Couple make $6.5 million gift to WashU Medicine (Links to an external site)
Category: Noteworthy
TIME Magazine names therapeutic microbiome-directed food a Best Invention of 2025 (Links to an external site)
Inaugural WashU Medicine Dean’s Medals honor extraordinary contributions (Links to an external site)
Probiotic delivers anticancer drug to the gut (Links to an external site)
Researchers at WashU Medicine shrink gastrointestinal tumors in mice using a yeast probiotic to deliver immunotherapy to the gut, offering a potentially novel strategy to target hard-to-reach gut cancers.
Healthy brains suppress inappropriate immune responses (Links to an external site)
Researchers at WashU Medicine have found a process by which the brain guards against attack by the immune system. In mice with multiple sclerosis, such “guardian” proteins that train the immune system were drastically depleted, and replenishing them improved symptoms, according to a study in Nature.
Your diet can change your immune system — here’s how (Links to an external site)
Many laboratories are interested in harnessing the immune system to treat one of today’s most pressing health concerns: obesity. Steven Van Dyken, an immunologist at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, has been studying an immune response usually triggered in response to allergens and parasites, to see whether it could help to regulate metabolism.
Celebrating Our Faculty’s Contributions to Nobel-Winning Research
The Department of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University in St. Louis is proud to announce that two of our faculty members, Joseph Corbo, MD, PhD and Gautam Dantas, PhD have played significant roles in the groundbreaking research that contributed to this year’s Nobel Prize recipients in Physiology or Medicine and Chemistry. Joseph Corbo’s Collaboration […]
$12 million grant aimed at probing how vaccines induce lasting immunity (Links to an external site)
Researchers at WashU Medicine have received a $12 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to identify the factors that are responsible for long-lasting immunity against disease.
Huang named head of pathology & immunology (Links to an external site)
Eric J. Huang, MD, PhD, a leader in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, will head the Department of Developmental Pathology & Immunology at WashU Medicine beginning in January.
Novel immunotherapy improves recovery from spinal cord injury (Links to an external site)
Blake essay recognized by Lasker Foundation (Links to an external site)
Kevin Blake, PhD, scientific editor in the Department of Pathology & Immunology’s Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been honored for an essay he wrote titled “Missing Microbiomes: Global Underrepresentation Restricts Who Research Will Benefit.” The piece calls for scientists to increase representation of understudied populations […]
Kathleen Byrnes, MD, FASCPCM named 40 Under Forty honoree by ASCP
Kathleen Byrnes, MD, FASCPCM, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology & Immunology, has been named a 40 Under Forty honoree by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). ASCP’s program “recognizes members under the age of 40 for their achievements and leadership qualities that are making an impact on pathology and laboratory medicine.” Kathleen Byrnes, MD, […]
Pathology & Immunology’s Recipients of the Dean’s Impact Award for Excellence in Mentorship and Sponsorship
To recognize the importance of and appreciation for mentorship and sponsorship on the Medical Campus,Washington University School of Medicine will honor 53 faculty with Dean’s Impact Awards today, April 30. The Department of Pathology & Immunology is proud of each of our three recipients of the honor. Dr. Richard Cote remarked “Drs. Gronowski, Murphy and […]
Faculty Member Receives AACC Academy Designation
The American Association of Clinical Chemistry has awarded Chris Farnsworth, PhD the George Grannis Award for Excellence in Research and Scientific Publication. Dr. Farnsworth is one of several 2021 AACC and AACC Academy Awards recipients. The Grannis Award recognizes scientific and research excellence by clinical chemistry students and trainees. Click here for more information about […]
Podcast: A year later, scientists recall efforts to jump-start research into mysterious new coronavirus (Links to an external site)
This episode of ‘Show Me the Science’ details how School of Medicine scientists began working with the virus, ramping up research efforts while the rest of the world was shutting down.
Gordon receives Kober Medal (Links to an external site)
Jeffrey I. Gordon, MD, has been awarded the George M. Kober Medal from the Association of American Physicians in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of gut microbiome research. Gordon, director of the Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is considered to be […]
Genomic testing services in pathology & immunology department to be expanded (Links to an external site)
Genetic and genomic testing is driving advances in precision medicine. Such testing provides the data that, when combined with information about disease status and environmental factors, enable doctors to move away from one-size-fits-all treatment plans to personalized therapies tailored to individual needs.
For malnourished children, a new type of microbiome-directed food boosts growth (Links to an external site)
A new type of therapeutic food specifically designed to repair the gut microbiomes of malnourished children is superior to standard therapy in promoting growth, according to the results of a proof-of-concept clinical trial conducted in Bangladesh.
