In the News

January 2007

Bush Gains Power on Rules After Losing Congress
The Washington Post - Jan. 30

President George W. Bush issued an executive order curbing the power of agencies to regulate industry through "guidance"-informal advice that falls short of official rules yet can still cost companies millions of dollars to comply with. Under the order, regulators also will have to estimate the total costs and benefits of planned rules. And the process will be overseen in each agency by a political appointee. "There is no question who this panders to," said Rena Steinzor, JD, a professor at the School of Law who is critical of administration regulatory policy.
www.washingtonpost.com

Gene-Test Law is More Likely
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel - Jan. 30

The shift in control of Congress has brightened prospects for approval of a law that would prevent employers or insurers from discriminating on the basis of genetic test results, according to legislators and other government officials. The fight is an early harbinger of the legal issues raised by the proliferation of genetic tests. "It is just one major public policy issue, and it might be the easiest," to address, said Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, dean of the School of Law, who testified in support of the measure yesterday before a House subcommittee.
www.sun-sentinel.com

Medical School to Celebrate Anniversary
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 30

The School of Medicine will mark its 200th anniversary with a breakfast reception and proclamation during the General Assembly session. Founded in 1807, the School is the oldest public medical school in the country.

Bush Gains Power on Rules After Losing Congress
Bloomberg.com - Jan. 30

President George W. Bush issued an executive order curbing the power of agencies to regulate industry through ýguidanceýýinformal advice that falls short of official rules yet can still cost companies millions of dollars to comply with. Under the Bush executive order, regulators also now will have to estimate the total costs and benefits of planned rules. And the process will be overseen in each agency by a political appointee. "There is no question who this panders to," said Rena Steinzor, JD, a professor at the School of Law who is critical of administration regulatory policy.
www.bloomberg.com

Coughing Up Lung Cancer
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 30

Genetic material such as DNA coughed up along with phlegm could point to lung cancer, say researchers at the School of Medicine who are developing an inexpensive and noninvasive gene probe to help diagnose early stage lung cancer in current and former smokers. "There is an urgent need to develop reliable early diagnostic biomarkers for lung cancer that can be detected noninvasively, and these two genes look to be great candidate markers for such a test," said Feng Jiang, MD, PhD, assistant professor at the School.
www.examiner.com

Downtown Jobs, Housing Boom
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 30

Downtown Baltimore is poised for a substantial housing and job growth spurt over the next five years that could solidify its emergence as an urban hub where people live, work, and shop, according to a forward-looking series of reports by the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. Both Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore are developing biotechnology research parks, which will account for more than $1 billion in investment on downtown's east and west sides in the next decade.
www.baltimoresun.com

Gene-Test Law is More Likely
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 30

The shift in control of Congress has brightened prospects for approval of a law that would prevent employers or insurers from discriminating on the basis of genetic test results, according to legislators and other government officials.The fight is an early harbinger of the legal issues raised by the proliferation of genetic tests. "It is just one major public policy issue, and it might be the easiest," to address, said Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, dean of the School of Law, who is scheduled to testify in support of the measure today.
www.baltimoresun.com

Health Care and Insurance Executive Created a Program for Bereaved Widows
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 30

Barbara Cahn, PhD, a long time supporter and friend of the School of Social Work, died from cancer. Cahn, who received her MSW in 1975 and her PhD in 1982 from the School, served as a member of the School's Board of Advisors from 1993 to 2005. Her leadership as chair of the Public Affairs Committee generated important forums at the School and raised the profile of the School.
www.baltimoresun.com

Baltimore Homeless Census
The (Baltimore) Sun ý Jan. 27
The (Baltimore) Examiner ý Jan. 27
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5, 6, and 11 p.m. ý Jan. 26
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 5:30 and 10 p.m. ý Jan. 26

Volunteers from the School of Law and the School of Social Work took part in a census of Baltimoreýs homeless Friday, part of a nationwide survey federally mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and taken every two years. "Just showing them that you care and talking to them is sometimes the key," said Bob Kirk, MSW, LCSW-C, clinical instructor at the School of Social Work. "There is a lack of affordable housing," said Adam Schneider, student at the School of Social Work.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.examiner.com

Calls for Marylanders to Have Dilated Eye Exams
WJZ-TV, Ch.13 - Jan. 26

Dilated eye examsýin which special eye drops are used to widen the pupilsýallow eye care professionals to see into the back of the eye to check for early signs of eye disease such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, two of the leading causes of blindness in this country. "There aren't any symptoms in the early stages. If you get a dilated eye exam and they catch the disease early, there are treatments that could stop the progression of the disease and save your vision," said Nancy Ellish, DrPH, MSPH, assistant professor at the School of Medicine.

City Law Department Gets Pro Bono Policy
The Daily Record - Jan. 29

Lawyers throughout the state are encouraged by their peers and the judiciary to use their legal skills to help those in need. For government lawyers, however, it isnýt always easy to volunteer. "There was a time that pro bono work was discouraged," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. Today, lawyers are encouraged to donate their services but avoid conflicts. Rosenstein teaches law at the School of Law without pay.

Hospitals and City Government Agree on Disaster Assistance Plan
eMaxHealth.com - Jan. 27

The Baltimore City Healthcare Mutual Aid system has been announced by Mayor Sheila Dixon. Eleven area hospitals have agreed to share staff and resources during an emergency. The plan calls for the Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management to act as coordinators and gives participating hospitals access to up-to-date information from the cityýs emergency management center. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, participated in the news conference.
www.emaxhealth.com

Officials Warn Dialysis Poses Dangers
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 29

For patients with kidney failure, mechanically cleansing the blood outside the body three times a week is the only way they can stay alive. However, the long-term access site needed to draw and return blood to the body can weaken and fail, according to an alert from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. "Dialysis patients die from many different causes, and this one is very rare," said Donna Hanes, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine.
www.examiner.com

UMB Tops Charity Drive
The Daily Record - Jan. 27

The University of Maryland, Baltimore was the top contributor in the 2006 Maryland Charity Campaign for the United Way. The campusýs $467,988 in donations exceeded its original goal by 10 percent and won the school the Governorýs Cup for Outstanding Performance.

