In the News

March 2006

"The Bedside Manner of a Dean"
SmartWoman Magazine - March/April 2006 edition

Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing, is profiled in the magazine story. She says she considers herself "blessed to be working with an incredible group of faculty, staff, and students."
www.smartwomanonline.com

Episiotomy Should be Exception, Not Rule
The Baltimore Sun - March 31

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is urging doctors to avoid episiotomies during delivery, unless there is a clear medical reason to intervene. Hugh Mighty, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, said he endorses the watch-and-wait strategy. "These are really judgment calls," he said. "What you're trying to decide is those cases where an episiotomy may be indicated. You're waiting for it to occur."
www.baltimoresun.com

Public Defenders Bow Out of Muhammad Case
The Associated Press - March 31

The Maryland public defender's office said it will not assist John Allen Muhammad any more in his murder trial in Montgomery County, a day after a judge ruled he could act as his own attorney. If the case were to go to trial without a standby counsel and Muhammad became unruly or could no longer represent himself, it would likely lead to a mistrial, said Abraham Dash, JD, professor at the School of Law.
www.wjla.com

Supreme Court's Ruling Dampens Hope for Small Investors
Daily Business Review - March 30

The Supreme Court, in its first case regarding the federal Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act, unanimously ruled that the act pre-empts state law class actions brought by people who claim they suffered losses when they were fraudulently induced to hold or retain-not to purchase or sell-securities. But Richard Booth, JD, professor at the School of Law, said it is too early to discern what the new Roberts court thinks about securities law. "I'd be surprised if they get expansive about federal power in this area," he added.

Trial Team's Success
The Daily Record - March 31

The School of Law's national trial team finished secondýa personal best for the school-in the American College of Trial Lawyersý national competition in Dallas this week. More than 600 students from 150 law schools and 13 geographical regions competed in the tournament, in which Loyola Law School of Los Angeles placed first. Maryland's team featured students David Chamberlin, Rachel Simmons, and Sig Libowitz.

Brain Drain Hits Homeland Security
WTOP Radio, 4:20 p.m., 7:25 p.m. - March 29

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed how the Homeland Security Department is losing top managers and rank-and-file employees in a brain drain that could affect morale and the nationýs safety.

Lapses in Cargo Screening Uncovered
The Christian Science Monitor - March 30

In a government sting, U.S. investigators twice managed to slip the illicit materials across America's border, once at a point of entry from Canada and another time from Mexico. ýThis is not getting the attention it deserves from the leadership at the department [the Department of Homeland Security]," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.
search.csmonitor.com

New Rules Ease Parkinson's Diagnosis
United Press International - March 29

The American Academy of Neurology said Wednesday its new guidelines on diagnosing Parkinson's disease improves quality of life. "The guidelines provide recommendations for: making the correct diagnosis as early as possible, making the best use of time-tested and effective therapies to improve motor function, and screening for and treating depression, psychosis and dementia-common symptoms of Parkinson's disease that often are left untreated," said guideline author William Weiner, MD, professor at the School of Medicine.

Scientists Closer to Bird Flu Vaccine
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 5 p.m. - March 30

The School of Medicine is one of several sites around the country testing the bird flu vaccine. According to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine, the vaccine does work, but thereýs a long way to go, because, for the vaccine to be effective, researchers had to give patients a high dose, and even then it only protected about half of the healthy adults who got it. "It was a good start, but we haven't met the bar that we like," said James Campbell, MD, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine and principal investigator for the trial.

Study Backs Equal Coverage for Mental Ills
The Baltimore Sun - March 30

Providing insurance coverage for mental illness equal to that for physical illness does not drive up the cost of mental health care as many insurers feared, according to a new study of health benefits for federal employees. "The bottom line is that we found it was possible to achieve parity without any adverse impacts on cost and quality," said the studyýs lead author, Howard Goldman, MD, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

The New Medicine
MPT, PBS Special - March 30

Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, introduced this PBS special on complementary medicine and how it relates to traditional medicine.

Legality of Bill to Veto Energy Merger Is Questioned
The Baltimore Sun - March 29

Legislation that would give lawmakers veto power over Constellation Energy Group's merger with a Florida utility owner may run afoul of both the state and federal constitutions, several legal experts say-raising further questions about efforts in Annapolis to deal with a crisis over electric rate increases. "At this point, to have the legislature sit as judge and jury on the merits of a transaction would make Maryland an extraordinarily unattractive place for any business to be," said Richard Booth, JD, professor at the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Long Work Hours Prevail In Nursing Profession
American Journal of Nursing - April issue
NurseZone.com - March 28

A recent study, published in the April issue of the American Journal of Nursing, examined just how prevalent long shifts really are. The study found that a large proportion of RNs work schedules that exceed the recommendations of the Industry of Medicine. Lead author of the study, Alison Trinkoff, ScD, RN, FAAN, a professor at the School of Nursing, said, "The opportunity is not there for these nurses to get any rest," explaining that lack of sleep and time off are linked with job fatigue, work injuries, and nurse dissatisfaction -- a primary cause of the nursing shortage.
nursezone.com

Moussaoui Sentencing Trial
Agence France Presse - March 16

Federal prosecutors are working to save their case for putting Al-Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui to death for his role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks after the judge struck out half of their case because of witness infraction. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said that without the crucial evidence, it was unlikely, though not impossible, that the jury would return a death sentence.

