The United States has lagged way behind other nations in high-speed rail - which includes trains with top speeds of up to 180 miles an hour. What would it take for us to catch up? Those are some of the questions being tackled in a study digging into Americans' thoughts on high-speed rail. Wayne State University, in partnership with the University of Michigan and Drexel University, has launched this two-and-a-half-year study. The study looks into the future of transportation and how high-speed rail in the United States will fit into that future. The study focuses on how people feel about high-speed rail and how they envision the future of transportation. Allen Batteau, cultural anthropologist and associate professor of anthropology at Wayne State University, hopes to move the discussion of high-speed rail away from "how much will it cost" to forming a vision of how high-speed rail can help bring us together.

The Brookings Institution has noticed the recent spate of tech start-ups in Detroit. "As far as clustering innovation in an urban setting goes, Detroit's Midtown and downtown areas are putting the city on the Brookings Institution's radar of places in the U.S. where close collaboration is becoming an alternative to urban sprawl and suburban, corporate office islands. In the Washington, D.C.-based group's report on rising "innovation districts," authors Bruce Katz and Julie Wagner describe the areas as compact and transit-friendly, and anchored by educational institutions and large companies. The report highlights Henry Ford Health System and Wayne State University leading the charge in Midtown.

A quality improvement project developed by Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers and Wayne State University Physician Group (WSUPG) clinicians to reduce inpatient psychiatric admissions in area hospitals could save the state's "Healthy Michigan" newly-expanded Medicaid program $7.5 million a year. A team looked at the effectiveness of transporting patients medically certified for psychiatric hospitalization to a central psychiatric emergency service. Upon arrival, patients were re-evaluated by psychiatrists specially trained in emergency psychiatry and a mental health team to identify the correct diagnosis and any underlying problems, such as unstable co-morbid medical illnesses, substance abuse, non-convulsive seizures and nonverbal patients with developmental disabilities expressing pain through behavior. Staff, including psychiatric nurses and social workers, also assessed patients for acute and chronic bio-psycho-social stressors. Patients who didn't require hospitalization saw a case manager and scheduled an outpatient appointment. Discharged patients were less likely to be readmitted at a later date compared to those who remained hospitalized after the intervention. "So patients did better, and went back to families, work and society quicker," said David Rosenberg, M.D., Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences professor and chair and the Miriam Hamburger Endowed Chair of Child Psychiatry. The study team is now looking at how to improve diagnosis, from better access to care and the use of telemedicine to create technology-based training modules to educate health care workers about psychiatric illnesses.

The Student Update and Information Team (SUIT) was created at Wayne State University to address student behavior issues that involve threatening behavior. SUIT serves as a threat assessment and early intervention team assisting the university in responding early and in a coordinated way to potential behavioral concerns. Lt. Dave Scott, Wayne State University police department, says the team meets twice a month to review instances, or incidents around the university that could involve students, and that could potentially lead to a situation where a student is under a lot of stress or pressure. The Dean of Students Office also reaches out to the students to provide resources if they're needed, according to Scott.

Wayne State University's Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs has been awarded a grant to boost discovery and access to its oral histories of prominent leaders. The $109,000 grant was received from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. It will allow archivists to work on descriptions that will make 1,600 oral histories easier to discover by researchers. The histories have been donated to the library or conducted by staff members during the last four decades. They include interviews of civil rights and social activists Cesar Chavez and Grace Lee Boggs. "This grant will allow scholars to easily locate oral histories of labor leaders and individuals who tell their own stories in their own ways, bringing a new understanding of their lives and work," said Sandra Yee, dean of the Wayne State University Libraries. "Making these oral histories more accessible will be a huge benefit to researchers."

Robert Forsythe, a former dean of the business school at the University of South Florida (USF), has been appointed dean of the Wayne State University School of Business Administration, effective July 21. Forsythe, 64, was dean of the College of Business at USF from 2006 to 2012. There, he launched several student-centered initiatives. Previously, he was the Leonard A. Hadley Chair in Leadership and senior associate dean at the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa from 1994 to 2006. While in Iowa, he co-founded the Iowa Electronic Markets, a futures market for online trading in contracts on political and economic events. "He impressed a large number of us," Wayne State University Provost Margaret E. Winters told Crain's. "He's going to be a real addition to where Wayne State sits in the community." Winters said it is unusual for a dean's search to take several years, but said the business school search was overshadowed in part by the university's presidential search last year. M. Roy Wilson became president of Wayne State University on Aug. 1, 2013.

