules control inactivation and recovery of potassium channels 
Just 12 molecules of water cause the long post-activation recovery period required by potassium ion channels before they can function again.

July 18, 2013 
Genetic diabetes experts gather for 'Celebrating Miracles & Milestones' Family Forum 
The 2nd annual "Celebrating Miracles & Milestones: 2013 Monogenic Diabetes Family Forum," hosted by the University of Chicago Medicine's Kovler Diabetes Center, will take place on Wednesday, July 17, to Saturday, July 20, at the Chicago Marriott at 540 N. Michigan Ave.

July 8, 2013 
Jeffrey Glassroth named Dean for Clinical Affairs 
Jeffrey Glassroth, MD, has been named professor and dean for clinical affairs and head of the faculty practice plan at the University of Chicago effective July 8, 2013.

July 3, 2013 
New mechanism for human gene expression discovered 
In a study that could change the way scientists view the process of protein production in humans, University of Chicago researchers have found a single gene that encodes two separate proteins from the same sequence of messenger RNA.

July 1, 2013 
Joel Schwab, doctor and mentor, 1945-2013 
Joel Schwab, MD, professor of pediatrics and mentor to many residents and students, died at his home, surrounded by his family, on Friday, June 21, after a long battle with metastatic gastric cancer. He was 67 years old.

July 1, 2013 
Celiac Disease Center to host international symposium 
The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is hosting the 15th International Celiac Disease Symposium (ICDS) on Sept. 22-25, 2013 in Chicago. The symposium is the largest celiac disease and gluten-related disorders conference in the world. The meeting, which follows the 2011 conference in Oslo, Norway, is the first one being held in the United States since 2006.

July 1, 2013 
UChicago Medicine names new chief of pediatric surgery 
Jessica Kandel, MD, has been named professor of surgery, section chief of pediatric surgery and surgeon-in-chief at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital, effective Aug. 1, 2013.

June 24, 2013 
Two mutations triggered an evolutionary leap 500 million years ago 
A research team led by a University of Chicago scientist has discovered two key mutations that sparked a hormonal revolution 500 million years ago.

June 20, 2013 
Emily Nicklin to head University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees 
Emily Nicklin, a lead corporate litigator at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and a trustee of the University of Chicago since 2004, has been named chair of the Medical Center's Board of Trustees.

June 18, 2013 
Fat cells in breast may connect social stress to triple-negative breast cancer 
Local chemical signals released by fat cells in the mammary gland appear to provide a crucial link between exposure to unrelenting social stressors early in life, and the subsequent development of breast cancer, researchers from the University of Chicago report in the July 2013 issue of the journal Cancer Prevention Research

June 18, 2013 
Graeme Bell gets Banting Medal for Scientific Achievement Award 
Graeme Ian Bell, PhD, the Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics and an investigator in the University of Chicago Medicine Kovler Diabetes Center, has been awarded the 2013 Banting Medal for Scientific Achievement Award from the American Diabetes Association for his pioneering work in understanding the role of genetics in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

June 13, 2013 
Age-related smelling loss significantly worse in African-Americans 
The ability to distinguish between odors declines steadily with age, but a new study shows that African-Americans have a much greater decrease in their sense of smell than Caucasians. This can have serious consequences. 

June 11, 2013 
Comer Children's Hospital gains ground on annual best hospitals list 
The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital has ranked among the best in four of 10 pediatric specialties, including in cancer, according to U.S. News & World Report's latest list of the nation's best children's hospitals.

June 4, 2013 
Research teams find genetic variant that could improve warfarin dosing in African-Americans 
In the first genome-wide association study to focus on warfarin dose requirement in African-Americans, a multi-institutional team of researchers has identified a common genetic variation that can help physicians estimate the correct dose of the widely used blood-thinning drug warfarin.

June 3, 2013 
Inherited mutations in susceptibility genes are common in younger African American women with breast cancer 
A high percentage of African-American women with breast cancer who were evaluated at a university cancer-risk clinic were found to carry inherited genetic mutations that increase their risk for breast cancer.

May 28, 2013 
When doctors and patients share in decisions, hospital costs go up 
Since the 1980s, doctors and patients have been encouraged to share decision making. Proponents argue that this approach promotes doctor-patient communication, enhances patient satisfaction, improves health outcomes, and even may lower cost. 

May 24, 2013 
Multiple research teams unable to confirm high-profile Alzheimer's study 
Teams of highly respected Alzheimer's researchers failed to replicate what appeared to be breakthrough results for the treatment of this brain disease when they were published last year in the journal Science. 

 

May 22, 2013 
Joseph Ceithaml, PhD, 1916-2013 
Joseph J. Ceithaml, PhD, dean of students emeritus for the Pritzker School of Medicine and the Biological Sciences Division and professor emeritus of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Chicago, died on Saturday afternoon, May 11. He was 96.

May 22, 2013 
Dr. Jeffrey Matthews named President-Elect of Chicago Surgical Society 
Jeffrey B. Matthews, MD, Dallas B. Phemister Professor of Surgery and chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago Medicine, has been named president-elect of the Chicago Surgical Society.

May 22, 2013 
Clinical trial aims to prevent type 2 diabetes through medication 
A clinical trial at the University of Chicago Medicine aims to find new ways of preventing type 2 diabetes or slow its progression by treating participants with medications normally used for people who have had full-blown diabetes for at least one year.

May 15, 2013 
University of Chicago launches cloud to analyze cancer data 
The University of Chicago is launching the first secure cloud-based computing system that will enable researchers to access and analyze human genomic cancer information without the costly and cumbersome infrastructure normally needed to download and store massive amounts of data.

May 15, 2013 
Pritzker's 67th Annual Senior Scientific Session to be held Thursday 
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine is hosting its 67th Annual Senior Scientific Session from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 16, in the Biological Sciences Learning Center (BSLC 115).

May 9, 2013 
University of Chicago Medicine’s ‘A’ safety score reaffirmed 
The University of Chicago Medicine maintained its “A” grade in hospital safety, according to the latest survey of more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals.

May 9, 2013 
Comprehensive Cancer Center status renewed 
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has renewed the University of Chicago Medicine's designation as a comprehensive cancer center, a prestigious distinction that the federal agency grants to recognize an institution's excellence in research.

May 8, 2013 
Rethinking treatment goals improves results for those with persistent anorexia 
A new, multinational randomized clinical trial has found that patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa will not only stick with treatments but also make significant improvements with just a slight modification of the standard goals and methods of treatment.

May 3, 2013 
Program on medicine and religion names new faculty scholars 
The University of Chicago Medicine's Program on Medicine and Religion has selected its second round of faculty scholars whose focus will be on the relationship between a physician's spirituality and their ability to deal with the pressures of practicing medicine.

 

April 25, 2013 
Bucksbaum Institute’s Second Annual Symposium Friday 
Jerome Lowenstein, MD, founder and director of the Program for Humanistic Aspects of Medical Education at New York University, will be the keynote speaker at the Bucksbaum Institute of Clinical Excellence’s second annual symposium on Friday, April 26. 

April 23, 2013 
Classification of Gambling as Addiction: Will Insurance Cover the Disorder? 
In one of the most anticipated events in the mental health field, the American Psychiatric Association will release the latest version of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) next month, involving changes to a number of categories and diagnoses. 

April 17, 2013 
Gene study helps understand pulmonary fibrosis 
A new study looking at the genomes of more than 1,500 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare and devastating lung disease, found multiple genetic associations with the disease, including one gene variant that was linked to an increase in the risk of death.

April 15, 2013 
Cancer treatment pioneers share prestigious medical prize 
Janet Davison Rowley, MD, the Blum-Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology and Human Genetics at the University of Chicago, is one of three physician-scientists who will receive the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research for 2013. 

