“People are developing new-onset disease as the result of an infection that they had three years ago,” says said senior author Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, assistant professor and Public Health Faculty Scholar, regarding his research published in Nature Medicine, that tracked COVID-19’s health effects in people infected with the original strain in 2020.
Category: Faculty Scholar in the News
Risk of death from COVID-19 lessens, but infection still can cause issues 3 years later (Links to an external site)
“We aren’t sure why the virus’s effects linger for so long,” says senior author Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, assistant professor and Public Health Faculty Scholar, regarding his research published in Nature Medicine that tracked COVID-19’s health effects in people infected with the original virus strain in 2020.
Breast Cancer in Young Women: Rates Rise, Guidelines Shift (Links to an external site)
Adetunji T. Toriola, MD, PhD, professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, is quoted in a WebMD article explaining why rates of breast cancer are rising in women under the age of 40.
Missouri Medicaid enrollment down nearly 200,000 since unwinding began (Links to an external site)
Timothy McBride, PhD, co-director of the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, explains factors affecting the drop in Missouri Medicaid total net enrollment.
Missouri Medicaid enrollment down nearly 200,000 since unwinding began (Links to an external site)
Timothy McBride, PhD, co-director of the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, explains factors affecting the drop in Missouri Medicaid total net enrollment.
Another reason to stop smoking: it increases dementia risk from brain shrinkage – but quitting, at any age, helps (Links to an external site)
“People who smoke are more likely to have deterioration in grey and white matter,” says Laura Bierut, MD, Alumni Endowed Professor of Psychiatry, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, about her recent study explaining why some Alzheimer’s disease cases are associated with cigarette smoking.
Weil installed as Medoff professor (Links to an external site)
Gary Weil, MD, professor, Infectious Diseases Division, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, has been named the inaugural Gerald and Judith Medoff Professor of Infectious Diseases in “recognition of his efforts to eliminate parasitic worm diseases as global public health threats.”
Chakrabarty, collaborators win Simons Foundation International grant for geoengineering (Links to an external site)
Rajan Chakrabarty, PhD, associate professor, McKelvey School of Engineering & Public Health Faculty Scholar, won a grant to study stratospheric aerosol injection used to offset global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
Giammar named fellow of AEESP (Links to an external site)
Dan Giammar, PhD, professor of Environmental Engineering and Public Health Faculty Scholar, has been elected a fellow of the Class of 2024 Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP).
Study Identifies Factors That Predict Driving Cessation in Seniors (Links to an external site)
Ganesh M. Babulal, PhD, associate professor, Department of Neurology, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, was first author of a study finding predictors of driving cessation among adults ages 65 and older.
ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrants For Israeli And Hamas Leaders (Links to an external site)
Leila N. Sadat, JD, professor of international criminal law & Public Health Faculty Scholar, joined the podcast AirTalk discussing arrest warrants by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for leaders of Israel and Hamas over actions taken during the war.
Surgeons Uniquely Positioned to Help Intervene For Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer (Links to an external site)
Yin Cao, ScD, associate professor of surgery & Public Health Faculty Scholar, presented at Digestive Disease Week 2024 on the need for surgeons to collaborate with researchers to understand risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer.
World Hypertension Day (Links to an external site)
Victor Dávila-Román, MD, and Mark Huffman, MD, co-directors, Global Health Center, and Public Health Faculty Scholars, are partnering with researchers at the University of Abuja in Nigeria on high-impact hypertension-related studies.
Chemo for glioblastoma enhanced by tapping into cell’s daily rhythms (Links to an external site)
Erik D. Herzog, PhD, Viktor Hamburger Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, is the corresponding author of a published study, finding that treatment for glioblastoma can be improved if taken in the morning.
How to Cultivate a Sense of Purpose (Links to an external site)
A study co-authored by Patrick Hill, PhD, professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, & published in the Journal of Research in Personality, is mentioned in a “Psychology Today” article on cultivating a sense of purpose in your life.
How overcoming negative attitudes to ageing can make you live longer (Links to an external site)
“Ageism is one of the biggest barriers faced by people everywhere, affecting all facets of life,” said Nancy Morrow-Howell, PhD, co-director, Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging & Public Health Faculty Scholar, in a recent Shining Science article on ageism.
TIME100 Health Honorees Toast to Survival, Solutions, and Health Workers in Conflict Zones (Links to an external site)
Eric Topol, MD, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, recognized Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, assistant professor, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, among the TIME100 Health honorees who helped find COVID solutions during the pandemic, remarking that “his middle name is long COVID.”