Moussaoui Sentencing Trial
WUSA-TV, Ch 9, 9 a.m. - March 29

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed how prosecutors might now have received a boost after yesterday's testimony from Al-Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui in his sentencing trial. "This has been one of the biggest roller coaster rides in a criminal trial in decades," Greenberger said.

Schools Told to Prepare for Bird Flu
WJZ-TV, Ch 13 - 5 p.m. & 6 p.m. - Mar. 23

The nation's schools and universities are being told to plan for the possibility of an outbreak of bird flu. Federal health leaders say it is not alarmist or premature for schools to make preparations, such as finding ways to teach kids even if they've all been sent home. Kevin Ferentz, MD, director of the School of Medicineýs Department of Family Medicine, says the campus is taking steps to be prepared.

Assembly Approves Fiscal '07 Budget
The Baltimore Sun - March 28

The Maryland General Assembly approved a $29.4 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year, but legislators cut $12 million for a stem cell research center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.baltimoresun.com

Drug May Curb Brain Swelling
The Lexington-Herald Leader - March 28

A team of researchers at the School of Medicine, led by J. Marc Simard, MD, professor of neurosurgery, physiology and pathology in the Department of Neurosurgery, reported they have dramatically reduced brain swelling-and deathýin lab animals with strokes. As surprising as their experiment's outcome was the substance they used to produce it: an old-fashioned diabetes drug.
www.kentucky.com

MPILP Auction
The Daily Record - March 25

David Bogen, JD, professor at the School of Law, was honored for his leadership and support of the Maryland Public Interest Law Project at the School of Law, when the 17th annual Goods & Services Auction was held at Westminster Hall on March 11.

Moussaoui Sentencing Trial
WAMU-FM, "The Morning Edition," 6 a.m. - March 28
WMAL-AM, "The Grandy and Andy Show," 6:30 a.m. - March 28
ABC World News Now, 5:30 p.m. - March 27
ABC World News Tonight, 6:30 p.m. - March 27
National Public Radio, 6:30 p.m. - March 27
Newschannel 8, 10 p.m. - March 27

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the testimony of Al Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, who took the stand in his own defense. Moussaoui testified that he and Richard Reid, later arrested as the so-called shoe bomber, were slated to hijack a fifth airplane on Sept. 11, 2001.

Professor Schools His Rivals
ABC 7, TV (Chicago) - March 15

A feature about Richard Thompson, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, and his love of hockey.

Reverse Shoulder Surgery
The Prince Georges Gazette - March 16

Now there's hope for older people suffering from debilitating rotator cuff tears. Reverse shoulder surgery is designed for people who have exhausted all other means of repair. Anand Murthi, MD, assistant professor of orthopedics in the School of Medicine, describes rotator cuff tear disease: "If you can imagine not being able to raise your arm away from the side of your body; you can't wash your hair; you canýt eat; you can't brush your teeth. Those things of daily life we take for granted, you can't do."

School of Pharmacy Donor Referenced in an Op-ed
The Baltimore Sun - March 26

In an op-ed concerning possible ethical conflicts for members of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, the writer references a School of Pharmacy donor and the need for a new School of Pharmacy addition.
www.baltimoresun.com

Tech Court at Law School
The Daily Record - March 28

A small crowd turned out to watch as Baltimore City Circuit Judge Albert J. Matricciani Jr. held court at the School of Lawýs Ceremonial Court Room yesterday, giving students a unique opportunity to observe summary judgment arguments in a business case potentially involving more than $400 million in damages. Teresa LaMaster, JD, assistant dean at the School of Law, said she was "happy" with attendance yesterday, noting that it was the first day after spring break.

A Lone Voice Against Sex Offender Bill
The Washington Post - March 25

Brian Denton, the public defender for Prince George's County, is trying to convice the Maryland General Assembly that some of the provisions of a bill to increase the restrictions for convicted sex offenders go too far. Abraham Dash, JD, professor at the School of Law whose criminal proceedings class 24 years ago persuaded Denton to ditch his plans for a more lucrative practice, doesn't sympathize much either. Dash said he teaches students about the value in representing the despised in the courtroom, but not in the legislative chambers in Annapolis.
www.washingtonpost.com

Advisers Reject Strong ADHD Warnings
Yahoo News - March 24

Federal health advisers said that Ritalin and other drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder should not carry strong "black-box" warnings about potential cardiovascular and psychiatric risks. Rather, they recommended that the drug labels include warning language written so people can understand it. "I suggest confusion, polarizing viewpoints, initial press hysteria. But then what?" asked Julie Zito, PhD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy.

