The National Psoriasis Foundation is awarding a record number in Translational Research Grants this year. Dr. Johann Gudjonsson from U-M is one of the Translational Research grant recipients, receiving a two-year, $200,000 grant.

Johann Gudjonsson, M.D., Ph.D., of University of Michigan, will use RNA sequencing to create a high resolution map of the key inflammatory pathways leading to psoriasis. Knowledge gained from this project may help scientists predict the course of disease and response to treatment.

Read more here.

Web Address: http://www.psoriasis.org/news/2012/05/14/npf-awards-record-number-translational-research-grants

John¹s expertise as a nationally certified professional architect has been invaluable over the past three decades, especially as the organization has made many critical decisions regarding space allocation, leaseholds, new facility development and existing facility renovations.

John played a leadership role in the planning and design of the U-M Cardiovascular Center, the expansion of the Kellogg Eye Center and the C. S. Mott Children¹s and Von Voigtlander Women¹s Hospital replacement project.

John’s humor and talents will be greatly missed, but his imprint surrounds us in all of the buildings he has helped to create and improve.

Those of you who would like to wish John well as he begins this exciting new chapter in his life should plan on attending a reception to be held on Thursday, June 28, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. in the BSRB Atrium.

Former U-M quarterback Rich Hewlett will host his 4th annual golf tournament, “Swing to Cure Diabetes,” on Monday, May 21 at the U-M Golf Course. Proceeds support the U-M Comprehensive Diabetes Center and JDRF.

The day will include a silent and live auction, competitions, prizes, giveaways, meals, and more.

Open to the public, guests will include U-M football celebrities including former coaches Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr. Come enjoy a fun day for a great cause!

The event will take place from 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. at University of Michigan Golf Course, 500 Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Web Address: http://www.swingtocurediabetes.com

This weekend, May 18-20, former University of Michigan coaches, players and alumni will return to Ann Arbor for the 7th annual Champions for Children’s Hearts celebrity radio-a-thon, gala and golf tournament, a benefit for the U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

The event will be hosted by Brian Griese, Steve Hutchinson and Charles Woodson. The weekend event has raised more than $4 million over the past five years, and will benefit the Michigan Congenital Heart Center and the Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund.

The weekend kicks off Friday, May 18 with a 12-hour radio-a-thon from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sports Talk 1050 WTKA-AM. Listeners can make a contribution by calling 800-559-2657 or online at givetomott.org. Live-updates, along with opportunities to win prizes and submit questions to be asked on-air will be posted on the Mott Facebook and Twitter pages. Click here for the full radio-a-thon line up.

From 4-6 p.m., the radio-a-thon will be live from M-Den, 303 S. State St. Ann Arbor. Autographed memorabilia will be auctioned on the air and at the M Den from Friday through Sunday.

A special gala dinner on Saturday, May 19, will feature more than 900 celebrity athletes, sponsors and supporters from across the country at the Al Glick Fieldhouse. On Sunday, more than 75 former U-M athletes and celebrities, current and former NFL players and personalities will join sponsors and Mott Children’s Hospital supporters for a round of golf at the U-M Golf Course.

For more information on Champions for Children’s Hearts please visit champsforchildren.org.

Read more about this event here.

Web Address: http://www.givetomott.org

Don’t miss the largest collection of heirloom peonies in North America – right here in Ann Arbor!

The U-M Nichols Arboretum, just across the street from the hospital, is celebrating the 90th anniversary of the peony collection this year during the 2012 Peony Festival, through June 5.

Take a break from work and enjoy a self-guided tour, peony artwork in the Arboretum visitor center, cut-flower display, and more.

The festival is free and open to all and the Arboretum is open sunrise to sunset.

University of Michigan Nichols Arboretum

1610 Washington Hts.

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Web Address: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/happening/peony_festival2012.asp

This class, offered by the U-M Health System’s MHealthy Health Education Resource Center, is designed to give you a complete head-to-toe look at how to care for your newborn.

Topics include bathing, diapering, safety, infant stimulation and much, much more.

We recommend taking this class at the beginning of your third trimester.

Class meets 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 6 at the U-M Health System’s Canton Health Center, 1051 N. Canton Center Road. Cost is $10.

For more information, call 734-647-5645 or toll free at 1-800-433-6348.

To register, call 734-647-7888 or visit: http://hr.umich.edu/mhealthy/tools/education/herc/events.html

Becoming a parent is a wonderful, exciting, and beautiful thing! The reality is that having a baby is also stressful, confusing, and exhausting.

A baby changes everything! Learn how to keep your relationship strong, how to take care of yourself and handle the stress that a baby brings, how to build support, and much more.

Class meets 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 2 at the East Ann Arbor Health & Geriatric Center; 4260 Plymouth Rd. Cost is $10 per person.

For more information call 734-647-5645 or toll free at 1-800-433-6348. To register call 734-647-7888 or visit: http://hr.umich.edu/mhealthy/tools/education/herc/events.html

Timothy J. Eberlein, M.D., Washington University, St. Louis will present the 81st William J. Mayo Lecture on Thursday, May 24. His presentation titled “Preserving the Future of Academic Surgery” will take place at 7 a.m. in the Ford Amphitheater, University Hospital.