UND's School of Medicine and Health Sciences is getting a $1.38 million federal grant to continue its research into a molecule that could hold clues to treating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia, the university said.
Saobo Lei, a neurologist in the Department of Basic Sciences, oversees the study of neurotensin, a molecule that activates learning and memory. Understanding how those molecules affect neurons in the brain could lead to the development of drugs that can replicate their effects.
Such a drug could help prevent the memory loss that accompanies some neurological diseases.
The three-year grant comes from the National Institutes of Health.
Higher ed
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• UND will be holding a reception for two new deans from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Empire Arts Center in downtown Grand Forks. Debbie Storrs was named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in June and Robert Hill began his duties as dean of the College of Education and Human Development in July.
• UND professor Elizabeth Harris won a national prize from the PEN American Center for her translation of "Tristano Dies" by Antonio Tabucchi, which will be published by Archipelago Books.
• UND's 23rd annual faculty bus tour will kick off Aug. 19 and make its way through communities in northern North Dakota. The three-day tour includes stops in Tioga and Turtle River State Park.
• The 11th Annual SUNRISE Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates Program poster session will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of UND's Harrington Hall. The session is a culmination of the work done by 12 students throughout the summer. It's free and open to the public.
• An image of UND's NDX-1 space suit has been featured at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., since late last month. The traveling exhibit has appeared at numerous locations across the country.
• UND professor Harmon Abrahamson was recently named a 2013 fellow of the American Chemical Society. Fellows are nominated by their peers and selected for their outstanding achievements in the sciences and for providing volunteer service to the ACS community.
• UND's Phi Beta Lambda chapter took home six awards at a national leadership conference this summer.
K-12
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• Free/reduced-price meals or milk applications are now available for the 2013-2014 school year and parents can contact their local school. Child care centers that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and fall under the guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are eligible to receive funding. More info: www.dpi.state.nd.us .
To see more regional higher education news, visit the websites of UND ; University of Minnesota, Crookston ; Northland Community and Technical College ; Mayville State University ; and Lake Region State College . To see more local K-12 education news, visit the websites of Grand Forks Public Schools and East Grand Forks Public Schools .
