New U.Va. study provides window into child’s mind
Ever sit and marvel at the efforts of small children as they try to squeeze themselves into a toy car or try to sit in doll-sized furniture? Don’t worry — this behavior is common in children 18 to 30 months old, according to a study led by U.Va. psychology professor Judy DeLoache. The lack of discrimination in the size of objects may reflect immaturity in the interaction of two brain systems, one for visually recognizing objects and the other for perception of object size, DeLoache said. (May 18)

Morsberger takes over Health System fund raising
Mike Morsberger may never see a patient at the U.Va. Health System, but his actions may help save a lot of lives. Morsberger was recently chosen to lead the Health System’s fund-raising efforts. The newly named associate vice president for Health System Development is a fund-raising veteran, having most recently been credited with securing the $150 million lead gift in Johns Hopkins University’s recent $2 billion campaign. He began his new duties April 29. (April 26)

Agreement allows transfer of U.Va. credit into Mary Washington’s MBA
program
A new partnership between U.Va. and Mary Washington College will allow the transfer of 12 U.Va. graduate credits — double the previous amount allowed — earned in three graduate certificate programs at the U.Va. School of Continuing and Professional Studies’ Northern Virginia Center into the Fredericksburg university’s MBA program. The agreement will increase opportunities for students at both institutions, which is what higher education is all about, said Steve Gladis, associate dean of U.Va.’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. (April 29)

Darden, Curry to lead Virginia’s school turnaround efforts
Revitalizing an underperforming school requires a broad array of skill sets. Virginia Gov. Mark Warner recently announced that he will follow through on his proposal to bring business principles to bear in education, awarding U.Va.’s Darden/Curry Partnership a two-year contract to conduct “turnaround” training for select school leaders. The program draws upon the Curry School of Education’s educational expertise and the management skills of the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. (May 4)

Gene disruption may prevent Type I diabetes
U.Va. researchers have discovered that disrupting the expression of a gene called Stat-4 prevents the development of Type-I diabetes. Unfortunately, the discovery won’t immediately lead to a treatment because the gene is also vital to the body’s immune response to infections. But the news may eventually lead to a more targeted treatment, says one of the study’s authors. (May 7-9)