Winter Poison Warnings
WBAL-TV 11, 9 a.m. - Jan. 28

Angel Bivens, RPH, MBA, CSPI, public information coordinator for the School of Pharmacyýs Maryland Poison Center, discussed winter poisoning hazards, including ingesting ice melting products and indoor carbon monoxide exposure, and how to avoid them.

With Bioscience All the Rage, Law Firm Taps 20-year Veteran
Baltimore Business Journal - Jan. 26

Miles & Stockbridge P.C. has expanded its life sciences practice with the addition of lawyer-scientist George W. Cox, who has nearly 20 years of biomedical research experience. Cox has a PhD in pharmacology and was a senior staff fellow at the National Cancer Institute, where his work touched on immunology, pharmacology, and molecular biology. Cox will split his time between the UMB BioPark office, Miles & Stockbridge's downtown Baltimore office, and its Frederick office.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Youths Describe Excruciating Death at Juvenile Facility
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 27
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 27

At least four youths at a private residential school for juvenile offenders have independently told their lawyers that they watched as Isaiah Simmons suffered an excruciating death at the Carroll County facility, Marylandýs chief public defender said. Simmons, 17, died Tuesday during a struggle with staff at the Bowling Brook Preparatory School. "My experience with Bowling Brook had always been that itýs a great program," said Susan Leviton, JD, professor at the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.examiner.com

Baltimore Homeless Census
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5:30, 6, and 6:30 a.m. - Jan. 26

Volunteers from the School of Law and the School of Social Work took part in a census of Baltimoreýs homeless, part of a nationwide survey federally mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and taken every two years.

FDA Calls for Standards for Gluten
The Wall Street Journal - Jan. 23

The Food and Drug Administration has recommended new standards for a fast-growing sector of the food industry: products that lack a protein called gluten. In its proposal, the agency said companies may label foods "gluten-free" if they donýt contain wheat, barley, rye, or their hybrids, or if they contain fewer than 20 parts per million of gluten. Alessio Fasano, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and founder of the Center for Celiac Research, said 20 parts per million, based on limited studies, is a safe threshold.

Medical Examiner Issues Warning on Dialysis Patient Deaths
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 26

The state medical examiner's office is alerting kidney dialysis patients about two dozen deaths statewide since 2000 that may have been preventable. Jeffrey Fink, MD, MS, assistant professor in the School of Medicine and former chair of the Maryland Kidney Commission, said hemorrhaging is a known risk of dialysis, but it is not common. "It does happen, it's unfortunate, but it's never hit a point on the radar screen as something that's epidemic," said Fink.
www.examiner.com

Unclaimed Bodies Benefit Society
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 26

"The public not only benefits through donations, but is also an active stakeholder in teaching anatomy and surgical techniques to medical, dental, and physical therapy students, allied health professionals, EMTs, paramedics and other first responders," writes Ronald Wade, director of the Anatomical Services Division of the School of Medicine, in a letter to the editor. "I can assure you the 'unclaimed' bodies under the custody and control of the State Anatomy Board are not 'the unwanted dead.'"
www.examiner.com

Vuitton Sues Over Pet Novelty Items
The Daily Record - Jan. 26

Haute Diggity Dog (HDD), a manufacturer and distributor of designer dog collars and other pet items, recently caught the eye and ire of French fashion designer Louis Vuitton when it launched a series of designer collars it called Chewy Vuiton, writes James Astrachan, JD, adjunct professor in the School of Law, in a Daily Record column. Vuitton filed suit against HDD and its retailer, alleging copyright and trademark infringement.

Dialysis Deaths Prompt Warning
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 25

The Maryland medical examinerýs office has called attention to the cases of 24 kidney dialysis patients who bled to death, usually at home alone, prompting health agencies to alert dialysis centers and patients to take precautions. Jeffrey Fink, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and former chairman of the Maryland Kidney Commission, said hemorrhaging is a known risk of dialysis-but it's uncommon and hasn't, to his knowledge, been extensively researched.
www.baltimoresun.com

Hospitals and City Government Agree on Disaster Assistance Plan
WMAR-TV, Ch. 2, 5 and 6 p.m. - Jan. 24
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5:30 p.m. - Jan. 24
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 5 and 6 p.m. - Jan. 24
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 and 11 p.m. - Jan. 24

The Baltimore City Healthcare Mutual Aid system has been announced by Mayor Sheila Dixon. Eleven area hospitals, including the University of Maryland Medical Center, have agreed to share staff and resources during an emergency, such as a major hurricane or terrorist attack.
Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, participated in the news conference.

Man is Convicted of Robbery Try but Acquitted of Attempted Rape Charge
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 25

A recent case in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court hinged on a thorny legal problem-divining intent. Saying he couldn't "delve into the mind of Mr. [James] Darnell," Judge Joseph Manck acquitted Darnell of attempted rape but convicted the man of attempted robbery, felony assault, and five other charges in the Feb. 13 crime. "I can't fault the judge," said Abraham Dash, JD, professor at the School of Law. "There is a gray area," he said.
www.baltimoresun.com

Campaigns Fight Drug-Inspired Marketing
The (Baltimore) Examiner -Jan. 24

Americans for Drug Free Youth launched a national anti-Meth Coffee campaign Tuesday, asking Congress to introduce and pass a law that would stop the use of immoral and scandalous trademarks when marketing a product. ýItýs not just an innocent thing,ý said Christopher Welsh, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry with the School of Medicine, who doubted that the trademark law would pass. "The name itself, to a vulnerable subgroup of young people, really does have an impact."
www.examiner.com

City Seeking Answers in Wake of Fells Point Immigration Raid
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 24
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 24
WMAR-TV 2, 5 and 6 p.m. - Jan. 23

