He studied Native American cultures, researched beaver colonies, corresponded with Charles Darwin, served in the New York State Legislature, and influenced the likes of Karl Marx. And, in his role as an attorney, he helped secure the charter for the University of Rochester.

“Lewis Henry Morgan was a scholar with broad interests, working on—and writing about—all kinds of things,” says Robert Foster, professor of anthropology at Rochester. “But for a variety of reasons, he has been remembered selectively or forgotten altogether.”

With this as the bicentennial year of Morgan’s birth—and the University’s Rush Rhees Library the principal repository for artifacts and materials related to Morgan—Foster thought it was time to take a fresh look at Morgan’s legacy. Thanks to a $30,000 grant from the University’s Humanities Project, along with $3,000 from his own research budget as Richard L. Turner Professor of Humanities, Foster launched the Lewis Henry Morgan at 200 multi-partner initiative to acquaint people with Morgan’s life and work, as well as offer a critical reevaluation. The centerpiece is an online digital project that documents Morgan’s work, provides a biographical overview, and summarizes the many events and activities taking place throughout the region.

Morgan’s League of the Ho-de’-no-sau-nee (or Iroquois), published in 1851, became a seminal work, often considered to mark the beginning of American anthropology.

“Morgan tried to avoid the trap of understanding other cultures in terms of his own. He learned that the social and political world of the Haudenosaunee was organized, systematic, and logical, but not on terms that were familiar to Europeans,” says Foster. “That was a fundamental anthropological insight—engage other people on terms that you don’t simply reject out-of-hand as being irrational, unintelligible, or wrong.”

Morgan’s own copy of League of the Ho-de’-no-sau-nee is on display at Rush Rhees Library as part of the Lewis Henry Morgan at 200 exhibition, with companion displays at the Central Library of Rochester and the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

Read more here.

A budding relationship or just a one-night stand? The difference may not be immediately obvious, least of all to those directly involved. However, sex helps initiate romantic relationships between potential partners, a new study finds.

A team of psychologists from the Israeli-based Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya and the University of Rochester conclude that sexual desire may play a major role not only in attracting potential partners to each other, but also in encouraging the formation of an attachment between them.

“Sex may set the stage for deepening the emotional connection between strangers,” says the study’s lead author Gurit Birnbaum, a social psychologist and associate professor of psychology at the IDC Herzliya. “This holds true for both men and women. Sex motivates human beings to connect, regardless of gender.”

The study was limited to heterosexual relationships. According to Birnbaum, some believe that men are more likely than women to initiate relationships when sexually aroused, but when one focuses on more subtle relationship-initiating strategies, such as providing help, this pattern does not hold true: in fact, both men and women try to connect with potential partners when sexually aroused.

In four interrelated studies, participants were introduced to a new acquaintance of the opposite sex in a face-to-face encounter. The researchers demonstrate that sexual desire triggers behaviors that can promote emotional bonding during these encounters.

“Although sexual urges and emotional attachments are distinct feelings, evolutionary and social processes likely have rendered humans particularly prone to becoming romantically attached to partners to whom they are sexually attracted,” says co-author Harry Reis, a professor of psychology and Dean’s Professor in Arts, Sciences & Engineering at Rochester.

In one study, for example, the researchers looked at whether sexual desire for a new acquaintance would be associated with non-verbal cues signaling relationship interest. These so-called immediacy behaviors are displayed in the synchronization of movements, close physical proximity, and frequent eye contact. The study included 36 women and 22 men who lip-synched to pre-recorded music with an attractive, opposite-sex study insider. Afterwards, participants rated their desire for the insider, whom they believed to be another participant. The scientists found that the greater the participant’s desire for the insider, the greater their immediacy behaviors towards, and synchronization with, the insider.

Read more here.

New research in the journal Cell Stem Cell shows that support cells in the brain are key contributors to Huntington’s disease, giving scientists a clearer picture of what is happening in the brains of people with the disease and laying out a potential path for treatment.

“Huntington’s is a complex disease that is characterized by the loss of multiple cell populations in the brain,” says lead author Steve Goldman, a neurologist and co-director of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine. “These new findings help pinpoint how the genetic flaw in Huntington’s gives rise to glial cell dysfunction, which impairs the development and role of these cells, and ultimately the survival of neurons.  While it has long been known that neuronal loss is responsible for the progressive behavioral, cognitive, and motor deterioration of the disease, these findings suggest that it’s glial dysfunction which is actually driving much of this process.”

Huntington’s is a hereditary and fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of medium spiny neurons, a nerve cell in the brain that plays a critical role in motor control.  As the disease progresses and more of these cells die, the result is involuntary movements, problems with coordination, and cognitive decline, depression, and often psychosis. There is currently no way to slow or modify the progression of this disease.

