Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Massey Cancer Center researchers have uncovered how a gene, melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24), induces a bystander effect that kills cancer cells not directly receiving mda-7/IL-24 without harming healthy ones, a discovery that could lead to new therapeutic strategies to fight metastatic disease. Read more.

A Virginia Senate Joint Resolution has designated July 1, 2008, as Virginia Commonwealth University Day in the Commonwealth to commemorate the university’s 40th Anniversary. Read more.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center recently performed the Richmond area’s first da Vinci sacrocolpopexy – a minimally invasive surgical procedure designed to correct pelvic organ prolapse. Read more.

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Reanimation, Engineering and Shock Center, VCURES, announced today is has been awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Army to study new technologies for optimizing wound healing and limiting wound infections. Read more.

The regularly scheduled Chief Business Officer/Fiscal Administrators meeting for August 6, 2008 has been canceled.

Mark your calendars for upcoming meetings:

• * Wednesday, October 1, 2008
• * Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Health Sciences schools department personnel administrators/coordinators are also encouraged to attend.

All meetings are tentatively scheduled from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Locations will be posted about a week prior to the meeting. Please note that times and locations may change without notice due to availability of space and technology.

Please contact Elizabeth Micalizzi with any questions.

VCU's emerging School of Public Health is cosponsoring a free workshop, "Clinician Competencies in Emergency Preparedness," which “trains the trainer” on how to include emergency preparedness competency training in curricula and training programs for health/public health professionals, on Tuesday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MCV Campus Alumni House. Registration is required by July 14.

For more information, visit https://va.train.org.

The 2008 School of Medicine New Faculty Orientation is designed to provide a “quick start” for all full or part-time clinical, basic sciences and administrative faculty hired since June of 2007 and it is open to any School of Medicine faculty member. Faculty are invited to register for the entire program or for individual sessions. (Day One is a half-day session on Wednesday, 09/24/08; Day Two is a half-day session on Thursday, 09/25/08; and Day Three is a half-day session on Thursday, 10/23/08)

Additional information and registration is available here.

Only medical center in Central Virginia to be ranked in U.S. News’ 2008 report for second consecutive year.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System has been ranked in U.S. News Media Group’s 2008 publication of America’s Best Hospitals. The VCU Health System was one of 170 medical centers to be ranked among the best out of a survey of nearly 5,500 hospitals. Read more.

VCU Health Sciences degree programs follow stringent standards set forth by their respective academic accreditation agencies. This chart lists the accrediting agencies and cycles for each program.

This chart may be found on the VCU Health Sciences Academic Affairs page.

VCU Libraries and the Office of Research: Sponsored Programs present “Publishing in Peer-Reviewed Journals” on Tuesday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Ball Conference Room of Biotech 1. This workshop will cover a variety of topics, and includes handouts, hands-on exercises and discussion. The cost for this open session is $20 and advanced registration is required.

For more information and to register, visit www.library.vcu.edu/events/detail.html?ID=43608.

The VCU men’s basketball team recently took a group trip to the dentist with a simple goal in mind — the Rams want to avoid any unnecessary trips to the dentist during the season.

Read more.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Pauley Heart Center today announced a national award for women physicians to honor the memory of Carolyn McCue, M.D., who in her day ventured where few men, and even fewer women, had gone before — into the practice of pediatric cardiology. Read more.

Susan G. Kornstein, M.D., has been chosen by Jewish Women International as a 2008 Women to Watch honoree for her work as a pioneer in women’s health. Read more.

Virginia Commonwealth University is part of an international research team that received a Wellcome Trust Foundation grant totaling more than $2.8 million to identify the genetic variants that have an impact on the risk for recurrent major depression. Read more.

A small group of area high school students has been given hands-on research experience in a pilot medical science internship program with Virginia Commonwealth University.

The medical science internship program, sponsored by the VCU School of Medicine, allows highly motivated high school students to explore both the university-level research as well as the healthcare components of medicine. Read more.

School of Pharmacy dean, Victor A. Yanchick, Ph.D., and School of Nursing professor, Mary Jo Grap, Ph.D., R.N., are celebrated in VCU faculty and staff features. Read more.