UAB Briefs: Alzheimer’s research, Fulbright award, Upward Bound
In this weekly online feature, we keep track of interesting people and events on campus at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
We also provide updates regarding UAB’s efforts to cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
For example, Gov. Ivey’s “Safer at Home” state order remains in effect and restricts visitors in state hospitals. UAB Hospital and UAB Medicine clinics have implemented and must enforce these visitation guidelines.
For information regarding how to plan your in-person UAB Medicine hospital or clinic visit, click here.
To read other UAB COVID-19 updates or find health information, go to uab.edu/coronavirus.
Let us know about people, events and programs on campus that deserve a mention in UAB Briefs. Email jchambers@starnespublishing.com.
FIGHTING DEMENTIA, DISPARITIES
UAB has been named an exploratory Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, according to UAB Media Relations.
The exploratory ADRC at UAB will join a network of 31 ADRCs in 21 states.
It will be the only ADRC in the four-state region of Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Researchers in the network seek to translate research advances into improved diagnosis and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and to find ways to treat or prevent these diseases.
The center at UAB will also focus on racial disparities in Alzheimer’s disease in the Deep South.
"One of our goals will be to expand the diversity of those we recruit for studies into predicting, diagnosing and managing the disease,” said Erik Roberson, M.D., Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Neurology and the center director.
Roberson says UAB will recruit research volunteers over 55 years of age who are healthy or have mild cognitive issues. African Americans and other underrepresented populations will be a priority.
Areas of investigation range from the basic mechanisms of disease to managing the symptoms and helping families cope with the effects.
FULBRIGHT HONOREE
Susan Spezzini, a professor and program director of English as a second language in the UAB School of Education, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award.
The only faculty member at UAB to receive the award this year, Spezzini will live in Paraguay from next February to July for her project, “enhancing the Efficacy of English Language Educators in Paraguay,” according to UAB Media Relations.
She will teach and conduct research at the National University of Asuncion and the Paraguayan American Cultural Center as part of a project to enhance the efficacy of English language educators in the country.
“My Fulbright experience will hopefully serve to spawn collaborative research between UAB and Paraguayan educators, their graduate students and other colleagues who are seeking solutions for shared concerns,” Spezzini said.
Spezzini is one of more than 800 U.S. scholars who will teach or conduct research abroad for the 2020-2021 academic year through the Fulbright program.
Since 1946, more than 390,000 professionals of all backgrounds and fields have taken advantage of the Fulbright program to study, teach and conduct research in other countries.
UPWARD BOUND
The Upward Bound Academy at UAB is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and provides academic support and personal development for Birmingham-area high school students, many of whom are socially and economically underrepresented.
UAB Upward Bound got another boost recently when it received a $10,000 grant from the Birmingham Bar Foundation, according to UAB Media Relations.
The program’s partnership with Birmingham Bar Foundation will help its students and their parents in their understanding of law.
This is needed because the students and their families do not have access to basic legal education, said Charletta Wiggins, UAB Upward Bound director.
This summer, UAB Upward Bound students also participated in the Birmingham Bar Foundation “Resolve to Solve” series, which taught them effective strategies for communicating, thinking critically and resolving conflict.
“The facilitators at the Birmingham Bar Foundation were immediately impressed by our students and their commitment to learning,” Wiggins said.
LIFE AFTER PRISON
The UAB Institute for Human Rights and the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy will host a Facebook panel discussion, “Life after Prison: Insights from the Offender Alumni Association,” on Thursday, October 1 at 4 p.m.
The topic will be how the community can help improve the lives of past offenders.
Panelists from the Offenders Alumni Association will talk about how tough it is for offenders when they are released and reenter the world.
The association seeks to help former offenders and their families to actively engage in reducing crime and restoring communities.
Community members are invited to submit questions to lhc@uab.edu before Sept. 25.
The event will take place at www.facebook.com/UABLHC.
Due to technology restrictions, the lecture will be pre-recorded with a class.