The Gazette by The Johns Hopkins University

o ur 3 9 th ye ar

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Covering Homewood, East Baltimore, Peabody,

APL to test brain-controlled

Astronaut who serviced space

SAIS, APL and other campuses throughout the

modular prosthetic limb on a

telescope takes on new role as

Baltimore-Washington area and abroad, since 1971.

human subject, page 5

research professor, page 9

July 19, 2010

The newspaper of The Johns Hopkins University

R E L O C A T I O N

A R T S

A N D

Volume 39 No. 39 S C I E N C E S

Home again in Gilman Hall WILL KIRK / HOMEWOODPHOTO.JHU.EDU

Carey School heads to Harbor East B y P at r i c k E r c o l a n o

Carey Business School

ohns Hopkins’ business school will be in the moving business this week as it takes up residence at its new home on the waterfront at Harbor East. The Carey Business School, headquartered for much Faculty, staff of the past decade at the Downtown Center at of business Charles and Fayschool begin ette streets, will be moving equipment and supplies move to its later this week to new campus its new campus at 100 International Drive. Administrators, faculty members and staffers will show up for their first day of work at Harbor East on July 26. In early August, the members of the charter class of the Johns Hopkins Global MBA, the signature full-time program of the business school, will arrive at the new campus for orientation. A few weeks later, students in Carey’s part-time programs will begin classes at Harbor East. “We are delighted to be able to contribute to this vibrant part of the city and to do so in a facility that will provide a stimulating and nurturing learning experience for all our students,” said Yash Gupta, dean of the Carey Business School. The school will occupy a total of 80,000 square feet on four floors of the LEED-certified Legg Mason Building, including a Carey-branded entrance on the first floor. Most student activities will take place on the second floor. It includes 10 classrooms with state-of-the-art technology capable of video and audio recordings of sessions; a dozen rooms for group work on team projects, with large screens onto which students will be able to project images from their personal computers; a library; a help desk for IT support; a suite of offices for student organizations and activities; and a student lounge that Continued on page 14

Top left: Matthew Roller, professor and chair of the Classics Department, ponders placement of books in his new office. Top right: Vonnie Wild, senior administrative coordinator of Near Eastern Studies, unpacks the department’s boxes. Left: The refurbished Hutzler Reading Room awaits its first users.

Faculty, staff return to renovated building after two-plus-year absence By Greg Rienzi

The Gazette

f these Gilman walls could talk, they would have said, “Welcome home.” After more than two years away, the School of Arts and Sciences’ humanities faculty moved back into the extensively renovated Gilman Hall earlier this month. The building was re-populated from the top down, starting with the Department of German and Romance Languages and

Literatures and ending with the Writing Seminars and the English Department. A moving service relocated computers, furniture, filing cabinets, office machines and other items for the nearly 200 faculty, staff and graduate students over a nineday period. Eager to set up shop, dozens of Continued on page 5

R E S E A R C H

JHU hits $200 million mark in ARRA grants By Lisa De Nike

Homewood

he Johns Hopkins University has to date been awarded more than $200 million in National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation research grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the federal stimulus package.

In Brief

JHH: 20 years at No. 1; Talent Development National Conference; DNP accreditation

The 424 grants are financing investigations ranging from how the universe began to how men and women differ in their responses to the influenza virus to new strategies to prevent muscle loss caused by diseases such as muscular dystrophy. The grants also have underwritten the creation of 164 staff jobs, 32 of which are still open. “As one of the nation’s leading research institutions with more than $1.6 billion in annual research and development spending,

Calendar

Shakespeare, ‘Star Trek’ under the stars; research career workshop; Blackboard 9.1

Johns Hopkins has taken advantage of the unprecedented influx of funds available through ARRA,” said Scott Zeger, vice provost for research. “Our faculty, imbued with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, are using these funds to make groundbreaking discoveries and to stimulate the economies of Baltimore and the state of Maryland in the process.” Continued on page 4

14 Job Opportunities 14 Notices 15 Classifieds

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or the 20th year in a row, The Johns Hopkins Hospital has taken the top spot in U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of American hospitals, placing first in five medical specialties and in the top five in 10 others. Calling the two-decade record “astonishing,” the leadership of Johns Hopkins Medicine said the credit belongs to those who have demonstrated continuous commitment to excellence and improvement. “As much as we’ve become happily accustomed to saying so, it bears repeating that the credit for this honor belongs to Hopkins Hospital’s people—our wonderful nurses and staff; the School of Medicine’s faculty physicians, residents and fellows; and our many community physicians with whom we have close ties and on whom we greatly depend,” said a joint letter of congratulations from Edward D. Miller, dean of the School of Medicine and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Ronald R. Peterson, president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. JHH ranked in the top five in 15 of the 16 specialty categories listed. In addition to landing first in the list of best hospitals, the hospital ranked No. 1 in Ear, Nose and Throat, Gynecology, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Urology, and Rheumatology; No. 2 in Kidney Disorders, Ophthalmology and Psychiatry; No. 3 in Diabetes and Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, and Heart and Heart Surgery; No. 4 in Cancer and Pulmonology; No. 5 in Orthopedics; and No. 14 in Rehabilitation. The rankings and information about how they are put together are available at www .hopkinsmedicine.org/usnews and at www .usnews.com/besthospitals.

Talent Development National Conference set for Baltimore

ore than 150 educators from across the country will attend the Talent Development National Conference July 26 and 27 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The biennial conference showcases the work of the Talent Development Middle Grades and Talent Development High Schools wholeschool reform models. Robert Balfanz, Johns Hopkins University research scientist and co-director of the Talent Development programs, will present the keynote speech, “Building Pathways from Poverty to Post-Secondary Success … The Talent Development Way.” Through more than two dozen workshops, the conference will focus on research-based initiatives dedicated to ensuring that students stay on the path to high school graduation, and beyond. Talent Development began in 1994 as a partnership between the Center for Social Organization of Schools at Johns Hopkins and Patterson High School. This past year,

more than 115 schools in 15 states and the District of Columbia worked with the Talent Development programs. For more information, go to http://web .jhu.edu/CSOS/tdhs/conferences/index.html or contact Mary Maushard at mmaushard@ csos.jhu.edu or 410-516-8810.

School of Ed now hosts New Horizons website for educators

he School of Education is now hosting a website that provides educators with access to the latest research on effective teaching and learning practices. Since its inception in 1980, the mission of the New Horizons for Learning site has been to identify, communicate and help implement more effective ways of learning for classroom teachers. Johns Hopkins took over the operation earlier this year when NHFL founder Dee Dickinson announced her retirement. Dickinson, a former classroom teacher, developed the site to give visibility to effective teaching and learning practices that have not yet reached the mainstream. “Since NHFL seeks to provide a forum for educators and researchers to be equal partners in developing research questions, conducting classroom research and driving innovation in the classroom, our school was a good fit for the website,” said Linda Tsantis, an associate professor in the School of Education and a longtime NHFL board member. “The first step toward realizing this new vision has already been accomplished through the launch of our quarterly journal. As the editors, Dr. John Castellani, Jennifer Carinci and I are working with neuroscientists, datamining experts and education practitioners to expand the website and remain on the leading edge of providing the latest educational research for our audience of interdisciplinary professionals,” Tsantis said. “We look forward to facilitating conversations across the schools of Johns Hopkins to connect research with practice and highlight the innovative work of our faculty and students.”

School of Nursing receives DNP program accreditation

he Board of Commissioners for the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education has granted accreditation to the School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, extending through June 30, 2015. The accreditation is effective as of Oct. 19, 2009, which was the first day of the CCNE on-site evaluation of the school. The board determined that the program met all four accreditation standards and determined that there were no compliance concerns with respect to key elements. The practice-focused Doctor of Nursing Practice program prepares expert nurse clinicians, administrators and executive leaders to improve health and health care outcomes through evidence-based practice in diverse clinical, health care and academic settings.

Rosh Hashanah starts Sept. 8 Yom Kippur starts Sept. 17 For ticket information and our special offer for newcomers, email gazette@bethambaltimore.org or call 410.523.2446.

Editor Lois Perschetz Writer Greg Rienzi Production Lynna Bright Copy Editor Ann Stiller

Introducing Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg

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Contributing Writers Applied Physics Laboratory Michael Buckley, Paulette Campbell Bloomberg School of Public Health Tim Parsons, Natalie Wood-Wright Carey Business School Andrew Blumberg, Patrick Ercolano Homewood Lisa De Nike, Amy Lunday, Dennis O’Shea, Tracey A. Reeves, Phil Sneiderman Johns Hopkins Medicine Christen Brownlee, Stephanie Desmon, Neil A. Grauer, Audrey Huang, John Lazarou, David March, Katerina Pesheva, Vanessa Wasta, Maryalice Yakutchik Peabody Institute Richard Selden SAIS Felisa Neuringer Klubes School of Education James Campbell, Theresa Norton School of Nursing Kelly Brooks-Staub University Libraries and Museums Brian Shields, Heather Egan Stalfort

The Gazette is published weekly September through May and biweekly June through August for the Johns Hopkins University community by the Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs, Suite 540, 901 S. Bond St., Baltimore, MD 21231, in cooperation with all university divisions. Subscriptions are $26 per year. Deadline for calendar items, notices and classifieds (free to JHU faculty, staff and students) is noon Monday, one week prior to publication date. Phone: 443-287-9900 Fax: 443-287-9920 General e-mail: gazette@jhu.edu Classifieds e-mail: gazads@jhu.edu On the Web: gazette.jhu.edu Paid advertising, which does not represent any endorsement by the university, is handled by the Gazelle Group at 410343-3362 or gazellegrp@comcast.net.

July 19, 2010 • THE GAZETTE

G I F T

Rare 17th-century violin is new star of Peabody’s collection By Greg Rienzi

The Gazette

MATTHEW BORKOSKI

he Peabody Institute recently received a donation to its fine instrument collection that instantly becomes its finest. Karl Kostoff, 85, a former professional musician and longtime employee of the university’s Applied Physics Laboratory, has gifted to Peabody a rare Maggini violin crafted in 1620. Kostoff said that he wanted the instrument to be played and heard by current and future generations. The instrument will be cared for by Peabody’s Ensembles Office, which, among other responsibilities, provides instrument loans and rentals to ensemble participants, faculty and students for practice and performances. The 390-year-old Maggini violin joins a Peabody collection of a half-dozen fine string instruments that include a 1702 Rogeri Cremona, a 1680 Carlo Tononi and a 1640 Testore. An authentic Maggini is among the rarest of all violins. Giovanni Paolo Maggini did his violin making between 1590 and 1630, and it’s believed he learned his craft from Gasparo da Salo, dubbed the father of all fiddle makers. This particular instrument features double purfling and a graceful arabesque on the back, and is in exquisite condition. Kostoff purchased the Maggini some 40 years ago for $9,000, without knowing

Karl Kostoff at the presentation of the 1620 instrument that is now known at Peabody as the Kostoff Maggini.

its historical significance. The violin was recently appraised at $350,000. Kostoff has said that he always considered himself the caretaker of the Maggini, not its owner, and did not want it to go into a museum. Peabody Director Jeffrey Sharkey said that Peabody is extremely appreciative and excited about the gift. “Fine string instruments do well when someone loves them

O B I T U A R Y

Steven Baxter, former dean of the Peabody Conservatory, dies at 63

ensure it be preserved as a prime example of the rich heritage of violin making and as a living, playing instrument that is a part of a supervised collection,” he said. “His decision to gift it to the Peabody Institute will allow them to showcase the ‘Kostoff Maggini’ and its extraordinary sound in venues at home and abroad. It will be utilized only by students demonstrating the highest level of talent and faculty members who would concertize or record with the instrument.” The 1620 Kostoff Maggini has a rich history. The instrument, one of only 60 made by Maggini in his lifetime, was owned by the three most important collectors in violin history: Luigi Tarisio, JeanBaptiste Vuillaume and Hawley. Keng-Yuen Tseng, chair of Peabody’s Strings Department, first encountered the Maggini in April and couldn’t resist the temptation to play it. “This is a very special violin,” Tseng said. “In terms of sound, it has a darker quality, and with such an old age, it still has good power, which surprised me. It does not like to be pushed or pressed. One needs to possess great bowing techniques to do justice to this instrument. We were informed this could be a good chamber music instrument, but as soon as I started to play the violin, I knew it belongs on the concert stage.” Tseng will give a recital on the Maggini at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, in Peabody’s Goodwin Hall. The presentation of the violin took place on June 22 in the Sandy Spring Bank’s boardroom in Olney, Md. On hand were Sharkey, Kostoff and Ivan Stefanovic, a Peabody faculty member and assistant principal second violin for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

SMARTER LIVING

By Richard Selden

Peabody Institute

WILL KIRK / HOMEWOODPHOTO.JHU.EDU

teven Baxter, dean of the Peabody Conservatory from 1996 to 2002, died on July 5 from mesothelioma at the Gilchrist Hospice Center in Towson. The Cockeysville, Md., resident was 63. An oboist, Baxter came to Peabody in 1984, teaching in and coordinating the Music Education Department, then serving as assistant dean for academic affairs and, from 1994 to 1996, as acting dean. Among many accomplishments, he helped rebuild the Music Education Department, strengthen the wind instrument program and launch the bachelor’s degree in jazz studies. His various roles at Peabody, his colleagues said, prepared him to take on a challenge he initially judged to be “totally impractical”: the creation, from scratch, of Singapore’s national conservatory. Founded in 2001 through an agreement between the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University and the National University of Singapore, the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Peabody’s sister conservatory, opened its doors in 2003. Goh Yew Lin, Yong Siew Toh’s chairman, wrote in a remembrance of Baxter: “It was the clarity and strength of his vision, down to the last detail, that compelled us to follow his lead. Like Moses, he brought us along strange and sometimes risky paths towards the promised land.” Baxter was the director of Yong Siew Toh from 2002 to 2005, briefly returning to the position before the appointment of the current director, Bernard Lanskey. Peabody Institute Director Jeffrey Sharkey remembered a tour in 2006 of Yong Siew Toh’s magnificent new building at which Baxter seemed “almost like a proud parent.” “He told me, ‘You’re going to see a lot of Peabody in this building,’” recalled Sharkey, who worked closely with Baxter and

and someone plays them,” he said. “The Maggini will be the pinnacle of our string collection.” The donation includes an English bow from the workshop of W.E. Hill & Sons, appraised at $10,000, and the catalog of the Royal De Forest Hawley violin collection of which the Maggini was a part. After the death of Hawley, the collection was broken up, which is how Kostoff was able to obtain it without knowing its significance. Kostoff also made an estate pledge for a $50,000 fund for the maintenance of the Maggini violin. Kostoff joined APL in the mid-1950s and retired in 1988. He worked on the ground level of the Lab’s computer programming efforts, writing programs for early IBM computers that filled an entire room. He later worked on projects for Navy missile guidance systems. Kostoff played violin, and his pre-APL career included positions with both the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. At APL, he was rehearsal director of the brass ensemble and principal conductor at programs the group presented at APL’s annual company concert. He now lives in Leisure World of Maryland, a private agerestricted community located in Montgomery County. The Sandy Spring Bank assisted Kostoff with the transaction to Peabody. Sergio Oliver, the bank’s senior vice president and division manager, knew Kostoff well and conducted a search of several potential beneficiaries. Oliver told the Montgomery County Gazette newspaper that Kostoff made the final decision to donate it to the Peabody. “Karl’s desire is to have the violin entrusted to an organization that will

Steven Baxter at the fall 2007 signing of the second agreement between Peabody/JHU and Yong Siew Toh/ National University of Singapore.

