The University of Toledo will welcome Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey to campus and to the city of Toledo Thursday to discuss higher education funding in the 2015 state budget.

Carey also will have the opportunity to learn from UT researchers about the impact of the University’s research on the region and the nation in the areas of the study of algal blooms in Lake Erie and the fight against human trafficking.

“The University of Toledo is honored to welcome Chancellor Carey back to northwest Ohio for another visit,” said UT President Sharon L. Gaber. “In this year’s budget, Ohio elected officials and higher education leaders demonstrated clearly to students, families and public institutions of higher education their commitment to making a college education affordable. It is a commitment that is shared by this University.”

Sharon Speyer, chair of the UT Board of Trustees, pointed to the University’s historic commitment to financial accessibility.

“In the next two years, UT will freeze tuition for the 4th and 5th time since 2007,” said Speyer, who will participate in the strategic discussions with Carey on Thursday. “Chancellor Carey has played a critical role in working with the Governor and Ohio elected officials to secure in this budget an investment in higher education that ensures UT maintains the highest quality educational experience for our graduates.”

Gaber said the research meetings are examples of the tremendous return on investment that is generated for the community from university, state and federal research grants and awards.

Carey will help UT dedicate a new research vessel for the Lake Erie Center at a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the National Museum of the Great Lakes and also will meet with faculty to learn more about the University’s new Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute.

NASA revealed the most detailed photo yet of Pluto, transmitted by the New Horizons spacecraft that was launched in January 2006.

“With this mission, Pluto becomes a real place,” said Mike Cushing, University of Toledo astronomy professor and director of the Ritter Planetarium. “Before, our best telescopes could only see it as a blotchy disk. But now we can see that it has surface features like craters, cliffs and chasms.”

The New Horizons mission completes our initial reconnaissance of the solar system, Cushing said, which is a journey that began with the exploration of Venus by the Mariner 2 spacecraft in 1962.

“Over the course of 53 years we have now seen, up close, all of the major bodies in our solar system,” Cushing said.

The entirety of the data from New Horizons will take more than a year to reach Earth. To collect photos of Pluto, New Horizons had to turn its antenna away from our planet. Late last night, New Horizons turned its antenna back to Earth and “phoned home,” letting NASA scientists know the spacecraft survived its trip through the Pluto system, Cushing explained.

Throughout July, UT’s Ritter Planetarium is featuring “Pluto-Live!” a program celebrating the New Horizons mission, at 8:30 p.m. on Fridays. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children, seniors and UT community members. For more information, visit ritter.utoledo.edu.

To schedule an interview with Cushing about the importance of the New Horizons mission and learning more about Pluto, contact Aimee Portala at 419.530.4279 or aimee.portala@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
The Blade (July 17, 2015)
NBC 24 (July 21, 2015)

The University of Toledo LaunchPad Incubation Program is celebrating the grand opening of two groundbreaking biomedical technology companies, OsteoNovus, Inc. and Spinal Balance, Inc.

A grand opening celebration for the companies will take place from 4:30 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 16 in the Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex. The program will be at 4:45 p.m. with speakers UT President Sharon L. Gaber; College of Engineering Dean Dr. Nagi Naganathan; Robert Holden, former Missouri governor and chairman of the Midwest U.S. China Association; and Robin Young, CEO of Pearl Driver, Inc. and publisher of Orthopedics This Week.

OsteoNovus and Spinal Balance are early-stage orthopaedic medical device companies founded by Dr. Anand Agarwal, UT professor of bioengineering, and Dr. Vijay Goel, UT Distinguished University Professor Endowed Chair and McMaster-Gardner Professor of Orthopaedic Bioengineering, along with Arthur Karas, co-founder of Spinal Balance, andDr. Sarit Bhaduri, UT professor of engineering and co-founder of OsteoNovus.

OsteoNovus focuses on the development of biologic materials to support and regenerate bone. Its product, NovoGro, is a bone regeneration biomaterial that grows a robust bone in six weeks and is available as a moldable putty or injectable bone substitute. NovoGro is suitable for several clinical applications including bone voids, treatment of various fractures and spinal disorders.

