Recent News

May 9, 2006 Genetic Risk Factor for Prostate Cancer DiscoveredCHICAGO—Scientists from The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University participated in the discovery of a common genetic variant that predisposes men to prostate cancer. The gene discovery is described in a study in the online issue of Nature Genetics and will appear in[…]

May 2, 2006 University Receives $3.5 Million in Stem Cell Grants EVANSTON—Northwestern University has received almost $3.5 million in grants from the State of Illinois that will fund three stem cell research projects. The awards came from the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute (IMRI), which issues grants to medical research facilities for the development of treatments[…]

April 25, 2006 Education Linked to Atherosclerosis CHICAGO—Higher levels of education are associated with a lower prevalence of coronary artery calcium, an indicator of low-grade or asymptomatic atherosclerosis (thickening and plaque deposits in the artery walls) among young adults and those in early middle age, according to a study in the April 19 issue of[…]

March 28, 2006 Drinkers, Smokers, and Men Develop Colorectal Cancer Earlier CHICAGO—Alcohol use, tobacco smoking, and male gender are associated with an earlier onset of colorectal cancer and with location of tumors, according to a study by Northwestern University researchers. Findings from the study, published in the March 27 issue of the Archives of Internal[…]

Julius Dewald Named Department Chair Dean Lewis Landsberg, MD, has named Julius P.A. Dewald, PT, PhD, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, effective April 1. Dr. Dewald has been associated with Northwestern since 1988 when he was a postdoctoral fellow in physiology. He holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Vrije[…]

In Memoriam (Howard Lieberman) Howard L. Lieberman, MD, GME ’49, professor of clinical ophthalmology, died of respiratory failure March 17 in Chicago; he was 83. Born and raised on Chicago’s North Side, Dr. Lieberman received his MD degree from the University of Illinois in 1946. There he met his future wife, Natalie. They were married[…]

March 28, 2006 Contact: Megan Fellman at (847) 491-3115 or atfellman@northwestern.edu New ‘Litmus Test’ Could Aid Discovery of Anti-Cancer Drugs EVANSTON, Ill.—Using the unusual color properties of gold at the nanoscale, scientists at Northwestern University have developed a “litmus test” for DNA and small molecule binding that eventually could be used by pharmaceutical companies to[…]

Accepted Students Take a Second Look Accepted students and their hosts are treated to Chicago-style deep-dish pizza on Friday. Nearly 250 guests arrived at the Feinberg School of Medicine for Second Look Weekend April 6–8. This number included nearly 150 newly accepted students plus friends, spouses, and other family members. Sponsored by the Office of[…]

April 18, 2006 Markers Inherited, Raise Heart Disease, Diabetes Risk CHICAGO—Menstrual irregularity and unhealthy metabolic traits associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are inherited and persist with age, putting women with PCOS at a high risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. That finding is reported in a new study published April 17 in[…]

March 28, 2006 Magnesium-Rich Diet May Reduce Metabolic Syndrome Risk CHICAGO—A magnesium rich-diet may help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and, perhaps, a heart attack or diabetes, Northwestern University researchers report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors, including excess waist[…]

April 4, 2006 Early Diagnosis Important in Muscle Disorder CHICAGO—Dermatomyositis, a rare, debilitating inflammatory disease, should be diagnosed and treated promptly in children, Northwestern University researchers recommend. Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks muscle and skin, often causing an extensive rash, as well as progressive, severe muscle weakness, pain,[…]

Michael Ravitch Lecture Series Takes Off When long-time Northwestern medical educator Michael M. Ravitch, PhD, suffered a stroke in 1997, he was catapulted into the world of the disabled. Upon his death in 2004, his family and friends established a lecture series in his memory to recognize three things: His many contributions to medical education—he[…]

April 4, 2006 Evolution is Topic of Silverstein LectureCHICAGO—Eugenie C. Scott, PhD, and Robert T. Pennock, PhD, two noted experts on the controversy surrounding evolution, creationism, and intelligent design, will be the guest speakers for the annual Center for Genetic Medicine Silverstein Lecture Series at Northwestern University. The lecture, “Evolution: The Impact of Social and[…]

March 21, 2006 Many African American Seniors Have Misconceptions About Flu Vaccine CHICAGO—Public service messages about the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu may not be addressing some of the key concerns of African American seniors and may contribute to lower vaccination rates, according to Northwestern University researchers. The results of their preliminary study,[…]

Excitement Rules at Match Day Flying confetti accompanied the opening of “official” envelopes at this year’s Match Day. Gathering at a hotel near campus on March16, fourth-year students at the Feinberg School of Medicine accompanied by friends and family members awaited residency training matches with excitement mixed with a bit of trepidation. They joined 15,000[…]

March 7, 2006 Researchers Use Embryonic Model to Reprogram Malignant Melanoma CHICAGO—Scientists at Northwestern University and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have reprogrammed malignant melanoma cells to become normal melanocytes, or pigment cells, a development that may hold promise in treating of one of the deadliest forms of cancer. A report describing the group’s[…]

NIH’s Nabel Speaks on Genomics at Feinberg Lecture At the Feinberg Lecture reception, keynote speaker Dr. Elizabeth Nabel joins Dr. Francis Klocke, director of the Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute. Americans have experienced a decline in heart disease in the past several decades, and the future holds even more innovative therapies to prevent heart attacks and[…]

February 28, 2006 Let Patients Describe Race/Ethnicity CHICAGO—Allowing patients to use their own terms to describe their race or ethnicity for medical records may help reduce differences in how health care is provided to racial and ethnic minorities versus whites, according to a study in the March issue of the American Journal of Public Health.[…]

In Memoriam (Charles Staley) Charles J. “Tod” Staley, MD, associate professor emeritus of surgery at the Feinberg School, died February 19 at his Barrington, Illinois, home. He was 85. A general surgeon with special training in cancer surgery, Dr. Staley joined the medical school in 1954 and was promoted to associate professor in 1965. He[…]