Leading researcher, advocate for women in science named provost
Following a national search, Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., named Teresa Kaye Woodruff as the university’s next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. She is currently dean of the graduate school and associate provost for graduate education at Northwestern University.
“Teresa’s experience and credentials are impeccable. But more importantly, she has a great understanding of education and research at a university with the scale and impact of MSU,” Stanley said. “She is a pioneer in her field and a champion for equity in health care for women. Throughout her career, she has recognized the importance of STEM education and advocated for its support at the national level. In addition, her time as dean of the Graduate School at Northwestern has given her a great appreciation of the critical importance of the arts and humanities in higher education’s efforts to provide for the needs of today’s society.
Loretta VanCamp: Spartan, lab supervisor, lifesaver
The foundation for one of the most successful modern treatments of cancer was first discovered in a Michigan State University lab in the mid-1960s. As lab supervisor, MSU microbiologist and researcher Loretta VanCamp played a critical role in the breakthrough development of the world’s leading anti-cancer drugs cisplatin and carboplatin alongside MSU biophysicist Barnett Rosenberg and then-graduate student Thomas Krigas.
VanCamp, an MSU alumna who passed away in 2006 at 80 years old, was driven by the desire to help others when she chose her career path.
‘Optical tweezers’ help in quest for better cancer treatments
Stem cells involved in replenishing human tissues and blood depend on an enzyme known as telomerase to continue working throughout our lives. When telomerase malfunctions, it can lead to both cancer and premature aging conditions. Roughly 90% of cancer cells require inappropriate telomerase activity to survive.
In a groundbreaking new study, an interdisciplinary team of Michigan State University researchers has observed telomerase activity at a single-molecule level with unprecedented precision – expanding our understanding of the vital enzyme and progressing toward better cancer treatments.
Goodman Named AAAS Fellow
Jay Goodman, professor of pharmacology and toxicology and IIT-affiliated faculty member, was recently awarded the distinction of Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) along with five other distinguished MSU faculty members. These individuals were selected for this honor because of their efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished. AAAS Fellow's lifetime honor comes with an expectation that recipients maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity.