WUSTL engineers led by computer science professor William Richard have created a USB-based ultrasound probe that can connect to a smartphone, creating a low-cost ultrasound imaging platform.

References:

1. May 12, 2009 — What's Next: Ultrasound Images Via Cellphone in the The Washington Post

Matthew Herper reports on the controversy surrounding the FDA and its policy for approving new schizophrenia drugs. Includes comments by WUSTL psychiatry professor John Newcomer.

References:

1. May 8, 2009 — Is The FDA Easing Up? in the Forbes

WUSTL computer scientists William Richard and David Zar have developed a USB Ultrasound probe that works with Windows Mobile smartphones, giving doctors a medical imaging device that they can carry with them wherever they go.

References:

1. April 23, 2009 — Scientists Develop USB Ultrasound for Phones in the PC Magazine

WUSTL computer science and engineering professors William Richard and David Zar have made commercial USB ultrasound probes compatible with Microsoft Windows mobile-based smartphones.

References:

1. April 22, 2009 — Soon, smartphones to provide ultrasound imaging in the Hindustan Times (India)

and 10 others.

A U.S. engineer says he is trying to develop methods of reducing vehicle drag so as to improve the gas mileage of planes, automobiles and trucks. WUSTL mechanical engineering professor Ramesh Agarwal said that although the technology has not yet been deployed on any commercially available vehicle, it is being investigated by airplane and automobile companies worldwide.

References:

1. March 18, 2009 — Engineer finds ways to improve gas mileage in the United Press International

and 2 others.

Arch Coal Inc., one of the world's biggest coal producers, reports earnings for the fourth quarter and full-year 2008 before the market opens Friday. Last month, Arch Coal and Peabody announced they are combining with Ameren Corp. and WUSTL to try and make St. Louis the nation's center for clean coal research and education.

References:

1. Jan. 29, 2009 — Arch Coal set to release 4Q earnings in the Associated Press State & Local Wire

and 3 others.

In a Dec. 8th news conference in Hong Kong, twenty-five premier research universities from around the world, including WUSTL, announced the establishment of the Consortium for Clean Coal Utilization to promote research and applications of clean coal technology.

References:

1. Dec. 9, 2008 — Story on the establishment of the Consortium for Clean Coal Utilization in the Xinhua News Agency (China)

and 11 others.

The first new pills in 60 years to prevent vein-clogging clots are emerging from research laboratories and may bring billions of dollars in sales to Johnson & Johnson, Bayer AG and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH. WUSTL hematology professor Evan Sadler comments.

References:

1. Dec. 10, 2008 — J&J, Bayer, Boehringer Clot-Busters May Reap Billons in the Bloomberg.com

and 1 others.

Two major coal companies and one of the Midwest's largest utilities are combining with WUSTL to try and make St. Louis the nation's center for clean coal research and education.

References:

1. Dec. 2, 2008 — Effort would make St. Louis clean coal focal point in the Associated Press State & Local Wire

and 13 others.

Anticipating a national rule on mercury removal from coal flue gas, technology providers jockey for position in this new market. Pratim Biswas, who chairs the department of energy, environmental, and chemical engineering at WUSTL, says titanium dioxide shows promise as an efficient mercury-removal mechanism.

References:

1. Nov. 24, 2008 — Getting Rid Of Mercury in the Chemical & Engineering News

The Beijing Olympics begin in just over three weeks, and the Chinese are trying to clear the air. In a recent test, Beijing's air failed to meet international health guidelines six days out of seven. WUSTL chemical engineering professor Jay Turner comments.

References:

1. July 15, 2008 — China trying different things to improve air quality for Olympics in the CBS Evening News

Researchers on Tuesday launched an effort to create a library of human genetics using the online encyclopedia Wikipedia in hopes it could spur widespread discussion about thousands of individual genes.
Authors of the "gene wiki" group outlined its lofty aims in a paper published on the Public Library of Science's online journal, PLoS Biology. The eight authors are from the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation in San Diego, San Diego State University and Washington University in St. Louis.

References:

1. July 9, 2008 — Edit your DNA: 'Gene wiki' to debut on Wikipedia in the The Associated Press State & Local Wire

and 29 others.

With ethanol looking less and less like the ideal alternative to fossil fuels, companies are rushing to come up with better options, such as biobutanol. WUSTL chemical engineering professor Lars Angenent is experimenting with using corn waste from ethanol plants to make butanol.

References:

1. June 30, 2008 — Betting on a Biofuel in the The Wall Street Journal

Eager to tap into China's pool of dirt-cheap engineers and technical employees who earn $5,000 to $10,000 a year, hundreds of European and U.S. companies have opened research centers throughout China in the last two years.
WUSTL political science professor Andrew Mertha warns that companies should be careful because of the seriouis problem of intellectual property piracy.

References:

1. Nov. 5, 2006 — U.S. research making great leap in the Philadelphia Inquirer

Despite its high-tech image, the pharmaceutical industry is less adept at manufacturing than you might expect. The Food & Drug Administration recently found hundreds of quality violations at drug companies and some factory processes are so antiquated that companies can't even pinpoint the cause of the snafus. Manufacturing may have become the poor stepchild of the pharmaceutical industry, but now, that stepchild is getting the attention it deserves. Jackson A. Nickerson of the Olin School of Business is leading an effort to find and correct flaws in drug-manufacturing practices and in FDA regulations, and he predicts huge economic gains. "Everyone has said that costs could decline by up to 50%," said Nickerson in the May 3, 2004, online issue of Business Week.

References:

1. May 3, 2004 — Making pills the smart way in the Business Week