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Media Relations

Daily IU News Update

August 19, 2008

Indiana University and Clarian Health to Dedicate Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center Patient Care Facility August 21
Newswire, Aug. 18 -- The dreams of many will be realized Aug. 21 when the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center patient care building is formally dedicated during a 4 p.m. ceremony in the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Campus Center. The $150 million building combines the latest in cancer therapies in one location and provides resources designed to make cancer care less stressful for the patient and their loved ones. The IU Simon Cancer Center facility was made possible through the generosity of many, including Indianapolis philanthropists Melvin and Bren Simon, who donated $25 million to the building project. They also contributed $25 million to the research efforts at the center in memory of their son Joshua Max Simon. Full story.

New Home Dialysis Treatment Center to Open
Indiana Business News, INDY Channel 6 News, Aug. 19, 18 -- On Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 11 a.m., Clarian Health and Indiana University School of Medicine officials will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the new Clarian/IU Home Dialysis Center located at 8803 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Ind. 46260. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will honor Richard J. Hamburger, MD, and Stuart A. Kleit, DDS, MD -- two local physicians who have been revolutionary pioneers in the field of nephrology -- and will feature testimonials from patients who have benefited from home dialysis treatments. Full story.

Limbs Saved By Menstrual Blood Stem Cells
Science Daily, Aug. 19 -- Cells obtained from menstrual blood, termed 'endometrial regenerative cells' (ERCs) are capable of restoring blood flow in an animal model of advanced peripheral artery disease. A new study demonstrates that when circulation-blocked mice were treated with ERC injections, circulation and functionality were restored. Dr. Michael Murphy, a vascular surgeon from Indiana University and lead author of this study has already performed clinical trials with adult stem cells for patients with peripheral artery disease. He stated, "The advantage of ERCs is that they can be used in an 'off the shelf' manner, meaning they can be delivered to the point of care, do not require matching, and are easily injectable without the need for complex equipment." Full story.

Finding the Core of the Brain
A new mapping approach identifies the hub of the human cortex.
Technology Review, Sept/Oct. 2008 -- Diffusion spectrum imaging--which tracks water molecules moving along nerve fibers--gave the scientists a wiring map of the cortex, revealing points where multiple nerve fibers converged. The scientists then used a mathematical technique to repeatedly prune away the connection points with the fewest links. "If you do it gradually, you end up with a set of nodes remaining that are highly interconnected," says Olaf Sporns, the Indiana University researcher who performed the analysis. Full story.

IT school to watch: Indiana University
Network World, Aug 18 -- It's difficult to imagine any industry these days where IT doesn't play some kind of role as a business enabler. And while many graduate IT programs provide students with real-world IT experiences either through case-study assignments, capstone projects or internships, few if any schools can tout the kind of interdisciplinary approach that Indiana University's School of Informatics has taken. Full story.

Chronic Lead Poisoning From Urban Soils: Could Water Cure A Public Health Menace in the U.S.?
Newswise.com, Aug. 19 -- In a study appearing in the August issue of the journal Applied Geochemistry, Gabriel M. Filippelli, Ph.D., professor of earth sciences and department chair at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, conducted a literature review of studies of urban soils as a persistent source of lead poisoning and also investigated the lead burden in the soils from a number of cities, including Indianapolis. His findings reveal that older cities like Indianapolis have a very high lead burden resulting in a lead poisoning epidemic among their youngest citizens. Full story.

Colleges: Drinking age 'not working'
Presidents say lowering from 21 may cut binges
Baltimore Sun, Aug. 19 -- Top university officials in Maryland - including the chancellor of the state university system and the president of the Johns Hopkins University - say the current drinking age of 21 "is not working" and has led to dangerous binges in which students have harmed themselves and others. Six college presidents in Maryland are among more than 100 college and university presidents nationwide who have signed a statement calling for a public debate on rethinking the drinking age. "Kids are going to drink whether it's legal or illegal," said Johns Hopkins President William R. Brody, who supports lowering the drinking age to 18. "We'd at least be able to have a more open dialogue with students about drinking as opposed to this sham where people don't want to talk about it because it's a violation of the law." Full story.

2007's successes not filling more seats
Record eight home games makes IU football season tickets harder to afford
Bloomington Herald-Times, Aug. 19 -- Indiana season football tickets are selling at essentially the same pace they did a year ago. That wasn't what athletic department officials hoped for in the wake of the program's first bowl game in 13 years. Nor is it particularly surprising, given the economic strife afflicting many. "There's been a price increase, both because we're following the budget plan we set a few years ago and because of the eight-game schedule," said Senior Associate Athletic Director Tim Fitzpatrick. "Those two factors coupled with the general state of the economy means that it has been difficult for some people to make the financial commitment." Full story.

From the Chronicle

India Shores Up Standards in Weak Engineering Programs
Some Indian and American academics and business leaders are trying to improve the rapidly expanding private engineering colleges here, many of which have shoddy standards and are tainted by bribery. K. Kasthuri, dean of SSN College of Engineering, here in southern India, chuckles as he describes how parents used to offer him bribes in hopes of gaining admission for their children. Full story.

A Peek Into the Mind of the Average College Freshman
Yes, professor, you really are getting old. Just take a look at the members of this year's freshman class.
Assuming the students in that class were born in 1990, they would have been conceived about the same time as the World Wide Web, taken their first steps as Clarence Thomas took the Supreme Court oath, and had their entire lives to angle for a gig with Teach for America. And the Warsaw Pact -- what's that? Full story.

Daily IU News Update is a short review of media coverage relating to IU administrative and student news, federal and state legislative policy, and trends and issues in higher education. Prepared by the IU Office of University Communications, the Daily IU News Update is not an all-inclusive gathering of news featuring IU faculty and staff. To subscribe to the Daily IU News Update list or to have your name removed, please contact Susan Williams, Office of University Communications, sulwilli@indiana.edu.

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