Boundaries Tested Out of Necessity
USA Today - March 27

To save lives on the battlefield, medical innovations are born in days rather than in years. The war experience with Recombinant Factor VIIa could provide valuable data for the home front about an expensive medicine, says Richard Dutton, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and chief of trauma anesthesiology at the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. "If you see these injuries in numbers of one and two, you never gain any experience," said Andrew Pollak, MD, associate professor of orthopedics at the School of Medicine.
www.usatoday.com

Children's Health Study
The Boston Globe - March 27

The White House has proposed eliminating the $2 billion National Children's Study, a 21-year study on children's health. Seven senators have called for the study to be saved, but analysts say it's an uphill fight at a time when overall spending on medical research could be frozen for the second straight year. "Lots of us do research on a shoestring with funds and time borrowed from all kinds of places," said Linda Grossman, MD, director of developmental pediatrics at the School of Medicine. "It reflects the general tendency in our society to give children short shrift."
www.boston.com

City Universities Leading Way on Global Peptide Research Front
MSNBC - March 27

Local universities are working with small acids that have the potential to play a large role in helping the medical profession better diagnose patients and save money. Graeme Forrest, MD, MBBS, assistant professor of medicine at the Division of Infectious Disease at the School of Medicine and a clinician who currently uses the AdvanDxýs PNA product. This makes it more difficult for new technologies, such as peptide nucleic acids, or PNA, to get used. "Labs are still doing things the standard old way," he said.
msnbc.msn.com

Drug May Curb Brain Swelling
The Washington Post - March 27

A team of researchers at the School of Medicine, led by neurosurgeon and physiologist J. Marc Simard, MD, professor of neurosurgery, physiology and pathology in the Department of Neurosurgery, reported they have dramatically reduced brain swelling-and deaeth-in lab animals with strokes. As surprising as their experiment's outcome was the substance they used to produce it: an old-fashioned diabetes drug.
www.washingtonpost.com

Kids' Food Allergies Take Toll on Parents
Fox News - March 24
WebMD - March 24

About 2 to 8 percent of children have food allergies, some severe and even life-threatening. People with food allergies must strictly avoid their trigger foods, and that means extra work for parents of kids with food allergies, notes the Mary Bollinger, DO, an associate professor at the School of Medicine. Bollingerýs team studied 87 families with children treated at the University of Maryland for food allergies. Parents completed a survey covering topics that included grocery shopping, meal preparation, and kidsý social activities.
www.foxnews.com
www.webmd.com

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service Celebrates a Quarter-Century of Growth, Change
The Daily Record - March 24

A quarter-century after its founding, the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) still holds to its core mission: providing free civil legal service to people who can't afford it. "She's [Executive Director Winifred Borden] a creative and excellent administrator who has built it into one of the best programs in the country. While the need for volunteer lawyers continues to far outstrip the supply, she's kept the program vibrant and energized," said Michael Millemann, JD, professor at the School of Law, who helped to establish MVLS in 1981.

Moussaoui Sentencing Trial
USA Today - March 26

Prosecutors rested their case last week in the sentencing trial of confessed al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, but many of the government's witnesses have made it clear how difficult it may be for the government to prevail in the landmark terrorism case, legal analysts said. "It's not at all clear that had Moussaoui told them everything, the FBI would have been able to do anything," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.usatoday.com

National Poison Prevention Week
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, noon - March 24
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 9:35 a.m. - March 26

Angel Bivens, RPh, MBA, public education coordinator at the Maryland Poison Center in the School of Pharmacy, talked about National Poison Prevention Week and urged parents and caregivers to remember the importance of supervising children in the home to prevent accidental ingestion of common household cleaners.

Rexahn and Nanomedicine Center Partner on Cancer-fighting Drugs and Therapies
Health Insurance Law Weekly - April
Biotech Week - April

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals has partnered with the University of Maryland's Center for Nanomedicine and Cellular Delivery to develop cancer-fighting drugs and central nervous system therapies. With the new partnership, post-doctoral fellows will be selected to work at Rexahn's Rockville, Md., headquarters under the mentorship of the center's faculty. According to Natalie Eddington, PhD, chair of the department of pharmaceutical sciences and professor in the School of Pharmacy.

Running for Office
Owings Mills Times - March 23

Stephen Knable, 25, a student at the School of Law, is running for the District 11 seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.
news.mywebpal.com

World Ready to Laugh With You
Kansas City Star - March 25

A University of Maryland Medical Center study released in 2000 found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh compared to people without the disease. More recent studies by researchers at the University of Maryland suggest that laughter causes the tissue forming the inner lining of blood vessels to dilate or expand and increase blood flow.
www.kansascity.com

Biotechs Push for Bigger Tax Credits
The Gazette - March 24

Lawmakers are working with Governor Ehrlich's office to add funding and direction to a program that provides investment incentives to small bioscience and technology companies. The University of Maryland, Baltimore, backs the tax credits. University President David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil gave written testimony supporting them. "We want to commercialize our technology and a key way is to start up companies which maintain relations with universities," said Jim Hughes, MBA, vice president of research and development for the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.gazette.net

Drunk Driving Sentence
The Baltimore Sun - March 24

A former Hopkins lacrosse star will be sentenced in May to up to a year in jail for driving while intoxicated and causing a car crash that killed his best friend. Largely at the request of the victimýs parents, prosecutors did not pursue more serious charges, which could have sent the man to prison for up to 10 years. "The law is all about making distinctions and drawing lines and weighing punishments, and this is another example of that," said Andrew Levy, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Justice's Blind Date
The Daily Record - March 24

Lawyers who argue in front of Maryland's Court of Special Appeals and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals find out on the morning of argument which judges will hear their cases, which is different from the practice in the majority of federal circuit courts of appeal and many state appellate courts. "You just canýt prepare as thoroughly for the individual judges, so you're going in not as comfortable as you might be," said Williams Reynolds, JD, professor at the School of Law. "My response is, 'tough.' That makes you think more carefully what your real arguments are."

