News From U-M
MMPEI now University of Michigan Energy Institute
The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute (MMPEI) changed its name to the University of Michigan Energy Institute, effective Feb. 1, 2012. The name change clarifies the institute's identity as an interdisciplinary research unit of the Office of the Vice President of Research that draws on expertise from across the entire University to develop, coordinate and promote energy research and education. At the same time, the institute will take steps to ensure the enduring legacy of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project (MMPP) by reinvigorating it and highlighting its on-going activities as a distinct unit within the institute. More
Oboe for the Brain
U-M biomedical researchers and spin-out companies are working on the next generation of Deep Brain Stimulation probes. U-M neurosurgeon Parag Patil, who surgically places probes in patients to mitigate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, says that Deep Brain Stimulation is 'like the oboe that begins a concert,' coordinating and tuning different parts of the brain. Read the complete story in Michigan Today
Medical School ranks 6th in NIH medical school funding
Research at the University of Michigan Medical School brought hundreds of millions of dollars into the state of Michigan in the last year – and could have a total economic impact of nearly $1.2 billion, new data show.
The school rose to sixth among all medical schools in terms of total funding from the federal National Institutes of Health, and second among medical schools affiliated with public universities. It is the school’s fourth consecutive year in the top 10. Read More
Thirteen U-M scientists and engineers named AAAS Fellows
Thirteen University of Michigan faculty members are among 539 newly elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. U-M's new AAAS fellows come from the fields of biological and medical science; chemistry; dentistry; information, computing and communication; and psychology. Read More
U-M annual research spending grows 8.5 percent to $1.24 billion
Research spending at the University of Michigan in 2010-11 grew 8.5 percent over the previous year to $1.24 billion, continuing the long-term trend of steady growth in the university's research enterprise. Read More
Three U-M researchers named 2011 MacArthur Fellows
Three University of Michigan researchers— historian Tiya Miles, chemist Melanie Sanford and stem cell biologist Yukiko Yamashita—are among the 22 new MacArthur Fellows announced today by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Each will receive $500,000 in "no strings attached" support over the next five years from the MacArthur Foundation. Read More
U-M among international group to find genetic variants that may contribute to mental illness
Several newly discovered genetic variants may increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or both, according to an international research consortium that includes the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Laura Scott, associate research scientist at U-M SPH, led the SPH group that participated along with more than 250 researchers from more than 20 countries that comprised the Psychiatric Genome-Wide Association Study Consortium. The various groups in the consortium found six variants not previously observed, and 11 variants total. Read More
U-M’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum receives grant to assess at-risk plants
The University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum has received a grant of nearly $127,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant enables a two-year project to locate and assess at-risk plant communities growing on the four properties managed by Matthaei-Nichols. The project runs through May 2013. Part old-fashioned fieldwork, part high-tech information-gathering, the project is contemporary natural history for the long term. Pivotal to the project is the use of technological recording and tracking tools to create an in-depth accounting of existing natural communities, said Matthaei-Nichols director Robert Grese. Read More