April 13, 2013 
Gifts to boost University of Chicago as hub for biomedical 'big data' 
Two major gifts will build momentum behind the University of Chicago's leadership in biomedical computation by assembling experts in the field and furnishing them with the tools to use "big data" to understand disease and solve today's health-related challenges.

April 11, 2013 
Miller Tapped to Serve on PCORI Advisory Panel 
Doriane Miller, MD, has been appointed to serve a one-year term on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Advisory Panel on Addressing Disparities.

April 10, 2013 
Ci3's Game Changer Chicago earns MacArthur Foundation funding 
The Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry & Innovation in Sexual & Reproductive Health (Ci3) at the University of Chicago has received a $500,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to advance its work identifying novel solutions to complex problems affecting health and well-being in vulnerable communities.

April 10, 2013 
Sharon O'Keefe named one of Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Women in Healthcare 
University of Chicago Medical Center President Sharon O'Keefe was named one of Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Women in Healthcare in the magazine's prestigious biennial awards.

April 9, 2013 
Bucksbaum Institute taps cancer expert Michael Bishop, MD, as master clinician 
The Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence has named stem cell transplant specialist Michael Bishop, MD, as its second master clinician.

March 27, 2013 
Childhood asthma tied to combination of genes and wheezing illness 
About 90 percent of children with two copies of a common genetic variation and who wheezed when they caught a cold early in life went on to develop asthma by age 6, according to a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine.

March 25, 2013 
American Association for Cancer Research honors two UChicago physician-scientists 
Cancer specialists Janet D. Rowley, MD, and Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, MD, of the University of Chicago have been named to the first class of Fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research Academy.

March 22, 2013 
Neurobiologist receives early career fellowship from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation 
Wei Wei, PhD, assistant professor of neurobiology at the University of Chicago, has been named a 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow.

March 21, 2013 
All Graduating Pritzker Students Find Their Match 
It was a perfect match for the 82 fourth-year students from the Pritzker School of Medicine who participated in Match Day 2013 on March 15.

March 20, 2013 
Faculty members recognized for outstanding research 
T. Conrad Gilliam has been named a Distinguished Service Professor and four other members of biological sciences faculty -- Issam A. Awad, James K. Liao, Elizabeth McNally and Christopher R. Shea -- have received named professorships.

March 12, 2013 
Pritzker Moves Up to No. 8 in Survey of Top Medical Schools 
The University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine jumped two spots to No. 8 in the 2014 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Graduate Schools” ranking guide.

March 8, 2013 
More than 130 UChicago Medicine physicians listed among America's best 
A total of 133 University of Chicago Medicine physicians have been named Best Doctors in America in the latest poll compiled by Boston-based Best Doctors Inc. The respected list of more than 45,000 U.S. physicians represents the top 5 percent of doctors nationwide.

March 6, 2013 
Brian Crawford Named Executive Director of Strategic Communications 
Brian Crawford, an accomplished health care public relations leader, has been named the University of Chicago Medicine’s executive director of strategic communications, effective Monday, March 4.

March 6, 2013 
One region, two functions: Brain cells’ multitasking may be a key to understanding overall brain function 
A region of the brain known to play a key role in visual and spatial processing has a parallel function: sorting visual information into categories, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Chicago.

March 5, 2013 
Focal therapy offers middle ground for some prostate cancer patients 
Men with low-risk prostate cancer who previously had to choose between aggressive treatment, with the potential for significant side effects, and active surveillance, with the risk of disease progression, may have a new option. 

March 4, 2013 
Donald Rowley, MD, 1923-2013 
Donald Rowley, MD, a pioneer in discovering how the immune system functions and the inventor of the gel electrode, a crucial tool that monitors cardiac activity, died at his home early Sunday, Feb. 24, after a long battle with congestive heart failure. He was 90 years old.

February 27, 2013 
Study: Doctor shortage to hit Chicago’s poorer neighborhoods harder 
Some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods are expected to see the greatest demand for additional primary care doctors in 2014, as the Affordable Care Act boosts the number of newly insured patients seeking medical services, a new study has found. 

February 26, 2013 
Center for Care and Discovery officially opens to 145 patients 
It was exactly 7 a.m. when Karen Perlmuter offered a warm smile and gentle nod to her transport team as she started the well-orchestrated trip to her new room at the Center for Care and Discovery. 

February 25, 2013 
University of Chicago named Center of Excellence in Gambling Research 
The University of Chicago has been named a Center of Excellence in Gambling Research following the award of a three-year $402,500 grant to Jon Grant, MD, JD, MPH, professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience, by the National Center for Responsible Gaming.

February 18, 2013 
'Big Day Is Finally In Sight': Moving Patients Requires Precise Execution 
After about five years of planning and construction, the single biggest expansion project in University of Chicago Medicine history is headed into the homestretch, as employees prepare to move approximately 200 patients into the new Center for Care and Discovery on Saturday, Feb. 23.

February 18, 2013 
Road Closures, Parking Restrictions for Patient Move Day on Feb. 23 
Road closures and no-parking zones will be in effect Saturday, Feb. 23, as the University of Chicago Medicine opens the new Center for Care and Discovery and carries out the delicate task of transporting roughly 200 patients being treated for complex conditions from Mitchell Hospital to the new Center for Care and Discovery.

February 14, 2013 
Humans and chimps share genetic strategy in battle against pathogens 
A genome-wide analysis searching for evidence of long-lived balancing selection -- where the evolutionary process acts not to select the single best adaptation but to maintain genetic variation in a population -- has uncovered at least six regions of the genome where humans and chimpanzees share the same combination of genetic variants.

February 14, 2013 
Sharon O'Keefe joins board of American Red Cross of Greater Chicago 
University of Chicago Medical Center President Sharon O'Keefe has been named to the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, effective immediately.

January 25, 2013 
Comer Children's Hospital, White Sox Team Up to Target Childhood Obesity 
The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital and the Chicago White Sox have joined forces to combat childhood obesity through a partnership aimed at educating youth and families on ways to be active and make healthy eating choices.

January 23, 2013 
Aasim Padela Wins 2012 Islamic Medical Ethics Award 
Aasim Padela, MD, was awarded the 2012 Ibn Sina Award from the Compassionate Care Network of Chicago for his outstanding work and contributions in the field of Islamic medical ethics.

January 14, 2013 
Gov. Quinn, other officials mark completion of Center for Care and Discovery 
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn joined other state and local officials to help dedicate the University of Chicago Medicine's new state-of the-art, 1.2 million-square-foot Center for Care and Discovery on Monday.

January 11, 2013 
State and city officials among dignitaries to attend new hospital dedication 
Center for Care and Discovery economic-impact dedication ceremony and media tours

January 11, 2013 
New center aims to advance sexual and reproductive health worldwide 
The University of Chicago has launched the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry & Innovation in Sexual & Reproductive Health (Ci3), one of its most collaborative and far-reaching initiatives to address adolescent and women's health.

January 8, 2013 
New book connects the human community to its cosmic roots 
The 1969 "Woodstock" song by Joni Mitchell, it turns out, was onto something: "We are stardust / billion-year-old carbon." University of Chicago evolutionary biologist, Neil Shubin, PhD, makes that connection between astronomical events and the human species in his new book, "The Universe Within: Discovering the Common History of Rocks, Planets, and People," a follow up to his 2008 best-seller, "Your Inner Fish."

January 4, 2013 
Study identifies strategies to help minority students in med school 
While minority populations are rising throughout the country, enrollment by minority students in the nation's medical schools has stagnated. Further, some data show that non-white students face a greater likelihood of academic withdrawal or dismissal, or graduate without passing key exams on their first try. 