Names in the News
The Baltimore Sun - March 24

The School of Pharmacy has named Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, as chairwoman of the Department of pharmacy practice and science. She has been a member of the faculty since 1984, and associate dean for academic affairs since 2004.
www.baltimoresun.com

Running for Office
The Baltimore Sun - March 23

Stephen Knable, 25, a student at the School of Law, is running for the District 11 seat in the House of Delegates.
news.mywebpal.com

Advisers Reject Strong ADHD Warnings
The Associated Press - March 23

Federal health advisers said that Ritalin and other drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder should not carry strong "black-box" warnings about potential cardiovascular and psychiatric risks. Adding black-box warnings to some or all the drugs, which also include Adderall and Strattera, could cause more harm than good, some experts said. "I suggest confusion, polarizing viewpoints, initial press hysteria. But then what?" asked Julie Zito, PhD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy.
abcnews.go.com
www.miami.com

Momentum Builds for Regents Bill
The Washington Post - March 23

Lawmakers are pushing ahead with legislation to prohibit members of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents from political fundraising. Democrats point in one instance to regent Richard Hugýs solicitation in 2004 of John M. Gregory, a former chairman of King Pharmaceuticals, who has for many years been one of the most prolific donors to the School of Pharmacy. "He has made annual gifts, which were never publicized, totaling $5.8 million to the school since 2000," said T. Sue Gladhill, MSW, vice president for external affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.washingtonpost.com

Patient Services Displace Baltimoreýs West Side Office Users
The Daily Record - March 22

As demand grows for space to examine patients, University Physicians Inc. is vacating approximately 11,000 square feet of administrative space in its West Redwood Street building to move to leased space in a nearby office tower. University Physicians is the nonprofit that assists more than 1,000 School of Medicine clinical faculty members in managing the business side of their medical practices.

The Push for Fire-Safe Cigarettes
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 6 p.m. - March 22
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 6 a.m. - March 23

A carelessly discarded cigarette started a fire yesterday in Montgomery County that destroyed four homes and left more than a dozen people homeless. Kathleen Hoke Dachille, JD, assistant professor and managing director of the Legal Resource Center for Tobacco Regulation, Litigation and Advocacy at the School of Law talked about how the Center is working in support of a bill mandating fire-safe cigarettes in Maryland. "There's no difference in the filter, no difference in the tobacco. There will be bands of paper slightly thicker that will retard the burn of the cigarette," she said.

Business Thinks Data Rule Isnýt Worth Its Salt
The Washington Post - March 21

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has upheld the rights of federal agencies to have the final word on the quality of the facts, figures, and research they use in rulemaking and other decisions. "It is the best possible result," said Rena Steinzor, JD, professor at the School of Law.
www.washingtonpost.com

National Poison Prevention Week
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 8:30 a.m. - March 21

Angel Bivens, RPh, MBA, public education coordinator at the Maryland Poison Center at the School of Pharmacy, discussed National Poison Prevention Week and urged parents and caregivers to remember the importance of supervising children in the home to prevent accidental ingestion of common household cleaners.

Revisiting Schizophrenia: Are Drugs Always Needed?
The New York Times - March 21

Some doctors suspect that the wholesale push to early drug treatment for schizophrenia has gone overboard and may be harming patients who could manage with significantly less medication, perhaps because they have mild forms of the disorder. "My personal view is that the pendulum has swung too far, and thereýs this knee-jerk reaction out there that says that any period off medication, even for research, is on the face of it unethical," said William Carpenter, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center.
www.nytimes.com

Rhode Island Lead Paint Verdict Could Have Wide Impact
Lawyers Weekly USA - March 21

A recent landmark verdict in Rhode Island ordering three paint manufacturers to clean up lead-contaminated property throughout the state may prompt similar suits in other states. Don Gifford, JD, professor at the School of Law, described the Rhode Island public-nuisance law as unusually open-ended, noting, "If you go to most other states, they have a fairly defined idea of what public nuisance law is."