Spinal Balance designs, develops and manufactures advanced spinal hardware and the mechanical implementation necessary for spinal surgery. Spinal Balance currently has three products in development including the Libra Pedicle Screw System, a facet screw system and interbody cages, which are necessary for the treatment of degenerative diseases and deformity of the spine. With its products, the company aims to enhance the surgeon experience, improve patient outcomes and reduce procedural costs.

After months of construction and entrepreneurial assistance from UT LaunchPad Incubation, OsteoNovus, Inc. and Spinal Balance, Inc. have established new research, development and manufacturing facilities including a lab space, a custom clean room and a controlled inventory storage space.

The companies have secured funding through grants and support from the UT LaunchPad Incubation Program, which provides intensive entrepreneurial assistance, state-of-the-art facilities and other valuable resources to early-stage, technology-based start up companies.

For more information, visit utoledo.edu/incubator, osteonovus.com or spinalbalance.us.

Media Coverage
WTOL 11 (July 16, 2015)
FOX Toledo and NBC 24 (July 17, 2015)
The Blade (July 17, 2015)

Avril Lavigne recently talked publicly about how she was bedridden for five months due to Lyme disease and thought she “was dying” because of not being able to eat, talk or move.

By studying the real-time immune response to the bacteria that causes the disease, a University of Toledo researcher is looking to help create better treatments so that fewer people have to experience what the songstress did.

“What we are trying to figure out is what “tricks” that the bacteria play so that our immune response can’t clear the infection on its own,” said Mark Wooten, PhD, UT associate professor of microbiology and immunology. “If we figure that out, we will have a better idea of what type of vaccine is needed to prevent this disease, which can be quite debilitating in some patients.”

Previously, when the bacteria was injected into mice, researchers were limited on what they could see and when. Wooten came up with the idea to make the bacteria fluorescent (glow green) so it could be studied in real-time using a high-tech multiphoton microscope.

Wooten uses special mouse strains with fluorescent immune cells, which are injected with the Lyme disease-causing bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is also fluorescent. He then uses high-powered microscopy to directly observe the fluorescent bacteria in the skin of the living mice and to see how they interact with the different immune cells.

Initial findings show that the immune system starts to fight the bacteria, but then the immune response backs down after a few days, even though large numbers of the bacteria remain. Figuring out why the immune system starts and then stops is crucial to finding a way to treat those infected by Lyme disease — the No. 1 vector-borne disease in the United States that sees an uptick this time of year during tick season.

“For the first time we are seeing what the bacteria does in the mice and how the immune cells respond to them,” Wooten said. “We can see where the deficiencies are, which in return, allows us to figure out how to improve the immune response in humans.”

Wooten said people getting bitten by an infected tick is a growing problem in the Midwest and Northeast because humans are increasingly living in close proximity to the animals, such as deer, that carry the bacteria.

Not only are the numbers in the New England states continuing to rise,” he said, “but the bacteria now can be found throughout much of Ohio.”

More than 300,000 cases are believed to occur each year; however, it is estimated that only 10-20 percent of Lyme disease cases are actually reported.

“Our latest findings indicate that the bacteria can literally outrun our immune cells within the host,” Wooten said. “We figured they would get in the skin and go hide from our immune response. Actually, we are finding that they don’t hide. They continue to move for months or years, and our immune system isn’t clearing them. Why is that? That is what we hope to unravel.”

To schedule an interview, contact Brandi Barhite at 419.383.5376 or brandi.barhite@utoledo.edu.

Dr. Blair Grubb of The University of Toledo Medical Center will be surrounded by grateful patients when he is lauded this weekend for his medical expertise and bedside manner.

In particular, Laura Ruszczyk will get to thank Grubb publicly when Dysautonomia International presents him with the 2015 Physician of the Year Award in his specialty, an honor that she nominated him for, at its annual conference in Washington, D.C., from July 17-20.

Ruszczyk nominated Grubb because of a life-changing operation she received to implant a BIOTRONIK EVIA pacemaker that works well for her because it responds to both heart rate and blood pressure.

“You hear his name, see it throughout the research on dysautomomia and expect a giant when you finally meet him,” Ruszczyk, 51, said. “He walked into my exam room and greeted my husband and me with a warm handshake and smile. He listened, explained the autonomic nervous system to us, examined me and gave answers and hope that we would — together — find a treatment plan that gave me a better quality of life.”