January 2, 2013 
Douglas Dirschl to lead orthopaedics at the University of Chicago Medicine 
Douglas R. Dirschl, MD, a nationally recognized orthopaedic surgeon, administrator, teacher and researcher, will chair the newly created Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine starting Jan. 1, 2013.

2012 Press Releases

December 20, 2012 
Seymour Taxman personally delivers $2.5 million gift to fund GI research 
Real estate businessman Seymour "Sy" Taxman and his wife, Nancy, presented a gift of $2.5 million to the University of Chicago Medicine on Wednesday in honor of the late Joseph B. Kirsner, MD, PhD, the Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and a pioneer in the research and treatment of digestive disease.

December 20, 2012 
Elwood Jensen, PhD, 1920-2012, pioneer in cancer biology research 
Elwood V. Jensen, PhD, known worldwide for his pioneering research on how steroid hormones exert their influence through specific receptors in target cells, died from pneumonia on Sunday, Dec. 16, at a nursing and rehabilitation facility in suburban Cincinnati. He was 92.

December 14, 2012 
Tips to help kids cope following tragic news events 
The mass-shooting tragedy in Newtown, Conn., raises many questions: How do you talk to your children about such a horrendous event? Is there an age that's too early to have this discussion?

December 10, 2012 
Drug helps women who stop smoking keep weight off 
A medication being tested to help smokers kick the habit also may help avoid the weight gain that is common after quitting but only in women, according to a study published in the December issue of Biological Psychiatry.

December 4, 2012 
University of Chicago's Graeme Bell receives international diabetes prize 
Graeme Ian Bell, PhD, the Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics and an investigator in the Kovler Diabetes Center at the University of Chicago, has been awarded the Manpei Suzuki International Prize for 2012 for his pioneering work in understanding the role of genetics in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

November 28, 2012 
University of Chicago Medicine gets A for safety 
The University of Chicago Medicine received an A grade in hospital safety, according to a national nonprofit group's survey of more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals.

November 26, 2012 
New clinic focuses on those aged 15 to 30 with blood cancers 
Filling a gap in cancer care, the University of Chicago Medicine has launched the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program, which draws together physicians and researchers from multiple medical and scientific fields to cross the boundaries between pediatric and young adult patients with leukemia and lymphoma.

November 21, 2012 
Public Invited to See University of Chicago Medicine's 'Hospital of the Future' 
Residents from across the region will get their first inside look at the University of Chicago Medicine's new Center for Care Discovery during a Chicago-area Community Open House on Saturday, Dec. 8.

November 21, 2012 
MicroRNAs can convert normal cells into cancer promoters 
Unraveling the mechanism that ovarian cancer cells use to change normal cells around them into cells that promote tumor growth has identified several new targets for treatment of this deadly disease.

November 15, 2012 
Dr. Eric Whitaker to Leave the University of Chicago Medicine in March 
Eric Whitaker, MD, MPH, will leave his post at the University of Chicago Medicine as executive vice president of strategic affiliations and associate dean of community-based research on March 31 to seek a new venture in the public health field. 

November 13, 2012 
Michael Bishop, MD, to head stem cell transplant program at University of Chicago Medicine 
Michael R. Bishop, MD, an authority on the use of stem cell transplantation as a treatment for lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma, has been appointed professor of medicine and director of the hematopoietic stem cell transplant program at the University of Chicago Medicine, effective November 15, 2012. 

November 5, 2012 
Dorothy J. MacLean Fellows Conference to focus on ethics of organ transplant, global health and pediatric immunization 
The MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics will focus its 24th Annual Dorothy J. MacLean Fellows Conference on ethical issues in organ transplantation and other broader ethical topics, including global health, pediatric immunization and end-of-life care.

October 31, 2012 
Ross Milner, MD, Named First Master Clinician at Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence 
The Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence, an initiative designed to improve doctor-patient communication and clinical decision-making, has appointed vascular surgeon Ross Milner, MD, as the first Bucksbaum master clinician, a three-year appointment.

October 29, 2012 
University of Chicago's Le Beau to lead the Association of American Cancer Institutes 
Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, director of the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, will be the new president of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) effective November 1, the association announced. 

October 16, 2012 
Even your fat cells need sleep, according to new research 
In a study that challenges the long-held notion that the primary function of sleep is to give rest to the brain, researchers have found that not getting enough shut-eye has a harmful impact on fat cells, reducing by 30 percent their ability to respond to insulin, a hormone that regulates energy.

October 2, 2012 
New Hospital Pavilion Is Named Center for Care and Discovery 
The University of Chicago Medicine's new 1.2 million-square-foot hospital is getting a name that will underscore its commitment to innovative medical research and patient-centered care: the Center for Care and Discovery. 

October 1, 2012 
Homolog of Mammalian Neocortex Found in Bird Brain 
A seemingly unique part of the human and mammalian brain is the neocortex, a layered structure on the outer surface of the organ where most higher-order processing is thought to occur. But new research at the University of Chicago has found the cells similar to those of the mammalian neocortex in the brains of birds, sitting in a vastly different anatomical structure.

September 21, 2012 
Taxi drivers to be offered free flu shots at O'Hare, Midway 
As part of an initiative to vaccinate some of Chicago's most vulnerable populations, University of Chicago Medicine nurses will administer free flu shots to licensed taxicab drivers at O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 25, and at Midway International Airport the following Tuesday, Oct. 2

September 21, 2012 
VP for care delivery innovation, assistant dean for diversity named 
The University of Chicago Medicine has named Brenda Battle, RN, BSN, MBA, former head of the Center for Diversity and Cultural Competence at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, as its new vice president for care delivery innovation and assistant dean for diversity and inclusion. 

September 21, 2012 
University of Chicago Medicine names VP of governmental affairs 
Ben Gibson, formerly University of Chicago Medicine's director of governmental affairs, has been promoted to vice president for governmental affairs.

September 17, 2012 
Gary Gasbarra named VP finance at University of Chicago Medicine 
Gary Gasbarra was named vice president of finance at the University of Chicago Medicine effective Aug. 22. 

September 14, 2012 
University of Chicago Medicine nets honor for supplier diversity 
The University of Chicago Medicine has been awarded the 2012 Supplier Diversity Leadership Award by UHC, a prestigious nationwide alliance of non-profit academic medical centers, in recognition of its commitment to expanding the use of certified women-, minority- and veteran-owned contractors as business partners throughout its campus. 

September 7, 2012 
Kovler Diabetes Center names 3 new members to leadership board 
Lisa Allegra, Amy Franze and Eve Tyree have been appointed to the University of Chicago Medicine Kovler Diabetes Center's leadership board. The 10-member board promotes the vision and mission of the Kovler Diabetes Center and supports the needs of the physicians who provide clinical care, research, education and outreach.

September 5, 2012 
Illinois State Rep. Deborah Mell recovers from breast cancer surgery 
State Rep. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) is recovering from surgery three months after announcing she had Stage 1 invasive breast cancer, according to her doctors at the University of Chicago Medicine. 

September 4, 2012 
Study points to new target for cancers resistant to Iressa and Herceptin 
A more-sensitive method to analyze protein interactions has uncovered a new way that cancer cells may use the cell-surface molecule HER3 to drive tumor progression following treatment with HER1 and HER2 inhibitors.

August 27, 2012 
Manipulating the microbiome could help manage weight 
Vaccines and antibiotics may someday join caloric restriction or bariatric surgery as a way to regulate weight gain, according to a new study focused on the interactions between diet, the bacteria that live in the bowel, and the immune system. 

