This article is from the archives of the UB Reporter.
News

Briefs

Published: August 30, 2012

  • Curtis honored for clinical research

    Anne B. Curtis, Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and chair of the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has been awarded the International Academy of Cardiology’s Walter Bleifeld Memorial Award for Distinguished Work in Clinical Research. Bleifeld, considered one of the pioneers of modern cardiology, was a professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of Hamburg.

    Curtis was presented with the award at the 17th World Congress on Heart Disease, held last month in Toronto.

    The award recognizes Curtis’ outstanding contributions to clinical research. She is one of the world’s leading clinical cardiac electrophysiologists and an expert in cardiac arrhythmias. Her clinical research has significantly advanced knowledge of human cardiac electrophysiology and heart-rhythm abnormalities.

  • Neurodegenerative disorders
    topic of mini-symposium

    Neurodegenerative disorders will be the topic of the sixth annual mini-symposium being presented by the UB 2020 strategic strength in Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics.

    The mini-symposium will take place from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 8 in the Zebro Room, Center for Genetics & Pharmacology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

    The goal of the mini-symposium is to bring state-of-the art research on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, to the Buffalo science community, according to lead conference organizer Laura Feltri, professor of biochemistry, UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and a member of the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute at UB.

    “As our population ages, neurodegenerative diseases are becoming a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, alongside cardiovascular diseases and cancer,” Feltri says. These diseases differ from cancer and cardiovascular illnesses, however, in that there are few preventive measures and only palliative therapies available for most of these devastating conditions, she explains.

    “Genetic factors are of paramount importance in these pathologies, and we expect great benefit from recent advances in genomics and genetics occurring around the world and at the UB’s New York Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences.”

    Feltri says the mini-symposium will bring together leaders in the neurodegeneration field from the international community and from UB to discuss recent advances in the field. Among them are:

    • Kenneth Fischbeck, chief of the Neurogenetics Branch of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, who discovered the first DNA triplet-repeat disease (such as Huntington’s disease).
    • James Lupski, Cullen Professor of Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, a pioneer in the genetics of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease and the use of whole-genome sequencing for personalized medicine. Lupsky sequenced his own DNA to find the cause of his own CMT.
    • Serge Przedborski, Page and William Black Professor of Neurology, Pathology and Cell Biology, and co-director of the Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University Medical Center, who was among the first to show the importance of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Parkinson’s disease and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
    • Jean-Pierre Julien, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, Laval University, who demonstrated the role of intermediate filaments in axonal degeneration and neuronal death in ALS and other motor neuron diseases.

    Also speaking will be UB faculty members Jian Feng, professor of physiology and biophysics, and Lawrence Wrabetz, professor of neurology and director of the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute.

  • Liturgy of Holy Spirit set for Sept. 9

    The Newman Centers at UB will celebrate the opening of the 2012-13 academic year with the 36th annual Convocation and Liturgy of the Holy Spirit, to be held at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 9 in St. Joseph University Church, 3269 Main St., Buffalo, adjacent to the South Campus.

    During the convocation, the Newman Award, the highest honor given by the Newman Center, will be presented to Most Rev. Edward U. Kimec, bishop emeritus of Buffalo, for his unwavering support of campus ministry at UB.

    Faculty, staff, administrators, students and family members are invited to march in the academic procession.

    A reception will immediately follow the service.

    All members of the campus community are invited to attend.

  • UB Women’s Club plans luncheon

    The UB Women’s Club will begin its 67th year with a luncheon at noon on Sept. 8 in the Fox Valley Country Club, 6161 Genesee St., Lancaster.

    Mary Travers Murphy, executive director of the Family Justice Center, will speak.

    Club members will have the opportunity to sign up for various activities offered for the year. Venders offering a variety of goods for purchase also will be in attendance.

    The cost of the luncheon is $25, which will benefit the Grace Capen Academic Awards. Reservations may be made by calling Susan Walko at 864-4833 or Beth Hermanson at 860-7471.

    The UB Women’s Club is a service organization to the university. Members participate in educational and charitable activities that benefit the Grace Capen awards. Membership is open to anyone who has a commitment to the university and the purposes of the club.

    For more information, call Joan Ryan at 626-9332.