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Lifeline Online Late Fall Early Winter 2009 Issue 103
News for the Investigators, Staff and Friends of the Life Span Institute

FEATURED

Exercise, healthy hearts and healthy brains: LSI researchers document a vital connection

In addition to Kathleen Gustafson, several Life Span researchers are focusing on the connection between exercise and improved cognitive functioning and overall physical health in children, adults, the elderly and people with disabilities. Read Full Story

LSI scientist studies impact of mom’s wellness on baby’s long-term health

It’s long been known that exposure to toxic elements or disease during critical periods of fetal development can compromise a child’s physical and cognitive development. Now an LSI-affiliated neurologist is honing in on the opposite -- how the wellness choices a pregnant woman makes can benefit the life-long health of her offspring. Read Full Story

IN THE NEWS

Promises kept: Autism center holds first statewide conference for families and practitioners

When it was founded in July 2008, the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART) vowed to widely disseminate practical knowledge backed by research to those Kansans whose lives are touched by Autism Spectrum Disorders as individuals with ASD, family members, practitioners and policy makers. Read Full Story

ADMINISTRATIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Groovin’ to move at Juniper Gardens

The Juniper Gardens Children’s Project has launched a fundraising effort called “Move’n On Up” to support the purchase of furniture and equipment for its new quarters in the Children’s Campus in downtown Kansas City, Kan. Juniper Gardens will be on the third floor of the new $15.5 million facility currently under construction on the corner of 5th Street and Minnesota Avenue. Read Full Story

MILESTONES

Zamarripa retires after 40 years of service; receives first Jay Turnbull Fellowship

Edward Zamarripa, LSI director of finance and administration, was honored for his 40 years of service by all four LSI directors, Richard Schiefelbusch, Stephen Schroeder, Steve Warren and John Colombo, at a November 30 reception at the Adams Alumni Center. He also was awarded the first Jay Turnbull Fellowship by Rud Turnbull, co-director of the Beach Center on Disability. Read Full Story

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT NEWS

During this quarter, LSI investigators generated 45 new proposals and received four new grants. Two of the awards and 12, or 27 percent, of the new proposals were generated by junior investigators. Seven of the proposals, or 16 percent, came from investigators submitting for the first time through LSI. See the Complete List

HONORS

Grad students receive Friends of the Life Span Institute research awards

Zimmerman

Emily Zimmerman

Emily Zimmerman and Xiaoyi (Kimberly) Hu are the winners of the fifth annual Friends of the Life Span Institute Graduate Research Assistant Awards.

Zimmerman received the award for an advanced student in the dissertation stage of graduate work. A fourth-year doctoral student studying developmental speech physiology and neuroscience, Zimmerman is a graduate research assistant in KU’s Communication Neuroscience Laboratories. Zimmerman works closely with several Life Span researchers, including Steven Barlow and Nancy Brady.

Xiaoyi Kimberly Hu

Xiaoyi (Kimberly) Hu

Hu received the award for a promising graduate student in the early stages of graduate school. Hu has completed two and half years of her graduate education in the Special Education program. Her career goal is to become a leading researcher in family support, family quality of life and inclusive education for children with developmental disabilities in China. She works with Life Span Institute researchers Ann Turnbull and Rud Turnbull, among others.

The awards were established by the Friends of the Life Span in 2005 to support the research and professional development of outstanding graduate research assistants affiliated with Life Span Institute projects. Each of the two winners will receive $1500.