In Brief
Center for Metabolism, Obesity Research plans symposium
With the completion of the human genome project, researchers
are engaged in studying
thousands of genes in hopes of understanding their roles in human
disease. But studies of genes alone
do not provide a good overview of the status and health of a
living organism. This insight resides in
metabolism, the management of energy balance, the constant
interplay of various biochemical
processes that regulate saving and using energy. Disturbances in
these pathways can lead to
devastating diseases, including obesity, diabetes and
cardiovascular disease.
The newly established Center for Metabolism and Obesity
Research at Johns Hopkins brings
together experts across many disciplines to advance understanding
of the basic science of metabolism
and speed discovery into the clinic.
To kick off this new collaboration, the center has invited
leaders in the metabolism field to
present their latest findings at a half-day symposium titled The
Many Faces of Metabolism:
Strategies from Basic Exploration to Intervention in Human
Disease. It will take place on Thursday,
April 3, on the East Baltimore campus. For details go to
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ibbs/research/CMOR.
Bloomberg center calls attention to Baltimore's homeless
youth
The Bloomberg School's Center for
Adolescent Health is calling attention to the plight of
Baltimore's homeless youth, issuing a policy brief that outlines
the scope of the problem and offering
solutions for addressing the issue.
A 2007 Baltimore City Homeless Census estimated that 11
percent of the 3,002 homeless living
in Baltimore are under the age of 18, but it does not distinguish
between youth who are unaccompanied
and those who are homeless with their families. A parallel count
conducted by the Baltimore Homeless
Youth Initiative, with technical assistance from the Center for
Adolescent Health, estimated
approximately 10 times the number. And school system estimates
indicate that 2,289 students are
homeless or displaced and lack a permanent home.
"The current estimates are widely diverging and use very
different definitions and methods to
get the numbers," said Vignetta Charles, an author of the brief.
"Understanding the magnitude of
youth homelessness is one of the critical steps in addressing the
problem. Without a number, it's
difficult to allocate resources. Undercounting minimizes our
social responsibility to help this
vulnerable population who are at risk for negative health
outcomes that include depression, HIV and
unwanted pregnancy."
Among the center's recommendations is a call for research to
accurately determine the number
of homeless youth. The current data, the researchers say, is best
at assessing homeless persons who
access shelters and soup kitchens, sites which young people are
less likely to frequent. Other
recommendations include the development of specific homeless
services for youth and improved
services for young people leaving foster care or the juvenile
justice system.
JHU Athletic Hall of Fame to induct seven new
members
Johns Hopkins will induct seven new members into its
Athletic Hall of Fame in ceremonies
scheduled for Saturday, March 29. The group will be honored at
the Johns Hopkins-North Carolina
men's lacrosse game (game time is 2 p.m.) with the induction
ceremony to take place in Homewood's
Hodson Hall later that evening.
The inductees are John Bielawski, athletic trainer; Charlie
Coker, lacrosse, football and
wrestling; Dave Emala, baseball and football; Frank Grzywacz,
basketball; Brad McLam, lacrosse and
football; Brian Piccola, lacrosse; and Terry Riordan, lacrosse.
For details of their accomplishments, go
to
hopkinssports.cstv.com/genrel/031908aac.html.
Individuals interested in attending the induction ceremonies
can contact Grant Kelly in the Blue
Jays Unlimited office at 410-516-6132 or gkelly11@jhu.edu.
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