Study to Explore Earliest Possible Causes of Autism
June 2009
A network of leading autism researchers from three regions across the country today launched one of the largest research studies of its kind to investigate early risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The network, called the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI), will follow a cohort of up to 1,200 pregnant women who already have a child with autism. The study is considered one of the best-equipped to discover biological markers and environmental risk factors for autism due to its elevated autism risk pregnancy cohort, wide ranging data collection with extensive bio-sampling, length of time it follows pregnant women and their babies, and multi-disciplinary team of expert investigators. More...
SPH Receives $2.5M from Autism Speaks
February 2009
The SPH received a $2.5M grant from Autism Speaks to support the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) network. The award is part of a $5M grant from Autism Speaks to investigate genetic and environmental risk factors for autism via a collaboration between two of the nation’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) supported Autism Centers of Excellence projects. Dr. Craig J. Newschaffer will lead the EARLI network. More...
Drexel Public Health Expert Comments on Recent Salmonella Outbreaks
February 2009
Alison A. Evans, ScD, a professor at the Drexel University School of Public Health, recently commented on the challenges and opportunities presented by the recall of certain peanut butter and peanut-containing products that are associated with the recent Salmonella Typhimurium outbreaks. More...
School of Public Health to Lead Conference on Autism
December 2008
The Drexel University School of Public Health was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from Autism Speaks to lead a national conference on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) research in the Fall of 2009. The conference will examine ethical and risk communications issues of ASD research, as well as help address health disparities in the communication of autism research findings. More...
Prof. Liu Cited for AHA Presentation on Heart Failure
Assoc. Prof. Longjian Liu, MD, PhD, Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, delivered his presentation, "A New Epidemic of Heart Failure in the United States" on Sunday, November 9, at the 2008 Scientific Sessions (November 8 - 12) of the American Heart Association, in New Orleans, LA. More....
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Drexel Study Highlights Heart Failure Prevention Methods
A national study by researchers at Drexel University highlights various potential strategies for the prevention and management of heart failure among different racial/ethnic groups. Dr. Longjian Liu, an associate professor at the School of Public Health, recently presented the research "Prevalence, Co-morbidity and Outcomes in Hospital Patients with Heart Failure for Whites and African-Americans: Implications and Benchmarks." More....
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SPH Awarded $14M Grant for Autism Research
The Drexel University School of Public Health was awarded today an Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) grant from the National Institutes of Health for more than $14,300,000 to examine risk factors and the development of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in expectant mothers and their babies. The ACE is the largest grant received by the School of Public Health in its 11-year history. More....
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Prof. Liu Publishes on Nutrition and Heart Ailments Among the Elderly
Dr. Longjian Liu, Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, published " Micronutrients, inflammation and congestive heart failure in the elderly – nutritional perspectives for primary prevention and clinical treatment ," in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology , volume 34: S14-S16, 2007. The paper was co-authored by Drs Xiaoyan Yin at the University of Pennsylvania; Katsumi Ikeda at Mukogawa Women’s University, Nishinomiya, Japan; Dennis H Sullivan at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, and Howard J Eisen at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Click here for article (71 KB PDF).
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Prof. Newschaffer Authors New Study of Autism in Children with Fever
Prof. Craig J. Newschaffer, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, has co-authored a new study of autism in children with fever, "hypothesiz[ing] that fever may restore nerve cell communications in regions of the autistic brain. The restoration may help children improve socialization skills during a fever."
The study, "Behaviors Associated With Fever in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders," was published in Pediatrics, (120:6), December 2007, pp. e1386-e1392.
Click here for abstract of article.
The study was recently featured in Science Daily.
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Prof. Liu Named "Outstanding Online Instructor"
Assoc. Professor Longjian Liu, Md, PhD, Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, was named one of Drexel University's "Outstanding Online Instructors" in an awards ceremony held on November 13 at the Paul Peck Alumni Center, as part of National Distance Learning Week (November 12-16, 2007), sponsored by the United States Distance Learning Association.