August 21, 2012 
James Liao appointed chief of cardiology at the University of Chicago Medicine 
James K. Liao, MD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of vascular medicine research at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, has been appointed section chief of cardiology at the University of Chicago Medicine, effective Aug. 21, 2012. 

August 15, 2012 
Diabetes initiative taps power of Rx pad to drive healthy food choices 
The University of Chicago Medicine and Walgreens are teaming up to launch a "Food Rx" initiative that will help people with diabetes improve their eating habits by overcoming two major hurdles when shopping for food: access and affordability.

August 13, 2012 
Antisense approach promising for treatment of parasitic infections 
A targeted approach to treating toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease, shows early promise in test-tube and animal studies, where it prevented the parasites from making selected proteins.

August 7, 2012 
Grapefruit juice lets patients take lower dose of cancer drug 
A glass a day of grapefruit juice lets patients derive the same benefits from an anti-cancer drug as they would get from more than three times as much of the drug by itself, according to a new clinical trial. 

August 5, 2012 
Donald Liu, MD, PhD, pediatric surgeon, 1962-2012 
Donald Liu, MD, PhD, section chief of pediatric surgery and surgeon-in-chief at the University of Chicago Medicine's Comer Children's Hospital, drowned Sunday, Aug. 5, after attempting to rescue two children who were caught in a strong current in Lake Michigan near the town of Lakeside, Mich. He was 50 years old. 

July 30, 2012 
Ernest Page, MD, cardiac muscle biologist, 1927-2012 
Ernest Page, MD, professor emeritus in the departments of Medicine and of Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Physiology, and a member of the Committee on Cell Physiology at the University of Chicago Medicine, died from complications of long-term neuromuscular disease on July 21 at his home in Jerusalem.

July 23, 2012 
University of Chicago to boost transformative medical research with $23 million grant 
A $23 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will energize the University of Chicago's efforts to harness innovative medical research for interventions that lead to better health for patients in Chicago and across the nation.

July 13, 2012 
New roadmap suggests proven routes to ending health disparities 
Major disparities exist along racial and ethnic lines in the United States for various medical conditions, but guidance is scarce about how to reduce these gaps.

July 10, 2012 
A stronger doctor-patient relationship for the costliest patients 
Patients who are frequently hospitalized account for a disproportionate amount of health care spending in the United States. Working with a $6.1 million grant, a new University of Chicago Medicine program will test whether an updated version of the traditional general practitioner can reduce spending while also improving care for these patients.

July 7, 2012 
Joseph B. Kirsner, MD, PhD, 1909-2012 
Renowned gastroenterologist Joseph B. Kirsner, MD, PhD, the Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, died from kidney failure at his home in Chicago on July 7. He was 102.

July 4, 2012 
Pioneer in imaging science, Charles Metz, 1942-2012 
Charles E. Metz, PhD, professor of radiology and a member of the Committee on Medical Physics at the University of Chicago Medicine, died from pancreatic cancer on July 4 at his home in Burr Ridge. He was 69 years old.

July 2, 2012 
Taxman Foundation pledges $2.5M to boost training of digestive disease experts 
The Taxman Family Foundation will donate $2.5 million to support the training of specialists in the study and treatment of digestive disease at the University of Chicago Medicine.

June 24, 2012 
The price tag on a patient-centered medical home 
The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a concept at the heart of many health care reform models that aim to both improve the quality of care and reduce wasteful spending. 

June 21, 2012 
Parents seen as critical stakeholders in expanding newborn screening 
Parents must be considered when states decide to expand genetic screening programs for newborns, according to a new study that looked at mandatory testing panels and political pressure by advocacy groups. 

June 20, 2012 
Parents seek public's help to find missing 15-year-old son 
Parents of Kahil Gray, a 15-year-old boy diagnosed with autism, are asking for the public's help in finding their son. The teenager is described to be about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 130 pounds.

June 20, 2012 
Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital to open June 25 
The University of Chicago Medicine and Silver Cross Hospital's $21.6 million outpatient cancer treatment center in New Lenox will open its doors to patients on Monday, June 25, 2012, nearly a year after the start of construction.

June 18, 2012 
Doctors cite concern for patients, colleagues top motives for working sick 
An unwavering work ethic is a hallmark of many health professionals. But a new survey finds that when a doctor is sick, staunch dedication can have unintended consequences. 

June 13, 2012 
Where we split from sharks: common ancestor comes into focus 
The common ancestor of all jawed vertebrates on Earth resembled a shark, according to a new analysis of the braincase of a 290-million-year-old fossil fish that has long puzzled paleontologists.

June 13, 2012 
Western diet changes gut bacteria and triggers colitis in those at risk 
Certain saturated fats that are common in the modern Western diet can initiate a chain of events leading to complex immune disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in people with a genetic predisposition, according to a study to be published early online in the journal Nature.

June 6, 2012 
Leapfrog gives University of Chicago Medicine 'A' in hospital safety 
The University of Chicago Medicine received an A grade in hospital safety in The Leapfrog Group's survey of more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals, according to the national nonprofit organization.

June 5, 2012 
Study finds high risk of GI cancers among childhood cancer survivors 
Survivors of childhood cancers are at an increased risk of another battle with cancer later in life, according to new research published online June 5 by the Annals of Internal Medicine.

June 4, 2012 
Drug combination highly effective for newly diagnosed myeloma patients 
A three-drug treatment for the blood cancer multiple myeloma provided rapid, deep and potentially durable responses, researchers report today online in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology, and yesterday, Sunday, June 3, 2012, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL, USA.

June 1, 2012 
University of Chicago Medicine devotes 21% of revenues to community 
The University of Chicago Medicine contributed more than $237 million in programs and services to improve health on the South Side and beyond in the last fiscal year, according to the medical center's first community benefit report, which was just released.

June 1, 2012 
Radiation therapy specialist joins University of Chicago Cancer Center at Silver Cross 
Anne R. McCall, MD, a radiation oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast, gynecologic, lung and prostate cancer and lymphoma, has joined the faculty at the University of Chicago as an assistant professor of radiation and cellular oncology and medical director for radiation oncology at Silver Cross Hospital. 

May 31, 2012 
University of Chicago Medicine celebrates 22nd Cancer Survivors Day 
The University of Chicago Medicine will hold its 22nd annual Cancer Survivors Day celebration, from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 3, 2012, in the Wellington Ballroom of the Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago hotel, 909 N. Michigan Ave. 

 

May 23, 2012 
Named professorship to honor cancer researcher Janet Rowley, MD 
Donations from Jim and Karen Frank and others will endow the Janet Davison Rowley, MD, Professorship in Cancer Research at the University of Chicago Medicine.

May 22, 2012 
Human-like spine morphology found in aquatic eel fossil 
For decades, scientists believed that a spine with multiple segments was an exclusive feature of land-dwelling animals. But the discovery of the same anatomical feature in a 345-million-year-old eel suggests that this complex anatomy arose separately from -- and perhaps before -- the first species to walk on land. 

May 21, 2012 
Web-based video enhances patient compliance with cancer screening 
Patients who watch an online instructional video are more likely to keep their appointments and arrive prepared for a scheduled colonoscopy than those who do not, according to a study by gastroenterologists at the University of Chicago Medicine. 

May 15, 2012 
President of University of Chicago Medical Center joins CURE board 
University of Chicago Medical Center President Sharon O'Keefe, a nationally recognized authority on hospital operations, health care quality and patient satisfaction, and the mother of a child with epilepsy, has been named to the board of Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE). 

May 15, 2012 
Mystery gene reveals new mechanism for anxiety disorders 
A novel mechanism for anxiety behaviors, including a previously unrecognized inhibitory brain signal, may inspire new strategies for treating psychiatric disorders, University of Chicago researchers report. 

