Four University of Minnesota researchers will be awarded the highest recognition of excellence given by the Academic Health Center - an induction into the Academy of Excellence in Health Research.
Bruce R. Blazar, M.D., Karen H. Ashe, M.D., Ph.D., Eric Newman, Ph.D., and Mary Story, Ph.D., R.D., were selected for their sustained, nationally and internationally-recognized health-related research that has augmented the quality and eminence of the University of Minnesota.
"They are at the cutting edge of research that leads to new, life-saving therapies," said Mark S. Paller, M.D., M.S., assistant vice president for research at the University of Minnesota. "These therapies not only raise the prominence of the University of Minnesota, but also improve the health of thousands of people locally and throughout the world."
Internationally recognized as an expert in bone marrow transplantation, Bruce R. Blazar, M.D., has discovered new mechanisms responsible for bone marrow transplantation complications in preclinical studies. With these insights, Blazar has developed several pharmacological and protein therapies designed to improve the outcome of bone marrow transplants by reducing serious side-effects. Blazar is a professor of pediatrics in the Division of Hematology-Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation in the Medical School.
Karen H. Ashe, M.D., Ph.D., has made noteworthy gains in addressing the molecular basis of memory loss and cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease. Ashe created transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease to better understand how certain proteins impair memory and cognition. This method has ultimately led Ashe to identify a mechanism that impairs memory. The discovery is paving the way for drug development targeting this protein complex, offering hope for new treatments. Ashe is a professor of neurology and neuroscience at the Medical School.
An international leader in the field of glial cell biology, the research findings of Eric A. Newman, Ph.D. have had broad implications for brain function. His research has identified the essential role of glial cells in many key brain processes. Newman is a professor in the Department of Neuroscience in the Medical School.
Mary T. Story, Ph.D., R.D., is making gainful strides in preventing and combating youth eating disorders. She is involved in national efforts to reduce childhood obesity. By pioneering strategies for obesity prevention and healthy eating and physical activity strategies for youth, Story is making headway in improving the national childhood obesity epidemic. Story is a professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health in the School of Public Health.
Blazar, Ashe, Newman, and Story will join 14 other Academic Health Center researchers who have been appointed to the Academy for Excellence in Health Research since its inception in 2003.