Drug May Cut Artery Plaque
The Baltimore Sun - March 14

A study published this week raises hopes that a common anti-cholesterol drug can reduce the artery deposits that play a crucial role in heart attacks and strokes. "It's another feather in the cap for statins," said Michael Miller, MD, director of the preventative cardiology center and associate professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Law Professor Helps Elect First Female President in Africa
National Public Radio, 7 a.m. - March 17

Larry Gibson, LLB, professor at the School of Law, who helped run the campaign for Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first woman to be elected president of an African country, talked about his role in her election in 2005 and that country's ties to the city of Baltimore.
www.npr.org

Refco Probes Lead to $525 Million in Phantom Bonds, Hedge Fund
The Royal Gazette - March 17

Refco Inc. held offshore accounts with as much as $525 million in fake bonds, indicating the futures brokerýs troubles may be more extensive than previously reported, according to U.S. prosecutors investigating Refco's collapse. "These unregulated entities are opaque to the U.S. government," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and former director of trading and markets at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. "Because there is no handle on them here or in any of the other major financial centers, it's just that much easier to commit fraud."
www.theroyalgazette.com

Fighting for the Right to Race With Her Team
The Baltimore Sun - March 16

A high school wheelchair athlete from Howard County has filed a federal lawsuit fighting for the right to compete alongside her teammates at county track events. "The whole tenor of this is to ensure that disabled athletes have the same opportunities to participate in programs and activities as non-disabled athletes to the maximum extent appropriate," said Marc Charmatz, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Professor Schools his Rivals
Towson Times - March 15

A feature about Richard Thompson, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, and his love of hockey.
news.mywebpal.com

Refco Probes Lead to $525 Million in Phantom Bonds, Hedge Fund
International Herald Tribune (France) - March 16
Shanghai Daily (China) - March 16

Refco Inc. held offshore accounts with as much as $525 million in fake bonds, indicating the futures broker's troubles may be more extensive than previously reported, according to U.S. prosecutors investigating Refcoýs collapse. ýThese unregulated entities are opaque to the U.S. government,ý said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and former director of trading and markets at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. "Because there is no handle on them here or in any of the other major financial centers, it's just that much easier to commit fraud."
www.iht.com

Reverse Shoulder Surgery
ABC7Chicago.com - March 15

Anand Murthi, MD, assistant professor of orthopedics at the School of Medicine, discusses the causes of rotator cuff tears, a common cause of pain and disability in adults.
abclocal.go.com

Sanction Makes Moussaoui Case 'Impossible,' Feds Say
USA Today - March 16
National Public Radio, 7 a.m. - March 16

Prosecutors asked a federal judge to reconsider a sweeping ruling that wiped out half of the government's argument for executing convicted al-Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, after the judge said a government lawyer's misconduct makes it very difficult for the case to go forward. ýThis was Prosecution 101," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. "That they're letting this case slip away is mind-boggling."

Federal Witnesses Banned in 9/11 Trial
The Dan Abrams Report, MSNBC - March 14
WUSA-TV, Ch 9, 9 a.m. - March 15
The Washington Post - March 15

A judge barred key government witnesses from testifying at the death penalty trial of Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, ruling that the misconduct of a federal lawyer had so tainted the proceeding that all evidence concerning aviation security must be stricken. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the government's case has "exploded in its hands" through "unbelievable bungling."

If Bird Flu Mutates Into Human Transmission
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 5 p.m. - March 14

The University of Maryland School of Medicine is testing an avian flu vaccine and now is conducting a second vaccine trial and is looking for volunteers older than age 65.

Moussaoui Sentencing Trial
NewsChannel8 - March 13

Prosecutors are struggling to save their bid to execute al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui after the judge said a government lawyerýs misconduct makes it very difficult for the case to go forward. "For the prosecution to potentially blow this on this kind of ineptness is astounding," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Refco Probes Lead to $525 Million in Phantom Bonds, Hedge Fund
Bloomberg Television - March 15

Refco Inc. held offshore accounts with as much as $525 million in fake bonds, indicating the futures broker's troubles may be more extensive than previously reported, according to U.S. prosecutors investigating Refco's collapse. ýThese unregulated entities are opaque to the U.S. government,ý said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and former director of trading and markets at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. "Because there is no handle on them here or in any of the other major financial centers, it's just that much easier to commit fraud."

Techlink: Annual Bioscience Report
The Daily Record - February

The UMB BioPark is featured in this state of the industry report, as is Alba Therapeutics, a company working on a treatment for celiac disease with offices in the park's first building.
www.mddailyrecord.com

GM Bankruptcy Risk Exposes Imbalance in Booming Default Swaps
Bloomberg.com - March 14

The possible bankruptcy of General Motors Corp. has exposed flaws in the trading of so-called credit default swaps because the number of contracts has outstripped the bonds they insure. "Cash settlement will help get around the bond scarcity problem, but if you don't know the who, what and how much, it will be futile," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and former director of trading and markets at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
www.bloomberg.com

Internal Clocks Regulate Behavioral, Psychological Rhythms
The Herald-Mail - March 13

The human body has many clocks in its structures and cells, but the master clock is in the suprachiasmatic nucleus region of the brain's hypothalamus, says Teodor Postolache, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine.
www.herald-mail.com

Moussaoui Sentencing Trial
ABC World News Tonight - March 13
BBC World News Radio - March 13
BBC Scotland Radio - March 13

Prosecutors are struggling to save their bid to execute al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui after the judge said a government lawyer's misconduct makes it very difficult for the case to go forward. "For the prosecution to potentially blow this on this kind of ineptness is astounding," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Package Insert Was a Warranty, Top Court Holds
The Daily Record - March 14

The Maryland Court of Appeals has held that a package insert included with medication can constitute an express warranty, affirming the victory of a woman whose recovery from Lyme disease was stunted because of misleading instructions that came with her pills. Daniel Gilman, PhD, JD, a visiting professor at the School of Law, said that pharmacies will now have to weigh how much information they need to give patients about a drug.

