On its website, WWJ-TV reported that students in the first undergraduate biomedical engineering class at the Wayne State University's College of Engineering have "designed a device that would allow a diabetic patient with the use of only one arm to test his blood sugar independently. This device was developed at the request of an actual client who approached the BME department for assistance." In addition, this year the "students will redesign a prosthetic leg for bilateral, below-the-knee amputees." (Subscription only)

The Wayne State University Board of Governors re-elected Tina Abbott and Debbie Dingell to one-year terms as the board's chair and vice chair, respectively, at its Feb. 1 meeting. Abbott is completing an eight-year term that runs through 2012, and Dingell's eight-year term runs through 2014. Rick Nork and Julie H. Miller were elected to one-year terms as 2012 board officers. Biographical information is provided on the officers. Photos of Abbott and Dingell are included in the Free Press story.

Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour told the university's staff in a Friday email that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Gilmour said his prognosis is good and that he'll continue his duties, but on a limited basis for the next three months. "I will be undergoing treatments that will require a more flexible calendar for the next three months," he wrote in the email. "I will be in the office, but I have been advised to keep a lighter schedule, which may mean I am less available to attend some events." A photo of President Gilmour is included.

In addition to education and transportation investments, Gov. Rick Snyder said public safety is a priority in his 2013 budget proposal presented Thursday. It was unclear whether cities like Detroit will receive more money, but Snyder plans to increase public safety funding by $50 million. Eric Lambert, professor of criminal justice at Wayne State University, said he was pleased to see forensic science getting more funding because "when there's a backlog, that ties up investigations if they're waiting for, for example, a sexual assault kit," Lambert said. Lambert said he's optimistic Snyder is moving in the right direction. "As the barn is burning, we're spending all this money to put out the fire, but wouldn't it be better to prevent the fire?" he asked.

John Mogk, Wayne State University law professor, opined about the prospect of Detroit facing the appointment of an emergency manager. Mogk writes the alternative to addressing Detroit's unparalleled financial crisis is municipal bankruptcy under Chapter 9 of the Federal Bankruptcy Act, which could be more damaging to the city and the state and take much longer to complete. "Seeking bankruptcy relief would downgrade the city's credit rating, reduce its ability to borrow funds, and drive up the city's interest rates. The credit standing of other municipalities in Michigan and the state will also be affected. Bankruptcy requires substantial additional management responsibilities, leaving staffers less time to actually govern."

Gov. Rick Snyder's budget proposal would give Michigan's 15 public universities incentives to hold tuition increases to 4 percent or less, the first funding increase in five years - with strings attached. A new incentive system would give Grand Valley State University the largest increase while Wayne State University would receive the smallest increase. "I'm happier today than I was yesterday," said Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour. Snyder set up four conditions for universities to meet: $17,192 for each degree completed using the average yearly change in number of degrees over the last three years; $685 per degree completed in science, technology, engineering, math or health fields over the three-year average; $155 for each Pell Grant eligible (low-income) student attending the university based on a three-year average; and, a yet-to-be determined amount of money to each university that holds tuition increases under 4 percent.

An article examining the impact of the Live Midtown initiative on Detroit's comeback highlights economic development in the area near Wayne State University and other anchor institutions. Ned Staebler, vice president for economic development, said his goal at Wayne State is to help increase density around campus by 40% in the next five to ten years. With only 11 to 12 people an acre, Midtown might be one of Detroit's most populated neighborhoods. Wayne State employee Darren Clark is quoted in the article about his possible move to the Midtown area using the incentives.

A promising approach for treating advanced ovarian cancer offers new hope for extending survival rates and for preventing tumors from recurring, according to a study from Wayne State University and the Karmanos Cancer Institute presented at last month's International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy in Miami. Researchers treated ovarian cancer patients with cryoablation, a method for freeze destroying tumors which resulted in survival of about 60 months, comparable to the survival rates for women whose tumors do not return after the first surgical procedure.

Saeed Khan, professor and lecturer on Middle Eastern policies at Wayne State University, was a guest on the Craig Fahle Show. The topic of the discussion was the recent developments in the sanctions battle with Iran.

A column written by Robert H. Holland, chairman and CEO of Vistage Michigan, notes that businesses in Michigan have grown over the last 12 months as a result of educational institutions like the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University unleashing new ventures from their research and consultancy activities that look to "stick" beyond the startup stage, including in medical devices and alternative energy.

Wayne State University's women's swimming team and the Grand Valley State University men's team are in the lead after Day 2 of the 2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Swimming and Diving Championships, being held at the Jenison Aquatics Center in Jenison, Mich. The men's 200-yard freestyle relay saw four teams earn NCAA "B" cuts led by the Wayne State team which placed first with a time of 1:22.07. Wayne State swept the top three podium spots in the men's one-meter diving event. In the final events of the evening, Wayne State took the 400-yard medley relay title in a time of 3:44.78. The 2012 GLIAC Swimming and Diving Championships resume Friday morning with the Day three preliminaries.