May 11, 2012 
Annual Day of Service and Reflection Marks 10 Years of Giving to Community 
Hundreds of University of Chicago Medicine staff, faculty members, students, their family and friends will mobilize across Chicago's South Side to tackle a host of community projects as part of the 10th annual Day of Service and Reflection (DOSAR). 

May 8, 2012 
$5.9 million grant to create 'CommunityRX' system for South Side 
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $5.9 million to a University of Chicago Medicine-led program to set up a real-time automated system that will link a patient with up-to-date information about community-based services and resources. 

May 4, 2012 
Beehive extract shows potential as prostate cancer treatment 
An over-the-counter natural remedy derived from honeybee hives arrests the growth of prostate cancer cells and tumors in mice, according to a new paper from researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine.

April 24, 2012 
Guidelines for prostate screening widely ignored 
New research confirms that the controversial decision by Warren Buffet -- the 81-year-old CEO of Berkshire Hathaway -- to undergo a blood test screening for prostate cancer despite his age is hardly unusual. 

April 18, 2012 
Early introduction of biologic therapy improves Crohn's disease outcomes 
A large-scale study of medical claims data shows that introducing sophisticated biologic therapies early in the course of treatment for Crohn's disease improves response to medication and reduces the need for surgery.

April 13, 2012 
Clinical trial measures impact of food on anti-cancer drug effects 
An unusual clinical trial based at the University of Chicago Medicine is seeking to determine whether a drug approved for patients with advanced prostate cancer might be safer and just as effective if taken at a much lower dose with food instead of at the full dose on an empty stomach.

April 9, 2012 
Social stress changes immune system gene expression in primates 
The ranking of a monkey within her social environment and the stress accompanying that status dramatically alters the expression of nearly 1,000 genes, a new scientific study reports.

April 9, 2012 
Leading organization awards University of Chicago Medicine Hypertension Center its highest designation 
The American Society of Hypertension (ASH), the largest organization of hypertension researchers and health care providers in the United States, has designated the University of Chicago Medicine as a Comprehensive Hypertension Center, the first in the Chicago area.

April 4, 2012 
Antipsychotic drug may be helpful treatment for anorexia nervosa 
Low doses of a commonly used atypical antipsychotic drug improved survival in a mouse model of anorexia nervosa, University of Chicago researchers report this month. The result offers promise for a common and occasionally fatal eating disorder that currently lacks approved drugs for treatment.

April 2, 2012 
New program will study the role of religion in practicing medicine 
Is a doctor's spirituality an obstacle or a benefit in the clinic? Does religious affiliation affect medical decision making? Can a spiritual calling protect doctors against career burnout?

March 28, 2012 
Restaurants cater to gluten-free Chicagoans at celiac fundraiser 
Chicago-area residents gathering at the Sheraton Hotel on April 20 will have one thing in common: They either have celiac disease or they know someone who does.

March 22, 2012 
'What we don't talk about when we don't talk about sex' 
How often does your doctor ask about your sexual life? Unfortunately, the answer may be: not often enough.

March 21, 2012 
Evidence mounts for link between opioids and cancer growth 
Opioid drugs used to relieve pain in postoperative and chronic cancer patients may stimulate the growth and spread of tumors, according to two studies and a commentary in the 2012 annual Journal Symposium issue of Anesthesiology.

March 13, 2012 
Pritzker School of Medicine ranked among Top 10 in U.S. 
The University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine has been named one of the Top 10 medical schools in the United States, by U.S. News & World Report's annual "Best Graduate Schools" survey. 

March 12, 2012 
Personal mobile computing increases doctors' efficiency 
Providing personal mobile computers to medical residents increases their efficiency, reduces delays in patient care and enhances continuity of care, according to a "research letter" in the March 12, 2012, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

February 24, 2012 
Acclaimed documentary The Interrupters is shown in series of community events to engage communities impacted by violence 
The University of Chicago Medicine is teaming up with the Chicago Urban League on Monday, February 27 to host a community panel discussion addressing violence in South Side communities. 

February 23, 2012 
Genetic risk for elevated arsenic toxicity discovered 
One of the first large-scale genomic studies conducted in a developing country has discovered genetic variants that elevate the risk for skin lesions in people chronically exposed to arsenic. 

February 21, 2012 
Energy network within cells may be new target for cancer therapy 
Mitochondria, tiny structures within each cell that regulate metabolism and energy use, may be a promising new target for cancer therapy, according to a new study.

February 19, 2012 
A classic model for ecological stability revised, 40 years later 
A famous mathematical formula which shook the world of ecology 40 years ago has been revisited and refined by two University of Chicago researchers in the current issue of Nature.

February 15, 2012 
Smoking cessation aide shows promise as alcoholism treatment 
A medication commonly used to help people stop smoking may have an unanticipated positive side effect for an entirely different vice: drinking alcohol. A new study by University of Chicago researchers finds that varenicline, sold as Chantix, increases the negative effects of alcohol and therefore could hold promise as a treatment for alcoholism.

February 7, 2012 
University of Chicago Medicine, CeaseFire partner to address violence 
In an effort to address urban violence on the South Side, the University of Chicago Medicine is partnering with CeaseFire Chicago to sponsor a "Violence Interrupter" who will focus on monitoring, mediating and defusing disputes in neighborhoods that the medical campus serves. 

February 6, 2012 
Antidepressant-suicide link in youths absent in new analysis 
In 2004, concerns about antidepressant drugs increasing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young patients prompted the FDA to issue a rare "black box warning." Now, a new analysis of clinical trial data finds that treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine did not increase -- or decrease -- suicidality in children compared to placebo treatment.

February 3, 2012 
Do patients pay when they leave against medical advice? 
There are ways in which patients who leave the hospital against medical advice wind up paying for that decision. Being saddled with the full cost of their hospital stay, however, is not one of them.

January 25, 2012 
Janet Rowley, MD, to receive Japan Prize for her role in the development of targeted cancer therapy 
Janet Davison Rowley, MD, the Blum-Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology and Human Genetics at the University of Chicago, will share the 2012 Japan Prize for Healthcare and Medical Technology with Brian J. Druker, MD, from the Oregon Health and Science University, and Nicholas B. Lydon, PhD, formerly with Novartis.

January 23, 2012 
University of Chicago Medicine looks ahead to new brand, new hospital 
The University of Chicago Medical Center, one of the leading academic medical institutions in the country, is introducing a new brand as it prepares to open a modern 10-story hospital on its South Side campus next January.

January 19, 2012 
Study: Communicating health risk is a risky task for FDA 
The impact of efforts by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to notify the general public and health care providers about unanticipated risks from approved medications has been "varied and unpredictable," according to a systematic review of published studies about FDA warnings and alerts over the last 20 years.

January 17, 2012 
Four faculty members in Pritzker, BSD receive named appointments 
Four members of the faculty in the Biological Sciences Division -- Habibul Ahsan, Peter Angelos, David Song and Jerrold Turner -- have received named professorships. 

January 16, 2012 
Neural balls and strikes: where categories live in the brain 
Hundreds of times during a baseball game, the home plate umpire must instantaneously categorize a fast-moving pitch as a ball or a strike. In new research from the University of Chicago, scientists have pinpointed an area in the brain where these kinds of visual categories are encoded.

January 9, 2012 
Top Japanese scientist leaving government post to move to the University of Chicago Medical Center 
Yusuke Nakamura, MD, PhD, Secretary General in the Japanese Government's Office of Medical Innovation and a professor of molecular medicine at Tokyo University's Human Genome Center, has stepped down from his leadership position in the Japanese Cabinet Secretariat. He will join the faculty at the University of Chicago in April 2012.