Department of Homeland Security agents swept into Fells Point on Tuesday, detaining roughly 30 Hispanic immigrants before carting them off in their vans. The mid-morning raids targeted the parking lot of the 7-Eleven store at Broadway and Lombard Streets. Irene Munez, a second-year School of Social Work Student whose field placement is with CASA de Maryland and who witnessed the raid, said that agents, "did not ask Hispanics for identification. This is profiling," she said.
www.examiner.com
www.baltimoresun.com

Gifts May Obstruct Road to Healing
The Kansas City Star - Jan. 24

Carlton Munson, PhD, a professor at the School of Social Work who is writing a book on how to counsel traumatized children, said lots of gifts could create disputes between Shawn Hornbeck, the recently found 15-year-old kidnap victim and his parents over what should be accepted. "It sometimes sets the children up for more conflicts," Munson said. Munson, who trained counselors to help families affected by the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, said the publicity in Shawnýs case may postpone dealing with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
www.kansascity.com

Gilbane to Head Construction for BioPark Building
The Baltimore Business Journal - Jan. 23

The state has picked a Laurel development firm as the lead builder of a $37 million Forensic Medical Center at the University of Marylandýs biotechnology park on Baltimoreýs west side. The Department of General Services selected Gilbane to serve as the construction manager for the six-story, 120-square-foot building at the UMB BioPark, a biotechnology park under development at the corner of Baltimore and Poppleton streets next to the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus. The building, slated for completion by early 2010, will serve as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Miss Maryland Is Departing for Miss America Pageant
The (Hagerstown) Herald-Mail - Jan. 18

Miss Maryland 2006 Brittany Lietz, 21, a third-year honor student at the School of Nursing, was recently honored with a send-off celebration Jan.7 at the Elks Club in Hagerstown. About 135 family, friends, pageant officials, and other supporters gathered as Miss Maryland left to compete for the crown of Miss America. Lietz is a cancer survivor having been diagnosed with stage two melanoma in 2005. She has worked to bring awareness to the prevention, detection, treatment, and research of this disease.
www.herald-mail.com

Nanomedicine Center Upgraded
The Daily Record - Jan. 24

After two years and more than $6 million in research funding, the University of Maryland Center for Nanomedicine and Cellular Delivery has reached the next step in its evolution. The university has granted the center the status of an organized research center, or ORC, meaning it is no longer simply a part of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the universityýs pharmacy school. Rather, said director Hamid Ghandehari, PhD, it officially becomes a campus-wide center based at the School of Pharmacy.

Nurse Grads Make History
Advance for Nurses - Jan. 15
Nursing Spectrum - Jan. 15

News briefs in both magazines featured the recent Nurse Anesthesia and Clinical Nurse Leader graduates from the School of Nursing with a brief and a photo.

O'Malley Fills Labor, Higher Ed Posts
The Baltimore Business Journal - Jan. 23

Gov. Martin OýMalley made two cabinet picks yesterday, choosing James Earl Lyons Sr. to head the Maryland Higher Education Commission and Thomas Perez, JD, an associate professor at the School of Law, to head the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Porter-O'Grady Joins UMDSON Faculty
Advance for Nurses - Jan. 15

News brief with a photo featuring the addition of Tim Porter-O'Grady, EdD, RN, CNAA, CS, FAAN, named a visiting professor at the School of Nursing.

Selenium Supplements Add Punch to HIV Fight
ABC News - Jan. 23

HIV patients now have a surprising and simple way to help keep their infection under control: daily doses of the mineral selenium. Daily selenium supplements seem to ýtameý the HIV virus and strengthen the immune system, according to research published in today's issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. It should be taken in addition to standard therapies. "Selenium alone cannot lower virus enough to improve health and cannot be substituted for the proven effects of ART," said David Pauza, PhD, a professor and assistant director of the Institute of Human Virology at the School of Medicine.
abcnews.go.com

Sputum Test Could Detect Early Lung Cancer
The Washington Post - Jan. 23
South Bend (Ind.) Tribune - Jan. 24

Genetic material such as DNA coughed up along with phlegm could point to lung cancer, say researchers at the School of Medicine who are developing an inexpensive and noninvasive gene probe to help diagnose early stage lung cancer in current and former smokers. "There is an urgent need to develop reliable early diagnostic biomarkers for lung cancer that can be detected noninvasively, and these two genes look to be great candidate markers for such a test," said Feng Jiang, MD, PhD, assistant professor at the School.
www.washingtonpost.com
www.southbendtribune.com

Supporting Evidence: Online Tools Help Nurses Find Evidence-Based Practice Resources
Nursing Spectrum - Jan. 22

Jane Kapustin, PhD, RN, CRNP, assistant professor, was quoted in an article about how online tools can link nurses to research.
news.nurse.com

Baltimore Police Honor Shock Trauma Doctors
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 11 p.m. - Jan. 22
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - Jan. 22

Two doctors at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center were honored last night by the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police for the care given to two police officers recently shot in the line of duty. ýItýs a celebration of the kinship that I think exists between the Shock Trauma center and the law enforcement community,ý said Thomas Scalea, MD, physician-in-chief of the Center and professor at the School of Medicine. "We're a hospital basically designed to take care of trauma patientsýwe donýt do anything else," said James OýConnor, MD, associate professor at the School.
wjz.com

Governor Nominates Law School Professor to Cabinet Position
The Washington Post - Jan. 23
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 23
The Daily Record - Jan. 23

Gov. Martin O'Malley announced today that Thomas Perez, JD, MA, assistant professor and the director of the Clinical Law Programs at the School of Law, and one-time attorney general candidate, will be his nominee as secretary of labor, licensing, and regulation. Perez, a former Montgomery County Council president and attorney in the federal departments of Justice and Health and Human Services during the Clinton administration, said he was drawn to the post because of the position's ability to help working families.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.washingtonpost.com

University of Maryland, Baltimore, Reshapes City's Economic Status, Intellectual Landscape
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 23

For every $1 in state funding received, the University of Maryland, Baltimore returns $16.54 in financial activity to the economy of the Baltimore region. ýOver the past 10 years, weýve had significant growth,ý said Jim Hill, MPA, UMB's vice president for administration and finance. Jane Shaab, vice president of economic development at UMB, said Baltimoreýs rich history in medical research leads demand from emerging life science businesses.

