News and Updates

Nathan White, M.D., M.S., is an adjunct assistant professor of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering at the UW with a particular interest in bleeding and blood clotting. As an attending physician in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Harborview Medical Center, he has seen firsthand how bleeding to death before reaching the hospital is responsible for 30 to 40 per cent of trauma-related deaths. Dr. White began to see this as a “treatable problem.”

Dr. White collaborated with Dr. Suzie Pun, of the Pun Laboratory, and UW professor of Bioengineering and adjunct professor of Chemical Engineering, and graduate students of Bioengineering such as Leslie Chan, to develop polymers that enhance blood clotting in patients following traumatic injuries. Injected by first responders, this revolutionary blood-clotting technology could significantly increase the survival rate of trauma victims.

In the video, Dr. White says, “The point that I’m trying address, is getting these patients, and more of these patients, alive to the hospital. And if you make it to the hospital, you have a really great chance of surviving.” He adds, “This is really team science. So this is bringing experts together from various fields, coming together, working towards a specific goal.”

Click here to learn more about the UW Department of Bioengineering Pun Laboratory.

Bring your natural and cultural objects to the Burke Museum for their collection experts to evaluate on Artifact ID Day between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. This is the one day a year where all the Burke’s research and collections staff are in one place to help you learn more about your treasured, or found, objects.

These experts, who specialize in baskets, blankets and other cultural objects from Native American cultures, the Pacific Islands and Asia, as well as archaeological artifacts, bones, fossils and rocks, will help you find out about the origins of your objects and their cultural, natural, and historic significance.

The Burke Museum proudly reports that past Artifact ID Days have uncovered such rare items as a 5,000-year-old stone tool, a twined basketry doll made by a Tlingit weaver, and a drinking cup made from a walrus’ tusk.

What objects do you have at home that you’re curious about?

Artifact ID Day is included in museum admission and is free for Burke members. Please bring a limit of three items per visitor.

Click here to see more about the event.

See you at the Burke!

The Bike Month Commute Challenge, presented by Adobe, is May 1 – 31. Motivate yourself to commute by bike as often as possible during the month of May. Track yourself or join as part of a team, and use a cool new website to track all your bike trips. To participate, you need to commute by bike at least four days throughout the month. No problem, right?

Click here to register.

Just getting started?

Click here to register for any of these (and other) helpful and informative bike commuting classes, held at the HUB, and taught by instructors from Cascade Bicycle Club:

• Bike Commuting 101 – Getting Started (April 28, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. today, May 6)
• Bike Commuting 102 – Rules of the Road (May 14)
• Bike Commuting 103 – Fix your own flat tire (May 19)

Don’t have a bike? Use Pronto!

Pronto is Seattle’s nonprofit bike share system with 11 stations in the U-District and 40+ more in Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, and downtown. Once you join, you can take an unlimited number of rides up to 30 minutes for free.

Click here for full Pronto membership information and to see a map that shows you all the UW Pronto stations.

Always be safe!

Always wear a helmet (clean helmets are available to borrow at every Pronto station) and bike cautiously and responsibly.

Remember the following rules:

• Pedestrians always have the right of way
• Stay in control and ride within your ability
• Obey all traffic laws
• Dismount and walk your bike when in any Bike Walk Zone and other crowded pedestrian areas
• Minimize your impact by staying off of lawns
• Park and lock your bike only at designated bike racks

See you in the bike lane!