Medical breakthroughs

Good grapes -- It turns out grape juice isn't just good for kids. A pilot study conducted by UC neurologists suggests that drinking Concord grape juice may help older adults with early memory decline improve their memory function. Concord grape juice contains compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which scientists believe may affect signaling in memory centers of the brain. UC researchers say they observed promising improvements in verbal and spatial memory function for those drinking Concord grape juice.

Brain cancer vaccine -- UC cancer specialists are part of a nationwide clinical trial investigating whether a vaccine generated from a patient's own white blood cells can boost the immune system to fight off brain cancer recurrence. Their goal is to find a more effective way of treating glioblastoma multiforme, a fast-growing tumor that occurs in the central nervous system.

Criminal intent -- We've known for years that lead is toxic to the nervous system, particularly among children and adolescents, but now UC scientists are the first to look at its effects on adult criminal behavior. As part of the UC Cincinnati Lead Study, faculty from environmental health, pediatrics and criminology used 30-year data to discover a link between elevated blood-lead levels in early childhood and higher rates of criminal arrest in adulthood. "The lead-crime connection remained even after we adjusted the results for a host of other potential explanatory variables, including poverty and poor parenting," explains team member John Paul Wright, associate professor of criminal justice.

Curing pancreatitis -- The UC Pancreatic Disease Center recently completed its 100th specialized procedure to "cure" chronic pancreatitis. The team is one of only three in the world that offers the lifesaving procedure in which the pancreas is removed and specific insulin-producing cells are processed and implanted back into the patient, resulting in the elimination of debilitating abdominal pain and often, the need for insulin injections.

National recognition -- The renowned Howard Hughes Medical Institute recently named UC cardiovascular biologist Jeffery Molkentin as one of its investigators, recognizing him for "challenging the boundaries of science by pursuing bold and creative research." Molkentin's work has already expanded the scientific community's understanding of how cellular changes influence heart disease and muscular dystrophy. He is one of only four HHMI investigators ever appointed in Ohio, the third from UC and the first at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Millions for aerospace, U.S. defense

Apparently, the sky isn't the limit for UC researchers thanks to a recent $28 million grant from Ohio Research Scholars to support the university's aerospace program, led by Professor Awatef Hamed. Scientists from UC, Ohio State University and the University of Dayton will use the funds to study power and propulsion systems, low-emission energy sources and aerospace system issues surrounding acoustics, turbine aerodynamics and heat transfer.

In addition, UC bioaerosol experts have received a $1.3 million grant to investigate a new method for killing the biological agents most likely to be used in weapons of mass destruction. Sergey Grinshpun, director of UC's Center for Health-Related Aerosol Studies, will lead researchers to create a compound that can be released into the air after an explosion to target and destroy dangerous biological agents. Funding comes from the United States Department of Defense.

New faces at UC

Designer named DAAP dean

Renowned for his international graphic design career, Robert Probst will lead the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning as the new dean. Probst has been a DAAP professor for 30 years, was named director of the School of Design in 2001 and served as interim dean for the last year.

Composer new CCM dean

Award-winning composer Douglas Knehans has been named dean for UC's College-Conservatory of Music. Knehans came to UC from the University of Tasmania in Australia, where he served as director and professor of music.

Board welcomes trustee

For Robert Richardson Jr., Eng '02, JD '05, his appointment as the newest member of the university's Board of Trustees is a homecoming. Besides receiving two degrees from UC, the attorney was student body president from 2001-02. The 29-year-old was the youngest trustee on record at the time of his appointment in February.

UC loves Lucy

The Bearcat is back -- not the mascot, but a furry real-life critter from the zoo.

"Lucy," named through an online contest last spring, was born Jan. 17. Although she will make her home at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Lucy has already started visiting campus for university events, winning the hearts of faculty, staff and students whom she gladly climbs over and plays with.

A bearcat, or binturong, is actually neither a bear nor a cat, but more like a civet, a nocturnal animal from the dense forests of Southeast Asia. "Alice," the former Zoo bearcat, was a regular attraction at UC's home football and basketball games from the mid-'80s to the late '90s. She died in 2003.

Zoo and UC officials selected the new bearcat's name from among more than 2,000 votes. Attraction to the name came from the fact that the letters "UC" are in the middle of the name and that the zoo has a 2-year-old male bearcat named Ricky, reflecting the 1950s TV sitcom "I Love Lucy."

"We are back in the Bearcat business," says Thane Maynard, executive director of the zoo. "If there's one zoo in this country that should have a bearcat in its collection, it's the Cincinnati Zoo."

Bearcats take international stage

... as Olympians

The road to Beijing for two U.S. Olympic runners ran directly through the University of Cincinnati.

Mary Wineberg, one of the world's top 400-meter sprinters, and David Payne, a rising force in the 110-meter hurdles, first met as teammates on the UC track team in 2002.

Wineberg, Ed '02, nearly hung up her spikes for good after failing to make the 2004 Olympic team. In 2008, she helped the American 4X400 relay team to a gold medal. But to get to that point, it took some maturing on her part.