While the symptoms of the disease are the result of the loss of motor neurons, the new study adds to mounting evidence that the disease may be triggered by faulty glia, the brain’s primary support cells. These cells include oligodendrocytes – which produce the brain’s supply of myelin, an insulating substance that mediates communication between nerve cells – and astrocytes, which support the function of neurons and maintain the chemical balance necessary for nerve cells to communicate with their neighbors.

Earlier clinical studies have hinted at the role of glial cells in the disease.   MRI scans of patients with Huntington’s have shown myelin and white matter loss in the brain long before the symptoms of the disease appear.

The new findings were made possible because of an advance made in Goldman’s lab, which enables researchers to study human glial cells in the brains of animals. Using embryonic stem cells obtained from individuals with the Huntington’s disease mutation, the researchers were able to reprogram these cells to become glial progenitors – the parent cell that gives rise to both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. When these cells are transplanted into the brains of mice, they out-compete native cells and produce brains with human glia and animal neurons.  This model has not only been used to study Huntington’s, but other diseases in which it is believe that glial cells play a role, including frontotemporal dementia and schizophrenia.

Read more here.

It has been five years since the reorganization of the technology transfer office into UR Ventures.

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research, working jointly with the Research Policy Committee of the Faculty Senate,  would like to find out from University faculty members what their experiences have been interacting with UR Ventures, and whether they have ideas about what changes, if any, might be needed to improve its performance.

Faculty are urged to take 5 to 10 minutes to fill out the survey, developed in collaboration with and with the approval of the Research Policy Committee of the Faculty Senate.  The survey will remain open until January 19. Even if you have not had any interaction with UR ventures, we would like you to participate in an abbreviated form of the survey.

The Office for Human Subject Protection (OHSP) recently went live with a new IRB review platform, referred to as Click IRB.   The new software includes several features that were not previously available, one of which is the Principal Investigator (PI) Proxy.

The assignment of PI Proxy allows study team members to act on the Principal Investigator’s behalf in the Click IRB system.  More specifically, this means individuals assigned as a PI Proxy can do everything the PI can do, such as submitting modifications and continuing reviews, responding to clarifications, and receiving notifications concerning submissions (e.g., when the IRB requests clarification or a continuing review deadline approaches).

Important factors to note concerning the PI Proxy:

• The Pi Proxy is limited to activities in the click IRB system. It does not extend beyond the limits of the review platform, nor does it alleviate Principal Investigators of their oversight responsibilities.
• The PI Proxy can only be assigned by the Principal Investigator on an individual study. Blanket assignments across multiple studies are not feasible. Any member of the study team can be a PI Proxy, multiple team members can be PI Proxy, and it can be assigned or revised at any time without action by the IRB (no modification is needed).
• The PI Proxy can only be assigned from the main study workspace in Click IRB; the activity is not available on the modification or continuing review workspace. Instructions for assigning a PI Proxy are available in the study staff manual.
• Without the assignment of a PI Proxy, only the Principal Investigator will be able to submit items for IRB review (including responses to clarifications from the IRB).
• For those Principal Investigators who decide to use the PI Proxy, we suggest setting forth clear expectations among their assigned PI Proxies. For example, rather than allowing free rein, a Principal Investigator may assign a PI Proxy with the expectation that only modifications or responses to clarifications from the IRB will be submitted on their behalf.
• For students acting as Principal Investigators on exempt research, it is expected that your faculty mentor/adviser be included as a study team member and be assigned as PI Proxy.

Should you have any questions concerning assignment of the PI Proxy, please contact the Office for Human Subject Protection.

University faculty, staff, and students can apply now for funding to support research collaboration activities with their counterparts from any institution in the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program.

The UR-RCMI Scholarly Exchange Program awards up to five projects a maximum of $3,000 each to help colleagues from different cultures, disciplines, and academic appointments build partnerships and produce abstracts, publications, or grant applications together and to foster the next generation of researchers from underrepresented populations.

Learn more and access the application from the UR CTSI Stories blog. If you have questions, contact Ivelisse Rivera, UR-RCMI Exchange Coordinator. Applications are due Friday, January 25.

During Cervical Health Awareness month, RocHealthData.org is highlighting the variability in cervical cancer incidence and mortality across our region.

The site, which includes county-level data from the New York State Cancer Registry (2011-2015) for cervical and uterine cancers, shows that the counties with the highest cancer incidence do not always have the highest mortality rate and vice versa.

Learn more about how our region compares in the risk factors for cervical cancer, including smoking and obesity, as well as preventive factors (such as fruit and vegetable consumption) in the RocHealthData map room.

