Ciancio to head periodontology foundation
Sebastian G. Ciancio, professor and chair of the Department of Periodontology in the School of Dental Medicine, has been named to a two-year term as president of the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation. The foundation supports projects and programs that increase public awareness of periodontal diseases by investing in clinical research and education.

One of its major efforts is the Partners in Practice Program, which provides grants and mentoring services to dentists and dental specialists interested in participating in practice-based research. It provides career-development awards for periodontists who plan a career in education.

Ciancio, a nationally known researcher in periodontology, chairs the Dentistry Expert Advisory Panel of the United States Pharmacopeia Division of Information Development, charged with development and revision of USP's evidence-based drug and therapeutics information database for dentistry.

He was honored in 1998 by the America Dental Association for outstanding service to the ADA's Council on Scientific Affairs. He was named one of the nation's leading lecturers in continuing dental education by Dentistry Today in 1997 and 1998.

Ciancio is past president of the American Academy of Periodontology and of the Pharmacology Therapeutics Group of the American and International Associations for Dental Research. He is editor of Periodontal Insights and Biological Therapies in Dentistry.

Guestbook on Web aims to spur mission review discussion
A guestbook has been established on the Web by the Faculty Senate to stimulate discussion by members of the university community on Provost David Triggle's mission-review document and the answers to the 37 questions UB submitted to SUNY central administration as part of the system-wide mission-review process.

The URL for the guestbook is http://wings.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/ub-wings/guestbook/index.cgi?key=922195212. The mission-review document and responses to the 37 questions are available at http://wings.buffalo.edu/provost.

The Academic Planning Committee of the Faculty Senate will follow the discussion as part of its continuing work on mission review before it summarizes and presents its report to the Senate.

William J. Jusko honored with AAPS research award
William J. Jusko, professor of pharmaceutics, received the Research Achievement Award in Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism from the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) at the group's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

Jusko, a pioneer in clinical pharmacokinetics and therapeutic monitoring of diverse drugs, is a Fellow of AAPS, as well as of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

He earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy in 1965 and a doctorate in 1970 from UB. He was an assistant professor of pharmacology at the Boston University School of Medicine before returning to UB in 1972.

Jusko, who serves on the editorial boards of six journals, has published 380 research articles, book chapters and reviews. His research interests involve clinical, basic and theoretical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of diverse drugs, particularly the corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants.

Among his honors are a doctor honoris causae from Jagiellonian University in 1987, the Russell R. Miller Award from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy in 1988 and the Distinguished Service Award from the American College of Clinical Pharmacology in 1989.

University Honorary Degree Committee seeks nominations
The university-wide Honorary Degree Committee is soliciting nominations of exemplary persons in the fields of public affairs, the sciences, humanities and the arts, scholarship and education, business and philanthropy, and social services to be considered for an honorary degree from the State University of New York. The honorary doctorate is the highest honor the State University can bestow for meritorious and outstanding service to humanity at large.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to Monday.

Eligibility for nomination is restricted to persons of state, national or international stature. Nominees who have made extraordinary contributions to UB also will be considered if they also have made significant contributions to areas beyond UB and the Western New York region.

Nomination forms may be obtained from University Advancement and Development, 503 Capen Hall, or by calling 645-2925. Nominations must be submitted to the Honorary Degree Committee, 503 Capen Hall.

Nomination forms are also available at the following campus locations: - Faculty and Professional Staff Senate Offices, 543 Capen Hall
- Health Sciences Library, administrative area
- Lockwood Library, information kiosk near the circulation desk
- Office of Student Life, 150 Student Union
- Office of the Provost, 562 Capen Hall
Successful nomination packets from the past also may be reviewed at the above locations.

Sean Sasser to speak at Spring AIDS Memorial
The AIDS Coalition of Sub Board One at UB will host its annual Spring AIDS Memorial April 14 in Slee Concert Hall on the North Campus. Keynote speaker will be Sean Sasser, partner of the late Pedro Zamora of MTV's Real World 3. The memorial will be an evening of remembrance, unity and hope in the fight against AIDS. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The program, which will begin at 7 p.m., will include poetry and verse readings and a reading of the names of friends and loved ones who have passed away from HIV/AIDS, as well as Sasser's presentation.

