The important role that Tulane researchers have played in fighting infectious disease epidemics around the world was highlighted in “OutBreak: Epidemics in a Connected World,” an exhibit at the Diboll Gallery in the Tidewater Building from May–July. Co-sponsored by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the exhibit was part of a national effort to raise awareness of the human, animal and environmental factors contributing to infectious disease epidemics.

Geetha Parthasarathy, a research scientist at the Tulane National Primate Research Center, has been awarded a $100,000 grant to investigate the use of supplemental therapeutics for the treatment of tick-borne Lyme neuroborreliosis, a nervous system disorder affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems. Lyme disease is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the nation, newly infecting 300,000 individuals yearly.

Jana Lipman, associate professor of history, wrote “Detaining Migrant Children at U.S. Military Bases Has Been Done Before,” in TIME in June. Lipman has conducted research on refugee camps in America that reveals that the U.S. government has repeatedly turned to military bases to shelter immigrants. “At different times throughout the 20th century, the federal government kept groups of people from Hungary, Vietnam, Cuba and Haiti on U.S. military bases. The result can be either efficient immigration processing or a prolonged, confined and traumatic experience,” said Lipman.

David Smilde, Charles A. and Leo M. Favrot Professor of Human Relations in the Department of Sociology, co-wrote “Negotiating Venezuela’s Transition,” an opinion piece in The New York Times about Venezuela’s current political conflict and preliminary talks between the democratic opposition and the country’s government that took place in May. Smilde wrote that it is a first step toward a democratic transition. “Many remain skeptical of ‘dialogue,’ but negotiation and compromise between the conflicting parties is key.

Dr. Giovanni Piedimonte has been named Tulane’s new vice president for research, effective Sept. 3. He also will join the pediatrics faculty in the medical school. Piedimonte was previously the Steven and Nancy Calabrese Endowed Chair for Excellence in Pediatric Care, Research and Education at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.

Students from the A. B. Freeman School of Business worked with the New Orleans Pelicans to study data to determine what influences attendance at Pelicans games. Students examined dates and times of potential games at the Smoothie King Center for the 2019–20 season. The analytics will be used by the Pelicans as the team collaborates with the NBA to solidify an official game schedule. The students who participated in the semester-long project are enrolled in Tulane’s Master of Business Analytics program.