NewsLink, March 20, 2015
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Awards and Recognitions

Hegde receives prestigious grant

Dr. Meenakshi Hegde, assistant professor of pediatrics, received a three-year, $250,000 grant from the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy for her work focusing on immunotherapy, specifically adoptive cellular therapy for melanoma. Alliance grants are awarded to promising researchers whose work dovetails with the foundation’s mission to leverage cell and gene therapies to supplant cancer treatments like radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Hegde is part of the Texas Children’s Cancer Center and the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy.

Lerner presents at urology meeting

Dr. Seth Lerner, professor of urology and a member of NCI-designated Dan L Duncan Cancer Center, will be a featured speaker at the European Association of Urology meeting this weekend in Madrid. He will be addressing molecular profiling in bladder cancer, which is part of the Cancer Genome Atlas Project. Listen to one of Lerner’s past speeches.

Tsai named to journal editorial board

Dr. Peter Tsai, assistant professor in the department of surgery in the division of cardiothoracic surgery and medical director of cardiothoracic surgery at Ben Taub Hospital, was named to the editorial board of the Journal of Surgical Research. His three-year term will begin this April. The journal publishes original articles concerned with clinical and laboratory investigations relevant to surgical practice and teaching.

Wolf to serve on Rice alumni board

Dr. John Wolf, professor and chair of dermatology, has been elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Association of Rice Alumni. Wolf was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of Rice in 2003 and serves on the advisory boards of the Friends of Fondren Library and the Shepherd Music Society at Rice University.

Events

Violin concert benefitting BIPAI

“Divine Strings for BIPAI,” an evening of classical Indian music, will be presented tomorrow, March 21, at 6 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium. Performers include first-year medical student Aishwarya Venkataraman. Purchase tickets online. Proceeds benefit the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Student volunteers needed for Alumni Weekend

Students can expand their network with Baylor alumni and earn extra money by signing up to be a part of Alumni Reunion 2015, set for May 1-2. Different shifts are available; pay is $15 per hour. A mandatory student orientation will be held Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m. in M321. For more information and to sign up, contact Susie Lopez at susan.lopez@bcm.edu.

College News

Registration for biometric screenings will close soon

The BCM BeWell biometric screening provides benefits-eligible employees and residents with a snapshot of their current health status. You could receive up to 3,300 BCM BeWell points. Participants who complete both the biometric screening and the 2015 Vitality Health Review by Nov. 30 will be eligible for a $50 Amazon gift card (applicable taxes will apply). Find the schedule and register online.

Tax help

Free tax preparation assistance is available in the TMC by Neighborhood Tax Centers, a program of Neighborhood Centers Inc. The TMC tax center is located in Garage 2, first floor, 1151 Holcombe, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-ins only, and drop-off tax services also are available.

Faculty in the News

Roberta Anding was interviewed about carnival food in the NPR food blog. See this coverage and Baylor's other news media mentions in this week’s Faculty in the News.

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