News Briefs

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, an associate professor in UNC’s School of Medicine, has been awarded a $55,000 RPB Physician-Scientist Award by Research to Prevent Blindness.

These awards allow physicians at medical institutions nationwide to devote more time to clinical eye research activities, providing greater opportunities for specialized study with direct applications. Hartnett is one of 25 physician-scientists at 17 institutions who have received the award since it was established in 2000.

Hartnett’s work in ocular angiogenesis addresses some of the most important questions in ophthalmology, said Dr. Travis Meredith, chairman of UNC’s department of ophthalmology.

"Learning more about the processes that cause abnormal blood vessel growth in age-related macular degeneration and in retinopathy of prematurity will be important in helping us to design future successful therapies for these very serious blinding disorders," he said.

RPB, founded in 1960, supports eye research, providing medical institutions with funding for research into the causes, treatment and prevention of blinding eye diseases.

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Internationally known ethnobotanist Dr. Michael Balick will speak at UNC on March 8, discussing medicinal and other uses of plants by indigenous peoples.

His presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in room 121 of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History and is free to the public.

Balick directs the Institute of Economic Botany at the New York Botanical Garden. He has conducted nearly 60 international research expeditions and co-written more than a dozen books on ethnobotany and related topics, including "Rainforest Remedies." Copies of his book "People, Plants and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany" (co-written by Paul Cox) will be available for purchase and signing after Balick’s speech.

Balick has worked with the National Cancer Institute to research South American, Central American and Caribbean plants and identify possible applications in cancer and AIDS treatments.

Balick’s presentation is sponsored by UNC’s N.C. Botanical Garden, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and the James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence in Graham Memorial. For more information, call (919) 962-0522.

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Dr. Linda Cronenwett, dean of UNC’s School of Nursing, is co-chairing an Institute of Medicine task force on identifying and preventing medication errors.

The task force, which began work in January, will conduct an 18-month study commissioned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The study’s main objective is to develop a better understanding of drug safety and quality issues, including the nature and causes of medication errors and their influence on patients. The task force also will be responsible for evaluating alternative approaches to reducing medication errors in terms of their efficacy, cost-effectiveness, feasibility and associated risk.

The Institute of Medicine, a component of the National Academy of Sciences, is an adviser to the nation on improving health.

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News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415 or deborah_saine@unc.edu