Public universities and local governments that sustained steep cuts in state aid during Michigan's economic slide would see sizable funding increases under a budget agreement signed Thursday that cleared the way for approval of a roughly $52 billion spending plan in the next week. The deal approved by Gov. Rick Snyder's administration and Republican lawmakers would boost spending on 15 universities by nearly $75 million, or 5.9 percent, with the amount varying by school depending on their graduation rates and other performance benchmarks. The schools could raise tuition by no more than 3.2 percent to get their entire funding increase. Wayne State University would get the smallest percentage boost at 3.9 percent; Grand Valley the biggest at 9.2 percent. The University of Michigan and Michigan State, the state's biggest schools, would receive 5.7 percent and 5.9 percent more.

A high-pressure competition is underway right now at the GM proving grounds in Milford. Industry experts are testing and examining eco cars, which are engineered by college students in Michigan and across North America. EcoCAR 2 project manager Idan Kovent took FOX 2's Robin Schwartz for a ride in Wayne State's eco car, E2D2. The car started as a donated 2013 Chevy Malibu. Now, it's a gasoline electric hybrid that runs on a battery and E85. Over the last three years, a team of 40 students worked to reduce the car's environmental impact as part of the EcoCAR 2 challenge, improving fuel efficiency and cutting emissions while retaining the vehicle's performance and customer appeal. We had to tear apart a lot of the pieces of the original vehicle and redesign them, rebuild them, install a lot of bigger electric components," says Kovent. The car is now a full hybrid that can drive 40 to 50 miles on electricity alone. The competition goes until June 12. Once they wrap up in Milford the teams will spend a week in Washington, D.C. presenting their work.

The Michigan Chronicle has selected Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson as a recipient of the 2014 Men of Excellence recognition. The honorees will be honored during the Michigan Chronicle 2014 Men of Excellence Reception and Award Ceremony on June 13.

Dr. Sonia Hassan, Wayne State University associate dean and director of advanced obstetrical care and research with the National Institutes of Health's Perinatology Research Branch, is profiled as a "Michiganian of the Year." Hassan is being recognized for groundbreaking research into the causes and prevention of preterm birth and commitment to bringing the latest medical discoveries to the women of Detroit. Among Hassan's discoveries is a low-cost treatment for women with a short cervix, a condition more common in Detroit than elsewhere in the United States or the world. Vaginal progesterone can reduce preterm births by 45 percent in women with a short cervix. Last month, Hassan and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan rolled out the "Make Your Date" initiative - a program that will connect pregnant women with doctors who are trained to implement the latest life-saving discoveries. The program also will provide services and the support mothers need to obtain timely, high quality prenatal care.

The Office of the Vice President for Research at Wayne State University announced the finalization of a license agreement with a new start-up company, Detroit Materials, Inc., for a Wayne State University patented portfolio of high-strength low-alloy steels and cast irons for demanding applications in the defense, off-highway, tooling and automotive industries. A team of researchers led by Susil Putatunda, professor of chemical engineering in Wayne State University's College of Engineering, have been working to create advanced materials with high-yield strength, fracture toughness and ductility. "I am excited about the launch of Detroit Materials and the many opportunities that this new company will have to advance industries utilizing high strength steel," said Hilary Ratner, vice president for research at Wayne State University. "We have begun to reap the benefits of the changes that we've put in place in technology commercialization over the last several years, and the translation of Dr. Putatunda's research into the marketplace is just one example of the great things happening at Wayne State University."

Wayne State University will unveil a new art installation at its law school today to honor two civil rights pioneers with Detroit roots: Rosa Parks and U.S. District Judge Damon J. Keith. The news media will have a preview at 9 a.m. and the exhibit will open to the public at 10 a.m. The installation, "A Garland of Praise Songs for Rosa Parks," is made up of 26 wood, fiber and fabric totems. The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and then from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Admission is free. Peter J. Hammer, director of the Keith Center, said he enjoys all that the creation represents. "It's about civil rights and celebrates the friendship of Rosa Parks and Judge Keith," Hammer said in a press release. "Because it honors two Detroiters, it's also fitting that it was created by a Detroit artist."

Close to $1 billion for the construction and renovation of academic buildings, residence halls and welcome centers at Southeast Michigan universities and colleges has been spent since 2012 or will be spent in the next two years. Some schools are embarking on ambitious projects like Wayne State University's $90 million Multipurpose Biomedical Research Building (MBRB), the largest WSU construction project ever in terms of cost. The MBRB, at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Piquette Street, will be 200,000 square feet for the departments of WSU's School of Medicine. When completed, the research building will house programs in cardiovascular disease; metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity; bioinformatics and computational biology; and biomedical engineering. It is expected to house hundreds of researchers. The center is expected to be completed by April 2015, said Anne Vandenbussche, director of design and construction services for WSU. "The main structure is in place, and dollarwise, it's about 40 to 50 percent complete," said Vandenbussche. The WSU board also approved $13.5 million for electrical projects on campus and $6 million for renovations to the Alex Manoogian Building on West Warren Avenue.