Life After Death: Maryland's Underworld of Unclaimed Bodies
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 22

Ronald Wade, director of the Division of Anatomical Services, School of Medicine and of the Maryland State Anatomy Board, is profiled in this story about what happens to unclaimed bodies remaining at the state anatomy board past the two week deadline. "Police try to locate the next of kin, and we'll contact hospital agencies, and try to talk to friends, but it's hard. There is no magic answer, and there are no investigative units," he said of the some 800 bodies that go unclaimed annually.
www.examiner.com

Maryland's New Governor Will Make Imprint on High Court
The Associated Press - Jan. 20
The Washington Times - Jan. 20
WJZ.com - Jan. 20
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 20

Gov. Martin O'Malley will name at least three of seven judges on the Maryland Court of Appeals over the next 14 months because of the court's mandatory retirement age of 70. The openings mean that OýMalley will have greater say than recent governors on who gets to decide high-profile questions. "The change of three is likely to have a profound impact," said William Reynolds, JD, professor at the School of Law.
www.washtimes.com
wjz.com
www.examiner.com

New Sputum Test To Detect Genetic Signs Of Lung Cancer
All Headline News - Jan. 20

Genetic material such as DNA coughed up along with phlegm could point to lung cancer, say researchers at the School of Medicine who are developing an inexpensive and noninvasive gene probe to help diagnose early stage lung cancer in current and former smokers. ýThere is an urgent need to develop reliable early diagnostic biomarkers for lung cancer that can be detected noninvasively, and these two genes look to be great candidate markers for such a test,ý said Feng Jiang, MD, PhD, assistant professor at the School.
www.allheadlinenews.com

Problems with Witnesses Hurt Prince George's Murder Cases
The Washington Post - Jan. 21
The Associated Press - Jan. 21
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 21
The (DE) News Journal - Jan. 21

Officials in Prince Georgeýs County are worried that witness intimidation is hurting their ability to bring murder cases to a jury. Steve Schwinn, JD, associate professor at the School of Law, said the dropped and dismissed cases may embolden criminals who do not perceive prosecution as a deterrent.
www.washingtonpost.com
www.examiner.com
www.delawareonline.com

UM Program Helps Deaf Overcome Substance Abuse
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 22

Calvin Taylor was addicted to cocaine, but if he had walked into a Narcotics Anonymous meeting he would have found no helpýhe is deaf, and interpreters are rarely at meetings. Instead, Taylor discovered Deaf Addiction Services at Maryland, part of the School of Medicine. Although small, all six staff members know American Sign Language, Laurie Yaffe, MA, LCADC, founder and director said.
www.examiner.com

Attorney General to Stand Tough on Healthy Air Law
The Washington Post - Jan. 18

Douglas Gansler, Maryland's new attorney general, has pledged to make a priority of enforcing a state clean-air law that sharply limits pollution from coal-burning power plants linked to hundreds of deaths and thousands of asthma attacks each year. ýTackling the problem of harmful emissions from the plants is overdue,ý said Barbara Sattler, DrPH, RN, associate professor and director of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and Justice at School of Nursing. She praised Ganslerýs pledge. "It's about human and ecological health," Sattler said. "I think it's wonderful."
www.washingtonpost.com

Congress Gearing Up For Energy-Market Oversight, Bills
Dow Jones Newswires - Jan. 16

Congress is preparing to launch a raft of legislation and hearings that aim to increase oversight of energy trading. Democrats and Republicans alike are preparing to examine whether oil and gas companies have been price-gouging during a year of volatile and record-high oil and gas prices. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, pushed for over-the-counter energy regulation when he served as director of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Division of Trading and Markets in the late 1990's.

Demand High for Simulated Surgery
Monterey (Calif.) Herald - Jan. 18

The Maryland Simulation Training and Innovation Center is a high-tech classroom for surgery students and shock-trauma workers. Calling it the future of surgical training centers in the United States, Adrian Park, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said, "There aren't many that are actually physically embedded in a hospital." Stephen Bartlett, MD, professor at the School, added, "Students or residents can practice their surgical skills without putting any patients at risk."
www.montereyherald.com

Maryland Wal-Mart Law Dealt Second Defeat
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 18

Maryland's first-in-the-nation law to compel Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health care suffered another setback yesterday, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit upheld a lower court finding that struck down Marylandýs legislation. "If you take their interpretation, there is very little states can do," said David Super, JD, professor at the School of Law.

Simple Diagnostic Test Detects Genetic Signs of Lung Cancer in a Patient's Sputum
emaxhealth.com - Jan. 18

Genetic material such as DNA coughed up along with phlegm could point to lung cancer, say researchers at the School of Medicine who are developing an inexpensive and non-invasive gene probe to help diagnose early stage lung cancer in current and former smokers.

Stem Cell Commission Debate Handling of Requests
The Daily Record - Jan. 18

With proposals in hand for $80.8 million in scientific research, the Maryland Stem Cell Fund commissioners still are grappling with basic issues such as issues of conflict of interest. Commissioners at the group's latest meeting on Tuesday reviewed basic information about 85 applications the commission received from scientists jockeying for a slice of the fund's $15 million allocation. Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, is a commission member and dean of the School of Law.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Obama Explores Presidential Candidacy
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 11 p.m. - Jan. 16; 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. - Jan. 17

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has filed paperwork to form a presidential exploratory committee that allows him to raise money for a presidential campaign and put together a campaign structure. He said he would announce more about his plans in his home state of Illinois on Feb. 10. Larry Gibson, LLB, professor at the School of Law, commented on the viability of Obamaýs candidacy and the steps he needs to take in his campaign.