Following the memorial, there will be information tables and refreshments, as well as a "meet and greet" session that will offer the opportunity to meet Sasser. Tickets (free to UB students, $5 general public), are available beginning today at the Sub Board One ticket office, 221 Student Union. For more information, call Heather Ligouri, AIDS Coalition supervisor, at 829-2025 or 829-2584.

Graduation, Student Honors for Reporter's Commencement Extra
The Reporter will publish its annual "Commencement Extra" edition on May 13. Please send lists of students receiving graduation or other honors, identifying honors concisely. Information must be received no later than April 30.

Because of production requirements, the Reporter only will accept information electronically. No fax submissions will be accepted. Information may be submitted on disk, specifying the program in which it is written and including a printout of all information contained on the disk, or by email: wuetcher@buffalo.edu.

All submissions must include a contact name, department, campus address and daytime telephone number. Disks may be delivered to 136 Crofts Hall, North Campus. For more information, call Sue Wuetcher, Reporter editor, at 645-2626.

Murphy named Niagara Frontier Inventor of the Year
Timothy F. Murphy, professor of medicine and microbiology in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has been named 1998 Niagara Frontier Inventor of the Year for his new patents for vaccines to prevent ear infections in children.

Murphy has received a $1.2 million five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue this work, which centers on studying specific outer membrane proteins of the bacterium Moraxella catarrhalis and their potential as vaccines.

The Inventor of the Year competition is sponsored by the Technical Societies Council of the Niagara Frontier. Murphy also won in 1992 for his patent for a vaccine for another bacterium, Haemophilis influenzae , also implicated in middle-ear infections.

Murphy's latest invention has been licensed to Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines and Pediatrics. His research has resulted in four patents in the past two years.

Murphy, who is chief of infectious diseases at the VA Western New York Healthcare System, has been conducting NIH-sponsorsed vaccine research in his VA laboratories for 10 years.

Art exhibition opens Saturday in CFA Atrium
The UB Student Visual Arts Organization will sponsor an exhibition of work created by undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Art in the College of the Arts and Sciences opening Saturday and continuing through April 19 in the Center for the Arts Atrium on the North Campus.

The exhibit will display prints, paintings, drawings, photos, designs, computer art and sculpture.

A thesis exhibition by graduate student Sandra Berry will run concurrently in the Mainstage exhibition cases. A sculpture by Berry will be exhibited in the Mainstage area of the Atrium from April 12 to April 16.

For more information, call Jeff Sherven at 645-6878, ext. 1369.

Conference to focus on women's leadership in higher education
A conference for women in higher education titled "The Female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership," will be held April 23 by the Western New York Regional Committee of the Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education (formerly ACE/N.I.P.).

The conference will be held at Pendleton House Meeting and Conference Center, 6856 Transit Rd., Lockport. It will begin at 8:15 a.m. and conclude with the presentation of the Bernice Poss Award at 1:30 p.m.

Keynote speaker will be Sally Helgesen, a consultant and author on the role of women in the new economy, who will discuss how women can customize their worklives in a way that reflects their needs and talents at different times in their lives.

A graduate of Hunter College, Helgesen is co-founder of The Exodus Dialogues, a group that studies the exodus of high-level women from corporations.

To attend, mail a check for $45 ($30 for full-time graduate students) made out to ACE/N.I.P. by April 14 to Mary Ann McQuade, Empire State College, 617 Main St., Buffalo, N.Y. 14203. For more information, call 853-7700.

NIH grant to benefit 10 research projects at UB
Scientists at UB have received a $135,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to purchase a scientific instrument that will facilitate a broad range of research projects in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences at the university.

The circular dichroism spectropolarimiter, which can detect the minute "twisting" of light waves as they move through a molecule, can detect changes in the shape of molecules that may give a clue as to how they function. The instrument will be used in 10 research projects, ranging from fundamental studies of how proteins function to replicate a cell's DNA to the development of new formulations of drugs for treating cancer and multiple sclerosis.

"The goal of this grant is to enhance existing projects at UB," said Robert M. Straubinger, associate professor of pharmaceutics and principal investigator. "When light passes through a molecule, it may be twisted as it interacts with the various atoms," explained Straubinger. "So if a molecule changes shape, say, when a drug formulation becomes unstable or a protein performs some task within a cell, we can gather important clues about how shape relates to function or stability of the molecule."

