July 20, 2006

Carolina in the News

Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina
people and programs cited recently in the media:

National Coverage

Playing Matchmaker for Technology, With a Twist
The New York Times
Universities and research centers often have hundreds of technologies waiting for a company to come along to license them for profit. ... Moreover, universities are under growing pressure from state and municipal governments to narrow, not widen, the net they cast for commercial partners. For example, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which does roughly 50 technology licensing deals a year, has used its technologies to help local entrepreneurs start 32 companies within the last five years. It has never felt a need to use Utek.

New Birth Control Implant Approved by FDA
ABC News
Among the 38 million American women using some form of birth control, some have waited patiently for a new implantable contraceptive device to become available to them. ... "Implanon fills a unique niche that has been empty for the past few years," said Dr. David Grimes, a contraceptive expert and clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

State & Local Coverage

Housing idea may aid elderly
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
When Lisa Anthony looks at the current options for aging seniors, she doesn't like what she sees. Anthony, 66, loves the condominium she shares with her husband, but not the isolation she feels in a subdivision where neighbors rarely interact. ... UNC-Chapel Hill will host a national cohousing conference beginning Friday.

Study puts hope in stem cells
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Physicians at Duke University Medical Center are leading a national study to learn whether stem cell transplants can correct defective immune systems in patients with scleroderma, a disabling and sometimes deadly disease. ... "As a treating physician, how do you convey the risks?" said Dr. Nortin Hadler, a professor of medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill and attending rheumatologist at UNC Hospitals.

Vital research (Letter to the editor)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The Senate has passed H.R. 810, which would accelerate embryonic stem cell research by easing existing restrictions while maintaining strict ethical guidelines (news story, July 19). Unfortunately, President Bush is planning on vetoing this bill based on ethical concerns and ill-founded hope that alternative techniques will be just as useful in research. [The president did so on July 19.] ... John Buse, M.D., Ph.D., Director, UNC Diabetes Care Center, Vice President, American Diabetes Association, Chapel Hill

Low blood sugar can drain energy (Commentary)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Have you ever felt like someone washed the starch out of you? It's how some people feel when their blood sugar level dips too low. People who have had low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, for years may not realize the approach to treating it has changed over time. ... Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a licensed, registered dietitian and author. She holds a doctorate in health policy and administration from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she is a clinical assistant professor in the School of Public Health.

Board debates doctors at executions
The Associated Press (N.C.)
The state board that licenses doctors will consider a policy that governs physicians' attendance at executions, even if only as observers. ... Dr. Charles Vanderhorst, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told the committee that it should take a firm stand in the policy sent to the board.

Answers about annexation (Question-answer)
Pisgah Mountain News
David Lawrence, professor of public law and government at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government, has also been described as an expert on annexation laws. Here are his answers to some frequently asked questions about annexation.

Produced by News Services, Carolina in the News is an e-mail sampling of current news media coverage about Carolina people and programs, as well as issues and trends that affect the university. Stories usually will be online and available free for a limited time - often one to two weeks. Expiration dates before stories move to archives vary by media outlet. Some outlets require free user registration or a subscription.

Carolina in the News is also posted daily to the News Services Web page, http://www.unc.edu/news/clips/index.shtml.

Please share any questions, comments or suggestions at news@unc.edu.