January 9, 2012 
For those with diabetes, controlling blood pressure is crucial, but not urgent 
A new study suggests that middle-aged adults recently diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension have time to try to learn how to control their high blood pressure without medications, but not too much time.

January 9, 2012 
Evolution of complexity recreated using "molecular time travel" 
Much of what living cells do is carried out by "molecular machines" -- physical complexes of specialized proteins working together to carry out some biological function. How the minute steps of evolution produced these constructions has long puzzled scientists, and provided a favorite target for creationists.

January 4, 2012 
Experts urge BMI method for calculating weight in kids with eating disorders 
An exact determination of expected body weight for adolescents based on age, height and gender is critical for diagnosis and management of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. However, there are no clear guidelines regarding the appropriate method for calculating this weight in children with such disorders.

2011 Press Releases

December 21, 2011 
'Head-first' diversity shown to drive vertebrate evolution 
The history of evolution is periodically marked by explosions in biodiversity, as groups of species try out a wide range of shapes and sizes. With a new analysis of two such adaptive radiations in the fossil record, researchers have discovered that these diversifications proceeded head-first.

December 15, 2011 
Sharon O'Keefe elected to Illinois Hospital Association board of trustees 
Sharon O'Keefe, President of the University of Chicago Medical Center, has been elected to the Illinois Hospital Association's Board of Trustees. O'Keefe will begin serving a three-year term on the IHA board on Jan. 1, 2012.

December 13, 2011 
Molecular markers can predict spread of cancer, guide treatment 
Molecular markers found in cancer cells that have spread from a primary tumor to a limited number of distant sites can help physicians predict which patients with metastatic cancer will benefit from aggressive, targeted radiation therapy.

December 12, 2011 
A small step for lungfish, a big step for the evolution of walking 
The eel-like body and scrawny "limbs" of the African lungfish would appear to make it an unlikely innovator for locomotion. But its improbable walking behavior, newly described by University of Chicago scientists, redraws the evolutionary route of life on Earth from water to land.

December 8, 2011 
Tiktaalik discovery among National Geographic's top grants 
Neil Shubin's 2004 discovery of the pivotal fossil Tiktaalik roseae, a transitional species between ancient fish and the first limbed animals, is among 10 projects selected for their historical significance as part of the National Geographic celebration of the magazine's first 10,000 grants.

December 8, 2011 
Helping your fellow rat: Rodents show empathy-driven behavior 
The first evidence of empathy-driven helping behavior in rodents has been observed in laboratory rats that repeatedly free companions from a restraint, according to a new study by University of Chicago neuroscientists.

December 7, 2011 
University of Chicago's Susan Cohn, MD, elected treasurer of ASCO 
Pediatric cancer specialist Susan Lerner Cohn, MD, professor of pediatrics and director of clinical sciences at Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago, has been elected treasurer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

December 6, 2011 
Drug combination highly effective for newly diagnosed myeloma patients, study finds 
A three-drug combination treatment for the blood cancer multiple myeloma compares favorably to the best established therapy for newly diagnosed patients, according to a multi-center study led by Andrzej Jakubowiak, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and director of the multiple myeloma program at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

December 1, 2011 
Leading expert, Andrzej Jakubowiak, to direct myeloma program at University of Chicago Medical Center 
Andrzej Jakubowiak, MD, PhD, an internationally known authority on multiple myeloma, has been appointed professor of medicine and director of the myeloma program at the University of Chicago Medical Center. He came to the Medical Center in October from the University of Michigan.

November 16, 2011 
First MacLean Center Prize in Clinical Ethics awarded to Dartmouth's John Wennberg 
The MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago awarded the first MacLean Center Prize in Clinical Ethics and Health Outcomes to John E. Wennberg, MD, MPH, the Peggy Y. Thomson Professor for Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Dartmouth Medical School and founding editor of The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.

November 11, 2011 
Physicians expand capacity, develop new applications for robot-assisted surgery 
When Arieh Shalhav, MD, section chief of urologic surgery, performed the first robotic operation at the University of Chicago Medical Center in 2002, skeptics said the new device, a $1.2 million da Vinci Surgical System, was just a gimmick. Today, the Medical Center has four da Vinci systems and recently surpassed its 3,000th robotic prostatectomy.

October 31, 2011 
$50,000 prize, focus on future of medicine are highlights of annual ethics conference 
The 23rd annual Dorothy MacLean Fellows Conference on medical ethics will tackle the role of professionalism in improving patient care and strengthening the alliance between medicine and society. A highlight of the conference, which will be held Nov. 11-12, will be the presentation of the first MacLean Center Prize in Clinical Ethics and Health Outcomes.

October 30, 2011 
Fat cells in abdomen fuel spread of ovarian cancer 
A large pad of fat cells that extends from the stomach and covers the intestines provides nutrients that promote the spread and growth of ovarian cancer, reports a research team based at the University of Chicago in the journal Nature Medicine, published online October 30th, 2011.

October 27, 2011 
Drug treatment shows promise for brain blood vessel abnormality 
A drug treatment has been proven to prevent lesions from cerebral cavernous malformation -- a brain blood vessel abnormality that can cause bleeding, epilepsy and stroke -- for the first time in a new study.

October 19, 2011 
Moving poor women to lower-poverty neighborhoods improves their health 
Low-income women with children who move from high-poverty to lower-poverty neighborhoods experience notable long-term improvements in some aspects of their health, namely reductions in diabetes and extreme obesity, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Chicago and partner institutions.

October 19, 2011 
Laila Rashid named vice president for Medical Center Development 
Laila M. Rashid has been appointed vice president and associate dean for Medical Center development at the University of Chicago. She has served in this role on an interim basis since January 2011.

October 18, 2011 
Young human-specific genes correlated with brain evolution 
Young genes that appeared since the primate branch split from other mammal species are expressed in unique structures of the developing human brain, a new analysis finds.

October 13, 2011 
Sherer wins Chime Bell Award from Chinese province 
Renslow Sherer, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health at the University of Chicago Medical Center and a visiting professor at China's Wuhan University, has received one of ten Chime Bell Awards granted this year by Hubei province in China.

October 7, 2011 
Three specialists join the University of Chicago Cancer Center at Silver Cross 
Lawrence Schilder, DO, and Sunil Narula, MD, cancer specialists at the Midwest Center for Hematology/Oncology in Joliet, and Brooke Phillips, MD, from the Cleveland Clinic, have joined the University of Chicago as clinical associates to practice at the University of Chicago Cancer Center at Silver Cross, scheduled to open in spring 2012 in New Lenox, Ill.

October 6, 2011 
New data-mining effort launched to study mental disorders 
Chicago will be home to a new $13.75 million project that will apply data mining methods to better understand the genetic and environmental factors behind neuropsychiatric disorders.

October 3, 2011 
Bruce Beutler, MD, U Chicago graduate, to receive 2011 Nobel Prize in Medicine 
Bruce A. Beutler, MD, a 1981 graduate of the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine, is among three winners of the Nobel Prize in Medicine for 2011. He shares the honor with Jules A. Hoffmann and the late Ralph M. Steinman for their discoveries about the immune system, which helped to lead to treatment and prevention of cancers and infectious illnesses.

September 30, 2011 
Zdenek Hruban, MD, PhD, 1921- 2011 
Zdenek Hruban, MD, PhD, professor emeritus of pathology at the University of Chicago and a pioneer in early electron microscopy, died at at the University of Chicago's Bernard Mitchell Hospital on September 18 after a long illness. He was 90.

