In 2007, a committee was charged with the formal planning of Case Western Reserve University's strategic plan. During a nine-month process, hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters offered input. What resulted is a plan called Forward Thinking, which is helping the University realize its mission of improving people's lives through research, education, and creative endeavor. Learn more about Case Western Reserve's strategic plan.
In June 2008, Ohio's Third Frontier Commission, which supports high-tech research and business incubation in Ohio, awarded Case Western Reserve University and its research partners $20.6 million. The funding, granted through the Ohio Biomedical Research Commercialization Program, supports projects that range from the development of molecules to enhance brain repair in multiple sclerosis patients to the creation of a nitric oxide sensor to help asthma patients monitor their home's air quality. Learn more about this research award.
In 2007, the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center was singled out among similar centers to receive an increase in funding from the National Cancer Institute. Case Western Reserve University was awarded $25.5 million for continued cancer research and expanded clinical trials. Out of the 40 designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, the Case Western Reserve center was the only one to receive an increase in funds. The award accompanied an outstanding rating and the center's redesignation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Learn more about the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Case Western Reserve University remained Ohio's top school in the 2007 rankings of undergraduate colleges and universities by U.S. News & World Report. The University ranked 41 overall in the annual "America's Best Colleges" issue and was the only Ohio institution listed in the top 50. Case Western Reserve has been Ohio's top-ranked university since 1996. Learn more about the rankings.
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A $1.1 million bequest announced in 2008 will advance energy-related research at Case Western Reserve University. The gift from the late John Oshchypok, a Case Institute of Technology alumnus who made a career as a chemical engineer, will support a College of Arts and Sciences professorship devoted to developing energy-related materials. Learn more about this gift.
Change was in the air in August 2007, when Case Western Reserve University and Cuyahoga Country resolved to work together to explore wind energy. The agreement opened the door to further study for the establishment of a Great Lakes Wind Energy Research Center. With similar initiatives, such as the Great Lakes Institute for Energy Innovation, the University is moving Northeast Ohio forward in the quest for sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy. Learn more about wind energy.
Case Western Reserve University deepened its commitment to green practices in 2008. President Barbara R. Snyder led the charge by signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and by pledging to reduce—and eventually eliminate—the institution's global warming emissions. Among other initiatives, the University is promoting the use of public transportation, green building standards and energy-efficient products. Learn more about the University's commitment to sustainability.
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Researchers at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine are working to improve diagnosis and prevention of colorectal cancer, the nation's second-leading cause of cancer death. In March 2008, a study identified the hereditary components of colon cancer. The results are an important step toward the future of genetic testing. Learn more about School of Medicine research.
Even the most high-tech equipment occasionally needs an upgrade. In spring 2008, a new camera was installed on a Case Western Reserve University-owned telescope in Arizona. The new camera is giving astronomers a better view of mysterious orphan stars and may help them better understand how clusters of galaxies form and evolve. Learn more about the new camera.
Research at Case Western Reserve University's Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences is taking a close look at the quality of life for residents in mixed-income housing. Faculty member Mark Joseph, whose work on the subject was recognized by the Urban Affairs Association, is researching how residents, displaced from high-rise public housing developments in Chicago, are adapting to new, economically diverse developments. Learn more about the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.
Physicists at Case Western Reserve University are detectives, searching for a mysterious substance called "dark matter.” These particles make up 85 percent of the mass in the universe, but scientists are still working to detect their presence. With colleagues from 15 partner institutions in the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search, Case Western Reserve researchers announced in February 2008 that they had uncovered important clues that may one day help them crack the case. Learn more about dark matter research.
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Case Western Reserve University historian Rhonda Y. Williams was named one of History News Network's "Top Young Historians" in 2008. The organization, which puts news in historical context by publishing current events articles written by historians, honored 20 young people in the field. Learn more about the Department of History.
Before she was named president of Case Western Reserve University or provost of The Ohio State University, Barbara R. Snyder was a law professor. She received her legal degree from Case Western Reserve. Her accomplishments in the field continue to be recognized, and in 2007, Snyder was elected to the American Law Institute. The premier legal organization counts among its members United States Supreme Court justices and deans of prominent law schools. Learn more about President Snyder's election to the institute.
The newly established President's Award for Visionary Achievement was awarded at the 2008 commencement ceremony to Peter B. Lewis. The avid philanthropist and chairman of Progressive Insurance Co. was the first recipient of the award, which recognizes distinguished service to the University and the world. "The generosity of Peter B. Lewis has transformed organizations around the world. His philanthropy and personal engagement reflect great commitment to this University, the world and humanity," President Barbara R. Snyder said. Learn more about the award.
Case Western Reserve University undergraduates value education, and many go on to further study, often with support from competitive fellowships. Such fellowships do not come easily, but in spring 2008, senior Karen Vaughn had two prestigious awards before her and had to choose one to support her graduate work. The electrical engineering student is an enthusiastic researcher who notes that she "grew up in a science-minded family." Vaughn, now at the University of California, Berkeley, exemplifies the drive and curiosity that define students at Case Western Reserve. Learn more about Vaughn and her achievements.
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The Case Western Reserve University chapter of Engineers Without Borders is getting hands-on experience in the mountains of the Dominican Republic, where they are assessing possibilities for a new water system. The students, accompanied by professional engineers, have met with local leaders and residents in Cruce De Blanco, a village where the current source of fresh water has surpassed its expected lifespan by nearly 10 years. "It will be an interesting and challenging system to design and implement," said group member Brian Tietz. Learn more about the University's chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
Students at Case Western Reserve University School of Law don't just study the law—they live it. That's why third-year student Brianne Draffin jumped at an opportunity to serve as a judicial clerk intern in the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, who has been linked to widespread atrocities in the diamond trade. Draffin is among dozens of Case Western Reserve law students who have interned in war crimes tribunals, including those for Rwanda, Yugoslavia and Cambodia. Learn more about international law at Case Western Reserve.
