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  • Health

    Women in India abused by husbands at far greater risk for HIV infection

    In a new study, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have found that married Indian women who experienced physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their…

  • Health

    A rare glimpse of schizophrenia’s genetic roots

    The delusions and hallucinations of schizophrenia can be devastating for the 1% of the population struck by the disease. The condition clearly has a genetic component, evidenced by its tendency…

  • Health

    Microsoft gives Partners grant for diabetes home-health program

    The Center for Connected Health, a division of Partners HealthCare, one of the nation’s leading integrated health care delivery systems, received funding from the Microsoft HealthVault Be Well Fund to…

  • Health

    MGH study shows how amyloid plaques may damage brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease

    One of the major unanswered questions surrounding Alzheimer’s disease – whether and how the amyloid plaques found in the brains of patients with the neurodegenerative disorder actually damage neurons – may be closer to an answer.

  • Health

    Growth hormone reduces abdominal fat, cardiovascular risk factors in HIV patients on antiviral therapy

    Low-dose growth hormone treatment reduced abdominal fat deposits and improved blood pressure and triglyceride levels in a group of patients with HIV lipodystrophy, a condition involving the redistribution of fat…

  • Science & Tech

    Julius B. Richmond, giant in public health and pediatrics

    Julius B. Richmond, a seminal figure in the history of American public health and pediatrics, and the first national director of the Head Start program, who held professorial positions at…

  • Campus & Community

    Julio Frenk Named next dean of Harvard School of Public Health

    Julio Frenk, an eminent authority on global health who served as the Minister of Health of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, will become the new dean of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), President Drew Faust announced today (July 29).

  • Science & Tech

    Scientists demonstrate highly directional semiconductor lasers

    Applied scientists at Harvard collaborating with researchers at Hamamatsu Photonics in Hamamatsu City, Japan, have demonstrated, for the first time, highly directional semiconductor lasers with a much smaller beam divergence…

  • Campus & Community

    In brief

    HARVARD-AFFILIATED MEEI NAMED ONE OF AMERICA’S BEST HOSPITALS; HUDS AND CRIMSON CATERING RECOGNIZED WITH AWARDS; DOCENTS SOUGHT FOR SEMITIC MUSEUM; AGREEMENT TO DOUBLE NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLOMBIAN STUDENTS; HU PRESS PUBLISHING MODERN GREEK STUDIES SERIES; HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SALE SET FOR AUGUST; HARVARD POPS BAND TO HOLD SUMMER CONCERTS; EXTENSION SCHOOL PROVIDES OVERVIEW OF…

  • Campus & Community

    Newsmakers

    HMS’s Burstein new editor-in-chief of cancer journal; Doctoral student receives prestigious national doctoral fellowship; Two students recognized for innovative solutions; Smith joins Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program; Dept. of Government of awards dissertation prizes; HMNH wins ‘Best Museum’ award; Melanie A. Samuel named Damon Runyon Fellow

  • Campus & Community

    Police reports

    Following are some of the incidents reported to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) for the week ending July 22. The official log is located at 1033 Massachusetts Ave., sixth floor, and is available online at www.hupd.harvard.edu/.

  • Campus & Community

    Harvard Heroes honored for exceptional work

    President Drew Faust led Harvard University in honoring staff members who made outstanding contributions during the past year at the Harvard Heroes celebration in mid-June.

  • Campus & Community

    HKS hosts eco-friendly summer event

    There was something conspicuously absent from Harvard Kennedy School’s (HKS) annual summer picnic last week (July 9): garbage. The “zero waste” event was one of the first of its kind held at Harvard and was organized by the HKS Green Team, a group of staff dedicated to the pursuit of campus sustainability.

  • Campus & Community

    Harvard Allston Education Portal opens doors to neighbors

    The Harvard Allston Education Portal, a new resource center designed to be a bridge between North Allston/North Brighton residents and Harvard teaching and learning, opened its doors last week (July 14) with mentoring for area children and a science movie night for families.