Stem Cell Research Bids Pour In
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 17

The Maryland Stem Cell Commission has received research applications totaling nearly $81 million, more than five times the amount of money the state has to spend. "This is amazing," said Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, a commission member and dean of the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

UM Medical School Gets Gallo Institute
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 17

After a decade as part of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, the Institute of Human Virology is now part of the School of Medicine. E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, dean of the School, said the change will help foster collaborations between institute researchers and scientists in medical school departments and specialty centers.
www.baltimoresun.com

A Guy's Guide to Man Space
The Pittsburg Post Gazette - Jan. 16

Geoffrey Greif, DSW, associate dean at the School of Social Work, is the author of Guys Will Be Guys, which will be published in fall 2007, talked about the alleged necessity of men having their own spaces within their homes. "I think that pretty much the socialization of the American male is built around being able to establish some sense of separateness or autonomy," Greif said. "That's not necessarily a good thing, but I think that's how we've been raised to behave."

Laughter is Truly the Best Medicine
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 15

There are more than 2,000 laughter leaders-including 14 in Maryland-certified by the World Laughter Tour, which seeks to promote laughter workshops and clubs across the United States. A 2005 study at the School of Medicine showed volunteers a humorous movie and a stressful one and discovered that laughter seemed to cause the lining of blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow. "We don't recommend that you laugh and not exercise, but we do recommend that you try to laugh on a regular basis," said Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School and leader of the study.
www.baltimoresun.com

Maryland College Wants to Add Pharmacy Degree
WTOP.com - Jan. 15

To meet the growing demand for pharmacists, Baltimore's College of Notre Dame of Maryland has added a doctoral program in pharmacy-specializing in womenýs health. David A. Knapp, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy, said, "Pharmaceutical education must expand to meet society's needs and a constellation of diverse schools and colleges of pharmacy can only help produce the best mix of pharmacy graduates to meet the varied needs of society."
www.wtopnews.com

Maryland Surgical Simulation Training and Technology Center Opens
Evansville (Ind.) Courier Press - Jan. 14

The Maryland Simulation Training and Innovation Center is a high-tech classroom for surgery students and shock-trauma workers. Calling it the future of surgical training centers in the United States, Adrian Park, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said, "There aren't many that are actually physically embedded in a hospital." Stephen Bartlett, MD, professor at the School, added, "Students or residents can practice their surgical skills without putting any patients at risk."
www.courierpress.com

Montague Trip Dispute
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 14
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 14
The Associated Press - Jan. 14

Maryland Secretary of Juvenile Services Kenneth C. Montague, Jr., traveled out of state at least 29 times during his four years in office to attend conferences or retreats and tour juvenile facilities-even as criticism mounted here that his agency and its programs were a shambles. Susan Leviton, JD, professor at the School of Law, said Montague was a "great legislator," but she added that running an agency requires different skills. "The last four years, things have not gotten better, they've gotten worse. And at a certain point, the person at the top is responsible," Leviton said.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.examiner.com
www.wtopnews.com

School of Law Students Lead Effort to Rebuild New Orleans
WYPR-FM, 7 a.m. - Jan. 16
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 11 p.m. - Jan. 14; 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. - Jan. 15
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 14

Fifty students from the School of Law, who formed the Maryland Katrina and Indigent Defense Project, traveled to Louisiana last week to aid in the ongoing process of rebuilding New Orleans and its legal system. "They've just kind of been sitting, languishing in jail, without any knowledge of the status of their case," said second-year student Brigid Ryan. "We as lawyers can do something in the legal system," said Douglas Colbert, JD, professor at the School.
www.publicbroadcasting.net
ftp:
www.baltimoresun.com

How to State Your Facts But Not Ruin Your Marriage
The Daily Record - Jan. 12

To the extent that the success or failure of any marriage can be predicted, some factors carry more weight than others. "As far as barometers of successful legal writing go, one of the most reliable predictors of a briefýs likelihood of success is the statement of facts," writes Andrew Baida, JD, adjunct professor of appellate advocacy at the School of Law, in an op-ed.

MedImmune Posts FDA, Court Wins
The Gazette - Jan. 12

The Supreme Court's ruling supported an appeal by MedImmune, Inc., from a circuit court and allows the company to continue a complaint it filed in 2002 against Genentech of San Francisco. Frederick Provorny, JD, a visiting professor at the School of Law, said the Supreme Courtýs decision might not significantly change the balance of power between licensees and patent holders. "All this decision says is that the district court has a lot of latitude" to decide if it will hear the case and issue a declaratory judgment-a statement declaring the rights of the parties, he said.
www.gazette.net

Mouthwash Doesn't Affect Fillings, Crowns
Playfuls.com - Jan. 12

J. Anthony von Fraunhofer, PhD, professor of biomaterials science at the Dental School, examined mouth rinses and the effects they have on restorative materials in the mouth. The study found that even long-term exposure to a mouth rinse containing essential oils had minimal effect on the strength or surface of dental restorations of any kind. "This is a positive finding since patients are often concerned that rinsing the mouth with alcohol-containing mouthwashes could affect their fillings," von Fraunhofer said.
www.playfuls.com

Student Volunteers Help Clear New Orleans Public Defender's Backlog
The Daily Record - Jan. 12

School of Law student Brigid Ryan said, "We started talking about what we could do to really designate our efforts to a project that had a lot of meaning for law students." Professor Douglas Colbert, JD, of the School and some students decided to make the trip to the public defender's office. Student fund-raising chair and second-year student Anne Deady explained that novice law students are the most idealistic. "They really believe they can make a difference and havenýt been jaded by how people can really be."

UM Law Students Help New Orleans Public Defenderýs Office
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 11

The public defenderýs office in New Orleans has shrunk from a staff of 62 to 12 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But there is more staff this week because the School of Law has come to the rescue with three dozen students lending a hand. Brigid Ryan, Maryland ACLU chapter president at the law school; Shakeya Currie, Black Law Students Association vice-president; and Doug Colbert, JD, professor at the School, are part of the Maryland Katrina and Indigent Defense Project, a student group leading nationwide efforts to help the New Orleans justice system recover.

