UVA School of Medicine Faculty News Weekly Round-Up
July 28
• New UVA Institute Takes on Global Infections, from Labs to Legislatures
University of Virginia has recently established the Global Infections Diseases Institute.
“We need concerted responses to handling notorious and urgent global infectious diseases,” said Alison Criss, PhD, Associate Professor of Microbiology at UVA School of Medicine and Founding Director of the new institute. “Because of the complexity of the problem, which crosses international boundaries and academic disciplines, we need to collaborate by bringing together the creative minds of a range of experts.”
More than 100 UVA faculty members from eight schools at the University have signed on, Criss said, including scientists, engineers, architects, medical practitioners, economists, social scientists and legal, educational and public policy professionals and scholars. They have begun working together, along with postdoctoral fellows and students, to take multi-pronged approaches to addressing and solving some of the biggest disease challenges of the 21st century.
Read more: https://news.virginia.edu/content/new-uva-institute-takes-global-infections-labs-legislatures
• Global Research Priorities Identified for Sudden Unexpected Infant Death
The journal Pediatrics has published a paper from the UVA School of Medicine, the American SIDS Institute and partner international organizations which sets out new global priorities for tackling sudden unexpected infant death.
The paper, “Research Priorities in Sudden Unexpected Infant Death: An International Consensus,” highlights the Global Action and Prioritization of Sudden infant death project – or GAPS – run in collaboration with the Lullaby Trust in the United Kingdom, Red Nose (formerly SIDS and Kids) in Australia and the International Society for the Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death.
Fern Hauck, MD, Professor of Family Medicine and SIDS researcher at UVA and a member of the American SIDS Institute’s Research Advisory Council, said, “Sudden infant death is a global problem and needs a concentrated effort by international researchers. We have to have a clear focus and target our research funds where they can have the biggest impact.” Hauck is lead author of the paper.
Read more: https://news.virginia.edu/content/global-research-priorities-identified-sudden-unexpected-infant-death
• How Texting Can Protect Babies from Sudden Death
A series of educational videos delivered by text or email successfully encouraged new mothers to use safe sleep practices for their babies, reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death, a new study has found. The research comes from the University of Virginia schools of Medicine and Nursing, the Yale University School of Medicine and the Boston University School of Medicine.
Rachel Moon, MD, of the UVA School of Medicine said, “A lot of parents can be overwhelmed when caring for a new baby, partly because they are not sure what to do or get different advice from different people. We think that the videos and support that we provided in the texts and emails helped to give parents the information that they needed, when they needed it, and also addressed common concerns many parents have.”
The following UVA School of Medicine faculty contributed to the study:
Rachel Moon, MD, Professor of Pediatrics
Fern Hauck, MD, Professor of Family Medicine
Ann Kellams, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Read more: https://news.virginia.edu/content/how-texting-can-protect-babies-sudden-death
• UVA Launching Group Pregnancy Care, Education Program
To improve health outcomes for new moms and babies and reduce health disparities, UVA Children’s Hospital and UVA Women’s Services are launching a group pregnancy care and education program in August.
Backed by an $8,600 grant from the March of Dimes, the program will bring together groups of six to eight women who are in the same stage of their pregnancy for nine two-hour classes – including prenatal checkups – beginning in the 12th week of pregnancy.
“We want to protect the health of all new moms and babies and recognize that some of our patients may prefer to receive their prenatal care and support in a non-typical healthcare setting,” said Donald Dudley, MD, the program’s Co-Director, Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UVA School of Medicine.
Read more: http://www.nbc29.com/story/35954692/uva-launching-group-pregnancy-care-education-program
• NBC 29 House Call: Dr. Eric Davis on a Device to Alleviate Sleep Apnea
Davis MD, is Assistant Professor of Medicine at UVA School of Medicine.
Watch the interview: http://www.nbc29.com/clip/13529783/uva-house-call-dr-eric-davis-on-a-device-to-alleviate-sleep-apnea
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Did we miss something? If you have UVA School of Medicine faculty news to share, please email christa@virginia.edu.
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