Potato Blight Prevention Plan

UW scientists reported their findings July

14th on a gene that protects against late potato blight, the

disease responsible for causing the Irish Potato Famine.

Specifically this fungal disease turns tubers into mush killing

everything that it infects. This gene was found in a species of

wild Mexican potatoes called Solanum Bulbocastanum and may help

farmers protect more that 1.5 million acres of susceptible potato

plants. 

Poet Laureate Plans a Visit

The nation’s poet laureate, Billy Collins,

will speak at the Memorial Union Theatre as part of the second

annual Wisconsin Book Festival.  His presentation will begin

at 7 p.m. on October 22, in which he will read poetry and answer

questions.  Also, after the seminar Collins will be available

to sign autographs.

Collins was named poet laureate in June of

2001 and will carry this prestigious title until June 2003. 

Currently he is an English professor at Lehman College of the City

University of New York.  He has also written seven of his own

poetry collections including “Nine Horses” and “Taking Off Emily

Dickinson’s Clothes”.

Last year less than 8,000 people came to the

Wisconsin Book Festival. This year coordinators have selected

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Deborah Blum, Pulitzer

Prize-winner David Maraniss; poet, essayist and feminist Grace

Paley; and the poet considered to be the founder of spoken-word

poetry Piri Thomas.

UW-Madison Scientists Recieve Shaw Award Grants

The greater Milwaukee Foundation has presented

its Shaw Scientist Award to two DNA researchers at UW-Madison,

providing each with $200,000 grants: one to explore how cells

integrate the processes that sense DNA damage and repair it, and a

second to investigate how mammalian cells respond to genetic

damage, hoping to shed light on diseases such as Parkinson’s and

Alzheimer’s.

The recipients of the award are James L. Keck,

an assistant professor of biomolecular chemistry, and Randall S.

Tibbetts, an assistant professor of pharmacology. Keck is currently

exploring how cells integrate a range of processes that sense DNA

damage and trigger repairs to maintain cell health. He also hopes

to explore the molecular origins of diseases that cause premature

aging, cancer and other serious conditions. Tibbetts is attempting

to understand how mammalian cells respond to genetic damage, as

well as the process of inherited genetic diseases that result from

cell mutations. In addition, his group hopes to learn more about

Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.

Keck and Tibbetts, as well as the award’s

third recipient, Anthony A. Azenabor of UW-Milwaukee, were chosen

from among eight scientists nominated for the award from UW System

Schools.

Wisconsin Fights Expanding

Waistlines

The state of Wisconsin has received $2 million

from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to try to

trim the state’s obesity rate over the next five years. In

Wisconsin, 59 percent of residents are either overweight or obese,

and the state’s obesity rate has nearly doubled in the decade

ending in 2001.  

The state will use a portion of the grant to

develop a nutrition and physical activity plan. A coalition of

state officials, local governments and private partners will help

write the plan, as well as continue compiling an inventory of all

the nutrition and exercise programs in Wisconsin.

State officials hope to help fund research by

Alex Adams at UW-Madison, who is working with American Indian

tribes to find early predictors for childhood obesity.

The Centers for Disease Control recently

awarded a total of $9.7 million in grants to 20 states for funding

for similar programs.

TEAMSurvivor Madison races Dragon

Boat

Madison’s local chapter of TEAMSurvivor, a

national organization that promotes physical activity for women who

are living with or surviving cancer, is participating in dragon

boat races for the first time this year. Members rowed in their

first dragon boat race June 14 at a festival in St. Charles, Ill.,

and plan to enter additional competitions this summer.  In

addition to dragon boat races, the organization promotes activities

like triathlon competition. 

So far, TEAMSurvivor Madison has about 50

members. Madison-area health and fitness facilities, including

Meriter Hospital, YMCA of Dane County, the UW Comprehensive Cancer

Center, the UW-Health Sports Medicine Center and Watertrails

Adventures have provided support and resources.

– compiled from staff reports