Gayle Ackley, Peabody’s senior associate dean for finance and administration, on the creation of a second agreement between Peabody and Yong Siew Toh. “Steve was a brilliant thinker with a deep appreciation of Singapore’s role in Asia and a complete commitment to what has become a unique international partnership,” Sharkey said. A Michigan native, Baxter earned his bachelor of music degree from Western Michigan University and his master of music and doctor of musical arts degrees from the University of Kentucky. He is survived by a sister, Constance Jones of Kalamazoo, Mich., and two brothers, David Baxter of Tucson, Ariz., and Rod Baxter of Holt, Mich. The Peabody Symphony Orchestra concert scheduled for 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, in Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall will be dedicated to Baxter.

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4 THE GAZETTE • July 19, 2010

Ethical, scientific issues related to ‘post-market’ clinical trials By Michael Pena

Berman Institute of Bioethics

mid growing concerns about clinical trials for drugs that have been approved by the FDA but are later linked to serious health risks, an independent committee at the Institute of Medicine led by two professors from The Johns Hopkins University has developed a conceptual framework to guide the agency through the tough decision of ordering such controversial “post-market” drug-safety trials. The recommendations of the committee, requested by the Food and Drug Administration, lay out a set of considerations that the FDA can reference to ensure that clinical trials uphold ethical duties to trial participants. The committee also stresses that the agency be accountable to the public in its decision-making processes. Presented July 9 in a letter report to the FDA, the framework is organized around these recommendations:

ARRA Continued from page 1 The National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation received $12.4 billion as part of the stimulus act to award research grants between February 2009 and September 2010. Johns Hopkins scientists— including those at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Whiting School of Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Applied Physics Laboratory—have since then submitted almost 1,500 proposals for stimulus-funded projects. Among them are the following: • Cynda H. Rushton, associate professor at the School of Nursing, received $1 mil-

• The FDA should determine if questions about possible risks or the risk-benefit balance of a drug or vaccine already on the market are serious enough to justify a policy decision, such as whether to revise the product’s label. • A randomized, controlled trial of a drug linked to serious side effects should be conducted only when the existing scientific evidence and any evidence from new observational studies still do not supply the FDA with enough data to make responsible policy decisions. • The agency should use “regulatory-science” principles and practices that emphasize public accountability and transparency when determining the need for a policy decision—or the need for new knowledge to support a policy decision. • Post-marketing trials to assess the safety and efficacy of approved drugs should be properly designed so that they minimize risk to patients and monitor risks on an ongoing basis. Any risks should first be judged as “acceptable” by appropriate oversight bodies.

lion in stimulus funds to design and implement an initiative to build empathy and understanding among medical professionals who treat children with chronic health conditions. The initiative will develop and test innovative training methods that will include video documentaries of patients and families that are geared toward integrating palliative care into chronic pediatric diseases. • Charles L. Bennett, an astrophysicist at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, has won a $5 million National Science Foundation grant—administered through the stimulus act—to build an instrument designed to probe what happened during the universe’s first trillionth of a second, when it suddenly grew from submicroscopic to astronomical size in far less time than it takes to blink an eye. The instrument, which is expected to require five years to build, will

• Lastly, the FDA and relevant oversight agencies should ensure that such trials have in place an informed-consent process that is comprehensive and meaningful, and continues over the course of the trials. Specifically, participants should be promptly advised of developments such as new research findings or changes in clinical practice that could affect their willingness to continue to accept the risks associated with a trial. “The letter report was designed to provide general, broad guidance about some of the ethical issues that need to be taken into account by the FDA in requiring post-market safety studies,” said committee co-chair Ruth Faden, director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. The other co-chair is Steven Goodman, a professor of oncology in the Division of Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and also a core member of the Berman Institute faculty. Goodman is editor-in-chief of Clinical Trials: Journal of the Society for Clinical Trials and serves on the society’s board of directors.

“The post-marketing context poses more difficult ethical and design challenges than we could address in this letter report,” said Faden, a member of the Institute of Medicine. “We plan to take on these challenges in more detail in our full report.” The more immediate report responds to one of several questions that the FDA asked the Institute of Medicine to explore in a review of ethical and scientific issues related to studying the safety of drugs on the market. The agency requested an initial report on the ethical issues in advance of a meeting it held July 13 and 14 to discuss the case of the diabetes drug Avandia. The report covers some of the issues at play in the case but does not address the specific controversies surrounding a large-scale clinical trial launched by the drug’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline. A more detailed analysis of the issues discussed in the report, as well as their implications and effects, will be presented in the committee’s final report, which is expected in spring 2011.

have the capability to measure the “cosmic microwave background radiation” over large swaths of the sky. • Jin U. Kang, an electrical engineer at the Whiting School of Engineering, is using $450,000 in stimulus package money to build a tool to help brain surgeons locate and get a clear look at cancerous tissue. In some cases, Kang says, this device could

eliminate the need to cut into the brain for a traditional biopsy, a procedure that can pose risks to the patient. • Jeffrey Rothstein, a neurologist at the School of Medicine, was awarded a two-year, $3.7 million stimulus grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the biology and chemistry involved in the development and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Rothstein’s team will use stem cells developed in a laboratory from skin cell samples taken from 20 ALS patients and five control subjects in order to test drugs that may intervene in the disease process. The team says it hopes that at the end of the two-year study, the cells generated will be available nationwide to other researchers. Johns Hopkins has been the leading U.S. academic institution in total research and development spending for 30 years in a row. G

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July 19, 2010 • THE GAZETTE

T E C H N O L O G Y

APL gets funding to test thought-controlled prosthetic limb B y P a u l e t t e C a m pb e l l

Applied Physics Laboratory

applied physics laboratory

he Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded a contract for up to $34.5 million to the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to manage the development and testing of the Modular Prosthetic Limb, or MPL, on a human subject, using a brain-controlled interface. APL scientists and engineers developed the underlying technology under DARPA’s Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2009 program, an ambitious four-year effort to create a prosthetic arm that would by far eclipse the World War II era hook-and-cable device used by most amputees. The program has already produced two complex prototypes, each advancing the art of upper-arm prosthetics. The final design—the MPL—offers 22 degrees of motion, including independent movement of each finger, in a package that weighs about nine pounds, the weight of a natural limb. Providing nearly as much dexterity as a natural limb, the MPL is capable of unprecedented mechanical agility, and is designed to respond to a user’s thoughts. “We’ve developed the enabling technologies to create upper extremity prosthetics that are more natural in appearance and use, a truly revolutionary advancement in prosthetics,” said APL’s Michael McLoughlin,

This final prototype of the Modular Prosthetic Limb, successfully demonstrated to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in December 2009, offers 22 degrees of motion, including independent movement of each finger.

the program manager. “Now, in Phase 3, we are ready to test it with humans to demonstrate that the system can be operated with a patient’s thoughts, and that it can provide that patient with sensory feedback, restoring the sensation of touch. The team will develop implantable microarrays used to record brain signals and stimulate the brain. It also will conduct experiments and clinical trials to demonstrate the ability to use implantable neural interfaces

safely and effectively to control a prosthesis, and optimize arm control and sensory feedback algorithms that enable dexterous manipulation through the use of a neuroprosthetic limb. McLoughlin said that APL will be working closely on the project with the University of Pittsburgh and the California Institute of Technology, for their experience in brain computer interfaces; the University of Chicago, for its expertise in sensory perception; the University of Utah, for its capabilities in developing implantable devices suitable for interfacing with the human brain; and HDT Engineered Technologies, for its skill in building prosthetic limb systems. Both Pittsburgh and Caltech have conducted research using chips with hairlike electrodes to record neurological signatures in the brain. Last year, in an independent effort, Pittsburgh showed that a pair of macaque monkeys with tiny chips implanted in their brains could operate a robotic arm just by thinking about it. Wires carried the signals through the skull, and then computer software converted these signals into robotic arm movements. Within the year, the APL-led team will initiate testing with a high spinal cord injury patient. “Initially, we have targeted the quadriplegic patient population because they have the most to gain,” McLoughlin explained. “Unlike most amputee patients who have other options in terms of care and independence, these patients are totally dependent on others for most things. There is no alter-

O B I T U A R Y

JHSPH affiliate Stephen Okiria killed in Ugandan bomb attack B y N ata l i e W o o d - W r i g h t

Bloomberg School of Public Health

tephen Okiria, 43, was killed in one of the bomb attacks in Kampala, Uganda, on the night of July 11. As a finance manager for the Center for Communication Programs’ AFFORDhealth marketing initiative, Okiria was participating at the time of the bombing in a product-promotion event with several colleagues from CCP and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A Ugandan native, Okiria obtained a bachelor of commerce degree and an MBA from Makerere University in Kampala. Colleagues described him as a gra-

Gilman Continued from page 1 faculty arrived during the move to unpack books, fill desk drawers and tack up personal mementos. Wilda Anderson, a professor of French literature, was one of the first back. By late Thursday, July 8, Anderson’s bookshelves were nearly filled with works from Sherlock Holmes to contemporary science fiction. Anderson described the building as “beautiful” and was happy to have a Gilman office again. She and most other faculty had been relocated during the renovation to Dell House, a university-owned high-rise on the corner of North Charles and 29th streets. Matthew Roller, chair of the Classics Department, said he hardly recognized Gilman Hall.

cious and dedicated professional, whose last act was to seek to improve the health of others. In addition to his work with CCP, he was actively involved with a number of civic organizations to better his community. In addition to his wife, Sara Okiria Kooli, Okiria leaves behind six children, ages 3 to 17. A fund has been established for his family, and gifts can be sent to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Office of External Affairs, 615 N. Wolfe St., Suite E2132, Baltimore, MD 21205. Checks should be made out to Johns Hopkins University, with the notation “Stephen Okiria Family Fund” in the memo section of the check. To give online, go to www .jhsph.edu/stephenokiria.

“In a sense, it’s quite disorienting,” Roller said. “There are new rooms, new spaces. The whole interior is so utterly transformed. It’s lovely, and it really is like a completely new building.” Roller has a corner office on the 100-level floor. He said he enjoys his new space but quickly realized he would not have nearly enough books to fill the steel bookshelves that reached to the high ceiling. “In my old office, I had extensive oak bookcases that were filled with books that belonged to the department, many useless ones left behind by professors,” he said. “I never really had space for my own books. It’s liberating to have this blank space, but it’s going to be a challenge to make use of those higher shelves. We’re all puzzling over that [laughs].” Roller and others said they look forward to all the faculty returning from summer vacations so that the department members will all be together again. G

native. Their lives will be truly transformed by this advancement.” Over the next two years, the team hopes to test the systems and neural interface technology in five patients. Whereas Pittsburgh and Caltech are exploring innovative ways to record information from the brain, the University of Chicago’s research will focus on closing the loop by stimulating the brain to sense pressure and touch. “The goal is to enable the user to more effectively control movements to perform everyday tasks, such as picking up and holding a cup of coffee,” McLoughlin said. The University of Utah, along with the Salt Lake City–based Blackrock Microsystems, is researching and developing advanced electrode technology for brain signal recording and stimulation. Innovative electrode designs are the enabling technology that will provide the means to control the prosthetic arm through the patient’s thoughts. Finally, the Solon, Ohio–based HDT Engineered Technologies, which designed and manufactured major components of the current MPL, will enhance its capabilities and provide the limb system hardware required for this effort. “The results of this program will help upper limb amputees and spinal cord injury patients, as well as others who have lost the ability to use their natural limbs, to have as normal a life as possible despite severe injuries or degenerative neurological disease,” McLoughlin said.

A P P O I N T M E N T

Steven David named vice dean for undergraduate education

teven David, a political science professor who serves as vice dean for centers and programs in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, has been named vice dean for undergraduate education there effective Aug. 1. In this position, David will emphasize new programs of undergraduate research and develop new mechanisms for increasing faculty-student interaction, enhancing every aspect of the undergraduate experience at the Krieger School, according to Katherine S. Newman, who will assume the James B. Knapp Deanship of the Krieger School on Sept. 1. “I am delighted that Steven, a highly regarded scholar whose teaching skills and advocacy for students are legendary, has agreed to serve in this role,” Newman said last week in a letter announcing the appointment to Krieger School faculty, staff and students. “[He] is the perfect professor for this position.” The appointment comes in the wake of the announcement that Paula Burger, dean of undergraduate education and vice provost, will retire at the end of the summer after a 17-year career at Johns Hopkins. Burger’s student life/student affairs and academic responsibilities will be split between Sarah Steinberg, senior associate dean of the Krieger School, who will serve as interim vice provost for student affairs; and David, as vice dean for undergraduate education. As vice dean, Newman said, David will collaborate with department chairs to ensure

that the most accomplished students have the chance to complete honors theses, and he will find and forge new opportunities for students to conduct research. He also will help create a freshman seminar program and administer the Dean’s Teaching Fellowship program, which plays an integral role in providing engaging courses for undergraduates, as well as opportunities for graduate students to improve their teaching skills. In addition, David will translate into action the ideas for undergraduate education that faculty propose during a strategic planning initiative set to launch this fall. Newman says that this work “will come naturally to Steven,” who has been a faculty member in the Department of Political Science since 1981 and a member of the School of Arts and Sciences’ leadership team since 1998. David previously served as associate dean for academic affairs and as department chair, and has directed the Woodrow Wilson Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program for the last 12 years. An expert in international relations with a focus on security studies and the developing world, David earned his bachelor’s degree from Union College, his master’s from Stanford University and his doctorate from Harvard University. Noting that David is a “much-beloved and award-winning teacher” who did not want to give up teaching, Newman said that he will continue his classroom work while serving in his new position, which is halftime.

Need extra copies of ‘The Gazette’? A limited number of extra copies of The Gazette are available each week in the Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs, Suite 540, 901 South Bond St., in Fells Point. Those who know they will need a large number of newspapers are asked to order them at least a week in advance of publication by calling 443-287-9900.

6 THE GAZETTE • July 19, 2010

Researchers rate effectiveness of early childhood ed programs By Beth Buckheit

School of Education

arly childhood education programs can have an important impact on increasing the school readiness of young children, but some programs have stronger evidence of effectiveness than others, according to a comprehensive research review by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Research and Reform in Education. The purpose of the review was to examine the research on various early childhood education programs and identify those programs that are most likely to make a difference in children’s achievement. The scope of the review includes all types of programs that child care center directors, Head Start directors and principals might consider adopting

to prepare their children for success in elementary school and beyond. “In recent years, many early childhood education programs have been developed and evaluated for evidence of effectiveness,” said Bette Chambers, a professor at Johns Hopkins and the lead researcher for the review. “Our goal was to synthesize the findings from these evaluations so educators and policymakers can know which programs are ready to be implemented at scale.” To begin the review process, Chambers and her research team conducted an exhaustive search to locate all studies that have compared alternative approaches to early childhood education from 1960 to the present. A total of 40 studies evaluating 28 different programs met the team’s research standards and were included in the review. After a comprehensive analysis of each study’s findings, the research team rated the

early childhood education programs on a scale ranging from insufficient evidence of effectiveness to strong evidence of effectiveness. Of the 28 programs included in the review, 11 received high ratings, with six programs showing strong evidence of effectiveness and five showing moderate evidence of effectiveness. The remaining programs received either a limited or insufficient evidence of effectiveness rating. Consistent with the common-sense expectation that children learn what they are taught, the programs that focused on mathematics instruction were generally found to improve mathematics achievement, and the programs that focused on literacy and phonological awareness generally increased those skills. These findings could simply indicate that teaching preschool children skills ordinarily emphasized in kindergarten or later produces immediate effects on those skills.