Wayne State University College of Education Dean Carolyn Shields was interviewed regarding the balanced calendar or year-round schooling topic. (audio clip not available)

Nigil Valikodath hopes to enroll in medical school and eventually become an orthopedic surgeon. Valikodath, a member of the first undergraduate biomedical engineering (BME) class at Wayne State University's College of Engineering, is already well on his way to achieving his dream. "The undergraduate BME program is a state-of-the-art program that has given me opportunities I wouldn't have even imagined as an undergraduate," Valikodath said. "I'm confident that, wherever I end up, I'll be well prepared for whatever challenges I face." A photo of Valikodath is included.

Mark Stanisz, unlike many college freshmen, knows exactly what he wants to do with his life. The 19-year-old is enrolled in a five-year MBA program at Wayne State University, and he's the founder of Love One Another - a clothing line aimed at promoting self-love and positivity among teens. Stanisz said he initially started his business as a way to help his parents pay for tuition at Orchard Lake St. Mary's, a private high school, and then to put himself through college. Since the company's website launched in November, Stanisz has added features aimed at helping teens who may be struggling with things in their

If Michigan State University freshmen don't prove they have health insurance by the end of the month, the university will automatically enroll them in a plan and tack the cost onto their tuition bills. The state's second-largest public university is the first in Michigan to make such a move -- and it isn't going over well with Republicans in the Legislature. They've set a hearing next week on the matter. "It's a one-size-fits-all plan," said state Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant. "The university is saying, 'You are going to have this.' This is mandated coverage." MSU officials say they're simply following about 25 percent of public universities across the nation in mandating health insurance coverage. They say they are trying to protect students who might get sick and have to choose between paying for medical treatment or college. It is noted in the story that Wayne State University only requires health insurance for international students.

A brief notes that Wayne State University is hosting its next Water@Wayne seminar on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 2:30 p.m. in the WSU Welcome Center auditorium. The seminar is free and open to the public and will feature guest speaker Lynn Henning, a Michigan farmer and environmentalist who was awarded the 2010 Goldman Environmental Prize.

The Writers Guild of America East Foundation has tapped Hailey O'Brien, a senior at Wayne State University studying film and psychology, to receive its Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship. O'Brien's fellowship project, "Losing Grace," is about one woman's struggle and search for penance after an accidental drowning of a young neighbor while in her care. Wayne State is among eight universities and colleges across the country that participated in this year's Collyer Fellowship nominating process.

The Presidents of Michigan's big three research universities, Allan D. Gilmour, Mary Sue Coleman and Lou Anna Simon, wrote a commentary piece about the announcement by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office opening a satellite office in downtown Detroit. They wrote that the move is the latest indicator of our state's economic resurgence. "The location of a federal office that reviews and grants patents may not have the sizzle of a high-tech firm locating to Michigan, or a local start-up company securing millions in venture capital, but in reality it is vital for inventors, and is one more critical piece of the growing innovation infrastructure in our state." They point out that scientists and inventors in Michigan's University Research Corridor - the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Michigan State University - are responsible for making our state the third-most vibrant university corridor in the country. "The selection of Michigan as the Patent Office's first-ever satellite office sends a powerful signal to the nation that we continue to develop intellectual property and translate it into products that are relevant in today's global marketplace. Not only will this new office benefit the government by the timely processing of patent applications, it also will advance approvals of new creations from inventors both inside and out of our universities."

John Mogk, a Wayne State University law professor who studies land issues, is quoted in an article examining foreclosures in Detroit and a Wayne County plan to sell homes for a little as $500. According to Mogk, 12,300 Detroit parcels were foreclosed because of unpaid taxes last year. "There is no end in sight," he said. "The problem is just so large and overwhelming in Detroit." Mogk also was interviewed on campus by Fox 2 reporter Roop Raj.

A rising number of malignant melanoma cases the past four years at Karmanos Cancer Institute illustrate the need for cutting-edge research into some of the most aggressive forms of the still mostly untreatable skin cancer. Dr. Patricia LoRusso, Karmanos director of Phase I clinical trials and the Eisenberg Center for Experimental Therapeutics, and professor of oncology at Wayne State University's School of Medicine, starts a three-year, $6 million research project as co-leader of a group of 50 cancer researchers at 12 medical centers who will study BRAF Wild-Type metastatic melanoma. BRAF Wild-Type is a more aggressive form of metastatic melanoma that has far fewer treatment options. "We know that there is a desperate need for treatment for those suffering from the most aggressive forms of the disease ... for which there are very few effective treatment options," said LoRusso.