Her dysautomomia was diagnosed in August 2011, but it wasn’t until she secured an appointment that she began to hope life with an autonomic nervous system disorder was manageable.

She waited 16 months to meet the world-renowned autonomic specialist who has a wait list of more than 600 people. The distance did not matter. She drove 300 miles from Buffalo, New York to Toledo.

“This award means a lot to me because of all the work that I have done in creating this subspecialty of medicine,” said Grubb, Director of Electrophysiology Services at UTMC and Distinguished University Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics. “However, this award isn’t about me. It is about patients and changing their lives. My nurse practitioner and I do what we can for our patients. It is one day at a time with our huge waiting list. We wish we could do more.”

Dysautonomia affects the nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal cord to the heart, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, pupils and blood vessels. Symptoms can include rapid heart rate or slow heart rate, excessive fatigue, thirstiness, shortness of breath, blood pressure fluctuations and bladder problems.

Because many of the sufferers are women, Grubb said he has seen that their concerns can be not taken as seriously and they are told to rest or drink more water.

Kim Pearch of Monroe, Michigan, said her symptoms were not validated until she met Grubb.

“When he comes into the exam room, you feel like you are the only who exists,” Pearch said. “I know I am not the only one who feels this way. Dr. Grubb understands and values the importance of treating the whole patient and not just the illness.”

Dan Barbee, vice president of clinical services at UTMC, said Grubb is a testament to UTMC’s approach to putting the patient first. His waiting list is indicative of how much his expertise and compassion is valued. Patients come from Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Great Britain.

“He’s regarded, literally, as the global leader in his field and patients came from all around the world to see him here at UTMC,” he said. “We are proud that Grubb is one of our own.”

REVISED
BOARD OF TRUSTEES’ MEETINGS

Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Driscoll Alumni Center, Board Room
5:30 p.m. Special Board of Trustees Meeting
The Trustees will enter Executive Session immediately upon convening
the meeting to discuss trade secret under the Ohio Uniform Trade Secret Act
contained in Ohio Revised Code Section 1333.61.

Monday, July 20, 2015
Driscoll Alumni Center, Schmakel Room
10:30 a.m. Clinical Affairs Committee Meeting

Any questions may be directed to the University Communications Office by calling (419) 530-7832 or via email at jonathan.strunk@utoledo.edu.

The University of Toledo’s new research vessel with state-of-the-art technology will advance the Lake Erie Center’s environmental research into water quality, harmful algal blooms, invasive species and other issues impacting the Great Lakes region.

The dedication ceremony for the new 28-foot research vessel will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 16 at the National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front St. UT President Sharon Gaber and Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey will join faculty and students from the Lake Erie Center at the event.

“The UT Lake Erie Center is a national leader in water quality research. The addition of this research vessel will afford our dedicated faculty members the opportunity to advance their work to address issues such as the harmful algae that impact regions like ours that depend on the health of the Great Lakes,” Gaber said. “Given our location on the shores of Lake Erie and the depth of our expertise, it is vital for the University to make this investment to further our knowledge and provide sustainable solutions for our community.”

The new research vessel was custom-made by North River Boats/Almar Boats in Roseburg, Ore., to meet the research needs of the Lake Erie Center faculty and staff. The new boat is constructed of aluminum and is larger and sturdier than the existing 25-foot fiberglass boat the center named the Mayflier, which had been UT’s primary research vessel for more than 15 years and will continue to be used on the Maumee River and Lake Erie.

“We are excited to add this wonderful new boat as an instrumental tool in the research efforts of our Lake Erie Center faculty and students,” said Dr. Carol Stepien, director of the Lake Erie Center and Distinguished University Professor of Ecology. “As the community has become more aware of the water quality issues that impact the Maumee Bay region, it is increasingly important for their public university to be able to maintain and build upon its leadership in addressing those issues. The new research vessel will help us do that.”

With this vessel, the researchers will no longer be restricted to field research only on calm waters allowing them to collect data in differing kinds of weather conditions for a more comprehensive understanding of the ecology of the lake, said Dr. Tom Bridgeman, associate professor of ecology in the Department of Environmental Sciences.

The research vessel also is equipped with more advanced equipment and instrumentation that will allow the researchers to deploy buoys, bottom dredges, and fish trawling gear to expand the kinds of studies they can conduct, he said.