Public Health Faculty Scholar looks for solutions to the St. Louis STI problem
Public Health Faculty Scholar, Hilary Reno MD, is working to help lower the rate of sexually transmitted infections in St. Louis, which has some of the highest in the country.
The U.S. wants to change how researchers get access to a huge trove of health data. Many don’t like the idea (Links to an external site)
Karen Joynt Maddox, MD, co-director, Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, is quoted in a ScienceInsider article highlighting concerns about possible policy changes by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, affecting how universities access data.
Experts say that even if you do have a parasite in your head, you shouldn’t necessarily freak out. (Links to an external site)
Philip Budge, MD, PhD, assoc. professor, Dept. of Infectious Disease, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, explains if a brain worm can affect a person’s mental abilities and brain function.
RFK Jr in robust health despite brain worm scare, says campaign (Links to an external site)
Philip Budge, MD, PhD, associate professor, Department of Infectious Disease, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, says that parasite larvae can move to the brain and create cysts – called neurocysticercosis.
Testing, treatment for sexually transmitted infections expanded in north St. Louis County (Links to an external site)
“St. Louis’ STI rates are very concerning,” says Hilary Reno, MD, PhD, co-director, Public Health Data Training Center & Public Health Faculty Scholar, who is principal investigator on a grant to offer expanded STI testing and treatment services in north county.
Long COVID-19’s impact continues to be felt globally (Links to an external site)
Ziyad al-Aly, assistant professor, School of Medicine, and Public Health Faculty Scholar was a guest on The World podcast speaking about the ways patients experience long COVID and what treatments are available.
Can AI Be Applied To Revolutionize Healthcare And Medical Outcomes? (Links to an external site)
Philip Payne, PhD, professor of medicine, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, discusses the benefits of applying data science and AI methods and technologies in health and healthcare and the future of AI in medicine.
For Your Health – Most of Us Should Eat More Fruits and Veggies — Springtime Produce Can Help (Links to an external site)
Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, deputy director, Institute for Public Health, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, gives tips on how to add more fruits and vegetables to your meals and snacks.
Are You Flirting With a Bot? Using AI as a Matchmaker is Trending With Online Dating (Links to an external site)
Liberty Vittert, PhD, professor of the practice of data science, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, was on HEC Media’s Spotlight program talking about why it can be disadvantageous for users of online dating apps to converse with AI bots.
HIV triggers body’s own inflammatory pathways to kill T cells (Links to an external site)
A study led by Liang Shan, PhD, associate professor of Medicine and of Pathology & Immunology, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, and published in Cell, found that the body’s immune response to HIV depletes T cells in the body – even ones not infected with the virus.
Ziyad Al-Aly: Advocating with research (Links to an external site)
Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, assistant professor, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, has been chosen as one of the most influential people in health in 2024, for his research on the long-term effects of COVID-19, in Time Magazine’s TIME 100 HEALTH.
Nine School of Medicine researchers receive Longer Life grants (Links to an external site)
Gautam Dantas, PhD, professor of pathology & immunology and Public Health Faculty Scholar, received funding from the Longer Life Foundation to study how the gut microbiome influences neurodegeneration.
Plants pack powerful protein, too (Links to an external site)
“Plant-based proteins are a nutritious alternative to animal-based proteins and can be incorporated into a variety of diets,” said Adetunji T. Toriola, M.D., Ph.D., professor, Division of Public Health Sciences, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, in a Feast Magazine article on the advantages of choosing plant-based proteins.
Washington University 95th fashion design show (Links to an external site)
Mary Ruppert-Stroescu, PhD, associate professor, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, was interviewed on Fox 2 News about WashU’s 95th annual Fashion Design Show, held on April 27.
Arts & Sciences launches Public Health & Society program (Links to an external site)
Public Health & Society, is launching in the fall, & E.A. Quinn, associate professor of anthropology & Diana Parra Perez, PhD, assistant professor of public health, & Public Health Faculty Scholars, will be co-teaching “Foundations of Public Health.” Lindsay Stark, DrPH, professor of public health and Public Health Faculty Scholar, is co-director of the program.
Ones to Watch: St. Louisans leading sustainability initiatives across the region (Links to an external site)
Mary Ruppert-Stroescu, PhD, associate professor, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, was recently featured on a St. Louis Magazine podcase about a sustainability project she developed with her students.
World Bank Workshop Highlights Dramatic Advancements in Food Production (Links to an external site)
Joe Steensma, EdD, professor of practice, Brown School, co-led a webinar hosted by the World Bank on advancements in food production, spotlighting “Lean management in Aquaculture: A practical guide for smallholder fish farmers,” which he co-authored.
