University of Iowa employees who participated in university-sponsored health initiatives last year report healthier eating, lower work absenteeism and greater productivity on the job, factors that have helped keep health-insurance premiums at the same level for a third consecutive year.

A team comprised of University of Iowa researchers and students is sending its own technology on a series of NASA rockets to find parts of space we can't currently see.

Essayist Elena Passarello, a 2008 alumna of the University of Iowa’s Nonfiction Writing Program, is a winner of the 2015 Whiting Award, presented in a March 5 ceremony in New York City. This prestigious, $50,000 award recognizes 10 young writers for their extraordinary talent and promise, and is one of the most coveted prizes for up-and-coming writers.

Dr. Axel Ruprecht to serve on AAE/AAOMR Special Committee. Ruprecht and other committee members will revise and update the AAE 2010 position paper on the use of CBCT in regard to ionizing radiation as well as clinical recommendations, anatomical considerations and appropriate use of CBCT.

Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, received a $40,000 research grant from BioHorizons Inc. (Birmingham, Alabama) to conduct a study entitled “Comparison of the Efficacy of Two Different Surgical Approaches to Increase Peri-implant Mucosa Thickness: A Randomized Clinical Trial.”

Dr. Arwa Owais, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, has received two grants from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation for her research.

Iowa Now will publish on a lighter schedule over spring break from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20. The Iowa Now Top News Digest—normally published on Mondays and Thursdays—will be on hiatus that week.

Dr. Isabelle Denry, Dows Institute and Department of Prosthodontics, has been invited to serve as a member of the Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Study Section, Center for Scientific Review, for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2015.

The Iowa Institute of Human Genetics will present an information session, Personalized Genomic Medicine: Careers in Bioinformatics and Big Data, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 9. The event shows undergraduate and graduate students the numerous career opportunities being created by personalized genomic medicine in bioinformatics and the management of big data.

As the University of Iowa moves forward with the Board of Regents’ TIER (Transparent Inclusive Efficiency Review) project, the UI TIER leadership team is redoubling its efforts to keep the campus informed on the latest developments in connection with the initiative.

Professor Keela Herr, associate dean for faculty at UI’s College of Nursing, is a recipient of the 2015 Distinguished Researcher Award from the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA).

University of Iowa cancer researchers and physicians will discuss the findings of the "Cancer in Iowa: 2015" report at a news briefing at 10 a.m. Friday, March 13. A patient affected by melanoma will also be available to talk to media.