  • Campus & Community

    BBQ celebrates PBHA program

    Rolling thunderstorms dumped rain on Harvard Yard, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the student leaders and campers who gathered at the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) on Wednesday (July 23) for a barbeque that had one very special guest.

  • Health

    Science in brief

    Researchers identify promising cancer drug target in prostate tumors; Scientists find how neural activity spurs blood flow in the brain: Newfound mechanisms could bolster understanding of brain imaging, aging’s effects; World Health Organization creates new surgical tool to make operations safer everywhere; Invasive treatment appears beneficial for men and high-risk women with certain type of…

  • Health

    When threatened, a few African frogs can morph toes into claws

    Biologists at Harvard University have determined that some African frogs carry concealed weapons: When threatened, these species puncture their own skin with sharp bones in their toes, using the bones as claws capable of wounding predators.

  • Health

    Broad Institute earns grant to support pathbreaking diabetes study

    Researchers at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT have received a grant to support novel, integrative research aimed at finding ways to encourage the human body to replenish the cells that are missing in type 1 diabetes.

  • Health

    Young smokers recruited with menthol, study finds

    Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) explored tobacco industry manipulation of menthol levels in specific brands and found a deliberate strategy to recruit and addict young smokers by adjusting menthol to create a milder experience for the firsttime smoker.

  • Health

    Genetic mechanisms linked to Parkinson’s disease uncovered

    A new genetic finding from a group of researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), and the University of Ottawa may help pave the way for the discovery of therapies that could effectively treat Parkinson’s disease (PD).

  • Science & Tech

    A new era in search for ‘sister Earths’?

    Research presented at a recent astronomical conference is being hailed as ushering in a new era in the search for Earth-like planets by showing that they are more numerous than previously thought and that scientists can now analyze their atmospheres for elements that might be conducive to life.

  • Health

    Across species, genes evolve to minimize protein production errors

    Scientists at Harvard University and the University of Texas, Austin, have found that genetic evolution is strongly shaped by genes’ efforts to prevent or tolerate errors in protein production.

  • Campus & Community

    Harris named College’s dean of undergraduate education

    Jay M. Harris, a longtime member of the Harvard faculty who has also served in a variety of administrative roles at the University, has been named Harvard College’s new dean of undergraduate education. His appointment, by Harvard College Dean Evelynn M. Hammonds, was effective July 1.

  • Campus & Community

    Former Nashville Mayor Purcell named director of IOP

    Bill Purcell, the former mayor of Nashville, Tenn., has been named director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). Purcell will assume the post Sept. 1. Purcell has spent more than 30 years in public service, law, and higher education. During his eight-year tenure as mayor of Nashville (1999-2007), the city…

  • Campus & Community

    Parkes named McKay Professor of Computer Science

    David C. Parkes, a leader in research at the nexus of computer science and economics, has been appointed Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science in Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), The appointment was effective July 1.

  • Campus & Community

    Jordan appointed first Niebuhr Professor at HDS

    Mark D. Jordan has been appointed the first Richard Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School. He will take up the new post in January 2009. Jordan has been Emory University’s Asa Griggs Candler Professor since 1999.

  • Nation & World

    Business School, China Fund open office in Shanghai

    Harvard Business School (HBS) Dean Jay O. Light and William C. Kirby, T.M. Chang Professor of China Studies and chairman of the Harvard China Fund, announced the opening of a Harvard office in Shanghai on July 2.

  • Campus & Community

    Intellectual historian Fleming dies at 84

    Donald Fleming, an intellectual historian who studied the impact of science on American thought and was a member of the Harvard faculty for more than 40 years, passed away at his Cambridge home on June 16. He was 84.

  • Science & Tech

    Creating semiconductor lasers

    Lasers are often considered to be highly directional light sources: their beams are able to propagate over long distances without substantial spreading. This, however, is not always the case. Semiconductor…

  • Health

    GlaxoSmithKline and Harvard Stem Cell Institute announce major collaboration agreement

    GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) today announced that they have entered into a five-year, $25 million-plus collaborative agreement to build a unique alliance in stem cell…