Dismissal of Terror Charge Faces Review
Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) - Jan. 11

As they left the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday morning, defense lawyers for terror suspect Jose Padilla and his two co-defendants seemed braced for disappointment. During the brief hearing, two of the three judges were openly skeptical of Miami federal Judge Marcia Cooke's decision in August to throw out the government's most serious charge against the men. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law, said the 11th Circuit has a reputation as a conservative appeals court.
www.sun-sentinel.com

Maryland Law Students Help Reduce New Orleans Court Backlog
WYPR-FM, 7 a.m. - Jan. 10

The School of Law students are part of a national effort by the Katrina-Gideon Project and the Student Hurricane Network, which has assembled hundreds of students to work on criminal justice system problems made worse, but not created, by Hurricane Katrina. Student Roberto Vela says the task involves collection of personal information that can help the court decide if a defendant should get bail, and how high the bail should be.

Notre Dame Moves to Add Pharmacy Degree
The Daily Record - Jan. 11

To meet the growing demand for pharmacists, Baltimore's College of Notre Dame of Maryland took the first step yesterday toward adding a doctoral program in pharmacyýspecializing in women's health. David A. Knapp, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy, said he supports the Notre Dame proposal. "Pharmaceutical education must expand to meet society's needs and a constellation of diverse schools and colleges of pharmacy can only help produce the best mix of pharmacy graduates to meet the varied needs of society," he said in a statement.

9/11 Recommendations and Somalia
WUSA-TV, 9:10 a.m. - Jan. 10

Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discussed the House passing legislation yesterday implementing recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. He also discussed the raid in Somalia.

Congress May Be One of Biggest Obstacles To Implementing 9/11 Recommendations
CNN, "The Situation Room," 5:44 p.m. - Jan. 9

House Democrats are working to implement reforms from the 9/11 Commission during their first 100 hours. Ironically, the Democrats' bill to implement key Sept. 11 recommendations ignores the recommendation that Congress reform itself. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, said, "I don't underestimate the amount of time taken away from the real job of the executive branch, which is to protect the country, by having to respond to duplicative hearings."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

High Court Backs MedImmune
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 10

The U.S. Supreme Court sided with MedImmune, Inc., yesterday, ruling that the Gaithersburg biotech is allowed to sue over the validity of a patentýeven while paying user fees to the patent holder. "Clearly, this will have some impact on how people look at licensing their technology," said Lawrence Sung, JD, PhD, a professor and director of the Intellectual Property Law Program at School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

State Faces "Severe" Blood Shortage
The Gazette - Jan. 10

The Red Cross has held news conferences in Washington and Baltimore to appeal for blood donors even though hospital officials said they do have blood supplies on hand. "They [the Red Cross] can't wait until thereýs nothing left,ý said Bennett Edelman, MD, director of clinical laboratories at the School of Medicine. "If you send out the alert too soon, donors are turned off. On the other hand, if you wait until it's too late, you're in trouble. When they put out an appeal, it's necessary."
www.gazette.net

University of Maryland Pharmacy Students Give Flu Shots
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 10

School of Pharmacy students administered influenza vaccinations to the public for the first time Monday night at the Timonium Shoppers Food and Pharmacy, supervised by certified pharmacists. Cynthia Boyle, PharmD, director of experiential learning at the pharmacy school, said, "Physicians alone can't vaccinate all of Maryland." Boyle added that pharmacists would like to be able to deliver other kinds of shots. "We know influenza is serious, but it's not the only vaccine-preventable disease," she said.
www.examiner.com

Applications Filed for Stem-Cell Funding
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 9

The Maryland Stem Cell Commission could not immediately say how many applications it had received for the $15 million available. Becky Ceraul, a spokeswoman for the School of Medicine, said 17 scientists from the School applied. Meredith Bond, PhD, director of the Department of Physiology at the School, said the fund got her thinking about new projects she could do in her laboratory. Paul Fishman, MD, PhD, the director of research at the Schoolýs Department of Neurology, cautioned it was too early to tell how the amniotic cells could be used.
www.baltimoresun.com

Batting Practice for Doctors
Wilmington (N.C.) Star - Jan. 9
Kitsap (Wash.) Sun - Jan. 9

The University of Maryland Medical Center Wednesday unveiled its Maryland Simulation Training and Innovation Center-a high-tech classroom for surgery students and shock-trauma workers. Calling it the future of surgical training centers in the United States, Adrian Park, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said, "There aren't many that are actually physically embedded in a hospital."

Chilled FluMist Marks New Chapter for MedImmune
The Daily Record - Jan. 9

MedImmune Inc.ýs inhaled flu vaccine, FluMist, has won federal regulatory approval for a refrigerated form of the immunization. The demand for the vaccine likely will increase now that it can be stored more easily, said James Campbell, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine.

Fiber-Reinforced Composites for Dentistry
Compositesworld.com - Jan. 9

A University of California, San Diego structural engineering professor and Howard Strassler, DMD, professor at the Dental School, are reporting results of detailed engineering tests on dental composites containing glass fibers, as well as the type of polyethylene fibers used in bullet-proof vests.
www.compositesworld.com

House Bill Backs Additional Reforms From 9/11 Report
The Washington Post - Jan. 9
MSNBC.com - Jan. 9

House Democrats announced legislation yesterday aimed at implementing many of the remaining reforms suggested by the 9/11 Commission. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, praised House Democrats for taking on the proposals but said they will have a tough time convincing many of their colleagues in the Senate.
www.washingtonpost.com
www.msnbc.msn.com

Low Blood Pressure May Protect Against Renal Disease in Diabetics
Reuters Health in Medscape Today - Jan. 8

Low blood pressure levels, even below the accepted normal range, apparently protect against kidney disease in adults with type 1 diabetes, according to a study in the January issue of Hypertension. In an editorial, Matthew Weir, MD, head of the Division of Nephrology at the School of Medicine, writes: "Given the burden of kidney and cardiovascular disease associated with type 1 diabetes, interventional trials are desirable to expand on these interesting and important observations."
www.medscape.com

Dysuria at Onset of Painful Bladder Syndrome in Women
Medical News Today - Jan. 6

Painful urination or "dysuria" has not been considered a prominent part of the Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (PBS/IC) syndrome complex, and is more often associated with urinary tract infection or recent urethral instrumentation. Professor John Warren, MD, and colleagues at the School of Medicine are conducting an ongoing case-control study to identify risk factors for the disease. As a part of this study, subjects with recent onset disease were asked to recall antecedent events.
www.medicalnewstoday.com