Michigan's University Research Corridor (URC) is playing a major role in protecting the water resources of Michigan and the Great Lakes region and using those resources to promote economic development in the state and globally, a new report shows. The three universities that make up the URC - Wayne State University, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan - received nearly $300 million in awards for water-related research and outreach from 2009 to 2013. "We are fortunate to be surrounded by the greatest body of fresh water in the world with a fifth of the world's freshwater supply at our fingertips," said Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson. "The URC is working hard to make sure that water is an economic resource not only for today but for future generations of Michigan residents."

Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson, Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon and University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman joined Craig Fahle for a panel discussion during the 2014 Detroit Regional Chamber Policy Conference. They discussed a report released by the University Research Corridor (URC) called "Innovating for the Blue Economy," which investigates water-related jobs in the state, and also talked about the formation of the URC and its role in putting Michigan universities on the map for national research.

Michigan's three largest public universities are using the water resources of the state and the Great Lakes region as a tool for research and promoting economic development, according to a report to be unveiled today on Mackinac Island. To be presented before Michigan's leaders at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference, the report details how Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University accounted for nearly $300 million in water research, education and outreach over five years. The research of the three universities - an alliance known as the University Research Corridor - has included addressing invasive species, monitoring water quality and optimizing water for agriculture. Additionally, every year the three universities produce more than 3,400 graduates who are prepared for careers in water-related issues in academia, government and the private sector, with nearly 40 percent of the graduates earning advanced degrees. "We are fortunate to be surrounded by the greatest body of fresh water in the world, with a fifth of the world's freshwater supply at our fingertips," said Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson. "The URC is working hard to make sure that water is an economic resource not only for today but for future generations of Michigan residents."

Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson, Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon and outgoing University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman participated in a roundtable discussion with WJR host Paul W. Smith. The discussion, held during the 2014 Detroit Regional Chamber Policy Conference, focused on the efforts of the University Research Corridor and specifically water resources in Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

A Detroit task force putting together a strategy to remove blighted buildings and vacant lots around the city unveiled a comprehensive plan on Tuesday to address the problems plaguing a city in the midst of the nation's largest municipal bankruptcy. The Detroit Blight Removal Task Force announced that it will cost as much as $850 million to tackle blighted neighborhood structures, which include residential and commercial buildings smaller than 25,000 square feet in lot size. John Mogk, an urban development professor at Wayne State University, told Al Jazeera the city's plan is a step in the right direction, but there are more hurdles ahead. "The city's biggest challenge after eliminating blight is to begin to assemble the land for reuse," Mogk said.

According to recent research, a single workout can immediately boost higher-order thinking skills, making you more productive and efficient as you slog through your workday. When you exercise your legs, you also exercise your brain; this means that a lunchtime workout can improve your cognitive performance, thanks to blood flow and brain food. Yoga may also improve cognitive functioning, according to a recent study. One of the authors, Neha Gothe, an assistant professor of education at Wayne State University, said that when you practice yoga, you're not only moving, you're in touch with your body movements. "This awareness might be the reason why you keep distracting parts away and focus on the task at hand," she says. So while yoga involves focus, it's a different kind: It requires a mind-body connection, not a connection to external stimuli. In this way, yoga allows your mind time to rest by keeping external thoughts like workplace stress at bay.

A Michigan doctor and his colleagues say they are beginning to be able to identify distinct subtypes of childhood obsessive compulsive disorder which may benefit and improve the future diagnosis and treatment of OCD. Dr. David Rosenberg, chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and colleagues at Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center's Children's Hospital of Michigan are beginning to define several different subtypes of OCD. For example, Rosenberg and colleagues have found significantly different brain patterns in children with OCD who repetitively wash their hands than in children with OCD who repetitively check to make sure the door is locked. "We see different things in the brain, and they respond differently to treatment," Rosenberg told ABC News' "20/20." Rosenberg said abnormalities in the brain chemical, glutamate, predict abnormalities in brain structure and chemistry and appear to differ based on the specific subtype of OCD. Abnormalities in specific glutamate genes appear to lead to brain glutamate abnormalities that can be measured with an MRI. In his team's groundbreaking study looking at the MRIs of children who have OCD, Rosenberg said they are able to see the disorder in the children's brains and that the brain chemical glutamate is critically involved in OCD.(cue to 4:45)