Jun 27 2011

Collaboration with China

by Cathy Mellett, contributing writer, PRMC Comments (0)
Medical School

U-M Medical School Peking University Health Sciences Center Joint Institute for Translational and Clinical Research

Progress on the new joint institute between the U-M Medical School and the Peking University Health Science Center is moving as quickly as China itself.

In the mere eight months since it was created, the joint institute has already launched six pilot studies, created and established a joint Institutional Review Board for human research subjects, began researching the science of collaboration, and planned an annual joint symposium in Beijing that will take place in September. The joint institute also exchanges faculty, medical students, fellows and other researchers, and will conduct large-scale clinical trials.

From top left: Joseph C. Kolars, M.D., UMMS, Xiuying Zhang, Ph.D., M.D., PUHSC, Yipeng Du, Ph.D., M.D., PUHSC, Ning Shen, Ph.D., M.D., PUHSC, Airong Luo, Ph.D., UMMS, Ran Fei, MSc, PUHSC, Weixian Xu, Ph.D., M.D., PUHSC

The joint institute focuses its research on pulmonary, cardiovascular and liver diseases, all areas of mutual interest at UMMS and Peking University. Researchers from the two universities are now working together on studies of viral hepatitis and obesity, hypertension and coronary artery disease, and lung disease and smoking. Read the rest of this entry »

Jun 16 2011

Small Samples. Stellar Space.

by Beth Johnson, editor and senior writer, PRMC Comments (0)
General

DNA Sequencing Core sets the standard for DNA analysis

The University of Michigan’s DNA Sequencing Core has undergone a huge growth spurt. Known around the world for excellent DNA analysis and its helpful website, the Core handles DNA analysis for U-M laboratories, for outside companies and other universities without such advanced capabilities.

The North Campus Research Complex

The Core, led by Director Robert Lyons, Ph.D., has long had a stellar reputation for older, well-established forms of DNA analyses. “We are so cost-efficient that many researchers, even those at other universities that have their own DNA analysis facility, preferred to send their work to us,” Lyons says. Recently, therefore, when new methods and instruments emerged, it was only natural to look to Lyons’ group to operate them. The problem was they didn’t have the space. Read the rest of this entry »

Jun 9 2011

Giving Back to the Community

by Michael Steigmeyer, editor Comments (0)
Profile

Dr. Antonia Villarruel helps Latino teens make safer, healthier decisions

“As a Mexican-American researcher, I wanted to do work that would benefit my community,” says Dr. Antonia Villarruel, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, associate dean for research and global affairs at the U-M School of Nursing. “After speaking with community members in the 90’s, they identified teenage pregnancy as one of the most pressing issues among Latino youth.” 

Antonia Villarruel, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN

Villarruel responded by developing ¡Cuídate! – Spanish for “take care of yourself.” The program develops skills of 13 to 18-year-old Latino adolescents to make safer sex decisions. Read the rest of this entry »