September 29, 2011 
James E. Bowman, MD, 1923-2011 
James E. Bowman, MD, professor emeritus in the departments of pathology and medicine at the University of Chicago, died at the University of Chicago Medical Center on September 28 at the age of 88 after a long battle with cancer. 

 

September 22, 2011 
Bucksbaum Foundation pledges $42 million to bolster doctor-patient communication 
The Matthew and Carolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation is giving $42 million to the University of Chicago to create the Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence, a unique initiative that will focus on how to improve doctor-patient interaction.

September 20, 2011 
Food and drugs: Administer together 
A regulatory bias against taking oral anti-cancer medications with food places many patients at increased risk for an overdose and forces them to "flush costly medicines down the toilet," argues Mark Ratain, MD, an authority on cancer-drug dosing.

September 20, 2011 
Biochemist Tao Pan receives NIH director’s Pioneer Award 
University of Chicago scientist Tao Pan, PhD, will be awarded $2.5 million by the National Institutes of Health to fund his research into the functional genomics of RNA and epigenetics.

September 16, 2011 
New model for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder created 
A new model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that mirrors both symptoms of the disease and the timing of its treatment in humans has been created by University of Chicago researchers, according to a new study.

August 24, 2011 
Three-part handoff delivers proteins to membrane surface 
The delivery system for an important class of proteins in the cell membrane can be fully replicated with a mere three components, according to a new study.

August 16, 2011 
New drug aids gout patients not helped by standard treatments 
Pegloticase, a modified porcine enzyme, can produce significant and sustained clinical improvements in 2 out of 5 patients with chronic gout that is resistant to conventional therapies, researchers report in the August 17, 2011, issue of JAMA.

August 12, 2011 
Religious beliefs shape health care attitudes among U.S. Muslims 
The perceived role of God in illness and recovery is a primary influence upon the health care beliefs and behaviors of American Muslims, a first-of-its-kind study has discovered. Outreach and education efforts by the health care community can help address Muslim concerns and improve health care quality in this rapidly growing population, the report recommends.

August 10, 2011 
Anonymous gifts support new professorships in Institute for Molecular Engineering 
The University of Chicago has created four named professorships for its new Institute for Molecular Engineering, building momentum behind the new academic program.

August 5, 2011 
Michelle Le Beau, UCCCC director, named President-Elect of AACI 
Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, director of the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC), has been elected Vice President/President-elect of the Association of American Cancer Institutes.

August 3, 2011 
Italian academia is a family business, statistical analysis reveals 
Unusually high clustering of last names within Italian academic institutions and disciplines indicates widespread nepotism in the country’s schools, according to a new computational analysis. 

 

August 1, 2011 
Susan Sher, former Chief of Staff to the First Lady, returns to University of Chicago Medical Center 
Former White House adviser Susan S. Sher will return to the University of Chicago August 1 in a new role as Executive Vice President for Corporate Strategy and Public Affairs at the Medical Center, reporting to the Dean and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, and Senior Adviser to the President of the University.

July 31, 2011 
National asthma genetics consortium releases first results 
A new national collaboration of asthma genetics researchers has revealed a novel gene associated with the disease in African-Americans, according to a new scientific report.

July 25, 2011 
Two genetic variations predict second cancers after radiation treatment for children with Hodgkin lymphoma 
A genome-wide association study published in the August issue of Nature Medicine has found two tiny genetic variations that can predict which patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma are most likely to develop radiation-induced second cancers years after treatment. Knowing in advance who is at risk could help physicians tailor treatment to reduce the risks for patients who are most susceptible to long-term damage.

July 19, 2011 
National survey names University of Chicago Medical Center as one of the best U.S. hospitals 
In its 2011-12 Best Hospitals survey, available online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals, U.S. News & World Reportselected the University of Chicago Medical Center as one of the finest hospitals in the United States.

July 13, 2011 
Talking about faith increases hospital patients' overall satisfaction 
Hospitalized patients who had conversations about religion and spirituality with the healthcare team were the most satisfied with their overall care. However, 20 percent of patients who would have valued these discussions say their desires went unmet, according to a new study by Joshua Williams from the University of Chicago and his colleagues. Their work appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, published by Springer.

July 11, 2011 
Genetic switch for limbs and digits found in ancient fish 
Genetic instructions for developing limbs and digits were present in primitive fish millions of years before their descendants first crawled on to land, researchers have discovered.

July 11, 2011 
Cancer program earns top accreditation 
The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer has awarded the University of Chicago Medical Center a three-year accreditation with commendation, its highest overall rating. The cancer program earned commendations in seven areas.

July 5, 2011 
Head-and-neck surgeon and otolaryngologist, Vijay S. Dayal, MD, 1936-2011 
An internationally known authority on the neurophysiology of the auditory and vestibular nerves and on treatment of diseases of hearing and balance, such as Meniere's disease, Vijay S. Dayal, MD, professor emeritus of surgery at the University of Chicago, died June 30, 2011, at age 74.

July 1, 2011 
Pritzker School of Medicine, Medical Center announce 2011 Teaching Awards 
The end of the 2010-2011 academic year for the Pritzker School of Medicine was celebrated with the announcement of several teaching awards voted on by medical students and faculty.

June 30, 2011 
UCMC designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence 
The University of Chicago Department of Radiology has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The designation includes stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound, ultrasound-guided breast biopsy and mammography -- all of the College's voluntary, breast-imaging accreditation programs and modules.

June 25, 2011 
Delilah greets patients in Comer Children's Hospital to raise awareness and money for children in crisis 
Renowned radio personality Delilah visited Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago over the weekend, to meet patients and their families, and to help raise money for their medical care.

June 13, 2011 
James B. Nachman, MD, 1948-2011 
Pediatric cancer specialist James B. Nachman, MD, professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago--affectionately known as "Doc Nach"--died Friday, June 10, from a suspected heart attack while on a rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. He was 62 years old.

June 9, 2011 
Three faculty members in Pritzker, BSD receive named appointments 
Three members of the faculty in the Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine have received named faculty appointments.

June 8, 2011 
Grossman Institute for Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior created 
The University has created a new institute designed to establish a group of scholars working at the intersection of quantitative biology, neuroscience, and the study of social and individual behaviors.

June 7, 2011 
Many patients with advanced cancers get treatments that won't help 
A study of more than 1,000 patients with colon cancer that had spread to distant sites found that one in eight was treated with at least one drug regimen that was not recommended. Those patients were exposed to significant risk without proven benefits, at an estimated cost -- just for the drugs -- of more than $2 million.

June 2, 2011 
Patients with bowel disease eager to test "fecal" therapy 
The first study of the social and ethical issues associated with a provocative approach to treatment for ulcerative colitis has found that the majority of potential patients are eager for what is now called "fecal microbiota transplantation" to become available, although many have concerns about donor selection, screening, and methods of delivery.

May 31, 2011 
Sleep loss lowers testosterone in healthy young men 
Cutting back on sleep drastically reduces a healthy young man's testosterone levels, according to a study published in the June 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

May 23, 2011 
Physicians' offices in Matteson expand to offer more specialty services to the south suburbs 
The University of Chicago Physicians at Matteson are moving to a new location to allow more patients access to medical services in the area, and to make room for more surgical specialty services.

May 18, 2011 
Errors in protein structure sparked evolution of biological complexity 
Over four billion years of evolution, plants and animals grew far more complex than their single-celled ancestors. But a new comparison of proteins shared across species finds that complex organisms, including humans, have accumulated structural weaknesses that may have actually launched the long journey from microbe to man.

May 17, 2011 
Comer Children's Hospital gains ground on annual best hospitals survey 
Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago has again been ranked among the best children's hospitals in the United States, according to the 2011 U.S. News Media Group's Best Children's Hospitals rankings, now available online at www.usnews.com/childrenshospitals.

