School Notes: School of Public Health
January/February 2018

Scholars dive deep into mass spectrometry

Some 100 leading researchers in tissue imaging mass spectrometry from academia and industry came together for a daylong conference at the Yale School of Public Health on October 19 to discuss advances and challenges in the field. The technology is particularly applicable to cancer research and drug discovery and development. The YSPH Department of Environmental Health Sciences is building its capacity for mass spectrometry, imaging, and metabolomics research. The department recently created two labs dedicated to metabolomics research to study cellular responses to environmental stress.

Congresswoman warns against “sabotaging” ACA

Public health crises and infectious diseases know no gender, no socioeconomic group, and no borders, US Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd District) said during a visit to Yale School of Public Health in September. As part of the School’s Health Policy Leadership series, DeLauro offered an insider’s perspective on preserving the health care safety net. While addressing immediate challenges—such as the ongoing fight to protect the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Congress, the veteran legislator also stressed the need for greater commitments to public health issues such as the opioid crisis and mental health. DeLauro warned that repealing or “sabotaging” the ACA will result in taking away affordable health care options for most Americans. 

Meningiomas impact quality of life

Meningiomas—tumors that arise from the lining of the brain and spinal cord—come with a range of side effects such as memory loss, confusion, and physical weakness, months after surgery. Although most meningiomas are non-malignant, a new Yale School of Public Health–led study published in Cancer reveals that many patients experience significantly reduced quality of life in the year after surgery, highlighting the need to continue to support such patients as they recover.  The study was organized by Elizabeth B. Claus, professor and director of medical research at YSPH, and an attending neurosurgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.