A University of Iowa team has discovered a new biological pathway in blood vessel cells, which may contribute to the blood pressure-lowering effects of TZD drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes. This finding may help to develop new therapies that retain the beneficial effect of TZDs but eliminate the adverse side effects.

Bryan Phillips, an assistant professor in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Biology, was recently awarded a three-year grant by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust in the amount of $372,828. Research funded by the grant could lead to the development of drugs to alleviate the effects of human disease.

A new book edited by University of Iowa American studies doctoral students Nicholas Yanes and Derrais Carter looks at President Barack Obama's candidacy and first year of presidency through a pop culture lens.

Public Policy Center director and College of Dentistry faculty member Peter Damiano presents at the next "Finding God at Iowa" forum Friday, Oct. 12, at noon in the Ohio State Room (343) in the Iowa Memorial Union.

The Hawkeye wrestling team opens practice for the 2012-13 season on Wednesday with former wrestler Luke Lofthouse as the new strength and conditioning coach.

Oglala Vice President Tom Poor Bear will speak at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in Room S401 of the Pappajohn Business Building, to share why the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is a threat to the Oglala Lakota Nation and other native peoples and native lands.

The University of Iowa’s Hancher will present "It Gets Better," an anti-bullying production based on the video project of the same name, on Friday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge on the UI campus.

Anthony Arnone, associate professor of cello in the University of Iowa School of Music, will perform with pianist Martha Eckey, a UI School of Music alumna and current UI College of Pharmacy student, at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 14, in Riverside Recital Hall on the UI campus.

Marianne Smith, assistant professor in the University of Iowa’s College of Nursing, was recently awarded a five-year Research Project Grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health.

The north lane of Jefferson Street, directly in front of Calvin Hall, will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10 through Saturday, Oct. 13.

Science fiction comes to the stage: The Gallery series of the University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts will present The Stellification, a student production written by Bella Poynton and directed by Janet Schlapkohl, at 8 p.m., Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 18–20, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 21, in Theatre B of the UI Theatre Building.

The University of Iowa, with other institutions, is examining why tractor driving is dangerous for young people who work on farms by testing their cognitive abilities to operate the machinery, using the UI's National Advanced Driving Simulator.