Changes to a key protein amplified its natural ability to counter kidney disease, according to UAB research. The team now will work to confirm those results and conduct toxicity and dosing studies that would need before they could conduct human clinical trials. The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine.

UAB is expanding services beginning Jan. 1, 2014, to provide instructional design and online course-development support to faculty who wish to convert existing courses and/or develop new online courses. 

Check the blog each day for a new, simple challenge to help you make healthful choices during the holiday season or follow UAB Wellness on Twitter or Facebook to receive the daily challenges between now and New Year's Day.

This spring will be filled with dozens of events, from free student and faculty recitals to master classes and more. A full list of events and ticket information is online. New events are added weekly. Please check the department's website for current information.

UAB will implement a new password/passphrase standard effective Jan. 1, 2014 for all active Blazer ID users. This standard supports the Data Protection and Security Policy and is designed to improve the overall security posture on campus. This standard applies to all users and systems at UAB which use a BlazerID. Read more about the new standard requirements at uab.edu/it.

Blazer Express, our new campuswide shuttle system, will replace Campus Ride and Campus Escort services beginning Jan. 6, 2014.

Classes begin Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. Check the UAB academic calendar for more important dates. 

This past week, 52-year-old Tim French, safety director for the U.S. Army’s Second Infantry Division, journeyed from South Korea to walk across the stage during Saturday's commencement. French earned his degree through UAB’s totally online Advanced Safety and Engineering master’s program.

The 2013 edition of the Best Doctors in America list recognizes 323 UAB physicians in 65 specialties among the nation’s top 5 percent of clinicians, as voted by their peers. Find one online at uabmedicine.org.