However, several programs showed positive effects continuing to the end of kindergarten and beyond, suggesting that the preschool experience has impacts not limited to early exposure of academic content. In addition, longitudinal studies have found that compared to no preschool attendance, early childhood education programs can have positive long-term impacts. “Ideally, more longitudinal studies that compare different preschool programs will be conducted to determine the long-term impacts of current programs,” Chambers said. “In the meantime, our review identified several promising approaches that could be used today to help children begin elementary school ready to succeed.” The full research review, including program ratings, is available on Johns Hopkins University’s Best Evidence Encyclopedia website at www.bestevidence.org/early_childhood.htm.

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July 19, 2010 • THE GAZETTE

Pinpoint precision: Delivering a biochemical payload to one cell By Mary Spiro

Institute for NanoBioTechnology

magine being able to drop a toothpick on the head of one particular person standing among 100,000 people in a stadium. It sounds impossible, yet this degree of precision at the cellular level has been demonstrated by researchers affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University Institute for NanoBioTechnology. Their study was published online in June in Nature Nanotechnology. The team used precise electrical fields as “tweezers” to guide and place gold nanowires, each about one-200th the size of a cell, on predetermined spots, each on a single cell. Molecules coating the surfaces of the nanowires then triggered a biochemical cascade of actions only in the cell where the wire touched, without affecting other cells nearby. The researchers say that this technique could lead to better ways of studying individual cells or even cell parts, and eventually could produce novel methods of delivering medication. Indeed, the techniques not relying on this new nanowire-based technology either are not very precise, leading to stimulation of multiple cells, or require complex biochemical alterations of the cells. With the new technique, the researchers can, for instance, target cells that have cancer properties (higher cell division rate or abnormal morphology) while sparing their healthy neighbors. “One of the biggest challenges in cell biology is the ability to manipulate the cell environment in as precise a way as possible,” said principal investigator Andre Levchenko, an associate professor of biomedical engineering in Johns Hopkins’ Whiting School of Engineering. In previous studies, Levchenko has used lab-on-a-chip or microfluidic devices to manipulate cell behavior. But, he said,

lab-on-a-chip methods are not as precise as researchers would like them to be. “In microfluidic chips, if you alter the cell environment, it affects all the cells at the same time,” he said. Such is not the case with the gold nanowires, which are metallic cylinders a few hundred nanometers or smaller in diameter. Just as the unsuspecting sports spectator would feel only a light touch from a toothpick being dropped on the head, the cell reacts only to the molecules released from the nanowire in one very precise place where the wire touches the cell’s surface. With contributions from Chia-Ling Chien, a professor of physics and astronomy in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins, and Robert Cammarata, a professor of materials science and engineering in the Whiting School, the team developed nanowires coated with a molecule called tumor necrosis factoralpha, or TNF-alpha, a substance released by pathogen-gobbling macrophages, commonly called white blood cells. Under certain cellular conditions, the presence of TNF-alpha triggers cells to switch on genes that help fight infection, but TNF-alpha also is capable of blocking tumor growth and halting viral replication. Exposure to too much TNF-alpha, however, causes an organism to go into a potentially lethal state called septic shock, Levchenko said. Fortunately, TNF-alpha stays put once it is released from the wire to the cell surface, and because the effect of TNF-alpha is localized, the tiny bit delivered by the wire is enough to trigger the desired cellular response. Much the same thing happens when TNF-alpha is excreted by a white blood cell. Additionally, the coating of TNF-alpha gives the nanowire a negative charge, making the wire easier to maneuver via the two perpendicular electrical fields of the

“tweezer” device, a technique developed by Donglei Fan as part of her Johns Hopkins doctoral research in materials science and engineering. “The electric tweezers were initially developed to assemble, transport and rotate nanowires in solution,” Cammarata said. “Donglei then showed how to use the tweezers to produce patterned nanowire arrays as well as

Related websites Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnolgy:

http://inbt.jhu.edu

Department of Materials Science and Engineering:

http://materials.jhu.edu

Department of Biomedical Engineering:

www.bme.jhu.edu

construct nanomotors and nano-oscillators. This new work with Dr. Levchenko’s group demonstrates just how extremely versatile a technique it is.” To test the system, the team cultured cervical cancer cells in a dish; then, using electrical fields perpendicular to one another, they were able to zap the nanowires into a preset spot and plop them down in a precise location. “In this way, we can predetermine the path that the wires will travel and deliver a molecular payload to a single cell among many, and even to a specific part of the cell,” Levchenko said. During the course of this study, the team also established that the desired effect generated by the nanowire-delivered TNF-alpha was similar to that experienced by a cell in a living organism.

The team members said they envision many possibilities for this method of subcellular molecule delivery. “For example, there are many other ways to trigger the release of the molecule from the wires: photo release, chemical release, temperature release. Furthermore, one could attach many molecules to the nanowires at the same time,” Levchenko said. He added that the nanowires can be made much smaller, but said that for this study the wires were made large enough to be seen with optical microscopy. Ultimately, Levchenko said he sees the nanowires becoming a useful tool for basic research. “With these wires, we are trying to mimic the way that cells talk to each other,” he said. “They could be a wonderful tool that could be used in fundamental or applied research.” Drug delivery applications could be much further off. However, Levchenko said, “if the wires retain their negative charge, electrical fields could be used to manipulate and maneuver their position in the living tissue.” The lead authors for this Nature Nanotechnology article were Fan, a former postdoctoral fellow in the departments of Materials Science and Engineering, and Physics and Astronomy; and Zhizhong Yin, a former postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. In addition to Chien, Levchenko and Cammarata, coauthors were Raymond Cheong, a doctoral student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering; and Frank Q. Zhu, a former doctoral student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Chien led the group that developed the electric tweezers technique and collaborated with Levchenko on its biological applications. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

Pediatric clinical studies appear prone to bias, review shows B y K at e r i n a P e s h e va

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Johns Hopkins review of nearly 150 randomized controlled trials on children, all published in well-regarded medical journals, reveals that 40 percent to 60 percent of the studies either failed to take steps to minimize risk for bias or at least to properly describe those measures. A report of the team’s findings in the August issue of Pediatrics shows that experimental trials sponsored by pharmaceutical or medical-device makers, along with studies that are not registered in a public-access database, had higher risk for bias, as did trials that evaluate the effects of behavioral therapies rather than medication. “There are thousands of pediatric trials going on in the world right now and, given the risk that comes from distorted findings, we must ensure vigilance in how these studies are designed, conducted and judged,” said lead investigator Michael Crocetti, a pediatrician at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. “Our review is intended as a step in that direction.” Considered the gold standard of medical research, double-blind randomized controlled trials are designed to rule out or account for actual or potential bias. Results of such studies, when peer-reviewed and published in reputable medical journals, can influence the practice of medicine and patient care. A poorly designed or executed trial can therefore lead researchers to erroneous conclusions

about the effectiveness of a drug or a procedure. Citing the degree of bias risk in the studies they reviewed, the researchers caution pediatricians to be critical readers of studies, even in highly respected journals. The investigators advise that when reading a report on a trial, pediatricians should not merely look at the bottom line but ask two essential questions: “How did the researchers reach the conclusion?” and “Was their analysis unbiased?” Doctors, they say, should apply “smell tests,” common sense and skeptical judgment about whether the conclusions fit the data, especially when a study boasts dramatic effects or drastic improvement. Crocetti and colleagues used the Cochrane Collaboration tool, which assesses risk for bias along six critical aspects, including randomization—randomly assigning patients to different treatments—and masking—the degree to which neither the patient nor the doctor knows which group of patients is receiving an active drug or intervention versus a placebo. Investigators say that by analyzing each clinical trial along these and four other dimensions, the Cochrane Collaboration can answer what are perhaps the most important questions in medical research: “How strong is the causal relationship between the therapy and the effect?” and “How valid are the conclusions made about the effect of the therapy?” Overall, 41 percent of the 146 trials in the review had improper or poorly described randomization techniques. Industry-funded trials were six times more likely to have high risk for biased randomization than trials funded by the government or nonprofit

organizations. And past research, the investigators point out, has shown that industryfunded trials are four to five times more likely to recommend an experimental drug. “Industry funding is an important driver of medical discovery, but it is critical for investigators involved in such trials to ensure not only that the studies are conceived and executed cautiously with minimum risk for bias but that any precautions taken against bias are also reported transparently,” Crocetti said. Trial registration—and the transparency commitment it reflects—is a key step in reducing bias or its influence, the researchers say. In their evaluation, registered trials were nearly 70 percent more likely to have robust randomization than nonregistered trials, probably because the registration process itself forces researchers to answer many questions related to trial design and execution. Therefore, the investigators say, registering pediatric trials in the public domain will not only increase transparency but in the long run, improve the validity of their results. In 2005, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors called for registering all medical trials involving human subjects with www.ClinicalTrials.gov, a massive public repository of more than 70,000 trials from all over the world. However, fewer than 60 percent of the pediatric trials in the review were registered there. The researchers also found that most of the trials (57 percent) either failed to use proper techniques that ensure anonymity or “blinding” to the type of treatment a patient gets, or failed to clearly describe these techniques. The technique, called allocation concealment, ensures that neither the researcher nor the patient can guess which treatment

they will get. The method also helps ensure that the treatment of one subject will not reveal to either scientists or the patients clues about the treatment of the next subject. Trials involving behavioral therapies were four times more likely to have this problem. Overall, nearly 20 percent of the trials used improper masking techniques to ensure that neither the patient nor the researchers knew which treatment went to which patient. The 146 trials in the review appeared between 2007 and 2008 in the five leading pediatric journals, Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Journal of Pediatrics, Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the three highest-ranked general medical journals, JAMA, The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet. Co-investigators on the research were Roberta Scherer and Diane Amin, both of Johns Hopkins.

Related websites Johns Hopkins Children’s Center:

www.hopkinschildrens.org

www.hopkinschildrens.org/ staffDetail.aspx?id=3194

www.pediatrics.org

Michael Crocetti:

‘Pediatrics’:

8 THE GAZETTE â&#x20AC;˘ July 19, 2010

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July 19, 2010 • THE GAZETTE

A P P O I N T M E N T

‘Hubble repairman’ now a Johns Hopkins research professor By Lisa De Nike

Homewood

WILL KIRK / HOMEWOODPHOTO.JHU.EDU

ASA astronaut John Grunsfeld has walked in space eight times and logged more than 800 hours floating in that deep, dark void over the course of five space flights, including three to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Now, he is about to explore a new frontier: The Johns Hopkins University. On July 1, the man nicknamed “the Hubble repairman” became a research professor in the Henry A. Rowland Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. While at Johns Hopkins, Grunsfeld, who is deputy director at the nearby Space Telescope Science Institute, will continue his research in astrophysics and the development of new technology and systems for space astronomy. “Johns Hopkins University and the Department of Physics and Astronomy have a rich heritage of research at the forefront of experimental astrophysics, including the Hubble Space Telescope. I’m thrilled to be joining the university community and look forward to contributing to the research mission and to participating in the exciting interdisciplinary efforts at Johns Hopkins. With the great team at Johns Hopkins, not even the sky is the limit,” Grunsfeld said. Astrophysicists at Johns Hopkins have been involved with the Hubble Space Telescope since its launch in 1990. Researchers here are part of the science and engineering team for the Advanced Camera for Surveys, which was installed in the Hubble during the Columbia mission in 2002, and researchers at both the Krieger School and APL use data gathered by the instrument. The Space Telescope Science Institute, which serves as space operations headquarters for the Hubble, is located on Johns Hopkins’ Homewood campus, and there is a long history of collaboration between researchers there and at the Krieger School. Daniel Reich, chair of Physics and Astronomy, said he is “thrilled” to have Grunsfeld join the Johns Hopkins team and that the former astronaut is already involved in collaborations with faculty members on highenergy astrophysics projects. “Dr. Grunsfeld’s expertise with space flight will be a great asset as we seek to compete for new space-based astrophysics missions in the

After more than 800 hours of floating in space, former NASA astronaut John Grunsfeld settles down in the Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy.

near future,” Reich said. “Of equal importance to us is his potential impact on Johns Hopkins’ educational mission. Dr. Grunsfeld has done extensive work for NASA in the area of science education for the general public, and he is an extraordinarily engaging public speaker. He gave a fantastic guest lecture this spring in one of our undergraduate classes, and we are very excited about finding additional opportunities for him to engage with our students.” Considered one of the top space scientists in the nation, Grunsfeld is known as much for his colorful personality as he is for his work in space. The grandson of the man who designed Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, Ernest Grunsfeld Jr., the Windy City native decided at age 6 that he wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up. While studying for his bachelor’s in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Grunsfeld earned $4 an hour and dreamed of going into space while working the graveyard shift in the control room of the Third Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-3), which was designed and built at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

After earning his master’s in physics at the University of Chicago, he traveled to Japan, where he worked with University of Tokyo astronomer Minoru Oda. He later returned to the University of Chicago to earn his doctorate in physics, married and took a position at the California Institute of Technology. In 1992, Grunsfeld received training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, qualifying as a mission specialist. His dream of going into space came true when he was chosen for the space shuttle Endeavour, which launched March 2, 1995, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the 399-hour mission, Grunsfeld and the crew used three ultraviolet telescopes to study the far ultraviolet spectra of faint astronomical objects and the polarization of ultraviolet light coming from hot stars and distant galaxies. Two years later, in January 1997, Grunsfeld served as flight engineer for the 10-day space shuttle Atlantis mission, which was the fifth ever to dock at Russia’s Mir Space Station. During that mission, more than three tons of food, water, equipment and supplies were

moved back and forth between the two spacecraft. While on board the Atlantis, Grunsfeld amused NPR listeners by calling in to the popular car repair show Car Talk, hosted by Tom and Ray Magliozzi. While a student at MIT, he had taken his 1966 Sunbeam Alpine to the celebrity mechanics for repairs, and during the space flight seemed an ideal time to reconnect. What followed were three missions to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, including the shuttle Discovery in 1999, the Columbia in 2002 and, finally, Atlantis again in May 2009. For that mission, Grunsfeld was the lead mission specialist and headed the planning for all the spacewalks involved in the spectacularly successful repairs and upgrades carried out during that trip. Grunsfeld installed two new instruments—the Wide Field Camera 3 and the Cosmic Origins Spectograph—on the Hubble, and helped replace a guidance sensor, six new gyroscopes and two battery unit modules, all aimed at allowing the telescope to continue to function until 2014. “John has the enviable experience of being one of the few humans ever to bring the Hubble Space Telescope to the apex of its scientific capability. We are indebted to him for his perseverance, skill and unswerving dedication in helping us usher in a bold new decade of exciting astronomical discoveries,” said Matt Mountain, director of the Space Telescope Science Institute. In addition to his adventures in space, in 2003 and 2004 Grunsfeld served as the NASA chief scientist at NASA Headquarters, where he helped develop the President’s Vision for Space Exploration. Grunsfeld’s adventuring has not been limited to outer space. In 2002, the Hubble repairman and NASA consultant Howard Donner, a physician, tackled North America’s highest peak—Mount McKinley—as part of a study on how altitude affects body temperature. The research required the men to swallow pill-sized thermometers (invented by researchers at Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Laboratory and NASA), which measured their temperature during the trek. The pair, whose efforts were featured in a PBS NOVA episode titled “Deadly Ascent,” reached 17,200 feet before having to turn back due to altitude sickness. Disappointed but undaunted, two years later Grunsfeld became the only American astronaut to reach the summit of Mount McKinley, leading a team of other NASA explorers.