Faculty Member Profile Feature in AACC Clinical Chemistry
Ann Gronowski, PhD joins a growing list of pathologists from the Washington University School of Medicine to be featured in the latest issue of Clinical Chemistry, a journal produced by The American Academy for Clinical Chemistry. The story features an in-depth look at the span of Dr. Gronowski’s career as a pathologist, the challenges she […]
Zika virus helps destroy deadly brain cancer in mice (Links to an external site)
The Zika virus that ravaged the Americas, leaving many babies with permanent brain damage, may have a silver lining. The virus can activate immune cells to destroy an aggressive brain cancer in mice, giving a powerful boost to an immunotherapy drug and sparking long-lasting immunological memory that can ward off tumor recurrence for at least […]
Welcome New Residents & Fellows
The Department of Pathology & Immunology is excited to welcome our newest residents and fellows. For every graduating medical student, Match Day is the next step in their career to working as a doctor and we are thrilled that these residents and fellows have chosen our department to continue their training. Click here to meet […]
Brian Edelson, MD, PhD Recognized for Contributions in Education
Brian Edelson, MD, PhD was recently inducted into the Washington University School of Medicine Academy of Educators. The ceremony was held on September 24 to coincide with Education Day sponsored by the School of Medicine. Edelson was acknowledged for his important and varied contributions to our ongoing educational programs, and roles in building the new Gateway Curriculum. To be selected […]
Antibodies protect against wide range of influenza B virus strains (Links to an external site)
Researchers have identified two antibodies that protect mice against lethal infections of influenza B virus, report scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Together with an antibody that targets the other major kind of influenza viruses that infect people — influenza A — these […]
Study provides insight on how to build a better flu vaccine (Links to an external site)
Flu season comes around like clockwork every year, and sooner or later everyone gets infected. The annual flu shot is a key part of public health efforts to control the flu, but the vaccine’s effectiveness is notoriously poor, falling somewhere from 40% to 60% in a typical year.
Identifying emerging diseases focus of new international collaboration (Links to an external site)
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are establishing a new international collaboration that aims to help scientists prepare for the next pandemic and, perhaps, provide insight into the current one.
Washington University develops COVID-19 saliva test (Links to an external site)
A new saliva test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been developed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Results from the COVID-19 diagnostic test are available in a few hours and, ideally, able to be communicated to people tested within a day. Highly sensitive to detecting even tiny levels of […]
Nasal vaccine against COVID-19 prevents infection in mice (Links to an external site)
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a vaccine that targets the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can be given in one dose via the nose and is effective in preventing infection in mice susceptible to the novel coronavirus. The investigators next plan to test the vaccine in nonhuman primates and humans to […]
New center to explore brain, immune system connections (Links to an external site)
As the brain reigns supreme over the human body, the immune system works 24/7 to defend the body from foreign invaders. For decades, however, the brain and the immune system were thought to operate independently of one another. But a growing body of evidence suggests the two are intimately connected in keeping the body healthy.
Grossman, Among Washington U. doctors leading national effort to study new COVID-19 treatment (Links to an external site)
Two Washington University doctors have been leading a national effort to study convalescent plasma, a centuries-old treatment for infectious diseases, and believe they have submitted enough data to secure federal approval for emergency use against COVID-19.
Immunotherapy-resistant cancers eliminated in mouse study (Links to an external site)
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by stimulating the patient’s own immune system to attack cancer cells, yielding remarkably quick and complete remission in some cases. But such drugs work for less than a quarter of patients because tumors are notoriously adept at evading immune assault.
Specific bacteria help explain stunted growth in malnourished children (Links to an external site)
Many children treated for childhood malnutrition in developing countries never fully recover. They suffer from stunted growth, immune system dysfunction and poor cognitive development that typically cause long-term health issues into adulthood.
ASCP’s 40 Under Forty List Includes P&I Faculty Member
The American Society for Clinical Pathology has named Suzie Thibodeaux as one of 40 high-achieving pathologists, pathology residents, and medical laboratory professionals under age 40. She joins many other pathology professionals on the prestigious 2020 ASCP 40 Under Forty list. “Being recognized by the ASCP in their 40 under forty list is an amazing honor. […]
Jeff Gordon Featured on 60 Minutes
On Sunday, 60 Minutes featured our own Jeff Gordon, who discussed the gut microbiome and its connection to nutritional health, including the use of probiotics. The possibility of improving health by manipulating the microbiome could provide many benefits to individuals suffering from a host of health conditions. Last year, Gordon’s team reported that a special […]
COVID-19 antibody tests evaluated as diagnostic test in low-resource settings (Links to an external site)
With Brazil leading the world in newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases, Latin America has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, outbreaks continue to escalate in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Public health authorities worldwide desperately need to expand testing so they can track the spread of the infection, but molecular diagnostic […]
American Society for Microbiology Talks with Department Faculty (Links to an external site)
P&I faculty member Carey-Ann Burnham is interviewed by the American Society for Microbiology about the critical role of clinical microbiologists and laboratorians in the future of health care.
