newswire

AFRICAN BRAIN GAIN
For decades, development across Africa has been hampered by an exodus of educated professionals to the West. An exchange program between Tufts and the University of Ghana is easing the problem and could inspire other such partnerships. full story

GRIDIRON HISTORY
The Tufts football team played its 1,000th game on October 14 at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. full story

RETINA RESEARCH
Suzanne Roffler-Tarlov, professor of neuroscience, has been awarded a $50,000 grant by the Vision of Children Foundation and the John W. Alden Trust to study visual disorders related to albinism. full story

ADHD INTERVENTION
Ellen C. Perrin, professor of pediatrics, and her colleagues at the Floating Hospital for Children are teaching advanced childrearing skills to parents of toddlers with behavior problems, in hopes of forestalling disorders like ADHD. full story

SPINACH BUG CURE
Researchers at the Cummings School have developed a treatment for the illnesses caused by the virulent strain of E. coli that recently contaminated bagged spinach. The immune-based therapy uses specific human antibodies to target the toxin. full story

ANIMAL TRADE
Africa-based researchers from the Feinstein International Center at Tufts are examining methods for improving health certification for African livestock. Their aim: to boost exports as a “poverty reduction strategy for developing regions.” full story

THE DOCTOR IS OUT
Robert D. Kennison, M60, a distinguished physician, educator, and administrator, retired on December 31 after more than 40 years of service to Tufts School of Medicine and Tufts-New England Medical Center. full story (112k pdf)

THWARTING TERROR
The Jebsen Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies at the Fletcher School has received two grants to conduct research aimed at predicting, preventing, and preempting terrorism. full story

HALL OF HOOP FAME
The 1972–73 men’s basketball team—coached by Tom Penders, currently head coach at the University of Houston—has entered the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. full story

CANCER SUPPORT
Tufts-New England Medical Center has received a five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute to develop and study web-based interventions to help families of children who receive bone marrow, cord blood, or blood stem cell transplants. full story

LANGUAGE MEETING
A conference called Building Meaning from Language will bring leading linguists, psychologists, and other scholars to the Department of Psychology in June. Papers will explore how language enables us to make sense of the world. full story

TOWN MEETING
Robert Sternberg, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, has initiated town meetings for students, faculty, and staff to discuss issues ranging from campus social life to course requirements. full story