Blind mice can ‘see’ thanks to special retinal cells, study finds By Lisa De Nike

Homewood

t would make the perfect question for the popular television show Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? What parts of the eye allow us to see? The conventional wisdom: rods and cones. The human retina contains about 120 million rods, which detect light and darkness, shape and movement, and about 7 million cones, which, in addition, detect color. Without them, or so we are taught, our eyesight simply would not exist. But that might not be true, according to a study—published July 15 in the journal Neuron—that provides new hope to people who have severe vision impairments or who are blind. A team led by biologist Samer Hattar of The Johns Hopkins University’s Krieger School of Arts and Sciences found that mice that didn’t have any functioning rods and cones could still see—and not just light but also patterns and images— courtesy of special photosensitive cells in the rodents’ retinas. Until now, it was presumed that those cells, called intrinsi-

cally photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, or ipRGCs, didn’t play a role in image formation but instead served other functions, such as dictating when the animals went to sleep or woke up. (All mammals, including humans, have ipRGCs, as well as rods and cones.) “Up until now, it was assumed that rods and cones were the only cells capable of detecting light to allow us to form images,” said Hattar, who, as an assistant professor in the Department of Biology, studies mammals’ sleep-wake cycles, also called circadian rhythms. “But our study shows that even mice which were blind could form low-acuity yet measurable images using ipRGCs. The exciting thing is that, in theory at least, this means that a blind person could be trained to use his or her ipRGCs to perform simple tasks that require low visual acuity.” “Visual acuity” refers to the sharpness or clarity of a person’s (or animal’s) vision. Someone with so-called 20/20 vision can see clearly at a distance of 20 feet what the average human being can see at that distance. In contrast, a person with 20/100 vision would have to stand 20 feet away from, for instance, an eye chart that the

average person could read from 100 feet away. People with very low visual acuity (worse than 20/100 with corrective lenses) are considered legally blind. In addition to providing hope for people with serious vision problems, Hattar’s findings hint that mammals in the past may have used their ipRGCs for sight/image formation but that, during the course of evolution, that function was somehow taken over by rods and cones. The study also concludes that far from being homogenous, ipRGCs come in five different subtypes, with the possibility that each may have different light-detecting physiological functions. To conduct the study, the team used a special system to genetically label cells and then “trace” them to the rodents’ brains before subjecting the mice to a number of vision tests. In one, mice followed the movements of a rotating drum, a test that assessed the animals’ ability to track moving objects. In another, the rodents were placed within a Y-shaped maze and challenged to escape by selecting the lever that would let them out. That lever was associated with a certain visual pattern. The mice that were blind—they lacked rods, cones and

ipRGCs—couldn’t find that lever, but those with only ipRGCs could. “These studies are extremely exciting to me because they show that even a simple light-detecting system like ipRGCs has incredible diversity and may support lowacuity vision, allowing us to peer into evolution to understand how simple vision may have originally evolved before the introduction of the fancy photoreceptor rods and cones,” Hattar said. Hattar’s team worked on this study in collaboration with groups led by David Berson of Brown University and Glen Prusky of Weill Cornell Medical College. It was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Related websites Samer Hattar:

www.bio.jhu.edu/Faculty/Hattar/ Default.html

http://neuroscience.jhu.edu/ SamerHattar.php

10 THE GAZETTE • July 19, 2010

Messenger’s third flyby reveals new information about Mercury By Michael Buckley

Applied Physics Laboratory

nalysis of data from Messenger’s third and final flyby of Mercury in September 2009 has revealed the first observations of emission from an ionized species in Mercury’s exosphere, new information about magnetic substorms and evidence of younger volcanism on the innermost planet than previously recognized. The results are reported in three papers published online July 15 in the Science Express section of the website of Science magazine. Mercury’s exosphere is a tenuous atmosphere of atoms and ions derived from the planet’s surface and from the solar wind. Observations of the exosphere provide a window into the extensive interactions between Mercury’s surface and its space environment. The insights such observations provide into surface composition, transport of material about the planet and loss of material to interplanetary space improve our under-

standing not only of the current state of Mercury but also of its evolution. The spacecraft’s observations of Mercury’s exosphere indicate remarkably different spatial distributions among the neutral and ionized elements in the exosphere. The third flyby produced the first detailed altitude profiles of exospheric species over the north and south poles of the planet. “These profiles showed considerable variability among the sodium, calcium and magnesium distributions, indicating that several processes are at work and that a given process may affect each element quite differently,” said Messenger participating scientist and lead author Ron Vervack, of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Differences in the distributions of sodium, calcium and magnesium were also observed anti-sunward of the planet. “A striking feature in the near-planet tailward region is the emission from neutral calcium atoms, which exhibits an equatorial peak in the dawn direction that has been consistent

JHU researchers join oil spill team By Phil Sneiderman

Homewood

ohns Hopkins researchers have joined a multi-institution team that hopes to determine how the Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico oil spill may affect a sensitive aquatic environment off the coast of Florida. Team members have begun collecting samples of water, sediment, marine animals and plant life in the Sarasota Bay region, which has not yet been impacted by the massive oil spill. As the oil spreads, however, it may enter the Sarasota Bay ecosystem. The baseline data being collected is expected to give the researchers a way to measure any changes to the aquatic environment if oil does move into the region. The research effort is being led by the National Aquarium, in collaboration with the Sarasota-based Mote Marine Laboratory and Johns Hopkins’ Center for Contaminant Transport, Fate and Remediation. This center, directed by Edward Bouwer, chair of the Depart-

ment of Geography and Environmental Engineering in Johns Hopkins’ Whiting School of Engineering, includes researchers from the Whiting School and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The center’s role will be to use data gathered in Sarasota Bay to develop mathematical models to shed light on how contaminants in oil move through the food chain and accumulate in marine plant and animal tissues. These models also may help determine how humans could be affected by contaminated seafood. “This study is allowing us to be proactive by conducting a before-and-after comparison of the sediment, water and biota in the Sarasota Bay to more accurately determine the lasting ecological effects from the oil spill,” Bouwer said. “The data analysis and model development will give us a predictive tool to assess the impact of the oil at other locations.” The research project is being funded primarily by the National Aquarium Institute, with additional support from Johns Hopkins.

in both location and intensity through all three flybys,” Vervack said. “The exosphere of Mercury is highly variable owing to Mercury’s eccentric orbit and the effects of a constantly changing space environment. That this observed calcium distribution has remained relatively unchanged is a complete surprise.” Prominent among the discoveries during the third flyby were the first observations of emission from ionized calcium in Mercury’s exosphere. “The emission was concentrated over a relatively small area one to two MerResults of cury radii anti-sunward of the planet with most latest data of the emission occuranalysis are ring close to the equatorial plane,” Vervack said. “This concenreported in trated distribution canthree papers not be explained by in situ conversion of local calcium atoms to calcium ions and instead points to magnetospheric transport of the ions as a mechanism for concentrating them as observed. Although such transport is common in planetary magnetospheres, the degree to which it can affect the distribution of species in Mercury’s exosphere was not fully appreciated.” During its first two flybys of Mercury, Messenger captured images confirming that pervasive volcanism occurred early in the planet’s history. The spacecraft’s third Mercury flyby revealed a 290-kilometer-diameter peak ring impact basin, among the youngest basins yet seen and recently named Rachmaninoff, having an inner floor filled with spectrally distinct smooth plains. The sparsely cratered Rachmaninoff plains postdate the formation of the basin and apparently formed from material that once flowed across the surface. “We interpret these plains to be the youngest volcanic deposits we have yet found on Mercury,” said lead author Louise Prockter, also of APL and one of Messenger’s deputy project scientists. “Moreover, an irregular depression surrounded by a diffuse halo of bright material northeast of the basin marks a candidate explosive volcanic vent larger than any previously identified on Mercury. These observations suggest that volcanism on the planet spanned a much greater duration than previously thought, perhaps extending well into the second half of solar system history,” she said. Magnetic substorms are space-weather disturbances that occur intermittently on Earth, usually several times per day and lasting from one to three hours. Terrestrial

substorms are accompanied by a range of phenomena, such as the majestic auroral displays seen in the Arctic and Antarctic skies. Substorms also are associated with hazardous energetic particle events that can play havoc with communications and Earth-observing satellites, particularly at the altitudes of geosynchronous orbits. Terrestrial magnetic substorms are powered by magnetic energy stored in Earth’s magnetic tail. During Messenger’s third Mercury flyby, the Magnetometer documented for the first time the substormlike buildup, or “loading,” of magnetic energy in Mercury’s magnetic tail. The increases in energy that Messenger measured in Mercury’s magnetic tail were very large, by factors of two to three, and they occurred very quickly, lasting only two to three minutes from beginning to end. These increases in tail magnetic energy at Mercury are about 10 times greater than at Earth, and the substormlike events run their course about 50 times more rapidly. “The extreme tail loading and unloading observed at Mercury implies that the relative intensity of substorms must be much larger than at Earth,” said lead author James A. Slavin, a space physicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and a member of Messenger’s Science Team. “However, what is even more exciting is the correspondence between the duration of tail field enhancements and the Dungey cycle time, which describes plasma circulation through a magnetosphere,” he said. “With these new Messenger measurements we can show for the first time that the Dungey plasma circulation time determines substorm duration at another planet and not just at Earth, suggesting that this relation may be a universal feature of terrestrialtype magnetospheres,” Slavin said. “A key aspect of tail unloading during terrestrial substorms is the acceleration of energetic charged particles, but no acceleration signatures were seen during the Messenger flyby. It appears that this new mystery will not be solved until more extensive measurements are made when Messenger is in orbit about Mercury.” “Every time we’ve encountered Mercury, we’ve discovered new phenomena,” said Messenger principal investigator Sean Solomon, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. “We’re learning that Mercury is an extremely dynamic planet, and it has been so throughout its history. Once Messenger has been safely inserted into orbit about Mercury next March, we’ll be in for a terrific show.” For more information about the third flyby of Mercury, go to http://Messenger.jhuapl.edu/ mer_flyby3.html.

JH Medicine team discovers sweet way to detect prediabetes By Maryalice Yakutchik

Johns Hopkins Medicine

aving discovered a dramatic increase of an easy-to-detect enzyme in the red blood cells of people with diabetes and prediabetes, Johns Hopkins scientists say the discovery could lead to a simple routine test for detecting the subtle onset of the disease, before symptoms or complications occur and in time to reverse its course. Pilot studies, published online April 22 in the journal Diabetes, show that the enzyme O-GlcNAcase is up to two to three times higher in people with diabetes and prediabetes than in those with no disease. “That’s a big difference, especially in an enzyme that’s as tightly regulated as this one is,” said Gerald Hart, the DeLamar Professor and director of Biological Chemistry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Building on its previous research, which showed how an abundant but difficult-todetect sugar switch known as O-GlcNAc (pronounced oh-GLICK-nack) responded to nutrients and stress, the Johns Hopkins

team knew that this small molecule was elevated in the red cells of patients with diabetes. “The question was whether the elevation happened in the earliest stages of diabetes and, therefore, might have value as a diagnostic tool,” Hart said. To find out, Kyoungsook Park, a graduate student working in Hart’s lab, focused on levels of O-GlcNAcase, an enzyme that removes O-GlcNAc in red cells. O-GlcNAc modifies many of the cell’s proteins to control their functions in response to nutrients and stress. Nutrients, such as glucose and lipids, increase the extent of O-GlcNAc modification of proteins affecting their activities. When the extent of O-GlcNAc attached to proteins becomes too high, as occurs in diabetes, it is harmful to the cell. First, Park purified human red blood cells by depleting them of their main constituent, hemoglobin. The samples had been collected by two sources—the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, and the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Diabetes Center in collaboration with Christopher D. Saudek—and character-

ized as normal (36 samples), prediabetes (13 samples) and type 2 diabetes (53 samples) according to traditional tests that require patient fasting. Defined as normal hemoglobin A1c with impaired fasting glucose, prediabetes is an intermediate state of altered glucose metabolism with a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other associated complications. Then she measured and compared the amount of the enzyme protein within the red cells associated with the sugar molecule, O-GlcNAc. “When I checked the enzyme levels and saw how dramatically different they were between the prediabetic cells and the controls, I thought I did something wrong,” Park said. “I repeated the test five times until I could believe it myself.” Hart speculates that in diabetes and prediabetes, it’s not a good thing for the increased amount of sugar to be attached to proteins, so the cell is responding by elevating the enzyme that gets rid of it. “This is an example of how basic research is directly affecting a serious disease,” Hart said, adding that his team’s pilot studies encourage further investigation of a method that poten-

tially could fill the void that currently exists for an easy, accurate routine test for prediabetes. “Only a much larger clinical trial will determine if, by measuring O-GlcNAcase, we can accurately diagnose prediabetes.” In addition to Park and Hart, Saudek, also of Johns Hopkins, is an author of the paper. Funding was provided by the NIH NIDDK.

