Nominations sought for disability advocates, accessibility leaders
Nominations are being sought for the University of Michigan’s 34th annual James T. Neubacher Award, which celebrates significant achievements by a member of the campus community to promote equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. The nominating deadline for the award is July 31. Established by the university’s Council for Disability Concerns in October 1990, the award is a memorial to James T. Neubacher, a university alumnus and columnist for the Detroit Free Press who advocated for equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. “This award honors the work started by disability advocates of the past that paved a path to the beginnings of accessibility and inclusion, which drives the initiatives that many are undertaking today,” said Pam McGuinty, co-chair of the Council for Disability Concerns. The Neubacher Award is presented to a U-M faculty or staff member, student, or alumnus or alumna for significant achievements in empowering people with disabilities, advocating for or advancing disability rights or disability justice, or increasing the accessibility of programs and services to promote disability inclusion. To learn more or to submit a nomination.
U-M receives $3.1M to transform post-stroke mobility treatment
A close look at how the ankle functions after a stroke could ultimately improve the mobility and rehabilitation outcomes for more than 40 million stroke survivors worldwide who experience persistent walking difficulties. Supported by a $3.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, U-M researchers will focus on how stroke affects the two fundamental properties of the ankle joint during human walking — and how a common medication may, or may not, help. In addition to quantifying how these two properties affect how well people walk after experiencing a stroke, the team will develop a tool so medical practitioners can easily measure them as well. “Through this research, and by establishing a new tool to measure ankle properties in the clinic, we can advance our understanding, improve treatments and ultimately empower stroke survivors to regain mobility. This could enhance overall quality of life for millions of stroke survivors,” said Elliott Rouse, associate professor of robotics and of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering, and co-principal investigator of the project. Read more about this research.
U-M, Detroit forge closer ties through grants, partnerships
Eight new initiatives have been selected to receive funding from the 2023 Engage Detroit Workshops grant program. This is the second year of the program to promote the development of innovative projects that forge connections between U-M and the Detroit community. The collaborative projects planned for the upcoming academic year aim to foster greater connections and partnerships among students, faculty, staff and members of the Detroit community. Through interdisciplinary discussions, participants will explore shared interests and build upon the city’s rich history of successful collaborations. The Provosts’ Offices at the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses have come together to provide joint support for the program. More than $110,000 will be awarded to projects that enhance partnerships with Detroit. Read more about the project teams and descriptions.
Non-LSD hallucinogen use rising among young adults
Young adults ages 19-30 nearly doubled their past-12-month use of non-LSD hallucinogens in the United States from 2018-21, according to a study by U-M and Columbia University. In 2018, the prevalence of young adults’ past-year use of non-LSD hallucinogens was 3.4%. In 2021, that use increased to 6.6%. The results, published in the journal Addiction, come from the Monitoring the Future study, conducted by professors at the Institute for Social Research and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In the Monitoring the Future panel study, annual samples of 12th-grade students are followed longitudinally into adulthood. The study focuses on substance use and health. The researchers examined the use of these hallucinogens by sex and found that the use of non-LSD hallucinogens was greater for males. They also found that white young adults used such hallucinogens at a higher rate than Black young adults. Read more about the findings.
U-M study shows promising treatment for tinnitus
Tinnitus, the ringing, buzzing or hissing sound of silence, varies from slightly annoying in some to utterly debilitating in others. Up to 15% of adults in the United States have tinnitus, where nearly 40% of sufferers have the condition chronically and actively seek relief. A recent study from researchers at U-M’s Kresge Hearing Research Institute suggests relief may be possible. Susan Shore, professor emerita of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, of molecular and integrative physiology, and of biomedical engineering, led groundbreaking research on how the brain processes bi-sensory information, and how these processes can be harnessed for personalized stimulation to treat tinnitus. Her team’s findings were published in JAMA Network Open. Read more about the study.
— Compiled by James Iseler, The University Record
