Henk Granzier’s research group uses an atomic force microscope sensitive enough to hold onto a single titin protein molecule and measure the tiny forces that occur during stretching and contracting under various conditions. (Photo: Katie Maass/Sarver Heart Center)
$6M Grant Boosts Molecular Heart Research Combining the resources and expertise of seven institutions in North America and Europe, a research program will offer new insights into the molecular workings of heart muscle cells and how genetic mutations affect their function. Henk Granzier, a UA professor of physiology, is one of two principal investigators leading the prestigious and highly competitive project.
UA Boosts HIV Early Intervention Services The UA's Petersen Clinics are working to promote early detection of HIV while connecting newly infected patients with care and services as soon as possible. More than 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and nearly one in five are unaware of their infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early detection and intervention can go a long way in improving patient outcomes and preventing the spread of the virus.
Young Doctor Defies Odds, Plans to Practice in Tucson Michael Lokale overcame a rough childhood to excel in family medicine. He is finishing a residency at the UA and, in July, plans to join a practice in Tucson. To Lokale, being a family doctor means being "a complete doctor. You get to see people when they are born. You deliver them, and you follow them throughout their lives. You form relationships with them. You know their stories. I think that's very cool."
UA Research Determines Feasibility of Newborn Screening in Tucson Research by UA medical student Lucy Han finds that implementing recommended pulse oximetry screening guidelines is feasible at Tucson's elevation. A recent simple pulse oximetry test revealed a potentially life-threatening critical congenital heart defect in a newborn that was surgically repaired at The University of Arizona Medical Center-University Campus.
ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for movement. The disease causes a loss of muscle function, including the muscles used for speech, swallowing and breathing, and paralysis that eventually leads to death. The mind and senses mostly remain unaffected. Some patients may have cognitive changes, including depression and problems with decision-making and memory.
Seed Funding Leads to Major UA Grants When Tucson judge Jim Himelic died in 2000, his family and friends established a foundation in his honor to raise funds to support ALS research at the UA and elsewhere. UA researchers studying ALS have greatly benefited from the seed money, in some cases subsequently gaining larger grants, and the foundation's major fundraiser this month intends to ensure that such opportunities continue.
Henk Granzier’s research group uses an atomic force microscope sensitive enough to hold onto a single titin protein molecule and measure the tiny forces that occur during stretching and contracting under various conditions. (Photo: Katie Maass/Sarver Heart Center)
ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for movement. The disease causes a loss of muscle function, including the muscles used for speech, swallowing and breathing, and paralysis that eventually leads to death. The mind and senses mostly remain unaffected. Some patients may have cognitive changes, including depression and problems with decision-making and memory.

Study Explores Arizona Parents' Struggle with Child-Care Options

  • UANews
  • April 12, 2013
Arizona parents tend to rely on a "patchwork" of child-care arrangements while many are looking for new options, and many of them struggle to pay for child care, according to a UA-led study. Results indicate that more financial support is needed for parents so their children can access early childhood education programs.

Aging to Perfection

  • Tucson Lifestyle
  • April 12, 2013
What if we could all live well past 100 and for most of those years be healthy and vibrant? This is not impossible, say UA experts who have devoted their careers to exploring every aspect of aging, from the body to the brain. Here, the UA's Dr. Janko Nikolich-Zugich and Carol Barnes discuss their research about aging.

Virtual Clinic Showcases New Technology for Teaching Medical Students

  • UANews
  • April 12, 2013
First-year medical students at the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix are putting their knowledge to the test in the Arizona Center for Simulation and Experiential Learning, the simulation lab on the downtown campus. The center gives students real-life medical experience by allowing them to "treat" mechanically controlled mannequins.

UA Performs World’s First and Second Robot-Assisted Surgeries for Mesothelioma

  • UANews
  • April 11, 2013
The world's first and second robot-assisted extrapleural pneumonectomy for the treatment of mesothelioma have been performed by Dr. Farid Gharagozloo, professor and section chief of thoracic surgery, robotic cardiothoracic surgery and esophageal surgery with the UA department of surgery. Mesothelioma is a highly invasive cancer, often linked to exposure to asbestos.

The Strikingly Similar Brains of Flies and Men

  • UANews
  • April 11, 2013
Decision-making centers in the brains of insects and mammals share too many similarities to have evolved independently, according to comparative studies led by UA neuroscientist Nick Strausfeld. Recognizing such similarities may help scientists better understand and treat diseases such as Parkinson's.

UA Researcher Leads Statewide Effort on Autism Education, Early Intervention

  • UANews
  • April 10, 2013
The UA's Ann Mastergeorge is leading a statewide effort to educate parents, health-care providers and other professionals about how to identify the signs of autism in very young children and how early intervention can help. One in 50 school-aged children in the United States is diagnosed with autism, according to statistics recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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