Related websites Gerald Hart:

http://biolchem.bs.jhmi.edu/pages/ facultydetail.aspx?AspXPage=g_ A13E315C00C04DFD949FD3E57 BA45181:ID%3D83

http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org

‘Diabetes’: Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Diabetes Center:

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ diabetes

July 19, 2010 • THE GAZETTE

Hartwell grant supports innovative early-vision scanner By Mike Field

Development Communications

WILL KIRK / HOMEWOODPHOTO.JHU.EDU

f all the disorders of vision, amblyopia—sometimes referred to as “lazy eye”—may be one of the most frustrating for clinicians and public health officials. It is both relatively common, affecting as many as 380,000 children in the United States alone, and relatively easy to address if treatment is initiated before age 3. But few children are screened for misalignment of the eyes (strabismus) or blurred vision, the two primary causes of amblyopia. Although there are commercially available instruments that record light patterns in the pupils of a child’s eye to screen for refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, there has yet to be a device that can reliably detect strabismus— especially among pre-verbal infants and toddlers, who would most benefit from early treatment. Left untreated, an amblyopic eye will never develop good vision and may even become functionally blind. “When anywhere from 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent of the population has amblyopia, you need to be screening hundreds or even thousands of children each day in order to identify the tens of thousands of children who would benefit from early treatment,” said Boris Gramatikov, assistant professor in Pediatric Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins’ Wilmer Eye Institute. “Unfortunately, up to now there has never been an easy and costeffective way to screen that many children on an ongoing basis.” In April, Gramatikov received a Hartwell Individual Biomedical Research Award to develop a noninvasive, automated, rapidly administered, accurate screening instrument to identify children at risk for amblyopia. Amblyopia is poor vision in what appears otherwise to be a normal eye. It comes from defective visual input to the brain during infancy and childhood, leading to abnormal development of the binocular, or two-eyed, visual system that allows depth perception and other important visual capabilities. Although the term “lazy eye” is commonly used to describe the disorder, the layman’s term is in fact a misnomer. A better description might be “lazy brain” because it is the visual processing that is at fault in amblyopia; the affected eye itself is perfectly healthy. The part of the brain that corresponds to the affected eye is not stimulated properly and so fails to develop normally during the critical period of infancy and early childhood, during which key parts of the brain controlling vision, language and other skills develop. In the early, more plastic period of brain development, amblyopia can often be successfully treated by putting an eye patch on

Boris Gramatikov, an assistant professor at the Wilmer Eye Institute, received a Hartwell Individual Biomedical Research Award to develop a device for identifying amblyopia in very young children.

the “good” eye to force the brain to use the affected eye and overcome the faulty visual processing. But that treatment is really effective only in early childhood. As the brain

2010 Hartwell grant applications sought

he Hartwell Foundation each year selects 10 research institutions to participate in its grant competition. It has extended an invitation this year to Johns Hopkins to nominate four faculty researchers to submit proposals for the Hartwell Individual Biomedical Research Award. For those interested in participating in the 2010 Hartwell competition, the submission deadline for preliminary proposals for internal review is Friday, Aug. 20. See http://jhuresearch.jhu .edu/funding-special.htm for instructions. The Hartwell Foundation’s website is www.thehartwellfoundation.org.

matures, the opportunity diminishes, which is why undetected, untreated amblyopia is among the top-three causes of visual impairment in adults. The Hartwell Foundation, which seeks to stimulate discovery and foster transformative approaches in early-stage biomedical research that will benefit children of the United States, chose Gramatikov as one of only 10 recipients of its award in the 2009 competition. The grant provides $100,000

per year in direct costs for three years, supporting Gramatikov in the design, construction and testing of a prototype pediatric vision screener. It is expected that the innovative hand-held device will enable nonspecialists at schools, day care centers, clinics or other locations to routinely screen many thousands of young children each year. (For more information on the 2010 Hartwell grant competition, see sidebar.) The Hartwell Foundation’s president, Frederick Dombrose, described Gramatikov as an outstanding innovator. “We seek to inspire individual achievement by offering individual researchers an opportunity to realize their professional goals,” he said. “Dr. Gramatikov’s development of this new vision screening device addresses an unmet clinical need with the potential to revolutionize early detection for a very common eye disorder and to prevent lifelong disability for thousands each year from a readily treatable condition.” Although other screening devices have been attempted in the past, the critical challenge in screening for amblyopia is the need to know exactly where each eye is looking and whether each eye is focused. Only with that information is it possible to make the highly accurate measurements that can reveal the disorder. Older children can be told where to look, but pre-verbal children cannot, and this greatly reduces the window of opportunity for identifying amblyopia early. The Johns Hopkins–developed scanner uses a novel and patented technique known as retinal birefringence scanning. It is the first and only technology that allows precise identification of the direction of gaze using

information gleaned from the fovea, the most sensitive part of the retina, located in the back of the eyeball near the optic nerve. The screening device that Gramatikov is developing will be held about 12 inches from the eyes, allowing remote examination of a child without head restraint, so that the child can be seated in a parent’s lap or in a high chair. In a semidarkened room, the operator will activate a small flashing light and beeping sound that will draw the child’s attention and eye focus. As the child looks at the light, the device will take repetitive readings each half-second, and will signal the operator when a successful measurement is completed. “The real challenge is to get the 3-yearolds to look at the target,” said Gramatikov, who notes that although the operation of the device will be simple enough for a nonspecialist to use, the technology behind it incorporates basic research, clinical validation and a strong translational component. “This work is very diverse and interdisciplinary,” Gramatikov said, “involving the anatomy of the eye at the microscopic level, medical knowledge, biophysics, optics, optomechanics, computer modeling, electronics, optoelectronics, computer science, programming, signal processing, instrument design, user interface, safety issues and so on.” The development of the pediatric vision scanner will build on previous laboratory work he has done with Johns Hopkins collaborators David Guyton, David Hunter and Kristi Irsch. The Hartwell Foundation each year selects 10 research institutions to participate in its grant competition. In 2010 it extended an invitation to Johns Hopkins to nominate four faculty researchers to submit proposals for the Individual Biomedical Research Award, an invitation Hopkins has received and accepted every year since the awards program began in 2006. Researchers from Johns Hopkins have been named Hartwell Investigators in each of the past four years. The Hartwell Foundation recognizes research institutions that fully participate in the nomination process with funding for a Hartwell Fellowship, which supports one postdoctoral fellow of their choice who exemplifies the values of the foundation. The award supports scientists in the early stages of biomedical research careers by enabling them to pursue further specialized training as part of their career development. Eric Meisner, a postdoc in the Whiting School’s Department of Computer Science, was selected by Johns Hopkins to receive the 2009 Hartwell Fellowship, which provides direct support of $50,000 annually for two years. Meisner’s goal is to develop a less invasive, more accurate way to diagnose and treat stenosis, a narrowing of the airway just below the level of the vocal cords in infants and children.

Recession takes toll on nonprofit workers and programs

early 40 percent of nonprofit organizations currently lack adequate staff to deliver their programs and services, according to results of a national survey released July 14 by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies. Almost a third of organizations reported net reductions in their work forces over the six months preceding the survey (October 2009 to March 2010). In contrast, 23 percent reported employment gains during the same period, and another 46 percent reported no change despite facing expanded needs. This comes on the heels of earlier cutbacks. In a previous Johns Hopkins survey, 34 percent of organizations reported eliminating staff positions, and 41 percent postponed filling new positions during the six months between September 2008 and March 2009. “The pressures on nonprofits have accelerated and are clearly taking their toll,” noted Lester Salamon, report author and director

of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies, which conducted this survey as part of its Listening Post Project. “Organizations have shown enormous resilience and commitment to their critical missions, but this has come at a price.” Work force reductions are only part of the story. Nonprofits have been forced to take additional actions that impact workers and the ability to deliver critical programs and services. Among responding organizations, over the recent six-month period covered by this survey, 49 percent “refined job descriptions,” often a euphemism for increasing employee workloads and assigning the responsibilities of laid-off staff to remaining employees; 39 percent implemented a salary freeze; and 36 percent postponed filling new positions. Other actions included increasing staff hours (23 percent), cutting or reducing benefits (23 percent), increasing nonprogram work for program staff (12 percent) and reducing wages (12 percent).

Changes in employment varied significantly by field. Organizations in two of the six fields covered in the survey (elderly services, and community and economic development) reported overall employment growth, the former by 0.6 percent and the latter by 5 percent. This was likely a result of continued economic recovery program spending. In contrast, theaters reported job reductions of 6 percent. Reductions were also recorded in the other three fields: orchestras (-3 percent), museums (-1 percent) and children and family service organizations (-0.7 percent). Arts and culture organizations have been particularly hard hit, with 56 percent of the theaters and 53 percent of museums reporting inadequate staff to maintain their existing activities. Survey respondents also were asked about the impact of the recently enacted federal HIRE Act, which provides exemptions from the employers’ portion of payroll taxes (amounting to 6.2 percent of salaries). Just

15 percent of respondents agreed that the act would encourage their organization to hire new workers in 2010, while 42 percent doubted that it would encourage their organizations to do so. Many of these felt that the act simply did not provide enough relief over enough time to affect their ability to take on new workers. “Nonprofits have been stretched to the breaking point,” noted Peter Goldberg, chair of the Listening Post Project Steering Committee and president and CEO of the Alliance for Children and Families. “It is crucial to take steps now to help sustain the vital work of America’s nonprofit organizations.” The 526 nonprofit organizations responding to the Listening Post survey included children and family service agencies, elderly housing and service organizations, community and economic development organizations, museums, theaters and orchestras. The full report, “Recession Pressures on Nonprofit Jobs,” is available online at http:// ccss.jhu.edu. —Mimi Bilzor

12 THE GAZETTE • July 19, 2010 F O R

T H E

A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

Caroline Laguerre-Brown named vice provost for institutional equity

R E C O R D

Cheers

Cheers is a monthly listing of honors and awards received by faculty, staff and students plus recent appointments and promotions. Contributions must be submitted in writing and be accompanied by a phone number.

WILL KIRK / HOMEWOODPHOTO.JHU.EDU

BAYVIEW MEDICAL CENTER Jennifer Hayashi , assistant professor of

Caroline Laguerre-Brown

By Tracey A. Reeves

Homewood

aroline Laguerre-Brown, who for the past four years has worked to strengthen fairness, inclusion and diversity guidelines, programs and initiatives at The Johns Hopkins University, has been named vice provost for institutional equity. Laguerre-Brown, formerly director of Equity Compliance and Education in the Office of Institutional Equity, was named to her new position following a national search. She succeeds Ray Gillian, who retired last month. Her appointment was effective July 1. Provost Lloyd B. Minor described Laguerre-Brown as an extraordinary leader who has the ability to think through complex issues, work effectively with colleagues and clearly articulate appropriate solutions. “Caroline’s appointment as vice provost for institutional equity reflects her accomplishments here and her commitment to the university,” said Minor, in announcing Laguerre-Brown’s appointment. “In her new leadership role, we expect the university to continue to stand out as one that is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.” The vice provost for institutional equity is responsible for providing oversight for the Office of Institutional Equity and for working effectively with other Johns Hopkins leaders to enhance the university’s diversity and inclusion efforts. The office ensures compliance with federal, state and local laws related to affirmative action, equal opportunity and disability issues. It also is responsible for investigating discrimination and sexual harassment

complaints; provides training in sexual harassment, discrimination and disability issues; fosters campus diversity initiatives; and oversees the implementation of policies, procedures and services as they relate to federal disability laws. “I am honored to be tasked with building on the good work of my predecessor, Ray Gillian, and will work hard to ensure that the Office of Institutional Equity continues to provide a wide range of equal opportunity compliance services,” Laguerre-Brown said. “I am also really excited about creating robust partnerships with leadership, faculty, staff and students to fulfill JHU’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.” Since arriving at Johns Hopkins in 2005, Laguerre-Brown has increased Equity Compliance and Education’s activity, visibility and relevance across Johns Hopkins through training and enhanced complaint processing, Minor said. During that period she has provided educational programs for more than 5,000 participants. Additionally, she has worked collaboratively with human resources executives, deans and the Office of the General Counsel on important matters concerning equal opportunity and diversity. Laguerre-Brown, an attorney with an extensive background in employment law, is a graduate of the State University of New York, Binghamton and the University of Virginia School of Law. She previously served as labor and employment defense counsel for the New York Transit Authority and as assistant director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Office for the Fire Department of New York. She also has served as staff counsel to the Equal Employment Advisory Council in Washington, D.C.

geriatrics, director of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Elder House Call Program and associate director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, has received the American Academy of Home Care Physicians’ highest honor, the Eric Baron House Call Doctor of the Year Award. The Elder House Call Program provides direct care to homebound patients.

KRIEGER SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Charles Bennett , professor in the Henry

A. Rowland Department of Physics and Astronomy, was one of 10 honorees inducted in June into the University of Maryland Alumni Hall of Fame. Bennett, an astrophysicist who is principal investigator of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, recently shared the $1 million Shaw Prize in astronomy for his groundbreaking work in determining the age, shape and composition of the universe. PEABODY INSTITUTE Faculty artist Seth Knopp , artistic direc-

tor of Yellow Barn Music School and Festival in Putney, Vt., performed a Mendelssohn piece for four hands with Yundu Wang at the festival on July 16 and will perform Beethoven’s An die Hoffnung with his Peabody faculty colleague William Sharp , baritone, on Aug. 3. The Peabody Trio, made up of Knopp, faculty artist Violaine Melancon , violin, and Natasha Brofsky, cello, will perform Wolfgang Rihm’s Fremde Szene III on July 24. Works by composition faculty members Michael Hersch and Kevin Puts will be featured at this summer’s Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, Calif. The world premiere of Hersch’s Symphony No. 3, commissioned by the festival, will be performed on opening night, Aug. 6. On Aug. 14, Puts will make his Cabrillo debut as a soloist, playing his own piano concerto, Night. The festival’s music director is Marin Alsop , Baltimore Symphony Orchestra music director and a distinguished visiting artist at Peabody. The 2010 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists, held July 4–8 in Washington, D.C., included workshops led by three Peabody faculty artists. On July 5, John Walker , who serves as AGO’s vice president, provided career advice to young organists. Donald Sutherland , coordinator of the Conservatory’s Organ Department, and Phyllis Br yn-Julson , chair of the Voice Department, discussed music for organ and voice on July 6. Faculty artist Marian Hahn , piano, will

perform this month in the Tuesday Carnegie Chamber Series at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., as part of the Eastern Music Festival, where she is a visiting artist. Master of music candidate K a t e l y n Jackman , mezzo-soprano, won third place in the Maryland Opera Society’s 11th annual Marie E. Crump Vocal Arts Competition. GPD candidate Sonya Knussen , mezzo-soprano, a student of Phyllis Br ynJulson , sang in the Britten-Pears Alumni Concert in the Aldeburgh Festival in the United Kingdom in June. The piece she performed, Archie Interviews a Pharaoh, was written for her by Joanna Lee. SAIS David M. Lampton , the George and

Sadie Hyman Professor of China Studies and director of the China Studies program, received on June 17 the inaugural Scalapino Prize, jointly awarded by the National Bureau of Asia Research and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The organizations recognized Lampton, who is also dean of the faculty, for his “exceptional contributions to America’s understanding of the vast changes under way in Asia.” The prize, to be given every year with a $50,000 award, honors the legacy of Robert Scalapino, arguably the foremost scholar of Asia over the past 60 years.