Getting Flu Shots to Students Could Have Huge Impact
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Jan. 7

Vaccinating school-aged children against the influenza virus could be the answer to protecting entire communities against flu outbreaks, according to a study in which 2,717 healthy students from four states-including 811 children from three elementary schools in Killeen, Texas-were given nasal-spray flu vaccine in school. James King, MD, professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine and principal investigator, said, "Our research shows that school-based immunization is an effective way to vaccinate large numbers of school children, and once they are protected, so are their families."
www.dfw.com

Mannequins Help Students Learn Surgery
Kane County (Ill.)Chronicle - Jan. 8
Northwest (Ill.) Herald - Jan. 8

The University of Maryland Medical Center Wednesday unveiled its Maryland Simulation Training and Innovation Center-a high-tech classroom for surgery students and shock-trauma workers. Calling it the future of surgical training centers in the United States, Adrian Park, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said, "There aren't many that are actually physically embedded in a hospital."
www.kcchronicle.com
www.nwherald.com

O'Malleys' New Life is a Tale of Two Cities
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 6

Maryland's Constitution requires Martin O'Malley, once he is sworn in as governor, to live in Annapolis. But the law also demands that District Court judges, including Catherine Curran O'Malley of the Baltimore bench, reside where they work. "I think as long as [Catherine O'Malley] wants to continue to serve as a judge, she can," said Joseph Murphy Jr., JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law and chief judge of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.
www.baltimoresun.com

Roll Up Your Sleeve for a Flu Shot at the Pharmacy
The Daily Record - Jan. 8

Pharmacists and students from the School of Pharmacy will administer flu shots this month for the first time in Maryland. "The major advantage is the convenience factor" for patients, said Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, an assistant professor at the School. Pharmacists are crossing their fingers for a legislative effort to allow more vaccines, such as pneumococcal and tetanus immunizations, said Layson-Wolf. The goal of the pharmacists, she said, is to complement the work of doctors and nurses, not to replace them.

Science of Tiny Particles Could Become Big Business
Baltimore Business Journal - Jan. 5

Researchers at Marylandýs universities say they are making considerable progress toward advancing the state as a leader in research into the medical applications of nanotechnology, despite competition from other parts of the country and around the world. "Maryland can become a premier state in the research and development of nano-biotechnology products," said Hamid Ghandehari, PhD, associate profession in the School of Pharmacy and director of the Center for Nanomedicine and Cellular Delivery.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Today's Newsmakers
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 8

Deborah Rejent, DSW, has been named the new associate dean of the master's degree program at the School of Social Work. Rejent, who has been with the School since 1994, will play a vital role in preparing social workers to serve vulnerable populations.

Flu Vaccines Can Aid Families
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 4

With the flu season expected to peak next month, researchers at the School of Medicine reported today that vaccinating schoolchildren against the disease reduces not only their risk but that of their families as well. "We only looked at one week of the flu season, and yet we saw a big difference. To me, that's phenomenal," said James King, MD, a professor of pediatrics at the School and the principal investigator.
www.baltimoresun.com

Law Students Aim to Reduce Post-Katrina Legal Woes
WYPR-FM - Dec. 5

On Sunday, 50 students from the School of Law, who formed the Maryland Katrina and Indigent Defense Project, will travel to Louisiana for a week to aid in the ongoing process of rebuilding New Orleans and its legal system. "There is a lot of hope now for people who have been lost and forgotten," said Douglas Colbert, JD, professor at the School and leader of the trip. "The justice system failed the citizens of New Orleans and, being a person of color from Baltimore, this struck a chord," said third-year student Shakeya Currie.
www.publicbroadcasting.net

Medical Training Center Harnesses Movie Technology
The Capital - Jan. 5

The movie magic that allowed Gollum to lurch across the screen in the "Lord of the Rings" movies or capture the great ape's naturalistic movements in the second remake of "King Kong" is now being used in operating room research and training. ýýStudents or residents can practice their surgical skills without putting any patients at risk," said Stephen T. Bartlett, MD, chair of the department of surgery at the School of Medicine and chief of surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
www.gazette.net

Students Sent Home Because They Lack Chickenpox and Hepatitis Inoculations
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 4

Some Maryland students were sent home from school this week while thousands more face a dwindling grace period to get up to date on chickenpox and hepatitis B vaccinations. Left untreated, chickenpox can develop into pneumonia and lead to other complications in newborns and pregnant women. "It's a very infectious disease," said James King, MD, a researcher and professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine who treats children at the University of Maryland Medical Center's pediatric clinic.
www.baltimoresun.com

Urinating on a Jellyfish Sting is Not an Effective Treatment
Scientific American - Jan. 4

Joseph Burnett, MD, a professor in the dermatology department at the School of Medicine and part of the school's International Consortium for Jellyfish Stings, says urinating on a jellyfish sting-a treatment used with success on an episode of the television show "Friends"ýisn't the way to go. "Urine is worthless," Burnett says. Instead, he suggests washing the wound with saltwater.
www.sciam.com

School of Law Students Work to Rebuild New Orleans
The (Baltimore) Sun - Jan. 4
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Jan. 4
"Morning Edition," National Public Radio, 7:45 a.m. - Jan. 4

Fifty students from the School of Law will travel to Louisiana for a week to aid in the ongoing process of rebuilding New Orleans and its legal system. "There is a lot of hope now for people who have been lost and forgotten," said Douglas Colbert, JD, professor at the School and leader of the trip. "The justice system failed the citizens of New Orleans and, being a person of color from Baltimore, this struck a chord," said student Shakeya Currie. Second-year student Brigid Ryan is helping lead the return trip. The public service project caught the attention of student Nina Wu.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.examiner.com

School of Medicine Seeks Awareness, Donations With New Book
The Daily Record - Jan. 4

The School of Medicine's alumni association is determined to raise the profile of Davidge Hall, the domed symbol of the countryýs first public medical school. To mark the schoolýs bicentennial in 2007, the association has commissioned a comprehensive history of the first institution in what became today's University System of Maryland. The book project, which cost $150,000, is the 7,000-member alumni association's birthday gift to the school.

