University of Vermont scientists, physicians, and students gathered at the Larner College of Medicine February 6 for the first-ever on-campus “virus slam” hosted by the Translational Global Infectious Diseases Research Center. At the event, some twenty experts, from five UVM colleges and institutes, gave five-minute mini-talks that ranged from explaining the biochemistry of the virus’ interaction with the human immune system to interpreting the latest data from the World Health Organization.

Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., UVM professor of medicine and director of the Thrombosis and Hemostasis Program at the UVM Medical Center, commented on an Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology study on the potential increased risk of blood clots in people with blood types A and B in U.S. News & World Report.

In Ethiopia, 28 of every 1,000 babies die within their first 28 days of life, a stark contrast to an infant mortality rate in the United States and other high-income countries of about four deaths for every 1,000 live births. The Ethiopian Pediatric Society and the country’s Ministry of Health want to cut those infant death rates to 12 per 1,000 by 2030 to reach the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and they have turned to the Vermont Oxford Network (VON) for help. VON, based in Burlington, collects data from neonatal intensive care units to find ways to improve the quality of care for newborns.

The Larner College of Medicine biomedical research enterprise received another boost on January 31 when the members of the University of Vermont Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve construction of the Firestone Medical Research Building.

Glenn Goldman, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of dermatology, was invested as the inaugural Rogers and Nancy Follansbee Professor of Dermatology during a formal ceremony held February 3, 2020 at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont.