SUMC in the News (12/06/06)

Print media coverage

Business Week Online, 12/11/06
Kills pain, cures rabies, and grows hair
This article discusses the prescription drug market, how drugmakers approach getting FDA approval for new drugs and so-called off-label uses of drugs. A 2006 study by Randall Stafford, associate professor of medicine, is cited.

Boston Globe, 12/06/06
Drug-coated stents facing hard 2nd look; FDA to study risks of popular devices
This article discusses an FDA panel that will consider the risks of blood clots caused by drug-coated stents - tiny medical devices implanted in the arteries of millions of people - during a two-day hearing starting tomorrow. Cynthia Yock, a member of the adjunct clinical faculty, is quoted.

San Jose Mercury News, 12/06/06
You can't train a teen to be sensible with alcohol
This piece discusses how Palo Alto is developing its own ``social host'' ordinance to crack down on adults who supply alcohol or tolerate drinking at teen parties. David Gregg, a member of the adjunct clinical faculty, is quoted.

The Times (London, England), 12/06/06
Professor Esther Lederberg
This obit reports on the passing of Esther Lederberg, who died on Nov. 11, played a critical role in developing laboratory techniques that helped a generation of researchers understand how genes function.

Stanford Daily, 12/06/06
Ten profs win AAAS fellowships for science research
This article lists and discusses some of the work of the professors who won AAAS fellowships. Joseph Lipsick, professor of pathology and genetics and Teresa Wang, the Klaus Bensch Professor in Experimental Pathology are mentioned. William Mobley, the John E. Cahill Family Professor in the School of Medicine is quoted.

Op-Ed: University's pandemic policy
This piece by Greg Boardman, vice provost for student affairs, discusses emergency preparedness for an influenza pandemic at Stanford and mentions the medical school.

Budget cuts endanger Med diversity
This article discusses the budget problems looming at the Center of Excellence in light of recent and impending federal budget cuts. Ron Garcia, assistand dean for minority affairs, Fernando Mendoza, principal investigator of Stanford's COE and associate dean for minority advising and programs, medical students Ricardo Paniagua, Bruno Chazaro and Kimberly Montez, co-president of the Latino Medical Student Association.

Palo Alto Online, 12/06/06
100+ room hotel due at Stanford Shopping Center
This article discusses a proposed expansion of Stanford Shopping Center, but the planned rebuild of Stanford Hospital is also mentioned. Packard is also part of the project. The week after a Dec. 11 study session, the city council will consider authorizing City Manager Frank Benest to negotiate with Stanford regarding the medical center project.

ABCNews, 12/05/06
Study: Anorexics, bulimics learn methods online
This Reuters article discusses a new Stanford/Packard study that found many teens with eating disorders visit Web sites promoting eating disorders, where they can learn new weight loss and purging methods. Rebecka Peebles, instructor in adolescent medicine and lead author, is quoted in this story, which also appears in the Turkish Daily News (Turkey) and on the web site of PC Magazine. A similar Health Day article, which quotes Rebecka Peebles, appears on the CBC (Canada) web site, drkoop.com and numerous TV stations around the country. Articles also appear on the web site of CBS News and WebMD.com.

Washington Post, 12/05/06
A shoe to prevent arthritis? Just do it
This article discusses a shoe manufactured by Nike for a Stanford study aimed at thwarting the onset of arthritis in the knee. Tom Andriacchi, professor of mechanical engineering and of orthopedic surgery, is quoted.

Fort Wayne News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.), 12/05/06
A potion of youth? Quest for perfect complexion brings glut of facial serums
Sunil Dhawan, an adjunct clinical assistant professor, provides comment on whether or not various skin care products live up to their claims.

Voice of America News, 12/05/06
Nobel prize science winners made important contributions to understanding of our world
This article discusses the upcoming presentations of this year's Nobel Prizes. Andrew Fire, professor of pathology and of genetics and 2006 Nobel laureate in Medicine, is quoted.

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Penn.), 12/05/06
Research points to new treatments for Alzheimer's
This article from the Palo Alto Daily News discusses how Stanford researchers have discovered a molecule that may hold the key to understanding and eventually treating Alzheimer's disease. Tony Wyss-Coray, associate professor of neurology and lead author, is quoted in this article.

San Francisco Chronicle, 12/05/06
State gets pushed to assist sciences
This article discusses how Northern California still hosts the world's largest cluster of life sciences companies, but its lead could erode if public officials fail to improve the state's business environment, according to an industry organization in a report being issued today. Stanford is mentioned as one of several bay area universities that are considered magnets for life sciences companies.

Associated Press, 12/05/06
Government scientist faces ethics charge
Federal prosecutors charged a leading government Alzheimer's researcher with engaging in a felony criminal conflict of interest by earning $285,000 in private consulting fees from a pharmaceutical giant. Stanford is not mentioned in this article, but it may be of interest to readers. This article also appeared in the Wall Street Journal.