Straubinger will use the instrument to study how to preserve the activity of taxol, the cancer treatment for ovarian cancer, which is being tested for effectiveness against other forms of cancer. Other investigators will use the instrument for studies of protein interactions with DNA or RNA, investigating new treatments for multiple sclerosis, and for developing new vaccines for pediatric ear infections. The new instrument, to be housed in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Instrumentation Center in the School of Pharmacy, will facilitate the NIH-funded research of seven UB investigators working on a broad range of biological, medical and pharmaceutical problems. NIH research funds are distributed to UB researchers through the Research Foundation of the State University of New York.

"I'm thrilled to see this kind of money coming into the Research Foundation," said U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R-NY), in announcing the grant. "The work being performed by UB researchers has benefits, not only for Western New Yorkers, but for people across the nation as well."

Ostrow to address senior alumni luncheon
Peter T. Ostrow, associate professor of pathology and WIVB-TV's medical reporter, will provide tips on how to be an educated health-care consumer in a UB senior alumni luncheon at noon on April 21. It will be held in the Center for Tomorrow on the North Campus.

A graduate of Downstate Medical Center, Ostrow has a knack for explaining complex medical information and making it clear and concise that has earned kudos from students, viewers and media. He joined Channel 4 nearly a decade ago as a commentator on medical stories and interviewer of medical experts.

The cost of the luncheon, designed for UB senior alumni, their spouses and guests, is $10 per person. For more information or reservations, call 829-2608.

More than $275,000 raised for athletic scholarships
The Division of Athletics raised the bar again on the annual Blue and White Club drive to raise funds for scholarships for athletes and once again cleared it with flying colors. The four-week drive netted $275,118, well over its $250,000 goal. Making the feat even more impressive was the fact that this year's goal was $50,000 more than last year's and was raised in two weeks less than previous drives.

Andy Hurley, athletics director of development, said final numbers for the drive may exceed $300,000. To put the achievement in perspective, the drive's goal in its first year-just four years ago-was $100,000.

"The success of this drive hinges on the work of our volunteers and team leaders and, needless to say, they put forth a maximum effort and helped us reach a significant goal in the growth of our athletic program," said Hurley. "All of our athletes and coaches owe a debt of gratitude to the unselfishness and dedication of these volunteers."

Gina Collora, president of Hunter Placement, Inc., who chaired the fund drive, was confident that the Western New York community would respond to the challenge.

"There wasn't an ounce of doubt in my heart that we wouldn't reach our goal," said Collora, a UB grad who played women's basketball at the university. "I was very excited for the volunteers and new team leaders who came to the plate and did a great job. The people in the Blue and White Club make the whole process worthwhile and they are a reflection of the all the people who come out to support UB athletics."

Volunteers are needed for Student-Athlete Day
Coaches, student-athletes, staff and administrators are invited to assist the Office of Student-Athlete Services and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which will host a celebration April 13 in honor of National Student-Athlete Day.

About 300 fifth through seventh grade students from the Buffalo Public Schools will come to UB for a day of recreation and sports activities to be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Alumni Arena.

Volunteers are needed to help with activities as well as to be part of the NSAD Committee.

Those interested in becoming a committee member or a volunteer are asked to email cummings@acsu.buffalo.edu or call 645-3998.

Three UB faculty members to take part in series of summer seminars at Chautauqua
Three members of the UB faculty will take part in seminars this summer produced by The Chautauqua Department of Religion. These "Chautauquas within Chautauqua," will focus on intellectual inquiry into and theological reflection on key issues of contemporary society, including, "What Is the Chautauqua Idea of Re-Creation?" (July 19-23); "What is the Chautauqua Idea of Peace?" (July 26-30); "What is the Chautauqua Idea of Beauty?" (Aug. 2-6) and "What is the Chautauqua Idea of Justice?" (Aug. 9-13).

Among the UB scholars who will join eight Chautauquans for the seminars are: Claude E. Welch, Jr., Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Political Science; Jeannette Ludwig, associate professor of Modern Languages and Literatures, and Elizabeth Mensch, professor in the School of Law. Randall Falk, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Ohabai Sholom, Nashville, Tenn., who serves on the adjunct faculty of Vanderbilt Divinity School, also will be part of the seminars.

The seminars will be held in the Hall of Missions from 3:30-5 p.m., Monday through Wednesday. On Friday of each week, seminar participants will meet in an open forum in Smith Wilkes-Hall to present an interim report summarizing discussions of the week and addressing questions raised in the open forum. A report: "Religion in the Public Domain: A Chautauqua Open Forum" will be published at the conclusion of the seminars.