In the world of small things, shape, order and orientation are surprisingly important, according to findings from a new study by WUSTL chemistry professor Lev Gelb, graduate student Brian Barnes, and postdoctoral researcher Daniel Siderius.

References:

1. May 4, 2009 — Particles, Molecules Prefer Not To Mix in the ScienceDaily.com

and 7 others.

Information obtained from a new application of photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is worth its weight in gold to breast cancer patients. The work of WUSTL biomedical engineering researchers Lihong Wang and Younan Xia, supported by the NIH, can minimize invasive surgical lymph node biopsy procedures to determine if breast cancer has metastasized and reduce the patient's exposure to radioactivity.

References:

1. Jan. 13, 2009 — Novel Technique Changes Lymph Node Biopsy, Reduces Radiaiton Exposure in the ScienceDaily.com

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have shed light on a basic process that could improve future solar cells.

References:

1. Nov. 18, 2008 — Precise Measurement of Phenomenon Advances Solar Cell Understanding in the ScienceDaily.com

and 3 others.

WUSTL's Karen Wooley, professor of chemistry, comments on the difficulties and approaches academic researchers use to garner industry funding.

References:

1. March 14, 2008 — Finding Industry Funding in the Science Magazine

By mimicking plant evolution, a team of Illinois researchers has improved upon nature's design to build a leafy energy-producing powerhouse — or at least a virtual one on a supercomputer. In a study published within the journal Plant Physiology, WUSTL biology and chemistry professor Robert Blankenship comments on the Illinois study.

References:

1. Jan. 10, 2008 — Mimicking plant evolution proves fruitful in the MSNBC.com

WUSTL is one of seven university consortia selected by the National Cancer Institute to spearhead research hubs called Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence, which will bring together academic laboratories and private firms to develop anti-cancer products.
The research involves the use of molecular-scale nanotechnology devices to detect and destroy tumor cells.
From the Post-Dispatch article -- the WUSTL center will be headed by Samuel Wickline.
In April, WUSTL got another grant, worth $12.5 million, for a separate nanotechnology center headed by chemist Karen Wooley.

References:

1. Oct. 4, 2005 — Universities selected for nanotech research in the San Francisco Chronicle
2. Oct. 4, 2005 — WU gets grant to work on anti-cancer particles in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

and 10 others.

You may have one of the biggest risk factors for heart attack, and your doctor doesn't even know it. While doctors screening for heart problems know to monitor smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, few pay attention to a potentially more serious foe: depression. "In cardiology there have been dozens of studies done on hypertension," said Kenneth Freedland, professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine, who has been studying the link between depression and heart disease since the 1980s. "We need to make sure the public and medical community understand that this is an important problem, too."

References:

1. Feb. 23, 2004 — Depression: hidden cause of heart attack? in the The Wall Street Journal

and 2 others.