(l-r): Dean Marla J. Gold, MD, Philadelphia Mayor-Elect Michael Nutter,
Assoc. Professor Longjian Liu, MD, PhD, Assoc. Professor and Assoc. Dean for
Academic Affairs Mary Hovinga, PhD, MPH
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New Faculty Member Seth Welles, ScD, PhD
The Drexel University School of Public Health recently hired Seth Welles, ScD, PhD as an associate professor in the school’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Dr. Welles is a leading researcher in HIV disease progression and transmission, and has more than a decade of experience teaching epidemiology at all levels.
For 15 years, he has focused on understanding the impact of HIV phenotypic and genotypic antiretroviral drug resistance on HIV pathogenesis and transmission. Part of this time was spent as an epidemiologist and senior statistician for the Statistical and Data Analysis Center for the national AIDS Clinical Trials Group at Harvard University. More....
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Drexel Joins in Walk Now for Autism 2007
The Drexel School of Public Health, partnered with the University's College of Medicine, provided team support at the fifth annual Walk Now for Autism on Saturday, September 15, at Citizens Bank Park.
Team Drexel, School of Public Health (l-r): Joshua Roberts (kneeling), Deborah Brady, Dean Marla Gold, MD, Prof. Craig Newschaffer, Eli Newschaffer, Rebecca Newschaffer, Rob Anderson, Nancy Anderson,
Andrew Anderson, Ben Anderson (blue shirt)
A crowd estimated at over 10,000 participants circled the Park and its baseball field, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Organizers report over $600,000 raised to date by local teams and individual fundraisers. More...
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Prof. Liu Contributes to WHO Publication
Longjian Liu, MD, PhD, MSc, an associate professor of epidemiology and preventative medicine at the School of Public Health, was cited by the World Health Organization (WHO) for his contribution to the latest edition of the international organization’s STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor Surveillance (STEPS). Now including a CD-ROM, the STEPS program is designed to allow low and middle income countries to follow a standardized method of studying chronic diseases.
According to the WHO, the program focuses on creating a systematic method of obtaining core data on established risk factors that may cause chronic diseases. By using the same questions and protocols, all countries that use STEPS can not only monitor trends within their countries, but accurate cross-country comparisons can also be made. While STEPS is a standardized approach, it is also flexible enough to allow each country to meet its own local or regional interests.
Click here for more information on STEPS.
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Prof. Newschaffer Cited in Autism Article
"Last week, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims began hearing arguments about whether a childhood vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella caused autism in a 12-year-old (Cedillo versus Secretary of Health and Human Services). Here is a look at the studies behind the controversy."
On June 18, the Los Angeles Times examined possible links between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Prof. Craig Newschaffer, PhD, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and a leading authority in the field of autism studies, was quoted extensively for the article. A PDF version may be downloaded here.
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Prof. Evans Speaks on Eradication of Hepatitis B
Asst. Professor Alison A. Evans, ScD, was an invited panelist at a free symposium, "Combating HIV and Hepatitis B," on May 10 at the Library of Congress. The symposium was cybercast live at www.loc.gov.
Dr. Evans was joined at the conference by fellow health and medical experts from other universities and organizations from across the nation in addressing the challenges of developing an HIV vaccine and ensuring the eradication of Hepatitis B.
The program began at 9:00 AM on Thursday, May 10, in Room 119 of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, DC. The experts focused on HIV in the morning and on Hepatitis B at 2:00 PM. For more information on the symposium please click here.
The symposium was timed to coincide with World AIDS Vaccine Day on May 18 and Hepatitis Awareness Week, May 7-11.
The symposium was held by The Kluge Center in partnership with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF), along with support from the Dana Foundation.
The symposium was organized by Raymond Dwek, Oxford University professor and head of the glycobiology department. Dwek is the holder of the Chair of Technology and Society at the Kluge Center.
In addition to Prof. Dwek, the full list of participants included:
- Seth Berkley, IAVI
- Timothy M. Block, HBF and Drexel College of Medicine
- Baruch S. Blumberg, Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Dennis Burton, Scripps Research Institute
- Paul F. Coleman, Abbott Laboratories
- Molly Conti, HBF
- Alison Evans, HBF and Drexel University School of Public Health
- Mary C. Kuhns, Abbott Laboratories
- Gary J. Nabel, National Institutes of Health
- David Thomas, Johns Hopkins University
- Bruce Walker, Harvard Medical School
- John Ward, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.