“We’ve used the new boat to launch a buoy in Maumee Bay about seven miles from Toledo’s water intake to monitor the blue green algae in western Lake Erie, which we wouldn’t have been able to do with the Mayflier,” Bridgeman said. “We are already using that technology to track the harmful algal blooms this summer and to collect water samples so that we can provide some of the first data on the blooms as they grow and expand eastward.”

UT is working with the city of Toledo, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others to monitor the health of Lake Erie and provide timely communications to residents who rely on it for their drinking water.

Real-time data from The University of Toledo’s buoy and other instruments monitoring western Lake Erie are available at habs.glos.us with additional information on the UT buoy at wqdatalive.com/public/515. The city has an online Toledo water quality dashboard to communicate the quality of the drinking water at toledo.oh.gov/services/public-utilities/water-treatment/water-quality.

The UT Lake Erie Center’s new vessel also has an enclosed cabin to protect the crew from the elements and additional enhanced safety gear such as radar and a spotlight and power anchor windlass, which will allow for a longer research season and evening sampling if needed.

For more information on the UT Lake Erie Center, visit utoledo.edu/nsm/lec.

Click on the image or this link to download photo of the research vessel.

Media Coverage
The Blade (July 16, 2015)
WTOL 11 (July 16, 2015)
WTOL 11, 13 ABC and NBC 24 (July 16, 2015)
WTOL 11 (July 17, 2015)
The Blade (July 17, 2015)
Times Leader (July 17, 2015)

The University of Toledo has announced that the inauguration of Dr. Sharon L. Gaber as the University’s 17th president has been scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m. in Savage Arena. The ceremony will be the culmination of a week of academic and student-led events celebrating UT and focusing on the selected theme of “Tradition, Collaboration and Transformation.”

“Our mission to improve the human condition is unwavering. Dr. Gaber led truly transformational change at the University of Arkansas and it is that degree of excellence that we need and expect for The University of Toledo,” said Sharon Speyer, chair of the Board of Trustees. 

Trustee Jeff Cole, who is leading the planning process for the inauguration, said he and members of the University community will be reaching out to the community to engage them as well.

“An inauguration is a university tradition but it is very much a community event,” Cole said. “This region and this institution are inextricably linked, and as we chart our course for the future, UT’s success will be measured in the positive impact we have on this region, this state and around the world.”

An urban planner by professional training, Gaber emphasized the strength the University will generate by collaborating with people and organizations in the region.

“Toledo is where we will create the opportunities that keep our graduates close, our alumni engaged and attract new talent and new ideas,” she said. “An inauguration isn’t about an individual. It’s a reaffirmation of the foundations and core beliefs of The University of Toledo and the recognition of where we need to go and what we need to achieve.”

Officials said a calendar of the week-long celebration, as well as the details of the inauguration, are still being finalized and will be released in the coming weeks. They also noted that private dollars from the UT Foundation, not tuition or taxpayer subsidies, will fund the celebration.

Media Coverage
The Blade (July 13, 2015)

The world is paying attention to the debt crisis in Greece and how it could impact the global economy.

Some fear that if Greece leaves the European Union, it could lead to the eventual collapse of the entire Eurozone, which could potentially crush international stock markets and damage the United States economy. At this point, everyone is waiting to see the impact, University of Toledo economist Gbenga Ajilore said.

“In terms of the global economy, other than changes in the market, nothing significant will happen until either a deal is agreed upon where Greece receives financial assistance, or no deal is coming and Greece has to figure out their debt issue on their own,” Ajilore said.

Greek citizens have voted against receiving further bailout assistance from European creditors in exchange for spending cuts and tax hikes, but without it the country will be unable to repay a $3.9 billion bond held by the European Central Bank (ECB), due Monday, July 20, Ajilore explained.

If Greece fails to pay, the country will officially be in default, which could lead to the collapse of its banking system and result in slow economic growth in Europe, he said.

“With Greece, the next step is to find out whether the ECB will try to get Greece to agree to more austerity in exchange for financial assistance or give them financial assistance without these measures,” he said. “The question is whether the ECB and Greece will continue to play this game of chicken.”

To schedule an interview with Ajilore, contact Aimee Portala at 419.530.4279 or aimee.portala@utoledo.edu.