Notable

An article by Sarah E. Kanouse, an assistant professor in SIUC's Department of Cinema & Photography, was recently selected by the media Web site Mediapicks.org as a selection for the week of Sept. 6. Her article is "Cooing over the Golden Phallus," in the Journal of Aesthetics and Protest.org.

Photography by Gary P. Kolb, interim Mass Communication and Media Arts dean at SIUC, is part of an exhibit featuring the landscapes of Illinois.

"The Grammar of Landscape: Photographic Visions of Illinois," opened last week at the Illinois State Museum Chicago Gallery. The exhibit is on the second floor of the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St., Suite 2-200, Chicago.

Kolb's portion of the exhibit includes five landscape photographs and three digital montages — work that originated in the Shawnee National Forest. The overall exhibit also includes the works of 10 photographers and one performance artist that examines the state's numerous features through photographs.

"I'm honored to be in such a prestigious group. There are some really well-known folks who are included in the exhibition and it's very good company to show with," Kolb said. "The show is an interesting survey of everything from the urban landscape of downtown Chicago to the deep forests of Southern Illinois."

A public reception is set for 5:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28. The exhibit is in Chicago through Jan. 25. The two-year exhibit then travels to the Illinois State Museum in Springfield before going to venues including Lockport and the Southern Illinois Art and Artisans Center at Rend Lake.

A research scientist at the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield has been awarded two national grants.  Sophia Ran, assistant professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology and member of the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute research team, is the principal investigator for the projects.  The research may lead to the control of metastasis, and hence the survival of many cancer patients, because metastatic cancer currently has no or limited treatment options.

Ran received a two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI).  The study will test whether a specific antibody can be used to suppress the spread of cancer from lymph nodes to other parts of the body.  The total budget for the grant is $216,750.

Ran received another two-year grant from the William E. McElroy Charitable Foundation.  The study will identify ways to control the spread of cancer in animal models by preventing the formation of lymphatic vessels in tumors.  This will be done through evaluating the effect of specific proteins that may suppress the spread of cancer cells in the body.  The total budget for the grant is $50,000.

This research may improve the control of metastasis, and hence the survival of many cancer patients, because metastatic cancer currently has no or limited treatment solutions.