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Marilyn Albert , director of the Division

of Cognitive Neuroscience, has received the Alzheimer Association’s 2010 Zaven Khachaturian Award. Named in honor of the noted scientist, administrator, consultant, lecturer and author, this award recognizes an individual whose compelling vision, selfless dedication and extraordinary achievement has significantly advanced the field of Alzheimer science. She received the award at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease 2010, held July 10 to 15 in Honolulu. Steven Cohen , associate professor of anesthesiology/critical care medicine, has been awarded the Order of Military Medical Merit for his exceptional service in the Army Medical Department. Cohen, a colonel, serves as director of Pain Research at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and as chief of Anesthesia and Operative Services at the 48th Combat Support Hospital in Fort Meade, Md. Sara Cosgrove , an associate professor of medicine, has been nominated to the board of directors of the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America. She will begin serving a three-year term as secretary for this international society in January 2011. Morton Goldberg , professor of ophthalmology, has had an endowed professorship named for him at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. Goldberg, director of the Wilmer Eye Institute from 1989 to 2003, headed the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois from 1970 to 1989. An endowed professorship was named for him at Johns Hopkins in 1999. Continued on page 9

Johns Hopkins Medicine adds four to its board of trustees By Stephanie Desmon

Johns Hopkins Medicine

our leaders in the financial, pharmaceutical and medical fields have been selected for one-year terms on the board of trustees of Johns Hopkins Medicine. One has also been named to a threeyear term on the board of trustees of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The new members, who began their terms July 1, are N. Anthony Coles, David C. Hodgson, Christopher W. Kersey and Barry S. Strauch. Coles was named president, chief executive officer and member of the board of

directors of Onyx Pharmaceuticals in March 2008. Previously, he held the same posts at NPS Pharmaceuticals. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, he received his medical degree from Duke University and a master’s in public health from Harvard. Coles currently serves as a member of the boards of trustees of The Johns Hopkins University and of Boston Medical Center. Hodgson is a managing director of General Atlantic, a global growth equity firm. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College with a degree in mathematics and social sciences and received an MBA from Stanford University. He is a member of the board of

trustees of The Johns Hopkins University and a member of the board of advisers of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Kersey is a managing member and partner of Camden Partners, a private equity and investment management fund, where he focuses on growth equity investments in the health care and life science industries. A graduate of Stanford, he received an MBA from Harvard and a medical degree from Emory. He also has been selected to join the board of trustees of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Strauch has served for the past four years as interim chairman of the Department of Medicine at Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he

was chief of the Nephrology Section for 24 years. Strauch received both his undergraduate and medical degrees from Johns Hopkins and completed training in internal medicine and metabolism at Yale University and the National Institutes of Health. Strauch then became a full-time faculty member of the Yale Medical School. He was a co-founder and chairman of Washington Nephrology Associates, one of the two largest nephrology practices in the United States. He also served as chairman of a quasi-government agency that regulates quality and need for dialysis and transplantation. He currently has faculty appointments at Georgetown, George Washington and VCU medical schools.

July 19, 2010 • THE GAZETTE

Milestones The following staff members recently retired or celebrated an anniversary with the university in July 2010. The information is compiled by the Office of Work, Life and Engagement, 443-997-7000. ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL CENTERS

10 years of service L i p s c o m b e , Trevor, Johns Hopkins University Press 5 years of service M e r k e l , Stuart, Jhpiego M u n g i a , Jaime, Jhpiego R o b i n s o n , Shameek, Center for Talented Youth S a w y e r , Susan, Jhpiego BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Retirees McMahon,

Jean, 12 years of service, Health Policy and Management M u e l l e r , Francine, 11 years of service, Health Behavior and Society 30 years of service N o w a k o w s k i , Deborah, Epidemiology R i d d i c k , Alfred, Facilities

20 years of service B o w e r s , Pamela, Epidemiology K e r m a n , Jonathan, Epidemiology

15 years of service B r o w n , Annie, Facilities M o f f i t t , Debra, Biostatistics

10 years of service D i e h l , Barbara, Health Behavior and Society E d w a r d s - S h a n n o n , Margaret, Health Behavior and Society R o d a s - E r a l , Luz, International Health S o w e r s , Maria, Epidemiology 5 years of service B o u c h e r , Kimberly, Center for Immunization Research and Vaccine Sciences C o r e y , Miera, Health Behavior and Society L a w r e n c e , Earle, Center for Communication Programs N a n a y a k k a r a - B i n d , Ashika, International Health W h y e , Devin, Facilities HOMEWOOD STUDENT AFFAIRS

40 years of service J o y n e r , Elva, Hopkins Union-Levering Hall 20 years of service D e c k e r , Mary, Pre-Professional Advising H a r r i n g t o n , William, Athletics and Recreation

Cheers Continued from page 8 Henr y Halperin , associate professor of cardiology and biomedical engineering, and director of the Peter Belfer Cardiac Mechanics Laboratory and of The Johns Hopkins Hospital’s CPR team, has received a Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Heart Association for his work in advancing the understanding of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Lisa Maragakis , an assistant professor of medicine, has been nominated to the board of directors of the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America. She will begin serving a two-year team as a councilor for this international society in January 2011. Aaron Milstone , assistant professor in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, was presented with the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America Pediatric Investigator Award. The award, which recognizes

10 years of service B e a t t y , Eric, Homewood Arts Programs 5 years of service L l o y d , Sarah, Housing and Dining Services

KRIEGER SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

30 years of service K a r s k , Sharon, Physics and Astronomy 25 years of service B r e w s t e r , David, Chemistry W e h r , Sylvia, Development 20 years of service H o w a r d , Kimberly, Biology W i l l i a m s , Deborah, Development 15 years of service J o h n s o n , Eric, Biology P h i l i p , Marva, Humanities Center 10 years of service B a l t r a , Myra, Center for Social Organization of Schools C o x , Anita, Office of the Dean D a s , Ranendra, Anthropology 5 years of service B a r r y , Dorothy, Center for Social Organization of Schools C u n n i n g h a m , Phyllis, Center for Social Organization of Schools F o l d a , Lisa, Public Health P r e s c o t t , Jennifer, Center for Social Organization of Schools PEABODY

20 years of service C a r r , Darryl, Finance Administration 10 years of service C a t r o n , Larry, Finance Administration SAIS

Retiree P o r t e r , Catherine, 11 years of service, Finance and Administration SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

40 years of service S t a r k l a u f , Barbara, Human Subjects Research 35 years of service H u t c h i s o n , Judy, Pathology S m i t h , Barbara, Surgery

30 years of service Denise, Pediatrics

White,

20 years of service C o o k , Debbie, Cardiology C u o m o , Nancy, Surgery D a v i d s o n , Leda, Ophthalmology E a r n h a r t , Ruth, Clinical Operations L i b o w i t z , Steve, HEBCAC S u t t , Karen, Ophthalmology

15 years of service I s a a c s , Sarah, Urology K l i n e d i n s t , Donna, Physiology L o c c o , Gina, Ophthalmology S t o k e s - Te a g l e , Shamon, Oncology

an individual in the field of health care epidemiology, was presented at the Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare Associated Infections. Trish M. Perl , a professor of medicine, has been recognized with the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America’s most prestigious award, the Mentor Scholar Fund Award, honoring an individual for dedication and excellence in mentoring trainees in infection prevention. P a t r i c k Wa l s h , University Distinguished Professor of Urology, has received an honorary doctorate from the medical school of the University of Athens in Greece for his contributions to the surgical treatment of prostate cancer. Walsh was director of the Brady Urological Institute for three decades and is best known for his pioneering nerve-sparing prostatectomy procedure and meticulous anatomical approach to improving the diagnosis and surgical treatment of benign and malignant prostate tumors. Jacques Grosset , visiting professor for tuberculosis research; Peter Pronovost , professor of anesthesiology and critical care

Wo n d o l o w s k i ,

Camila, General Administration Z i e g l e r , Barbara, Neuroscience 10 years of service B o a r d l e y , Barbara, Welch Medical Library C o o k , Nancy, Neurology D i a c z o k , Daniel, Pediatrics F o r t i , Jennifer, Geriatric Medicine J o n e s , Donna, Neurosurgery L i m o s e t h , Judith, Anesthesiology and Critical Care L o w e n s e n , Kelly, Infectious Diseases M y l e s , Courtney, Pulmonary P a r s o n s , Linda, Pathology P h i p p s , Charlene, University Health Service P i n d e r , Catherine, Pulmonary R e e d , Terry, Ophthalmology S p a r k s , Delois, HEBCAC S p i v e y , Rebecca, Pathology W i e n e c k e , Paul, Clinical Practice Association W i l l i a m s o n , Mona, Clinical Practice Association 5 years of service A y u k a w a , Yoko, Neurology B h a t t a c h a r y a , Raka, Oncology B r a d l e y , Bonnie, Infectious Diseases

Moore Clinic B r a x t o n , Joann, Facilities C o k l e y , Mary, Radiology C o o p e r , Bendu, Pediatrics C r o w e - E d d i n g e r , Sharon, Institute of Basic Biomedical Sciences D e a l m e i d a , Joyce, Pathology F r e d e r i c k s , Vanessa, Pulmonary G i l l , Ruth, Ophthalmology G o v a n , Linda, Gynecology and Obstetrics H u t h , Candice, Cardiology J u d g e , Joanne, Education and Housestaff M a z u r , Steven, Pediatrics M u e l l e r , Denisse, Pediatrics N i , Ying, Urology P e n n i n g t o n , Nicole, Policy Coordination P r y o r , Michelle, Urology P u d e l k o , Jennifer, Policy Coordination R i c k s , Kimyatta, Neurosurgery R i n g g o l d , Tekeia, General Internal Medicine R o w l e s , Courtney, Oncology R y d z y , Charles, Pediatrics S u l l i v a n , Monica, Institute of Genetic Medicine S u n , I-Fong, Clinical Practice Association W i l l i a m s , Shavonda, Clinical Practice Association W i l s o n , Lisa, General Internal Medicine Yo n e s c u , Raluca, Pathology Yu s u f , Elizabeth, Urology Z i p p e r , Richard, Psychiatry Z o l e n a s , Deborah, Ophthalmology SCHOOL OF NURSING

25 years of service A n g e l l , Sandra, Academic and Student Services 10 years of service H o e y , Frank, Network Services

medicine and associate professor of surgery; and Robert Wise , professor of medicine, were honored in May at the American Thoracic Society’s International Conference in New Orleans. Grosset, an internationally acclaimed respiratory disease expert, and Wise, director of the pulmonary laboratory at the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, each received the society’s 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award; Pronovost was chosen to deliver the 2010 President’s Lecture at the meeting. SCHOOL OF NURSING Martha N. Hill , dean, will present the key-

note address, “Developing the Capacity for Nursing: Challenges and Opportunities—An Academic Leader’s View,” at the 2010 Beijing International Nursing Conference. The conference, to be held Aug. 20–21, is hosted by the Peking Union Medical College School of Nursing and the Peking Union Medical College Hospital Department of Nursing in celebration of PUMC’s 90th anniversary. The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is a co-organizer of the event.

5 years of service B r o o k s - S t a u b , Kelly, Communications

SHERIDAN LIBRARIES/ JHU MUSEUMS

30 years of service B r o w n , Jeanette, Sheridan Libraries 5 years of service Kelly, Sheridan Libraries

Spring,

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

Retiree M c G i l l , James, 12 years of service, Office of Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration 30 years of service Marcella, Enterprise Business Solutions

Halvorsen,

25 years of service K i d w e l l , Eugene, Sr., Security M a r t i n , Elpidio, Facilities

Services

20 years of service G r e e n e , Dana, Facilities H o l l e y , Bernadette, Facilities J o h n s o n , Carol, Facilities L u c a s , Gazellia, Enterprise Business

Solutions R a n d a l l , Torin, Sr., Facilities S c h u l t z e , Janet, Development and Alumni Relations S e l d o n , Janet, Facilities S t u r d i v a n t , Willie, Facilities 15 years of service B a r k s d a l e , Cedric, Information Technology O p e n s h a w , Marvin, Facilities W o r s l e y , Raymond, Supply Chain

10 years of service B l a c k m o n , Neil, Supply Chain C h u r c h , Denise, Controller’s Office K i l d u f f , Lawrence, Facilities M a g a g n a , Meagan, Marketing and Creative Services 5 years of service Angela, Development and Alumni Relations H o r n , Jill, Compensation K n i g h t , Pamela, Facilities L e w i s , Thomas, Office of Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs M a b r y , Andrew, Facilities M o o r e , Anne, Talent Management and Organization Development O s t e n d a r p , David, Enterprise Network Services Va r s h a v s k i y , Pavel, HRIS W a i n w r i g h t , Micah, Johns Hopkins Internal Audits W i s n e r - C a r l s o n , Joan, Development and Alumni Relations Hall,

WHITING SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

5 years of service M c C a r d e l l , Olen, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Student Jody Andrade has received the Paul W. Speier Point Foundation Scholarship for her outstanding leadership qualities and her commitment of service, particularly to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community. The Point Foundation is the leading scholarship-granting organization for LGBT students in the nation, empowering students with the financial, practical and emotional support needed for academic and personal success. Student Frank Mataska has received a $2,000 Cherokee A Nurse I Am Scholarship based on an essay written in response to Cherokee Uniforms’ inspirational film called A Nurse I Am, which is shown by more than 300 schools of nursing as part of their curriculum. Four PhD students have received funding from the National Institutes of Health that will offset tuition and research costs, and will provide a stipend for up to three years. Sara Rosenthal , Tam Nguyen , Laura Samuel and Rachel Klimmek all received the highly competitive grant based on their individual dissertations.

14 THE GAZETTE • July 19, 2010 P O S T I N G S

B U L L E T I N

Job Opportunities The Johns Hopkins University does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristic in any student program or activity administered by the university or with regard to admission or employment.

Notices

No notices were submitted for publication this week.

Classifieds Continued from page 15

Homewood

Office of Human Resources: Suite W600, Wyman Bldg., 410-516-8048 JOB#

POSITION

43097 43101 43218 43251 43294 43298 43336 43397 43405 43406 43411 43442 42958

Sr. Programmer Analyst Accounting Aide Alumni Relations Coordinator Network Analyst Research Service Analyst Employee Assistance Clinician Programmer Analyst Data Assistant Accountant Sr. OD Specialist Accounting Manager Instructional Facilitator Sr. Employer Outreach Coordinator

Schools of Public H e a l t h a n d N u r s i n g Office of Human Resources: 2021 East Monument St., 410-955-3006 JOB#

POSITION

43084 43833 43083 44245 44290 43081 41388 44067 44737 42479 44555 42720 44648 44414 43425 43361 44554 44123

Academic Program Coordinator Technical Writer Administrative Coordinator Laboratory Technician LAN Administrator III Administrative Coordinator Program Officer Research Program Assistant II Sr. Administrative Coordinator Sr. Research Nurse Instructional Technologist Financial Aid Coordinator Assay Technician Administrative Coordinator Research Nurse Research Scientist Administrative Specialist Health Educator II

School of Medicine

Office of Human Resources: 98 N. Broadway, 3rd floor, 410-955-2990 JOB#

POSITION

38035 35677 30501 22150

Assistant Administrator Sr. Financial Analyst Nurse Midwife Physician Assistant

43015 43041 43060 43087 43115 43152 43244 43245 43250 43403 42291 42755 42771 42861 42942 43341 43395

LAN Administrator II Software Engineer DE Instructor, Center for Talented Youth Assistant Program Manager, Center for Talented Youth Residential Life Administrator Tutor Building Operations Supervisor Building Maintenance Technician Program Manager, Center for Talented Youth Admissions Officer Project Manager LDP Stationary Engineer Programmer Analyst Financial Manager Multimedia Technician Sr. Technical Support Analyst Research Service Analyst

42973 43847 43985 43790 42939 43754 42669 43753 44242 44448 43597 44008 44005 41877 44583 43933 44065 44112 44382 43984 39063 44490

Clinical Outcomes Coordinator Sr. Programmer Analyst Residency Program Coordinator Associate/Sr. Associate Director, Development Research Data Coordinator Malaria Adviser Data Assistant Budget Specialist Academic Program Administrator Office Aide Technical Editor Manuscript Editor, American Journal of Epidemiology Research Service Analyst Health Educator Multimedia Production Supervisor Sr. Research Service Analyst Research Data Manager Sr. Laboratory Coordinator Academic Services Assistant Lab Supervisor Research Assistant Operations Manager, METRC

38064 37442 37260 38008 36886

Administrative Specialist Sr. Administrative Coordinator Sr. Administrative Coordinator Sponsored Project Specialist Program Administrator

This is a partial listing of jobs currently available. A complete list with descriptions can be found on the Web at jobs.jhu.edu.