A Year Begun Well
The News Journal (DE) - Jan. 2

Many people make resolutions for the New Year. But experts say instead of setting yourself up for failure, make this month a series of small successes. Number two on the list is "Have a good laugh. Researchers from the School of Medicine found that laughing helps blood vessels function better."
www.delawareonline.com

President's Plan for Iraq
WUSA-TV, 9:20 a.m. - Jan. 3

Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discussed reports about President Bush's plan for Iraq, as well as whether or not the new Congress, led by democrats, will fund a continuing war in Iraq.

School of Law Students Work to Rebuild New Orleans
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 6:55 a.m. - Jan. 3

Brigid Ryan and Melissa Martinez, second-year students at the School of Law, talked about the work of the Maryland Katrina and Indigent Defense Project, a student group that has been leading nationwide efforts to help New Orleans recover from Hurricane Katrina and is traveling to the area next week.

Avian Flu Vaccine Tested at the UM School of Medicine
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 29

Researchers in the School of Medicine will begin a clinical trial in January to test the first cell culture-based pandemic influenza vaccine to see if it will provide immunity faster and more reliably than a vaccine produced in eggs. "Our previous clinical trials have shown that the inactivated pandemic influenza vaccines against the H5N1 avian influenza strain are safe and stimulate an immune response that may protect people from avian flu," said James Campbell, MD, an assistant professor at the School and principal investigator on the latest study.
www.baltimoresun.com

Board Members Want More Control of Oversight
Arbutus Times - Dec. 28

After nearly two-thirds of the state's pharmacies went without required annual inspections last year, the Maryland Board of Pharmacy is hoping to change what some argue is a broken regulatory system. The biggest issue is inadequate resources, said Raymond Love, PharmD, professor at the School of Pharmacy. "State government pays pharmacists very poorly," said Love.
news.mywebpal.com

Breast Is Best
The Nursing Spectrum - Dec. 22

Lily Fountain, RN, MS, CNM, a faculty clinical instructor at the School of Nursing in Baltimore, emphasizes the need for fathers to not solely view the breasts as sexual symbols and to understand their important nurturing role. "If men get the opportunity to observe their wives nursing their babies, most of them become converts," Fountain says in an article about the health benefits of breastfeeding babies.

Don't Surrender any More Teeth to the Tooth Fairy
Scientificamerican.com - Dec. 26

An international team headed by dentistry researcher Songtao Shi found that stem cells from pulled teeth regenerate new roots and might some day replace dental implants. George Huang, DDS, MSD, DSc, associate professor with the Dental School, said Shi's bioroot is preferable to the dental implant used currently, partly because the original tooth root has a ligament layer between the jawbone and the root itself.
www.sciam.com

FDA Research on Food Safety Stalled
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 27
The Los Angeles Times - Dec. 25

Recurring outbreaks of food-borne illness from contaminated produce are "unacceptable" in today's society, according to government officials. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasnýt done much of the basic research that would let it write regulations to fix the problem. "We've got some of the knowledge, and industry can start acting on what they know, but in order for the FDA to provide leadership, they really need to invest in research," said Michael Taylor, JD, professor at the School of Medicine and a former deputy FDA commissioner for policy.
www.latimes.com
www.baltimoresun.com

Food Safety Among Health Scares in 2006
USA Today - Dec. 25

The produce industry is now undergoing the same consolidation, centralization, and move toward factory farming that the meat industry did in the 1980s and 1990s. It's made food cheaper and available year-round, but thereýs also a downside. ýIt used to be, at a mom-and-pop truck farming operation, if there was some contamination, it wouldn't go far," said J. Glenn Morris, MD, professor at the School of Medicine. "Nowadays, a single point of contamination can rapidly be spread across large volumes of produce."
www.usatoday.com

From Baltimore, Doctor Leads Fight Against HIV
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 26

Robert Gallo, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, founder and co-director of the Institute of Human Virology, and a co-discoverer of the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS, has organized an annual retreat. The gathering has been drawing infectious disease researchers worldwide to Baltimore for 10 years to share information and strategies on fighting some of the world's nastiest viruses. "It's a science meeting with the feel of a family reunion," Gallo said. "There's a core of people who always come back, including the Europeans, Israelis, and NIH people."

Life Sciences Key to State's Future
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 24

This Op-Ed notes that, "[f]or a host of reasons, Maryland is uniquely poised to become the Silicon Valley of biotech. The University of Maryland, Baltimore's new life sciences center is open and ready for business on the west side of its downtown Baltimore campus. In addition, its research dynamo, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, has just opened a new building in Shady Grove."
www.baltimoresun.com

New Year's Resolutions
The Daily Record - Dec. 29

In the spirit of the New Year, The Daily Record asked several lawyers to put their 2007 resolutions in print-whether ambitious, run-of-the-mill, or just plain quirky. Steven Schwinn, JD, associate professor at the School of Law, "pledged to spend more time with his children, aged 4 and 2-but inexplicably managed to pen an editorial for The Daily Record during the holiday week."

Scientists Affected by Lagging NIH Funds
Baltimore Business Journal - Dec. 22

The School of Medicine received $164 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, ranking the School 25th nationwide. "We're definitely trying to get the message out that we support, nurture, and train our junior faculty," said Wendy Sanders, MA, assistant dean for faculty affairs and professional development at the School.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Youths Share Joy, Goodwill for Christmas
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 24

During their annual trip to the University of Maryland Medical Center, students from Southampton Middle School in Bel Air joined the Chamber Players, a group of about 25 volunteer musicians, including doctors, pharmacists, professors and other hospital staff, that was formed about 18 years ago by Elijah Saunders, MD, professor at the School of Medicine. "It's about goodwill," said Saunders. "It's about helping sick people forget their illnesses and their problems and celebrating the season with music."
www.baltimoresun.com