Worries about paying for dental care can compound the agony of a toothache—or worse—keep people from seeking medical attention all together. Students at Case Western Reserve University's School of Dental Medicine are working to ease the financial burden for low-income patients by offering services at the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland. The clinic is a training site for some 25 programs in medicine, mental health, social work, nursing, pharmacy and dentistry, and many of these programs provide real-world education for Case Western Reserve students. Learn more about the School of Dental Medicine.
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An affiliation between Case Western Reserve University and the Holden Arboretum is helping both institutions grow their research programs in plant sciences and ecology. The creation of a highly competitive graduate research program will allow students and scientists to benefit from the combined resources of both institutions. On-site research facilities at the arboretum and teaching and intellectual opportunities at the University are a couple of ways the agreement is breaking down barriers and expanding resources. Learn more about the partnership with the Holden Arboretum.
Idealism and business sense came together in January 2008, when the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations partnered with Community Wealth Ventures Inc., a national social enterprise consulting firm. The result was the Cleveland Community Wealth Initiative, which is designed to increase the impact of nonprofit organizations' missions, goals and financial self-sufficiency through income-generating business ventures. Learn more about the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations and the Cleveland Community Wealth Initiative.
More than 400 children from economically disadvantaged families attend Case Western Reserve University's chapter of the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) camp each summer. While the children participate in physical activities, such as basketball and swimming, and receive instruction in reading, math, and science, the camp also provides medical outreach, including health education and free medical exams, performed by students from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing and the School of Medicine. Learn more about the the National Youth Sports Program and watch a video about the camp.
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These aren't your typical mice. They run farther, eat more and live longer than the average rodent. That's because researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have altered a gene, leading the mice to overproduce a muscle enzyme. The researchers want to learn what this enzyme, called PEPCK-C, does in muscle—including the effect it has on metabolism. The findings could help researchers better understand how prolonged exercise impacts cancer development and how diet and exercise relate to longevity. Learn more about School of Medicine research.
Bar codes reveal the price of everything from cereal to flat-screen TVs. Now the ubiquitous symbols are entering a new era—starting at Case Western Reserve University. In February 2008, the University community, working with the company Mobile Discovery, began a widespread trial of 2D code, which can hold more information than its first-generation cousin. The graphics can be scanned by cell phone cameras and link to media, such as Web sites, pictures and videos. For students, the codes are a new link to information, entertainment and friends. For professors, they're an innovative way to engage a younger generation. Learn how barcodes are being used at the University.
In October 2007, 14,000 pounds of gummy bears were delivered for use in a school-based oral health program called Healthy Bears for Healthy Teeth. Although using candy to fight cavities might sound counterintuitive, that's just what the program is doing. Active in five schools in East Cleveland, the program is testing to see if gummy bears containing a sweetener called xylitol can reduce cavities in 5- to 8-year-olds. Learn more about the dental study.
Physicists at Case Western Reserve University, collaborating with researchers in 17 nations, reported in 2007 that they had tracked cosmic ray particles travelling at the speed of light to massive black holes in nearby galaxies. The international collaboration made the discovery after building the world's largest cosmic ray observatory, located in Argentina. The findings mark a breakthrough as scientists try to uncover the origins of these cosmic rays, believed to be the most high-energy particles in the universe. Learn more about the Physics Department.
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Gifts that support research at Case Western Reserve University benefit not only the institution, but also those who will experience the effects of that research. In September 2007, alumnus L. David Baldwin and his wife, Virginia, donated $1.6 million to fund, among other things, a cell-based therapy program in biology. The gift was inspired by Biology Professor Arnold Caplan's skeletal research work with certain stem cells and his research's potential for developing rheumatoid arthritis treatments. "I wanted my gift to make a difference,” Baldwin said. Find out how you can make an impact.
The Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, a leader in nonprofit education, opened the doors to its new home in November 2007. The building was established with a generous gift from the Mandel Foundation. Case Western Reserve University President Barbara R. Snyder presided over the building dedication, saying, "The new building is tangible recognition of the center's preeminent role in nonprofit management education and an expression of the University's continued commitment in supporting interdisciplinary and innovative education." Learn more about the Mandel Center and watch the dedication.
A $2.44 million gift from an anonymous donor to the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management is supporting the school's Managing by Designing initiative. The gift supports collaboration, creativity and innovation across disciplines, such as business, the arts, and nonprofit administration. Learn more about Managing by Designing.
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Case Western Reserve University, along with the city of Cleveland and Cleveland Clinic, came together in April 2008 to join the United Nations Global Compact, a global alliance that promotes corporate citizenship. The University has long played a vital role in the development of the compact, beginning in 2004 when the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit was called upon to facilitate the first meeting at the United Nations General Assembly. In November 2007, the Global Compact came to campus for the first meeting of the organization's Northeast Ohio Network. Learn more about the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit.
Uganda is plagued by an HIV/AIDS epidemic, the effects of which will reach far into the future. That's why, with the help of a National Institutes of Health grant, an interdisciplinary team from Case Western Reserve University is working to strengthen social science research on the disease. The team's goal is a new research center at Makerere University in the capital city Kampala. Called the Center for Social Science Research on AIDS, the initiative is headed by Case Western Reserve anthropologist Janet McGrath and alumnus Charles Rwabukwali, a faculty member at Makerere University. Learn more about this AIDS research.
Seven nursing students from Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing traveled to Guatemala in October 2007 to provide volunteer health care. The students, accompanied by a faculty member, worked with underserved patients at a clinic in the town of San Raymundo. Learn more about international health programs in nursing.