The Most Troubled Kids Languish in Youth Jails
The Baltimore Sun - March 14

Maryland's juvenile jails are housing dozens of young offenders with severe mental or emotional problems waiting for state officals to find them a place in a residential treatment program. "These are kids who are the sickest. They are getting worse because they don't get [appropriate] services while they are waiting," said Susan Leviton, JD, a professor at the School of Law who heads the Juvenile Law Clinic at the University of Maryland.
www.baltimoresun.com

Detecting Heart Problems Before a Heart Attack
News 14 Carolina - March 10

Chest pain comes from the heart as well as the stomach, or even the lung if you have pneumonia. "It's a challenging differentiation whether the pain is really related to the heart or not," said Vasken Dilsizian, MD, professor at the School of Medicine.
rdu.news14.com

Full Funding for the Center for Regenerative Research
Maryland Gazette - March 10

A letter from University President David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil urges the Maryland House of Delegates to approve full funding for the Center for Regenerative Research at the UMB BioPark.
www.gazette.net

Lawmaker Seeks Judge's Removal
The Daily Record - March 10

Andrew Baida, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, wrote an opinion column about a Maryland House of Delegates resolution drafted by Delegate Donald Dwyer Jr. that seeks the impeachment of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge M. Brooke Murdock for writing the decision that strikes down the validity of a Maryland law prohibiting same-sex marriage.

MPILP Auction
The Daily Record - March 10

The Maryland Public Interest Law Project at the School of Law hopes to fund 30 positions for students to work at public interest organizations this summer through money raised at the MILP auction. "The MPILP summer grants financially support the law students to gain real-world experience with many exceptional public interest organizations in the legal community," said Teresa Schmiedeler, JD, director of public service programs at the School of Law. "It's great fun, and proceeds of the auction will benefit programs that serve indigent clients," said Michael Millemann, JD.

Critics Say Anthrax Scare Highlights Policy of Throwing Money at 'Disease Du Jour'
Congressional Homeland Security - March 8

Since Sept. 2001, when letters containing anthrax killed five people, the Department of Health and Human Services has spent nearly a billion dollars on therapeutics and potential vaccines for the deadly pathogen. "Whatever money is being generically spent, it's nowhere near enough to upgrade public health facilities, public health departments, public health laboratories," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. "All of them are in substantial disrepair."

Inmates Re-entering Society to be Topic of Discussion
The Baltimore Sun - March 8

A panel discussion on helping ex-prisoners re-enter society is taking place at the School of Law. The forum, sponsored by the Open Society Institute-Baltimore, the American Bar Association (ABA), the Maryland State Bar Association, and the University of Maryland School of Law, will focus on the ABA Justice Kennedy Commission, which has studied issues regarding offenders leaving prison.

Law Schools Can't Bar Military Recruiters
Kansas City Daily Record - March 8

A unanimous Supreme Court handed the military a victory over law schools angry at its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, holding that the federal government is not interfering with the schools' First Amendment rights by requiring them to host military recruiters. Dana Morris, JD, assistant dean for career development at the School of Law, said her office will continue to treat military recruiters ýwith the same courtesies and services that we extend to all employers that are recruiting on campus."

MD Public Universities OK Music-Sharing Deal
The Baltimore Sun ý March 6

Students at Marylandýs public universities will be able to legally download music under an agreement announced today by the state university systemýs governing body. First offered at the University of Maryland, College Park as a pilot program in spring 2005, the service will eventually be expanded to include the University of Maryland, Baltimore among others.
www.baltimoresun.com

Research Center Dollars Axed
The Daily Record - March 8
The Annapolis Capital - March 8

A day after a Senate subcommittee voted to cut Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s appropriation for stem cell research in half, a subcommittee also did away with capital dollars for a center devoted to biotechnology and stem cell research. The capital budget subcommittee of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee yesterday approved a cut of $12 million allocated to the University of Maryland, Baltimore for a regenerative research center.
www.hometownannapolis.com

More Salmonella is Reported in Chickens
The New York Times - March 8

There has been an 80 percent increase in the number of chickens contaminated with salmonella since 2000. "The public needs to be aware that current federal regulations do not guarantee there are no salmonella on raw products," said Glenn Morris, MD, MPH, professor at the School of Medicine and former official in the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service. "It continues to be buyer beware."
www.nytimes.com

Port Security, Enron Trial
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - March 8

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the ongoing controversy over the security of American ports and the fraud trial of former Enron leaders Jeffrey Skilling and Kenneth Lay.