Step 3 USMLE materials. msumathy@ hotmail.com. Maytag lg capacity washer and dryer, excel cond, $600/both or best offer; queen-size 5-pc bedroom set, lt wood, headboard, footrest, pillowtop mattress, boxspring, nightstands (2) and 5-drawer bureau, $500/best offer; moving, must sell. 410-698-8166. Desk shelf w/9 compartments, in great cond. $20. 410-207-2217. Moving sale: dining table w/4 chairs, $45; Hoover vacuum, new, $49; VHS/DVD combo TV, 16.5", $39; MTS TV, 21.5", $39; oak coffee table, expandable, $20; student desk, new, white, $30; lamp set, 4-pc, new, $25; iron and board, new, $10; coffee maker, $5. 410-3501349 or rikamorioka@gmail.com. Beach chairs (2), dresser w/shelves, stool, printer, digital piano, reciprocating saw, 3-step ladders (2). 410-455-5858 or iricse .its@verizon.net. Girl’s clothing, variety of sizes (5T-10), sweaters, coats, shorts, tops, jeans, dresses, etc. Beverly, 410-485-4949 or 410-302-9517. Moving sale: full-size bed w/frame, $175; desk, $35; office chair, $15; floor light, $10. andrea.hobby@gmail.com. Motorola 4G modem, allows use of cheap, fast wireless Internet service, works perfectly, Charles Village. $60. 413-346-3595 or jonathan.m.sussman@gmail.com.

SERVICES/ITEMS OFFERED OR WANTED

Seeking PT housekeeper, 2-3 days/wk, pref to incl 1 wknd day, flexible hrs, approx 15 hrs/ wk, decluttering, 3 sm boys, household organization, laundry/ironing, cleaning. maria@ ncet2.org. Looking for mature house- and pet-sitter, overnight or longer, 3 dogs and 3 cats, must have transportation. adljr@comcast.net. CDS cleaning service, affordable. 443-8581733 or dsneed1987@gmail.com. Dietitian/nutritionist: seeking LDN/CNS experienced in weight management for new multidisciplinary program, PT contractor to start. jeffgould@hotmail.com (send CV). Things to sell/buy for your apt? Flea market,

Carey Woodcliffe Manor Apartments

S PA C I O U S

G A R D E N A PA RT M E N T L I V I N G I N

R O L A N D PA R K

• Large airy rooms • Hardwood Floors • Private balcony or terrace • Beautiful garden setting • Private parking available • University Parkway at West 39th St. 2 & 3 bedroom apartments located in a private park setting. Adjacent to Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus and minutes from downtown Baltimore.

410-243-1216

105 West 39th St. • Baltimore, MD 21210 Managed by The Broadview at Roland Park BroadviewApartments.com

B O A R D

Continued from page 1 will open up to balconies overlooking the Inner Harbor. The 12th floor of the building will house the administrative offices of the school, including the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, Development, Finance, Human Resources, Registrar, Academic Advisory, Communications, Career Services and Programs, as well as the offices of Gupta and two vice deans. Faculty offices will be one story up, on the 13th floor. At Harbor East, Carey will have 89 full-time staffers and 35 full-time faculty members. The school will continue to hold classes at its satellite campuses in Washington, D.C., and in Rockville and Columbia, Md. Academic advisers and career counselors will maintain regular hours at those campuses. Nearly all the 18 Carey staffers who have worked in Columbia will move to Harbor East; two members of the Student Services

Saturday, September 18, at 37th and Roland Ave in Hampden, nr Homewood. 410-3664488 or stamusicministry@gmail.com (to reserve table space). Trustworthy dog walker avail day/evening! Overnight sitting w/complimentary housesitting services, impeccable references. 443801-7487 or alwayshomepc@gmail.com. Would like to buy a bedframe or mattress, preferably both, for 2010 school year. 952807-4769. F JHMI staff member looking for spare work for eves/wknds. 203-219-0791. Experienced, reliable, energetic nanny avail PT in N Baltimore area, 15 yrs caring for JHU faculty children, excel references. Ros, 410-764-2053. Calling all small business owners, get absolutely flawless detailing to promote your business. Jason, 410-630-3311. Friday Night Swing Dance Club, great bands, open to public, no partners necessary. 410663-0010 or www.fridaynightswing.com. Need help with your JHU retirement plan investments portfolio? Free consultations. 410-435-5939 or treilly1@aol.com. Tutor available: All subjects/levels; remedial, gifted and talented; also college counseling, speech and essay writing, editing, proofreading, database design and programming. 410337-9877 or i1__@hotmail.com. LCSW-C provides psychotherapy, experience w/treating depression, anxiety, sexual orientation/gender identity concerns, couples; JHU-affiliated. 410-235-9200 (voicemail #6) or shane.grant.lcswc@gmail.com. Licensed landscaper avail for scheduled lawn maintenance, other landscaping services, trash hauling, fall/winter leaf and snow removal. Taylor Landscaping LLC. 410-8126090 or romilacapers@comcast.net. Great photographs, headshots for interviews or auditions; also family pictures, production shots, events. Edward S Davis photography and videography. 443-6959988 or eddaviswrite@comcast.net. Tennis anyone? Seeking a practice partner. Lagom335@hotmail.com. Keep it clean w/absolutely flawless detailing, mobile unit waiting for your call. Jason, 410-630-3311. Looking for futon mattress or futon frame + mattress in good cond, for dorm rm. learn.b@gmail.com.

Office will keep their main offices at the Howard County campus. The six Carey staffers based at the Washington, D.C., facility will remain there. Two Carey positions in Rockville are in the recruitment process. While the business school will no longer have a presence at the Downtown Center, several members of Carey’s information technology team will occupy offices a block north at One Charles Center, where many of the school’s full-time staff members have worked for the past decade. Carey personnel will have new phone numbers at Harbor East. The school’s new main number will be 410-234-9200. In a letter to faculty and staff this month, Gupta commented on the school’s move to Harbor East, noting, “Our offices above the harbor afford us a window on the world, both literally and figuratively. The philosophy underpinning our school and its programs is, in fact, infused with the belief that we are all part of one world, and that business people of the 21st century must find ways to do good for others while doing well for their own enterprises.” G

July 19, 2010 • THE GAZETTE

Classifieds APARTMENTS/HOUSES FOR RENT

Baltimore City, updated 1BR condo in secure, gated community, assigned prkng, swimming and tennis, nr hospital and university. $1,200/mo incl utils. 410-951-4750. Baltimore County, 3BR, 1.5BA restored, registered historic carriage house, nr Gunpowder Falls Bike Trail, faculty or grad students only, 20 mins to Homewood. $1,150/ mo (reduced). 410-472-4241. Baltimore County, 3BR RH, new CAC, fin’d bsmt w/half-BA, walk to area schools, no pets, income/credit will be verified, renters should e-mail a number where they can be reached, when they want to move and approx credit score; 1st mo and sec dep req’d + $25 application fee. lsucci@comcast.net. Beverly Hills/Lauraville, 2- or 3BR porchfront cottage, hdwd flrs, fenced backyd, petfriendly, 4 mi to JHU/JHMI, avail August 1 or later. $1,200/mo. 410-325-9519 or suekssl@ aol.com. Canton, 3-level RH, 2BRs and 2 full BAs, custom kitchen, rooftop deck, avail August 1. $2,099/mo. abbybrown7@hotmail.com. Charles Village/Oakenshawe, beautiful, very lg 4BR, 2.5BA house, newly painted, refin’d hdwd flrs, dw, garbage disposal, W/D, AC, cable, DSL, microwave, gas fp, alarm, 2-car garage, 2-min walk to JHMI shuttle/ Homewood. $2,400/mo. 410-493-7026 or k2anderson@rocketmail.com. Ellicott City, 3BR TH nr Rt 40-/I-70/Rt 29, 30 mins to JHU, 5-10 mins to shopping centers/public library/gym/daycare facilites and schools (Centennial HS). $1,850/ mo. 410-505-8977 or billauckland@yahoo .com. Guilford, charming, spacious 4BR, 2BA TH in safe, friendly community, bsmt and yd, 2-car prkng pad, 20-min walk to Homewood campus. $1,400/mo. baltimore.guilford@ gmail.com. Guilford, wonderful, sm 1BR, 1BA condo, elevator bldg, 24-hr security, CAC, swimming pool, gym, walking distance to Hopkins and shuttle. 410-889-0446. Hampden, 3BR, 2BA house, dw, W/D, fenced yd, nr light rail. $1,100/mo + utils. 410-378-2393. Mays Chapel/Timonium, 3- or 4BR EOG TH, 3.5BAs, family rm, deck, patio, fenced yd, nr good schools, avail August. $1,600/ mo. 410-321-8889. Ocean City, Md (137th St) ocean block, 3BRs, 2BAs, sleeps 8, lg swimming pool, 2 assigned prkng spaces, avail from August 28. 410-544-2814 or mstanke1@yahoo.com. Owings Mills, 2BR, 2BA condo, close to metro/restaurants and shopping. $1,300/mo + utils. 609-647-9386. Owings Mills, 2BR, 2BA condo, W/D, walk-in closets, storage, prkng, pool/tennis court privileges, backs to woods, conv to metro, walk to grocery, sm pets negoFor SALE, $139,900.00

Stunning corner condo unit with lots of natural light throughout, wonderful roof top pool, secure building and garage rental avail. 1 E. University Pkwy.

Patricia Weaver 443-324-4335

patweaver@cantonmanagement.com

Towson,

RENT Lovely 2BR 2BA updated condo on 10th floor of secure high-rise w/beautiful view! Convenient location. Avail. August 1st., 1 yr. lease. $1500/mo. includes util., pool & tennis courts.

Candace.Dressel@LongandFoster.com 410-453-0500/410-746-9191

M A R K E T P L A C E

tiable ($250 nonrefundable deposit), pics avail, 1-yr lease. $1,250/mo. 410-336-7952 or ljohnsto@mail.roanoke.edu. Owings Mills/New Town, 2BR, 1BA condo. $1,300/mo. wwotorson@verizon.net. Roland Park, spacious 2BR, 2BA condo in secure area, W/D, walk-in closet, swimming pool, cardio equipment, furn’d, nr Homewood campus. $1,800/mo. 410-218-3547 or khassani@gmail.com. Roland Park/Cross Keys Village, totally renov’d 2BR, 1.5BA apt in secure gated community, stainless steel appls, 15 mins to JHH/JHU. $1,700/mo incls 2-car garage prkng, swimming pool, tennis and utils. Serge, 410-580-1960. Station North (1707 St Paul St), 1BR in secure historic bldg, gated rear patio, close to Charles Theater, JHU shuttle, MARC, MICA, UB, etc. jchris1@ umbc.edu or http://userpages.umbc.edu/ ~jchris1/1707rearaptforrent.php. University West Apts, sublet BR in 2BR apt for the fall 2010 semester. $482/mo incl heat, water. 203-414-5888 or corinneewarren@ gmail.com. Upper Fells Point, 3BR, 2.5BA house, rent rms individually or entire house ($1,850/ mo). Wil, 832-725-9588 or wilbmdphd@ hotmail.com. Waverly/Northwood, beautiful, sunny 3BR, 1.5BA house, 1 mi to JHU, pref 3-month lease. $950/mo. Melissa, 443-844-4094. 614 W 33rd St, newly renov’d 3BR, 1BA house, all new, modern everything, great block, 5 mins to campus, nonsmokers only. $1,450/mo. 443-472-0134 or 410-507-2696. 500 W University Pkwy, sublet 1BR and 1BA in 2BR, 2BA apt on top flr, now until August 20, W/D, dw, renov’d kitchen, balcony w/great view, rooftop pool and gym. 410-336-9049. New walkout bsmt apt, 2BRs and 1BA, patio and natural light, 2 mi to Bayview campus. $1,200/mo. George, 443-797-7300. Temporary housing, furn’d rm and use of lg, newly renov’d house, avail month to month. $850/mo incl utils, prkng. adecker001@ yahoo.com. Renov’d 3BR, 2BA single-family house on nice, quiet street, gas stove, granite, deck, landscaped yd, ample prkng, charm to spare, avail August 1. $1,650/mo. 203-676-3179 or Lhikin17@gmail.com.

HOUSES FOR SALE

Arcadia/Beverly Hills (3019 Iona Terrace), spacious, renov’d 4BR, 2.5BA detached house in beautiful neighborhood, lg open kitchen/dining area, lg deck, landscaped, 7 mins from JHU. $259,500. 443-294-9220. Columbia, spacious 3BR, 3.5BA TH, fp, lg open kitchen/dining area, fin’d walkout bsmt, fenced backyd. $340,000. 410-7075699 or ashrafshaker@comcast.net. Ellicott City, spacious 3BR, 2.5BA TH on corner, kitchen/dining area, new windows, fin’d walkout bsmt, deck/patio, Centennial HS zone. $329,000. 410-979-9065 or rashmachaudhry@yahoo.com. Gardenville, 3BR, 1.5BA RH in quiet neighJohns Hopkins / Hampden WYMAN COURT APTS. (BEECH AVE.) Effic from $570, 1 BD Apt. from $675, 2 BD from $775 HICKORY HEIGHTS APTS. (HICKORY AVE.) 2 BD units from $750 Shown by Appointment 410-764-7776

www.brooksmanagementcompany.com

borhood, new kitchen and BA, CAC, hdwd flrs, club bsmt w/cedar closet, fenced, maintenance-free yd w/carport, 15 mins to JHH. $142,000. 443-610-0236 or tziporachai@ juno.com. Harborview (Baltimore County), 2BR, 1BA single-family house, all on 1 flr, plenty of off-street prkng, 5 mins to Bayview, 15 mins to JHU. $159,900. 443-604-2797 or lexisweetheart@yahoo.com. Original Northwood, 3BR, 1.5BA house, brick, slate, hdwd flrs, dual AC, solarium, efficiency windows and furnace, fp, alarm sys, more. $325,000. 443-794-3900 or irishmol@yahoo.com. Towson, 3BR house, 2 new full BAs, new kitchen, appls, hdwd flrs,new siding/windows, fenced yd, great schools, 25 mins to JHU/JHH. $265,000. 410-404-7355.

