Duke News Briefs: May 16, 2003

Medical research grants up

Duke's School of Medicine saw its research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) increase by more than 20 percent in fiscal year 2002, according to the federal agency's latest figures released this month. This rate of growth was the highest among the top 15 ranked institutions in the country, according to the report.

The school now ranks eighth in the country among medical schools in terms of NIH funding. In fiscal year 2001, Duke School of Medicine finished the year in 10th place.

Dean R. Sanders Williams, M.D., said, "The dollars we receive from the NIH provide the means to achieve our goals in research: notable discoveries that advance human health. The competition for these awards is fierce, ensuring that the U.S. taxpayer receives real value for these investments. The success of Duke faculty in competing for NIH funding reflects a pleasing combination of talent, dedication and hard work."

Duke's School of Medicine received 598 awards for a total of $245.5 million. The majority of the awards funded research grants, with the remainder going toward training grants, fellowships, research and development contracts and other awards.

The division of general internal medicine received $79.9 million, making it the top Duke NIH grantee. Duke's department of surgery received $35 million -- more funding than any other surgery department in the country. Other Duke research areas among the nation's top 10 for NIH funding included biology, biostatistics, radiation and diagnostic oncology, psychology and pharmacology

Brown to lead Duke Jazz Ensemble

John V. Brown has been appointed visiting director of the Jazz Studies Program and the jazz ensemble at Duke for the 2003-04 academic year, the Department of Music has announced.

Brown holds degrees from UNC-Greensboro and UNC-Chapel Hill, and currently serves on the faculties at Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University. Brown has performed as a bassist with Elvin Jones, Nnenna Freelon and Delfeayo Marsalis, and also performs regularly with the North Carolina Symphony, Carolina Ballet and the Opera Company of North Carolina.

Nobel laureate to lecture

Dr. Bernard Lown of Harvard University's School of Public Health will be the speaker for the 15th Annual Merel H. Harmel Lecture, scheduled for 7:30 a.m. May 21, 2002 Duke Hospital Lown, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his role as co-founder of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, will speak on "The growing crisis in global cardiology."

Lown invented the defibrillator, the cardiovertor, and introduced the use of Lidocaine for treatment of cardiac dysrhythmias. His recent work has focused on the role of psychological and behavioral factors in regulating the heart.

The Merel H. Harmel Lecture is sponsored by the Department of Anesthesiology as part of the Joint Anesthesiology Grand Rounds with Surgery. For more information, contact Gloria Howard at 681-6493.

Law school computing

Duke Law School will host the 2003 Conference for Law School Computing from June 19-21. The conference, sponsored by the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI), will focus on technology applications in law schools.

Participants will include faculty, librarians and legal technologists from across the country and abroad. The conference, first held in 1991, has grown every year, with more than 500 attending in 2002.

"Duke Law is excited to be hosting this conference, the only one of its kind which brings together professionals in different fields to discuss the role and application of technology in law schools," said Kenneth Hirsh, director of computing services at the School and a member of CALI's board of directors.

Keynote speakers are Paul Duguid, a research specialist in social and cultural studies in Education at the University of California, Berkeley and co-author of the book The Social Life of Information; and Tracy Futhey, chief information officer and vice president for information technology at Duke.

Hospice 'Memory Walk'

Duke Community Hospice Services will hold its Spring Memory Walk Dedication Ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at the Unicorn Bereavement Center's W. S. Carver Gardens at the Meadowlands in Hillsborough.

The Memory Walk in the Carver Gardens has hundreds of bricks inscribed with special memories of loved ones. Each brick and each name represents a loved one -- a mother, father, son, daughter or friend.

At this service, loved ones are invited to be present as the brick inscriptions are read and the walkway is once again dedicated to the honor of those for whom commemorative bricks have been placed.

For more information, call Doreen Matters at 620-3853.

Smokers needed for study

Duke University Medical Center's Nicotine Research Laboratory is seeking menthol cigarette smokers between the ages of 18 and 65 to participate in a research study using cigarettes without nicotine. Study participants can earn $300 for 10 brief afternoon visits.

For more information, call the Duke Nicotine Research Laboratory at 919-681-2595.

Obituaries

Fitzgerald S. "Jerry" Hudson, former chairman of the Duke board of trustees and for whom the Pratt School of Engineering's oldest building is named, died of complications from a stroke last Friday in Montgomery, Ala. He was 78.

As trustee chairman from 1988 to 1991, Hudson provided the leadership on several important university initiatives at a time of change for the university. Duke officials said his support was instrumental in the construction of the $80 million Levine Science Research Center, which greatly expanded the amount of classroom and research space in the sciences. He also was important in establishing the Duke University Management Corporation (DUMAC), the affiliated corporation that is responsible for handling the university endowment.

An engineering graduate, Hudson showed particular interest in the engineering school and the Marine Lab, according to Duke officials. In 1992, a building in the engineering school, known affectionately as "Old Red," was renamed Hudson Hall in his honor. Friends said Hudson used his imposing height to command attention as a leader and his gentle sense of humor to deflate tension in a room. "Jerry was an exceptional leader, and it was always enjoyable to work with him," said Duke President Emeritus H. Keith H. Brodie. "He was the type of leader who would charge forth and expect the troops to rally around and follow him. And they usually did." Hudson joined the U.S. Marines in 1943, and served during World War II and the Korean War, retiring as a captain. He attended Auburn and Duke universities, graduating from Duke in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. Donations may be made to Friends of Acadia National Park in Mount Desert Island, Maine, or the Montgomery Historical Society. Alvernon Hayes, a former employee in cell biology, died March 2. Hayes worked at Duke from 1962 to 2002. Catherine Horton, a former employee in patient financial information, died April 24. She worked at Duke from 1966 to 1990. Elizabeth Jones, a former general medical clinic employee, died April 3. She worked at Duke from 1949 to 1988. Edward Murray, a former maintenance employee, died April 26. He worked at Duke from 1967 to 1984. Freddie Paschall, a former employee in housekeeping, died April 12. He worked at Duke from 1968 to 1986. Eddie Paylor, a former staff member in West Campus housekeeping, died April 28. Paylor worked at Duke from 1966 to 1985. Gladys Richardson, a former worker in the special medical unit, died April 12. She worked at Duke from 1960 to 1983. Evelyn Roberson, a former patient relations staff member, died April 1. She worked at Duke from 1965 to 1991. Joseph Szadek, a former worker in medical center maintenance, died April 4. He worked at Duke from 1958 to 1991. Annie Terry-Gibson, a former worker in the surgical private diagnostic clinic, died April 17. She worked at Duke from 1943 to 1985. Mary Thorpe, a former housekeeper, died April 2. She worked at Duke from 1977 to 1993.