Grant boosts research on high blood pressure
A $10.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute will enable Health System researchers, led by pathologist Robin Felder, to advance their studies of the genetic basis for high blood pressure and salt sensitivity, the leading causes of illness and death in the U.S. (June 28)

Roadways open; work completed ahead of time
It’s travel as usual with the re-opening of sections of Massie and Copeley roads, which had been closed since early June for utility work near the new arena. The project, originally to be completed in mid-July, was wrapped up early. All barricades are now gone and normal traffic patterns have resumed. (June 22)

Test offers relief for hard-to-control asthma
For an estimated 17 million asthmatic Americans, including 5 million children, the simple task of breathing can sometimes be very difficult. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes’s a person’s lungs and airways to become inflamed and clogged. Although there is no cure,
asthma can be controlled through proper medication and the avoidance of known triggers.
A new breathing test at the Children’s Medical Center can help determine if someone with asthma is getting the right medication and doses. (July 1)

Photo by Tom Cogill

Nisha and Edward Botchwey are two of the fellows in U.Va.’s new Excellence in Diversity program.

A Success Story: The Excellence in Diversity Fellowships
Nisha and Edward Botchwey, below, are singing high praises for U.Va.’s new Excellence in Diversity program. The couple made the transition to U.Va. from Penn — Nisha now teaching in the School of Architecture’s Department of Urban and Environmental Planning and Edward a faculty member in biomedical engineering. Both say the program eased their transition into the University community, and helped them overcome the usual obstacles that could have put them many months behind in their research following the move. (July 1)