Hanyuan Zhang, materials science, “Development of a Label-free and Multiplex Antibody Microarray Biosensor on the Arrayed Imaging Reflectometry (AIR) Platform for Rapid Detection of Influenza Viruses.” 12:15 p.m., January 16, 2019. Medical Center 1-7619. Advisor: Benjamin Miller.

Ryan Trombetta, biomedical engineering, “Sustained Delivery of Antimicrobials from 3D Printed Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds in Single-Stage Management of Osteomyelitis.” 1 p.m., January 17, 2019. Adolph Auditorium (1-7619 Medical Center). Advisor: Hani Awad.

Jannai Shields, philosophy, “I’ll Level with You — Emergent Levels are the Only True Levels.” 3:45 p.m., January 17, 2019. Dewey 2110E. Advisor: Paul Audi.

Kristen Bush, translational biomedical science, “Inpatient mobility to predict hospital-onset Clostridium difficile: a network approach.” Noon, January 18, 2019. Helen Wood Hall Auditorium 1W304. Advisor: Martin Zand.

Twylla Dillion, health services research and policy, “A Personality Theory-based Explanation of Variation in Outcomes.” 2 p.m., January 18, 2019. Lower Adolph Auditorium (1-7619 Medical Center). Advisor: Peter Veazie.

Gleason Judd, political science, “Essays on Democratic Institutions.” 2 p.m. January 22, 2019. Harkness 112. Advisor: Anastassios Kalandrakis.

Jan. 14: Applications due for pilot funding from the Environmental Health Science Center to support projects relevant to the theme of “Environmental Agents as Modulators of Human Disease and Dysfunction.” Forms and guidelines can be found on the Environmental Health Sciences Center web site. Send applications to Pat Noonan-Sullivan.

Jan. 15: Deadline to submit cancer research grant applications for new collaborative studies targeting future MPI R01, P01, and U01 funding from National Cancer Institute. Applications should be submitted electronically to  Pamela_Iadarola@urmc.rochester.edu at the Wilmot Cancer Institute. Questions should also be directed to her.

Jan. 24: Phelps Colloquium Series: Donald Hall, the Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences & Engineering, “Looking Beyond Our Horizons: Interdisciplinary Education and Civic Responsibility.” Pablo Sierra Silva, assistant professor of history, “Pirates, Captives, and the Digital Archive: Researching Afro-Mexican History in the 21st Century.” 4-5:30 p.m. Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons. Register here. Questions? Contact Adele Coelho or call 273-2571.

Jan. 25: Applications due for funding to support research collaboration activities with their counterparts from any institution in the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program. Learn more and access the application from the UR CTSI Stories blog. Questions? Contact Ivelisse Rivera, UR-RCMI Exchange Coordinator.

Jan. 30: Entry forms due for the America’s Got Regulatory Science Talent student competition. Teams propose a solution to align with the FDA Regulatory Science priority areas. Visit the UR CTSI website to learn more.

Feb. 1: Initial proposal abstracts due for Department of Public Health Sciences funding for esearch pilot projects that have a substantial component of or impact on public health sciences, practices, or policies. See submission criteria and other details.

Feb. 4: Applications due for University Research Awards, which provide “seed funding” for promising, high-risk research projects. Completed applications should be directed to Adele Coelho, Faculty Outreach Coordinator in the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Research, at adele.coelho@rochester.edu

Feb. 4: Applications due for AS&E PumpPrimer II awards, which help researchers develop proof of concept and/or pilot data that can then be used to apply for external funding for high-risk proposals. Click here for more information.

Feb. 15: Applications due for Wilmot Cancer Research postdoctoral fellowship providing mentored research training for physicians with MD or MD/PhD degrees who have completed their residency training and intend to pursue an academic career in clinical, translational, or basic cancer research. View application details. For questions, email Pamela Iadarola or call 585-275-1537.

Feb. 27: Phelps Colloquium Series: Elizabeth West Marvin, professor of music theory and of brain and cognitive sciences, Experiencing Absolute Pitch: Insights from AP Possessors in the US and Asia, and Gilbert “Rip” Collins, professor of mechanical engineering and of physics and astronomy, Extreme Matters: A Laboratory Exploration of Planets, Stars, and Quantum Materials. 4-5:30 p.m. Max at Eastman. Register here. Questions? Contact Adele Coelho or call 273-2571.

March 27: Phelps Colloquium Series: Huaxia Rui, associate professor, Simon Business School, Open Voice or Private Message? The Hidden Tug-of-War on Social Media Customer Service, and Maria Marconi, assistant professor of clinical nursing, and specialty director of Health Care Organization and Management Master’s Program and of the master’s program in nursing, Leveraging Generational Diversity in Our Classrooms. 4-5:30 p.m. Location TBD. Register here. Questions? Contact Adele Coelho or call 273-2571.