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Katherine Unger Baillie
Senior Science News Officer
kbaillie@upenn.edu
Veterinary Medicine
From animals to people and back again
From animals to people and back again
Penn researchers are studying the propensity of SARS-CoV-2 to cross between species, and they are working to protect people, pets, and wildlife from COVID-19 infection.
Gut cells sound the alarm when parasites invade
Gut cells sound the alarm when parasites invade
A chain reaction led by cells lining the intestines tips the immune system off to the presence of the parasite Cryptosporidium, according to a study led by researchers in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Vision researchers honored by End Blindness 2020
Vision researchers honored by End Blindness 2020
The Outstanding Achievement Prize highlights the contributions of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Gustavo D. Aguirre and the Perelman School of Medicine’s Jean Bennett and Albert M. Maguire toward a gene therapy for a form of blindness.
Parasitic worms offer ‘the missing link’ on the dual nature of a key immune regulator
Parasitic worms offer ‘the missing link’ on the dual nature of a key immune regulator
Whether the signaling molecule IL-33 wakes up or turns down the immune response depends on what cell type releases it, School of Veterinary Medicine researchers found.
Five Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Five Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Five faculty from Penn are among the newest members of the National Academy of Medicine: William Beltran of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Matthew McHugh of the School of Nursing, and Ronald DeMatteo, Raina Merchant, and Hongjun Song of the Perelman School of Medicine.
Novel canine scent detection program may help battle spotted lanternfly
Novel canine scent detection program may help battle spotted lanternfly
The launch of Penn Vet's training program comes at a critical time for spotted lanternfly management in Pennsylvania. Beyond causing severe damage to trees and the insect poses a significant threat to state agriculture.
Tracking the working dogs of 9/11
Tracking the working dogs of 9/11
A study of search and rescue dogs led by the School of Veterinary Medicine showed little difference in longevity or cause of death between dogs at the disaster site and dogs in a control group.
Penn Vet expands timely dual degree during COVID-19 pandemic
Penn Vet expands timely dual degree during COVID-19 pandemic
The interdisciplinary “One Health in Practice” curriculum positions veterinarians for new career pathways in human, environmental health.
Progress toward a treatment for Krabbe disease
Progress toward a treatment for Krabbe disease
The inherited disease, which typically kills children before their second birthday, has no cure, but a School of Veterinary Medicine study in a canine model offers hope for an effective gene therapy with lasting results.
Poultry in a pandemic: Getting the facts on keeping backyard flocks
Poultry in a pandemic: Getting the facts on keeping backyard flocks
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Penn Vet’s Sherrill Davison has seen an increase in phone calls from new flock owners looking for general management resources for their birds. Here, she offers health and safety advice for keeping flocks healthy.
Media Contact
In the News
NBC News
No bad dogs? Pet owner's personality can affect canine training success, study finds
Lauren Powell, a postdoc in the School of Veterinary Medicine, spoke about research she led that found links between dog behavior and the personalities of owners. “Extroverted owners were more likely to see improvements in dogs’ fearful behaviors and introverted owners less so,” she said. “Introverted owners may find it tough to leave their dog or give it space if it is required as part of the dog’s treatment.”
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New Scientist
Extroverts have more success training their dogs than introverts
Lauren Powell of the School of Veterinary Medicine co-led a new study that explored the links between dog training and the personalities of dog owners. The most important factor affecting success, she said, was how bad the dog’s behavior was to begin with, but owner traits seem to play a role, too.
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Nature
Can dogs smell COVID? Here’s what the science says
Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine spoke about training dogs to identify COVID-19 infections by scent. “The dogs can do it. The challenge is the ignorance that we have as humans as to what can confuse the dogs,” she says.
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Fast Company
UPenn releases surprising report on 9/11 rescue dogs and their causes of death
Research from the School of Veterinary Medicine tracked the causes of death for 95 search-and-rescue dogs deployed on 9/11 and showed that most of the dogs died of typical age-related conditions and outlived others of their breeds. “Dogs have a really good filtering system,” said Cynthia Otto. “Their lungs are different—they don’t get asthma, for example.”
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Billy the Philly hero dog wins state vet award for bravery
Rachel Williams and Martin Hackett of the School of Veterinary Medicine spoke about Billy, a local dog that survived multiple gunshots sustained while protecting his owners from armed robbers. “He’s really almost a miracle,” said Williams.
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Science
What does the COVID-19 summer surge mean for your cats and dogs?
Shelley Rankin of the School of Veterinary Medicine spoke about pets and COVID-19 transmission. “If you are not taking precautions … you are putting both yourself and your animal at risk,” she said. “If you are a responsible pet owner, then it is probably safe to say that your animal’s risk [of infection] is lower than yours.”
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