Volunteers Sought for Avian Flu Vaccine Test
The Baltimore Sun - March 8

Vaccine researchers at the School of Medicine are recruiting volunteers to test formulations of the avian flu vaccine being stockpiled by the U.S. government. The vaccine uses an inactivated version of the virus and cannot cause the disease, scientists said.
www.baltimoresun.com

Law Schools Can't Bar Military Recruiters
The Daily Record - March 7

A unanimous Supreme Court yesterday handed the military a victory over law schools angry at its "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Dana Morris, JD, assistant dean for career development at the School of Law, said her office will continue to treat military recruiters "with the same courtesies and services that we extend to all employers that are recruiting on campus." But, she said, Maryland will also continue to notify students of the military's discriminatory hiring practices.

Officer Sues Over Free Speech
The Baltimore Sun - March 7

A Howard County police officer accused of running an illegal gambling operation filed suit yesterday, saying his department violated his right to free speech, including his ability speak out against Chief Wayne Livesayýs campaign for a seat on the County Council. Mark Graber, PhD, JD, professor at the School of Law, said that in a 1968 case, Pickering v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court granted government employees the right to speak "on matters of public importance." "Under Pickering, an officer can surely seem to get up and say, 'Don't vote for this bum,'" Graber said.
www.baltimoresun.com

False Advertising and How to Avoid it
The Daily Record - March 3

James Astrachan, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, wrote a commentary about how false advertising is actionable under federal law and by various state statutes which prohibit deceptive trade practices and unfair competition.

Port Controversy
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 11 p.m. - March 1 and at 6 p.m. - March 2

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the controversy surrounding an Arab company that had been chosen to run the operations at several major American ports, including the port of Baltimore.

Stem Cell Advances
The Baltimore Sun - March 6

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich has proposed spending $20 million on stem cell research in the coming year, (not counting more than $13 million budgeted to create the Center for Regenerative Research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore,) but legislation is needed to set the parameters by which research grants will be approved, says the author of this opinion piece.
www.baltimoresun.com

U.S. Judge to Rule Whether Confession in Israel Can be Used
The New York Times - March 5

A federal judge has to decide whether a confession made to Israeli security agents by an American citizen could be used in a U.S. trial in which he is accused of laundering money for Hamas to finance terrorist acts. "These cases are by and large very rare," Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said of the use in United States courts of confessions obtained in foreign prisons. "For the United States, these cases are proving to be big victories for them."
www.nytimes.com

Alternative Medicine Slowly Gaining Ground
The Baltimore Sun - March 3

The University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine is one of a few in the nation that incorporates alternative medicine options, operating a clinic, conducting research into the effectiveness of alternative medicine, and spreading the word of its findings to the public and the medical profession. Brian Berman, MD, a professor of family medicine at the School of Medicine and director of the Center, says he believes health care will increasingly integrate Western practices with those from other traditions, such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal treatments.
www.baltimoresun.com

Constitutional Rights in a Democracy
The Daily Record - March 3

Dan Friedman, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, wrote an opinion column about the appropriate role of constitutions in protecting minority rights in a democracy.

Former Professor, Associate Dean Dies
The Miami Herald - March 3
TheWBALNewsChannel.com - March 3
The Baltimore Times - March 3

J. Tyson Tildon, PhD, former professor and associate dean for research in graduate studies at the School of Medicine, died of cancer yesterday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. He was 74 years old. "Dr. Tildon took great delight in analyzing scientific data and formulating new hypotheses from the data, even when it seemed contrary to the initial anticipated outcome," said H. Ronald Zielke, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine.
www.miami.com
www.thewbalchannel.com
www.btimes.com

Funding for UMB Center May Be Cut
The Daily Record - March 3

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. allocated in his Fiscal Year 2007 budget $12 million to build a Center for Regenerative Research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore BioPark, and another $1.5 million to operate the center. However, budget analysts recommended that lawmakers cut the money. T. Sue Gladhill, MSW, vice president for external affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore said locating private companies and university researchers in close proximity would allow collaboration between the two groups that does not currently exist in Maryland.

Names in the News
The Baltimore Sun - March 3

Angela Hartley Brodie, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine, and a researcher at the University of Marylandýs Greenebaum Cancer Center, has been selected to receive the Dorothy P. Landon-AACR Prize for Translational Cancer Research for her groundbreaking work in developing aromatase inhibitors, a new class of breast cancer drugs.

Senators Provide a Glimpse of Coming Clash Over Stem Cells
The Washington Post - March 3
The Baltimore Sun - March 2

Maryland senators offered a preview yesterday of fireworks to come when the chamber starts floor debate next week on a bill authorizing state spending on stem cell research. Members of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents would be prohibited from fundraising for political campaigns under legislation introduced in the House yesterday with the support of more than 70 Democratic lawmakers.
www.washingtonpost.com
www.baltimoresun.com

Stateýs Universities Create New Research Park Group
Baltimore Business Journal - March 2

With several universities around the state developing research parks near their campuses, a new statewide organization called Research Parks Maryland has been formed to promote all of their efforts. It will include the University of Maryland, Baltimore Biopark.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

A Governor's Race For Judges, as Well
The Washington Post - March 2

Maryland's next governor will fill at least three of seven seats on the state's highest court, potentially influencing the direction of the state judiciary on the death penalty, gay marriage, and other contentious issues. "It would be quite easy to change the balance of power there, depending on who retires when," said William Reynolds, JD, professor at the School of Law.
www.washingtonpost.com

