NewsLink, Sept. 2, 2016
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Awards and Recognitions

Van den Veyver to lead prenatal diagnosis group

Dr. Ignatia Barbara Van den Veyver, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, was appointed president of the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis. The ISPD promotes the health of children, their mothers and their families by advancing the science and practice of genetics and fetal care worldwide. Her goals as president include growing membership, focusing on educational programs and developing innovative strategies for interacting with this industry to the benefit of pregnant women and their families. Van den Veyver also is director of clinical prenatal genetics for the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor.

Congratulations to 2016 Alkek Award recipients

The Alkek Award for Pilot Projects in Experimental Therapeutics supports preclinical translational research necessary for developing promising therapeutic targets, devices or diagnostic assays for clinical applications. The award is made possible through a generous gift from the Alkek Foundation. The 2016 award recipients and their projects are Dr. Debananda Pati, associate professor of pediatrics – hematology/oncology, "Novel separase inhibitors to treat neuroblastoma"; Dr. Ghanashyam Acharya, assistant professor of ophthalmology, "Stick-on nanowafer therapeutic to treat eye injuries"; and Dr. Fong Lam, assistant professor of pediatrics – critical care, "The role of soluble recombinant human vimentin to improve acute lung injury in experimental sepsis." Pati will receive funding to support his research project, and support to Acharya and Lam will support explorations of commercialization opportunities for their previously funded research projects.

Events

DocTalk on flu Sept. 6

Arm yourself with all the information you need about the upcoming flu season and the flu vaccine at the next DocTalk, Tuesday, Sept. 6, at noon in Cullen Auditorium at main Baylor, presented by Dr. Pedro Piedra, professor of molecular virology and microbiology and pediatrics. DocTalk is a series of informal, lunchtime talks on a variety of health topics with Baylor doctors, followed by a question-and-answer session. Eligible employees who attend will receive BCM BeWell Vitality points. Feel free to bring your lunch!

BCM BeWell talk Sept. 8 to focus on dealing with stress

The BCM BeWell program invites the Baylor community to a presentation on dealing with stress by Dr. Asim Shah, professor of psychiatry, on Thursday, Sept. 8, from noon to 1 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium at main Baylor. Shah will discuss the causes of stress, the effects and tips on how to not let the everyday stressors bring you down. Eligible employees who attend will earn 200 BCM BeWell Vitality points.

Baylor gym open house Sept. 8

The Baylor gym, located on the eight floor of garage 6 on the main Baylor campus, will host an open house on Thursday, Sept. 8, from noon to 2 p.m. There will be a strength circuit class at noon and a free demo with a professional trainer at 1 p.m. A free throw contest begins at 12:30 p.m., with a chance to win a free one-month membership to the gym. Locker rooms and showers available to those who attend. Come check out the convenient and affordable Baylor gym!

Compassion and the Art of Medicine Sept. 9

The next Compassion and the Art of Medicine lecture will feature Dr. Diane Nguyen, global health coordinator for the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children's Hospital, on Friday, Sept. 9, at 12:10 p.m. in McMillian Auditorium. Nguyen, who also is an assistant professor of pediatrics, will talk about BIPAI.

Enjoy ice cream and learn about new HR recognition program

Enjoy some tasty treats and learn about the new rewards and recognition program being launched by the human resources department at ice cream socials that will be held across campus over the next two weeks. See the full schedule online.

College News

Breast Center honored with Press Ganey Platinum status

The Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, part of Baylor's NCI-designated Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, celebrated its Platinum Press Ganey status earlier this week, the first department at Baylor to accomplish this milestone. Platinum status is awarded to those programs that have kept their patient satisfaction numbers in the top 90th percentile or higher for consecutive quarters. The celebration, hosted by members of Press Ganey, honored the hard work of the Breast Center team and the leadership of its physicians.

Enrollment open for autism study

Baylor and Texas Children's Hospital are part of an online autism research initiative, one of the largest studies on autism to be undertaken in the United States. The Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge, or SPARK, study will collect information and DNA for genetic analysis from 50,000 individuals with autism and their families to advance the understanding of the causes of this condition and to promote the discovery of treatment and support. DNA is collected with a convenient at-home saliva kit. Learn more about SPARK and join the study online or call at (832) 824-3624.

Submit poster abstracts for Reproductive Health Research Day

The Center for Reproductive Medicine is hosting an abstract and poster competition during the 2016 Reproductive Health Research Day, set for Oct. 5 at the main Baylor campus. This poster exhibition provides an opportunity for researchers to share their work with colleagues in the Texas Medical Center as well as with visiting senior researchers and keynote speakers. Four abstract winners will receive a prize. View abstract guidelines online. Submission deadline is Sept. 7 at 5 p.m.; the first 15 individuals who submit their abstracts will receive a free gift.

Faculty in the News

Dr. Larissa Grigoryan was quoted by CNN on people taking their pets' medications. Read this and Baylor's other news media mentions in this week's Faculty in the News. Interested in science news? Read about a new experimental system that sheds light on how memory loss may occur in From the Labs.

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