"When I first graduated and came out of college, I really didn't understand the world of track and field," she says. "I'm realizing now what it takes."

Instead of quitting, Wineberg stepped up her training regimen and convinced herself she could run faster. She was right.

"It feels amazing," said Wineberg after qualifying for the '08 Games. "I am 28 years old, and this is my first Olympics, but hopefully not my last.

"I am so happy and blessed. It's been a long four years of trying to make myself known. The Lord allowed me to get this far, and this is truly a blessing."

Payne, att. '04, brought home the silver medal in Beijing this summer in the 110-meter hurdles.

... in the real world

UC architecture senior Nick Sillies had an opportunity to help shape the skyline of New York City. Employer Tsao & McKown Architects liked their co-op's design contributions enough to incorporate his work into a 50-story condo project in downtown Manhattan. Sillies' work with global firms on internationally prominent building projects won him the award as the nation's best co-op student from the Cooperative Education and Internship Association.

... on the red carpet

Producer Kevin McCollum, CCM '84, won the 2008 Best Musical Tony for "In the Heights." The acclaimed Broadway show took a total of four Tony Awards and was nominated for 13. McCollum's previous Tony Award winners include "The Drowsy Chaperone" in 2006, "Avenue Q" in '04, "La Boheme" in '03 and "Rent" in 1996. Also nominated for a Tony Award this year was Faith Prince, CCM '79, for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Aggie in "A Catered Affair."

UC makes national news

Time Magazine turned to obesity researcher Randy Seeley to discuss why a third of America's children are carrying around more weight than they should.

Popular Science shared how UC engineering professor Andrew Steckl is devising a technique for using DNA from salmon sperm to enhance the brightness of light emitting diodes (LEDs), commonly used in electronic devices such as cell phones and PDAs.

ABC's "20/20" featured the work of Peter Scheifele, who opened perhaps the country's only canine audiology clinic. Scheifele's goal with the UC clinic is to change the way we think about hearing loss in animals.

Los Angeles Times reported on new work from UC biologist David Lentz that shows the global origins of sunflower farming emerged thousands of years earlier and from a different region -- Mexico rather than eastern North America -- than previously thought.

United Press International carried a story featuring researcher Jerzy Szaflarski, who found that patients who have seizures within 24 hours after a stroke are far more likely to die than those who do not experience seizures.

The Associated Press highlighted an experiment by UC doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital who are using text messaging to help teens and tweens remember to take their meds.

Washington Times quoted ophthalmology professor Edward Holland, who co-authored a study showing that corneas from older donors can be used successfully. The discovery may boost the pool of donors for cornea transplants by 30 percent.

New York Times interviewed Mary Mahoney, UC's director of breast imaging, to discuss the increased number of callbacks during cancer screenings due to the change in technology from traditional X-rays to digital mammograms.

Rave reviews from UC students

What do current students think of the University of Cincinnati? A 2008 random survey of about 1,000 Bearcats shows they are quite content. In fact, they are considerably more satisfied with their college experience than UC students from even two years ago.

Administrators point to the physical improvements of campus, mainly the completion of MainStreet, as well as the increased emphasis on improving service through such things as the One-Stop Student Service Center as reasons for the improved attitudes.

UC's good grade came from the national Student Satisfaction Inventory, which allows participating universities to compare themselves with other four-year public institutions. Cincinnati scored above average for campus life, instructional effectiveness and service excellence. Most telling may be the fact that the university received higher marks in 75 out of 82 areas from the 2006 survey.

"As prospective students visit our campus, we're frequently asked what our current students think of their college experience," says Caroline Miller, associate vice president and associate provost for enrollment management. "The survey provides us with new evidence that UC students feel that student needs are at the heart of the university."

Largest graduating class in decades

The largest graduating class in 20 years -- 4,555 students -- received degrees at UC's 189th commencement in June 2008. By the end of the weekend, nearly 33,000 guests had attended one of three ceremonies at Fifth Third Arena, and the ranks of UC's living alumni had swelled to more than 230,000.

Honorary degrees were awarded to Stan Herman, DAAP '50, an award-winning designer who pioneered the "designer uniform" for clients such as FedEx and McDonalds; Brigman "Brig" Owens, Ed '65, a 13-year veteran with the NFL and founder of a nonprofit youth program; and Bill Wiesmann, A&S '68, who led research teams that developed a bandage to stop uncontrolled bleeding on the battlefield and now holds more than 30 patents. The UC Award for Excellence went to Milton Anderson, CCM '50, founder and director of a nonprofit musical performance company for youth.

Waltons creator delivers address

Delivering this year's commencement address was Hollywood writer Earl Hamner, CCM '48, creator of the 1970s family-TV classic "The Waltons," which aired for nine seasons and won him an Emmy. He was also the screenwriter of the original "Charlotte's Web," a screenwriter for the television show "The Twilight Zone" and producer of the 1980s series "Falcon Crest." He received an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts degree.

Because much of the author's writing has become a celebration of American values, he told the graduates, "I do ask you to keep those traditional values in a quiet place in your heart, and remember that they have sustained us as a country and a people for over 200 years. You are our hope for and our promise of a better world."