May 6, 2011 
Cigarette smoking and arsenic exposure: a deadly combination 
Arsenic exposure and smoking each elevate the risk of disease. But when combined together, the danger of dying from cardiovascular disease is magnified, a new study finds.

May 4, 2011 
Neil Shubin elected to National Academy of Sciences, honored for teaching 
University of Chicago evolutionary biologist Neil Shubin, PhD, the Robert R. Bensley Professor and Associate Dean of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, has been elected a Member of the National Academy of Sciences and honored with a prestigious national teaching award.

May 3, 2011 
Nicotine and cocaine leave similar mark on brain after first contact 
The effects of nicotine upon brain regions involved in addiction mirror those of cocaine, according to new neuroscience research.

May 2, 2011 
Insomnia linked to high insulin resistance in diabetics 
In the largest study of its kind to establish a link between sleep and diabetes, researchers found that people with diabetes who sleep poorly have higher insulin resistance, and a harder time controlling the disease.

May 2, 2011 
The winners of mass extinction: with predators gone, prey thrives 
In modern ecology, the removal or addition of a predator to an ecosystem can produce dramatic changes in the population of prey species. For the first time, scientists have observed the same dynamics in the fossil record, thanks to a mass extinction that decimated ocean life 360 million years ago.

April 18, 2011 
Elderly diabetes patients with very low glucose levels have slightly increased risk of death 
A new study of older diabetes patients has found that well-controlled blood sugar levels were associated with a lower risk of major complications such as heart attacks, amputation and kidney disease, but the very lowest blood sugar levels were associated with a small but significant increased risk of death. The study published in the June 2011 issue of the journal Diabetes Care, followed more than 70,000 type 2 diabetes patients from Kaiser Permanente who were over 60 years of age for four years.

April 18, 2011 
Cancer specialist Mark Ratain receives prestigious award from leading oncology society 
Mark Ratain, MD, the Leon O. Jacobson Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, has been awarded the Translational Research Professorship for 2011 by the American Society for Clinical Oncology's Conquer Cancer Foundation.

April 4, 2011 
Stronger alcohol "buzz" predicts future binge drinking problems 
For some people, alcohol is a social lubricant. For others, it's an unpleasant downer. New research shows that a person's response to alcohol can predict their future drinking behavior, including their frequency of binge drinking and the risk of developing an alcohol-use disorder.

March 29, 2011 
Survey: University of Chicago Medical Center one of top Chicago-area hospitals 
The University of Chicago Medical Center, long recognized as one of the finest hospitals in the country, has now been named one of the best in the city in the first Best Hospitals metro-area rankings from U.S.News & World Report.

March 28, 2011 
Many elderly men undergo unnecessary PSA screenings 
Many elderly men may undergo unnecessary prostate cancer screenings while men in their early fifties, who are more likely to benefit from early diagnosis and treatment, do not, according to a new study published March 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

March 16, 2011 
University of Chicago medical school continues to rise in graduate rankings 
The University of Chicago's Pritzker School was ranked 12 and the graduate programs in the biological sciences were ranked 13th in the United States in U.S.News & World Report's annual "Best Graduate Schools" issue, out this month.

March 16, 2011 
Rock-paper-scissors tournaments explain ecological diversity 
The mystery of biodiversity -- how thousands of similar species can co-exist in a single ecosystem -- might best be understood as the result of a massive rock-paper-scissors tournament, a new study has revealed.

March 7, 2011 
Cancer surgery society awards top honor to Kimberly Duchossois 
At its annual cancer symposium, the Society of Surgical Oncology presented the 43rd annual James Ewing Layman's Award to Kimberly T. Duchossois of Barrington Hills, Ill., for her deep commitment and long-term efforts to improve the quality of cancer treatment and help cancer patients get the information they need to make wise decisions about their care.

March 7, 2011 
Matthew Tirrell named founding director of Institute for Molecular Engineering 
Matthew Tirrell, a pioneering researcher in the fields of biomolecular engineering and nanotechnology, has been appointed founding Pritzker Director of the University of Chicago's new Institute for Molecular Engineering, effective July 1. The institute, created in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, will explore innovative technologies that address fundamental societal problems through modern advances in nanoscale manipulation and the ability to design at a molecular scale.

February 28, 2011 
University of Chicago physician named to National Cancer Advisory Board 
On February 24, 2011, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint Olufunmilayo Falusi Olopade, MD, as one of five new members of the National Cancer Advisory Board.

February 28, 2011 
Kurt+Peter Foundation supports research on rare form of muscular dystrophy 
The Kurt+Peter Foundation has awarded two grants totaling $70,000 to Elizabeth McNally, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and human genetics at the University of Chicago, to study potential treatments for limb girdle muscular dystrophy, type 2C--a rare but severe form of muscular dystrophy.

February 17, 2011 
Radiation therapy pioneer Melvin Griem, MD, 1925-2011 
A leader in the early days of radiation therapy for cancer, Melvin L. Griem, MD, professor emeritus in the Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology at the University of Chicago, died of pneumonia at The Grove at Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL, on Monday, February 7, 2011. He was 85.

February 17, 2011 
Subtle shifts, not major sweeps, drove human evolution 
The most popular model used by geneticists for the last 35 years to detect the footprints of human evolution may overlook more common subtle changes, a new international study finds.

February 14, 2011 
Few women seek help for sexual issues after cancer treatment, but many want it 
Many women who survive breast and gynecologic cancers want medical help for their sexual issues, but most do not get it. A survey of hundreds of cancer survivors, published online in the journal Cancer, confirms that more than forty percent want medical attention for their sexual health needs.

February 11, 2011 
Research funding to accelerate South Side health and wellness community-mapping project 
The University of Chicago Medical Center announced $500,000 in new public and private-sector support that will help researchers, in partnership with South Side residents, take the next steps in a groundbreaking effort to compile and publish maps of all of the area’s health, wellness and commercial resources. Mapping includes businesses, public agencies, churches, social-service organizations and health-related facilities.

February 9, 2011 
Human and mouse studies sharpen focus on cause of celiac disease 
Blocking a factor that can activate the human immune response against intestinal bacteria or certain foods could prevent the development of celiac disease in those most at risk, researchers report in the journal Nature.

January 24, 2011 
Sharon O'Keefe to become President of the University of Chicago Medical Center 
Sharon O'Keefe, a nationally recognized authority on hospital operations, health care quality, patient satisfaction and employee engagement, has been named President of the University of Chicago Medical Center, effective February 23.

January 17, 2011 
Australian birds attract mates with 'scary movie effect' 
Using a horror film to bring your date closer is a classic move in the teenage playbook. Now, a study of Australian birds finds that other animals use the same "scary movie effect" to attract female attention, by hitchhiking mating signals onto the calls of predators.

January 14, 2011 
UHI donates $50,000 grant to first CommunityHealth Englewood Clinic 
The Urban Health Initiative of the University of Chicago Medical Center has provided a $50,000 grant to the inaugural CommunityHealth Englewood Clinic to support area residents in need of health care services.

January 10, 2011 
Hard-to-find fish reveals shared developmental toolbox of evolution 
A SCUBA expedition in Australia and New Zealand to find the rare embryos of an unusual shark cousin enabled American and British researchers to confirm new developmental similarities between fish and mammals.

January 10, 2011 
H1N1 pandemic points to vaccine strategy for multiple flu strains 
Although the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic infected an estimated 60 million people and hospitalized more than 250,000 in the United States, it also brought one significant benefit--clues about how to make a vaccine that could protect against multiple strains of influenza.