Money Matters Roil Cleveland Clinic's Reputation
Nature Medicine - March 1

An independent audit of the famed Cleveland Clinic last month revealed that the clinic and its scientists have not been attentive enough to financial conflicts of interest, prompting the clinic to change the way its scientists report and manage conflicts. "I wouldn't be surprised if, quietly, other systems like the clinic arenýt asking themselves, 'What can we do so that we don't get caught like the clinic did?'" said John Kastor, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and the author of a recently published book about the clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland.
www.nature.com

Mote Says In-state Status is Too Hard to Get
The Diamondback - March 2

As a Baltimore court prepares to decide whether University of Maryland, Baltimore students denied in-state status should be reimbursed their tuitions, university President Dan Mote said aspects of the application process for in-state status are unfair and in need of review.
www.diamondbackonline.com

To Live Long, Set Healthy Midlife Goals
The News & Observer - March 2

Not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, warding off diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol may drastically reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and add 10 years to your life, according to the latest results from the Framingham Heart Study. "Cessation of smoking and maintenance of body weight are the two most readily modifiable risk factors," said Mandeep Mehra, MD, professor and chief of cardiology at the School of Medicine.
www.newsobserver.com

UMMC Cancer Researcher Honored
The Daily Record - March 1

Angela Hartley Brodie, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine, and a researcher at the University of Maryland's Greenebaum Cancer Center, has won the prestigious Dorothy P. Landon-American Association for Cancer Research Prize for Translational Cancer Research for her work in developing aromatase inhibitors, a new class of breast cancer drugs. The award carries with it a prize of $200,000 and is the largest awarded to cancer researchers by a professional society of their peers.

Voter Redistricting, Detainee Settlements
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - March 1

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the Texas voter redistricting case that was argued before the Supreme Court yesterday and the financial settlements that the U.S. government paid to several people who were detained in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001.

Black Doctors Reflect on Changes in Medicine
The State (South Carolina) - Feb. 14

Dellyse Bright, MD, was one of several doctors interviewed for a series of articles about three generations of medicine. Bright, who grew up in West Baltimore, is a member of the class of 1999 from the School of Medicine. She said, "I had a class of about 140 - about 20 of us were black, and most were women. We had tremendousýsupport." She has been in family practice for four years and will move this year to Concord, N.C., to teach medical residents.

Former Professor, Associate Dean Dies
The Baltimore Sun - March 1
The Boston Globe - March 1

J. Tyson Tildon, PhD, former professor and associate dean for research in graduate studies at the School of Medicine, died of cancer yesterday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. He was 74 years old. 'Dr. Tildon took great delight in analyzing scientific data and formulating new hypotheses from the data, even when it seemed contrary to the initial anticipated outcome,' said H. Ronald Zielke, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.boston.com

Lawsuit Says NSA Illegally Listened
Associated Press - March 1

A lawsuit filed Tuesday asked a federal court to shut down electronic surveillance by the National Security Agency, based on claims the NSA illegally wiretapped conversations between the director of an Islamic charity and two of the charity's attorneys. "I think the court will be very reluctant to get involved without substantial evidence they [the attorneys] have been wiretapped," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.gazettetimes.com

No Sale for Brown Mansion
The Cecil Whig - March 1

It's official. The Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland has agreed to take the Donaldson Brown Center off the market. The board still plans to consider a possible long-term lease partner who would continue to operate the mansion near Port Deposit as a conference center, but would be willing to upgrade it. "We've notified the six bidders who submitted proposals to buy the property and we've returned their deposits," said University System Chancellor William E. Kirwan.
www.cecilwhig.com

Simulated Hospitals Help Students Learn the Real Thing
NurseZone.Com - Feb. 28

Cutting-edge technology has changed the hands-on way nurses are training. Artificial intelligence immerses them in the kind of complex clinical situations that await their expertise upon graduation and beyond. Debra Spunt, MS, RN, FAAN, assistant professor at the School of Nursing and manager of the Schoolýs clinical simulation lab, perceives "simulation as the golden thread which integrates throughout the curriculum." The School of Nursing employs "everything from task trainers to the full-size robotic-type mannequin," she said.
www.nursezone.com

Triple Therapy Best for Esophageal Cancer
United Press International - Jan. 26
Reuters Health - Jan. 26
USA Today - Jan. 28
ConsumerHealthDaily.com - Jan. 31

Researchers at the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco presented promising news about esophageal cancer, a disease that kills 85 percent of patients within five years. Patients with early-stage disease who underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation lived more than twice as long as those treated with surgery alone, says Mark Krasna, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine.
www.usatoday.com
www.cancerpage.com
news.monstersandcritics.com

UMMC Cancer Researcher Honored For Cancer Breakthroughs
Baltimore Business Journal - March 1

Angela Hartley Brodie, PhD, professor of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics at the School of Medicine and a researcher at the University of Maryland's Greenebaum Cancer Center, won the Dorothy P. Landon-American Association for Cancer Research prize for translational cancer research, the University of Maryland Medical Center said Tuesday. She will receive the award in April.
baltimore.bizjournals.com