As bird flu spreads in the U.S., is it safe to eat eggs? What to know about the risk. (Links to an external site)
Hilary M. Babcock, MD, professor of medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, weighs in on the safety of eating eggs as bird flu spreads.
Global study reveals health impacts of airborne trace elements (Links to an external site)
Jay Turner, DSc, professor of engineering education & Public Health Faculty Scholar, is part of a team whose recent published study produced valuable methodology used to identify regions with higher trace element emissions.
Study highlights importance of caregiver well-being in Uganda (Links to an external site)
A paper authored by Lindsay Stark, DrPH, associate dean for Global Strategy & Programs and professor, Brown School, & Public Health Faculty Scholar, “highlights the crucial role refugee caregivers play in mitigating the impacts of forced displacement on children.”
Walensky calls for collaborative approach to public health policy, education (Links to an external site)
Last month, William Powderly, MD, director of the Institute for Public Health, had a conversation with Rochelle Walensky, MD, on public health issues facing us today. The event was presented in service of Public Health at WashU & co-sponsored by Arts & Sciences & the Institute for Public Health.
“Most Impactful” Social Work List Includes Many With Brown School Ties (Links to an external site)
Shenyang Guo, PhD, and Melissa Jonson-Reid, PhD, professors of social work research, Brown School, and Public Health Faculty Scholars, are included in the 100 Most Impactful Global Contributors to Social Work Publications.
Accelerated aging may be a cause of increased cancers in people under 55 (Links to an external site)
Yin Cao, ScD, associate professor of surgery & Public Health Faculty Scholar, presented her research finding a connection between rising cancer rates in younger adults and biological aging, at the American Association of Cancer Research’s annual conference.
The next era of neuroscience research (Links to an external site)
Eric Lenze, MD, professor of psychiatry, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, participated in the ribbon cutting and dedication of the new Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building at WUSM.
Moment of promise (Links to an external site)
A Washington Magazine article highlighting neuroscience research at WashU mentions research by Gautam Dantas, PhD, professor of laboratory & genomic medicine & Public Health Faculty Scholar, finding that the gut microbiome is significantly different in people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Planting and cultivating seeds through connection (Links to an external site)
Diana Parra Perez, PhD, assistant professor & Public Health Faculty Scholar, is ensuring that activities in the REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health)-STL grant, helping improve health by preventing chronic diseases & reducing health disparities in parts of north St. Louis city and county are community driven.
As bird flu spreads in the US, is it safe to eat eggs? What to know about the risk to humans (Links to an external site)
Hilary M. Babcock, MD, professor of medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, spoke to TODAY.com about the risk of bird flu in humans.
What you should know about over-the-counter birth control (Links to an external site)
David Eisenberg, MD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Public Health Faculty Scholar, talks about the safety and effectiveness of the first over-the-counter contraceptive pill approved by the FDA.
Elmesky receives William H. Danforth St. Louis Confluence Award (Links to an external site)
Rowhea Elmesky, PhD, associate professor of education in Arts & Sciences and Public Health Faculty Scholar, received the William H. Danforth St. Louis Confluence Award. Susy Stark, PhD, professor, Program in Occupational Therapy, Trish Kohl, PhD, professor, Brown School, & Kelly Harris, PhD, instructor, Occupational Therapy & Surgery, and Public Health Faculty Scholars, were top 10 finalists.
Chlamydia vaccine shows promise in early trial (Links to an external site)
Hilary Reno, MD, PhD, co-director, Public Health Data and Training Center, medical director of the St. Louis County Sexual Health Clinic & Public Health Faculty Scholar, weighs in on an early-stage clinical trial of a chlamydia vaccine.
Filling the Gap: Training the Workforce in Evidence-Based Public Health (Links to an external site)
Ross Brownson, PhD, professor of public health, Public Health Faculty Scholar, & director of the Prevention Research Center explains how the center has been partnering with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors to globally train public-health practitioners in evidence-based public health.
Bill would exempt Missouri Farm Bureau health insurance plans from federal rules (Links to an external site)
Timothy McBride, PhD, co-director, Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research, weighs in on legislation that would allow MO Farm Bureau health insurance plans to offer benefits that avoid federal regulations in the Affordable Care Act.
Why are so many young people getting cancer? (Links to an external site)
Yin Cao, ScD, associate professor of surgery & Public Health Faculty Scholar, is mentioned in an article about her research studying risk factors contributing to the rise of cancer in adults younger than age 50.