Tiny implant cures diabetes in mice

Researchers at the School of Medicine and Cornell University have demonstrated that they can implant insulin-secreting cells into diabetic mice. The cells secrete insulin in response to blood sugar, reversing diabetes without requiring drugs to suppress the immune system.

Brown School works to improve housing equity

Molly Metzger, senior lecturer at the Brown School, and students in her policy course have partnered with Webster Groves city council members and St. Louis’ Green City Coalition on a series of projects connected to the planning of community land trusts.

Synthetic data mimics real health-care data

University investigators have access to a new research tool that allows them to conduct clinical studies using synthetic patient data. Synthetic data produced by the new tool, called MDClone, accurately mimics real patient data without the privacy concerns.

Watermelons actually came from northeast Africa

Using ancient DNA and tools from the modern genomic age, Susanne Renner in Arts & Sciences discovered that domesticated watermelons most likely came from wild crop progenitors near Sudan.

Researchers’ international COVID-19 projects progressing

Despite the pandemic, Washington University researchers collaborating with international colleagues continue to innovate and move their research forward.

WashU Expert on safety of filled sports stadiums

John E. McCarthy, a mathematician in Arts & Sciences, said sports stadiums filled to capacity aren’t safe without requiring either vaccines or negative COVID-19 tests. He helped write a scientific formula and a paper analyzing the risk of fans attending sporting events.

Announcements

Virtual celebration planned for Davis

A virtual event celebrating Vice Provost Adrienne Davis will take place at 4 p.m. June 24. Davis is stepping down from her role as vice provost for faculty affairs and diversity and will return to the faculty.

Research Wire

Fangqiong Ling, assistant professor at the McKelvey School of Engineering, received a five-year $500,000 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation for her research into wastewater-based epidemiology.

Notables

Maia Cohen and Ellie Moreland, who both graduated in May, each received named prizes from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in Arts & Sciences in special recognition of their academic achievements.