ROOMMATES WANTED

F wanted to share quiet, safe, secure 2BR apt in Roland Park, 2nd flr, no pets, no drugs/smoking, refs req’d. $600/mo + 1/2 elec bill and cable, free heat, hot water. 410960-5752 (Mon-Fri, 6-9pm). Share lg, respectful house in Charles Village, lg bsmt rm, AC, W/D, dw, hot tub, high-speed Internet, cable, porches, gardens, 2 blks to JHMI shuttle, 12 blks to Homewood campus. $375/mo + utils. 410963-8741. Share spacious 3BR RH in Wyman Park, W/D, dw, cable, deck, prkng, 2 blks to JHU. $450/mo. nancyshipley@hotmail.com. Grad music student wanted for 2BR, 2BA Park Charles apt, school yr or longer, starting mid-August, must be clean nonsmoker. $700/mo incl utils. tinkerbelinda@gmail .com. Spacious rm in 2BR apt, steps from JHU and shuttle on St Paul St, must be OK w/ dogs. $460/mo + shared utils. Jen, 443-6302305 or slushpuppy101@hotmail.com. Share 1-yr lease of 2BR, 1BA at Wyman Court Apts, pref JHU student, balcony, CAC. $430/mo + 1/2 utils. 443-255-0069. 2 rms avail in 3BR, 1.5BA TH, share w/ Hopkins faculty member and health consultant + 2 cats; use of entire house, close to Hopkins shuttle. $500/mo and $600/mo. otopalo@gmail.com. Share 2BR, 2BA waterfront condo in Fells Point, W/D, move in September 1, 1-yr lease. $1,000/mo. 509-460-0211. Rm avail w/priv BA in nice waterfront condo community, share kitchen, laundry and living areas, plenty of safe prkng, 15 mins to JHH/Bayview, month to month. $500/mo. 443-722-2086. F wanted for furn’d rm in Charles Village, available August 16, share w/Hopkins RN, and have use of entire house. $850/mo + 1/2 utils. 928-301-2120 or llkrumm@hotmail .com. Grad student/prof’l wanted for 3BR, 1BA Charles Village RH, share w/nurse starting grad school this fall, washer (no dryer), cable, WiFi, eat-in dining rm, fenced yd, front porch, pets OK (must get along w/my dog),

1-yr lease, serious inquiries only. $650/mo incl utils. lisa.scotti.247.365@gmail.com. 2 furn’d rms avail in 3BR, 1.5BA house in Remington, 3-min walk to Homewood campus, F only. $600/mo incl all utils + $300 deposit. Lvf3116@yahoo.com. F nonsmoker wanted for 1BR in 2BR apt at 505 W University Pkwy, AC, heat, hot water and gas incl’d, no pets, starting in September. $515/mo + 1/2 elec. gwxts5@gmail.com. Share spacious 3BR, 3BA TH in Butchers Hill w/2 SPH students, must be cat-friendly. $700/mo. christy.haakonsen@gmail.com. Two F nonsmokers wanted for 4BR, 4.5BA Canton TH, prkng provided, no pets, early August move-in. $770/mo. mdodds687@gmail.com.

Rm avail in beautiful Lauraville, close to JHU/JHH. $525/mo. Melissa, 443-844-4094. Two spacious, wonderfully-lit BRs in beautiful garden home off of Wyman Park, steps to BMA and JHU shuttle. toddnoletto@ gmail.com.

CARS FOR SALE

’97 Toyota Camry LE, power everything, insp’d, in good cond, 116K mi. $3,650/best offer. 410-337-5124 or silwak7@gmail.com. ’02 Honda Civic LX, automatic, 4-dr sedan, gold color, 63K mi. $6,500 (negotiable). kalcorn@gmail.com. ’08 Nissan Sentra 2:OS, gray, 4-dr, 15K mi. $12,000. 410-530-6892. ’03 Toyota Sienna CE, automatic, blue, in good cond, no accident history, 80K mi.$7,300 (negotiable). 410-599-5267 or atarnutzer@gmail.com.

ITEMS FOR SALE

English bulldog, 1.5 yrs old, AKC-registered, champion bloodline. $1,000 (non-negotiable). swanlakebulldogs@comcast.net. Moving sale: Drexel mahogany night stand, $75; Persian runner from Pottery Barn, 9' x 2'6", $150. Marc, 443-452-8088. Sm couch, $20; coffee tables (2), $10/ea; negotiable. jjenter08@yahoo.com. 1991 Kawasaki jet-ski, 2-cyl, 650cc, 2-seater, blue/white, clear title, no trailer, runs well, looks good. $999 (cash). 443-392-8621. Stationary bike, must be picked up by buyer. Best offer. deborahrose7@aol.com. 1890 German Bausch violin bow, completely restored, $400; 1950s violin w/bow, handcrafted, beautiful cond, best offer; also 1920s violin w/bow, German-crafted, best offer. Kathy, 410-925-6571. Slipcovered chair, moss-green, w/matching ottoman. $125/both. 410-718-6134. Fishing boat, MFG 12-ft tri-hull w/Johnson 10HP outboard and trailer. $700. 410-2415585 or 3bhoffma@gmail.com. Conn alto saxophone, mint condition. $650/best offer. 410-488-1886. Continued on page 14

PLACING ADS Classified listings are a free service for current, full-time Hopkins faculty, staff and students only. Ads should adhere to these general guidelines: • One ad per person per week. A new request must be submitted for each issue. • Ads are limited to 20 words, including phone, fax and e-mail.

• We cannot use Johns Hopkins business phone numbers or e-mail addresses. • Submissions will be condensed at the editor’s discretion. • Deadline is at noon Monday, one week prior to the edition in which the ad is to be run. • Real estate listings may be offered only by a Hopkins-affiliated seller not by Realtors or Agents.

(Boxed ads in this section are paid advertisements.) Classified ads may be faxed to 443-287-9920; e-mailed in the body of a message (no attachments) to gazads@jhu.edu; or mailed to Gazette Classifieds, Suite 540, 901 S. Bond St., Baltimore, MD 21231. To purchase a boxed display ad, contact the Gazelle Group at 410-343-3362.

16 THE GAZETTE • July 19, 2010

Link suggested between scleroderma and cancer in certain patients

atients with a certain type of scleroderma may get cancer and scleroderma simultaneously, Johns Hopkins researchers have found, suggesting that in some diseases, autoimmunity and cancer may be linked. These findings could lead researchers closer to discovering what causes scleroderma, an incurable autoimmune disease that causes scar tissue to develop in the skin and in major organ systems, and to pinning down why some with scleroderma appear to be at increased risk of cancer. The insights add to the growing body of evidence linking some autoimmune disorders with cancer. “Our research adds more to the discussion about whether cancer and autoimmune diseases are related and whether cancer may be a trigger for scleroderma,” said Ami A. Shah, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study’s lead author. The small study, which appears online in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, looked at blood and tumor samples from 23 patients with both scleroderma and cancer who were treated at the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center. Ten percent of the patients have cancer as well as the autoimmune disease. The researchers looked for specific immune markers in each patient, determining which type of antibodies the patients made. Those with antibodies called antiRNA polymerase I/III had the most closely related onset of cancer and scleroderma, they found. Those patients got both diseases, within two years of one another. Similar results were found in another subset of patients—those who tested positive for none of the known autoimmune antibodies. Researchers suspect that there are immune markers in their blood that have yet to be discovered. The reasons for the apparent link between scleroderma and cancer are not understood, Shah said, and it is unknown whether

cancer could be causing scleroderma, or if scleroderma could be causing cancer. Most often, Shah said, the patients developed cancer first, and scleroderma soon after. She said that one theory, as yet unproven, is that as the body generates an immune response to fight a tumor, the immune response could trigger the development of scleroderma. It is also possible, she said, that the immune response could successfully defeat a developing tumor but still result in scleroderma. Another possibility could be that organ damage from scleroderma could predispose patients to cancer. Or it could be that the use of immune-suppressing drugs to treat scleroderma could lead to cancer. She said that some reports in the medical literature have shown that in cases of concurrent cancer and scleroderma, treating the cancer halted the progression of the autoimmune disorder. Several other autoimmune disorders also appear to have potential links to cancer, Shah said. This research could have implications for those diseases as well. Many questions remain and more research is needed, said Livia Casciola-Rosen, an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and one of the study’s principal investigators. “Are particular antibodies in scleroderma associated with increased risk of cancer? Maybe we need to look,” she said. “And if you develop both at the same time, does treatment of one affect the outcome of the other? This research,” she said, “is really just the beginning.” The study was supported in part by funding from the Scleroderma Research Foundation, Stabler Foundation, Karen Brown Scleroderma Foundation, American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation and National Institutes of Health. Other Johns Hopkins researchers contributing to the study are Antony Rosen, Laura Hummers and Fredrick Wigley. —Stephanie Desmon

LNYW program showcases Patterson Park, Highlandtown neighborhoods

ohns Hopkins’ Live Near Your Work program, in conjunction with the Southeast Development Corp., will this month showcase homes and amenities in the Patterson Park and Highlandtown neighborhoods. At each event, eligible Johns Hopkins employees will learn how they can apply for LNYW grants, as well as other grants and financial assistance. The open house and home tour of Patterson Park is planned for 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, and will begin in the home of Steve Gondol and Marisa Vilardo, located at 2836 E. Baltimore St. The couple recently completed a total “green” renovation of their expansive brick townhouse, which faces the park. They used innovative financing from Healthy Neighborhoods to complete their renovation. The community surrounds the 300-acre Patterson Park—named Baltimore’s best park by City Paper—which offers ball fields, an ice skating rink, running and biking paths, a fishing pond, a tot lot and tennis courts. It is also the site for the city’s ethnic festivals, Kinetic Sculpture Race, Bike Jam, Movies in the Park, PNC Concert Series and more. At the open house, Johns Hopkins’ LNYW program coordinator will explain how eligible employees can apply for up to $6,000 in LNYW grants, available to home buyers as down payment or closing cost assistance. Attendees will also learn how they can qualify for low-interest Healthy Neighborhoods loans, a Healthy Neighborhoods rehab grant, the Healthy Neighborhoods Direct Purchase Program (up to $25,000 for purchasing foreclosed or abandoned homes), Federal Home

Loan Bank down-payment assistance and other home-buying incentives. A short tour of the neighborhood will include “showcase” homes and several houses now on the market. Tours will begin at 6 p.m. with a self-guided tour map provided. On Saturday, July 31, the focus is on Highlandtown, where the 10 a.m. to noon program begins with breakfast in the farmers market located in the 3500 block of Bank Street, at Conkling Street. Highlandtown is home to generations of immigrant families (Southern and Eastern Europeans in the 20th century, Central and South Americans in the 21st) and a growing creative class, drawn by the neighborhood’s designation as an Arts and Entertainment District. At the breakfast, exclusively for Johns Hopkins employees, attendees will learn more about home buying in Highlandtown, including how they may qualify for a $2,500 Johns Hopkins LNYW grant, to be used toward down payment or closing cost assistance, and how to qualify for low-interest Healthy Neighborhoods loans, a Healthy Neighborhoods rehab grant, Federal Home Loan Bank down-payment assistance and other home-buying incentives. A short tour of homes in the neighborhood will begin at 10:30 and include “showcase” homes and several houses now on the market. A self-guided tour map will be provided. RSVPs are not necessary, but in order for organizers to plan appropriately, employees are asked to call Sandy Jenkins, Johns Hopkins’ LNYW program coordinator, at 443997-7000.

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Calendar F I L M / V I DEO Fri., July 23, 7:30 p.m. The JHU Summer Film Series presents Star Trek (2009); music by the Swingin’ Swamis. Sponsored by the Office of Summer and Intersession Programs. Live music begins at 7:30 p.m.; movies start just after sunset. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Keyser Quad. HW

G RA N D ROU N DS Mon., July 26, 8:30 a.m. “The Molecular Genetics of Acinetobacter spp.: Challenges and Opportunities,” Pathology Grand Rounds with Robert Bonomo, Case Western Reserve. Hurd Hall. EB Wed., July 21, noon. “Untapped Potential: Innovations in Community-Academic Partnerships to Prevent Injury,” Public Health Practice grand rounds with Eileen McDonald, SPH; Shannon Frattaroli, SPH; and Deputy Chief Raymond O’Brocki, Baltimore City Fire Department. Co-sponsored the Mid-Atlantic Public Health Training Center and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. W1214 SPH. EB

I N FOR M AT I O N SESS I O N S Tues., July 27, 5 to 8 p.m. The U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officer Test oral preparation session. Sponsored by the SAIS Office of Career Services and the U.S. State Department. For more information and to RSVP, e-mail bcummings@howard.edu. Kenney Auditorium, Nitze Bldg. SAIS

READ I N G S / B OO K TA L K S Sat., July 24, 1 p.m. Pamela Ribon, best-selling author, television writer and performer, will read from and sign copies of her new novel, Going in Circles. Barnes & Noble Johns Hopkins. HW

.edu/urbanhealth/whrg/symposium_2010 .html. W2008 SPH. EB THEATER “Shakespeare Under the Stars 2010,”

the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival’s annual summer residency in Evergreen’s meadow. Two plays will be performed in repertory Wednesday to Sunday through Aug. 1: Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors and Moliere’s Scapin! Upcoming performances, all at 8 p.m., are July 23, 24, 25, 28 and 29 (Shakespeare) and July 21, 22, 30, 31 and Aug. 1 (Moliere). Gates open at 6 p.m. for picnicking. For the schedule of performances and ticket reservations, call 410-366-8596 or go to www .baltimoreshakespeare.org. $25 general admission; $20 for senior citizens, teachers and artists; $10 for students. Buy tickets to both shows, receive $5 off each ticket. Evergreen Museum & Library. W OR K SHO P S Mon., July 19, through Thurs., July 22, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Fri., July 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Your Research

Career,” a Professional Development Office workshop for JHMI students, graduate students and fellows. Registration required; go to www.hopkinsmedicine .org/pdo. Mountcastle Auditorium. EB The Center for Educational Resources presents a series of information ses-

sions on the Blackboard 9.1 interface. The training is open to anyone who will be accessing a Blackboard site as an administrator or TA. To register, go to www.cer.jhu.edu. Garrett Room, MSE Library. HW •

Mon., July 19, and Tues., July 27, 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 to 4 p.m.

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Thurs., July 22, and Wed., July 28, 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 to 4 p.m. “Blackboard Communication

“Getting Started With Blackboard.”

and Collaboration.” •

SE M I N ARS Tues., July 20, 12:30 p.m. “Which Comparativeness Research Question Should We Invest in First? Testing an Approach for Setting Priorities,” an Epidemiology thesis defense seminar with Tianjing Li. W2030 SPH. EB

“Coordinated Assembly of Bacteria SSB Proteins on Single-Stranded DNA,” a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology thesis defense seminar with Brenda Salerno. W1020 SPH. EB

Wed., July 21, 1 p.m.

Fri., July 23, and Thurs., July 29, 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 t o 4 p . m . “Accessing Student

Knowledge and Managing Grades in Blackboard.”

Tues., July 27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Grantcraft,” a Professional Development Office workshop for JHMI faculty and postdoctoral and clinical fellows. To register, go to www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ pdo. Mountcastle Auditorium. EB

Calendar

Key

(Events are free and open to the public except where indicated.)

APL Applied Physics Laboratory CSEB Computational Science and

SY M P OS I A

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Women’s Health with keynote speaker Camara Jones, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and selected research presentations from students and postdoctoral fellows. Sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Women’s Health Research Group. Lunch will be served. RSVP to www.jhsph

Mon., July 19, noon to 3 p.m.

Engineering Building East Baltimore Homewood Preclinical Teaching Building School of Advanced International Studies SoM School of Medicine SoN School of Nursing SPH School of Public Health WBSB Wood Basic Science Building

EB HW PCTB SAIS

GIVE BLOOD. A JHU/American Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for Wednesday, July 28, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Mount Washington Campus For more information, e-mail johnshopkinsblooddrive@jhmi.edu