COVID-19 mouse model will speed search for drugs, vaccines (Links to an external site)
The global effort to quickly develop drugs and vaccines for COVID-19 has been hampered by limited numbers of laboratory mice that are susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report they have developed a mouse model of COVID-19 that replicates the […]
Abstract Receives Award from Society for Pediatric Pathology
An abstract co-authored and entitled, “PD-L1/PD-1 Expression in Wilms Tumor: Analysis of 52 cases” has won the Gordon F. Vawter Pathologist-in-Training Award at the Society for Pediatric Pathology 2020 at its Spring Meeting in Los Angeles, CA. The award recognizes meritorious work presented by Jeff Chen, MD based on research conducted by a group of […]
Experts urge caution in interpreting COVID-19 antibody tests (Links to an external site)
As stay-at-home orders are lifted around the country and public life begins to return, health experts continue to emphasize the importance of testing for COVID-19 to prevent a second – and potentially worse – wave of infections.
Pathology Faculty Member Selected as Loeb Teaching Fellow
Ian Hagemann, MD, PhD has been selected as the Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb Teaching Fellow for the term July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022. “Ian’s contributions to education in pathology and to the medical school are truly outstanding. Among his accomplishments are numerous Distinguished Service Teaching Awards, selection as a chair for […]
Trainee Research Award Day 2020
On Tuesday, the culmination of weeks of work for this year’s Trainee Research Day was put on full display via Zoom. Although different than past events, this year still had the air of excitement as trainees presented their research. This year, the department had 24 individuals present. As per the tradition, the Trainee Research Day […]
LGM Faculty Member Receives Award from ASM
On May 4, the 2020 American Academy of Microbiology announced awards for research, education, and leadership. Among those receiving awards was Carey-Ann Burnham, PhD, from the Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine. “For Dr. Burnham to receive the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Award for Research and Leadership in Clinical Microbiology is a tremendous honor. This […]
Obesity prevented in mice treated with gene-disabling nanoparticles (Links to an external site)
Disabling a gene in specific mouse cells, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have prevented mice from becoming obese, even after the animals had been fed a high-fat diet. The researchers blocked the activity of a gene in immune cells. Because these immune cells — called macrophages — are key inflammatory […]
A Letter to Laboratory professionals dedicated to fighting virus (Links to an external site)
Originially posted on stltoday. com. Click the button to be taken to the article. Until the cornonavirus outbreak, most people never gave much thought to laboratory testing. When your doctor says, “we’ll send it to the lab,” you rightly expect to get timely and accurate test results back. But this year’s pandemic spotlights that what […]
Office of Education Names Vice Chair
Dr. Erika Crouch recently accepted the position of Vice Chair of the Office of Education in the Department of Pathology and Immunology. Erika is one of the most celebrated and honored faculty in the entire school of medicine for her outstanding work in medical education. It is entirely fitting and appropriate that she be the […]
Clinical Chemistry Journal Highlights Mitch Scott, PhD (Links to an external site)
The American Academy for Clinical Chemistry has published it’s the most recent version of the Clinical Chemistry journal and it features a familiar face. The department’s own Mitchell Scott, PhD graces the cover, in addition, the series presents the achievements of distinguished clinical chemists. Scott joins an illustrious and short list of clinical pathologists to […]
Department Recognizes LGMTrainee Presentations
The department recently announced Outstanding Laboratory and Genomic Medicine Grand Rounds Presentation for the 2018-19 season. This year’s award includes a tie between Kaitlin Mitchell and Ivan Gonzalez. The award is given to a trainee or trainees giving their first-time LGM Grand Rounds presentation, with the winner(s) decided by Laboratory Genomic Medicine faculty. Winning presentations […]
Health Professions Fair Intoduces High School Students to Medicine
The Health Professions Fair, sponsored by the Office of Diversity Programs, was held on the Washington University School of Medicine campus on Tuesday, February 4. This career fair for area high school students is designed to expose them to different professions and disciplines within medicine. Fellows, Caroline Franks and Melissa Budelier attended the Health Professions […]
Jack Ladenson elected to the National Academy of Inventors (Links to an external site)
Washington University in St. Louis this year celebrates two new fellows of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors. The distinction recognizes their prolific and innovative work and their contributions, which have had tangible, positive impacts on society.
Trainees & Faculty Heading to USCAP
Trainees and faculty from the Pathology & Immunology department will soon be heading to the United States & Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) annual meeting. The meeting will be held from February 29 – March 5, 2020, in Los Angeles, CA. Click here to see a list of presenters at the event. Click here to see the […]
Grants & Notables – November and December
$60,000 in grants awarded to faculty in Pathology & Immunology Grants Rafa Sanguinetti Czepielewski, PhD, Postdoc Research Associate in the Randolph Lab, received a one-year $60,000 grant from the Lawrence C. Pakula, MD IBD Education, and Innovation Fund, entitled “Role of Mesenteric Tertiary Lymphoid Organs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Progression and Anti-TNF Resistance”. Noteworthy Jack […]