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Health Sciences
Kevin Volpp and Steven Joffe Named Vice Chairs of Penn Medicine's Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy
Steven Joffe, MD, MPH, and Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, have been named Vice Chair of Medical Ethics and Vice Chair of Health Policy, respectively, in the Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Penn Study in Fruitflies Connects Protein Misfolding, Sleep Loss and Age
Pulling an “all-nighter” before a big test is practically a rite of passage in college. Usually, it’s no problem: You stay up all night, take the test, and then crash, rapidly catching up on lost sleep. But as we age, sleep patterns change, and our ability to recoup lost sleep diminishes.
Penn Medicine: Trauma Patients' Insurance Status May Influence Hospital Transfer Decisions
Each year trauma injuries account for 42 million emergency department visits and 2 million hospital admissions across the nation. Timely care in a designated trauma center has been shown to reduce mortality by up to 25 percent. However many patients are not transferred to trauma centers if they are first seen in a non-trauma center facility.
Penn Medicine and Wistar Scientists Create Precise Tumor Classifier for Glioblastoma
A newly developed, more specific approach to classifying tumors by molecular type can help cancer researchers to determine tumor characteristics and guide treatment strategies.
John Legend to Speak at Penn’s 258th Commencement
John Legend, a nine-time Grammy Award-winning soul artist, philanthropist and Penn alumnus will deliver the address at the University of Pennsylvania’s Commencement on Monday, May 19, Leslie Laird Kruhly, Vice President and University Secretary announced.
Penn Medicine Launches Nationwide "Impressions of Philadelphia" Photography Contest
Penn Medicine, in partnership with the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, today announced a new opportunity for photographers to have their work displayed in a unique setting.
Sweet Taste Receptors Are Primary Sentinels in Defense against Bacterial Infections in the Upper Airway, Penn Medicine Study Finds
The body uses mucus as a protective barrier to defend against pathogens, toxins, and allergens in the upper respiratory tract that can lead to such conditions as chronic sinusitis. Aiding in this defense are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a diverse group of small proteins found in mucus that kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
University of Pennsylvania Student Wins Gates Cambridge Scholarship
University of Pennsylvania senior Sonya Davey has been awarded a 2014 Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in social anthropology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Penn Study Finds Topiramate Reduces Heavy Drinking Among Patients Seeking to Cut Down on Alcohol Consumption
Heavy drinking is common in the United States and takes a personal and societal toll, with an annual estimated cost of $223.5 billion due to losses in workplace productivity, health care and criminal justice expenses.
Mental Health Patients up to Four Times More Likely to Be Infected with HIV, Penn Medicine Study Finds
People receiving mental health care are up to four times more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population, according to a new study published Feb.
In the News
Sugar-coated gold nanoparticles could replace some antibiotics
According to a Penn Medicine study, a new therapy involving laser light and sugar-coated gold nanoparticles can reduce tooth decay and infected wounds without needing antibiotics.
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A new strategy to attack aggressive brain cancer shrank tumors in two early tests
A clinical trial led by Stephen Bagley of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests that targeting two associated proteins with CAR T cell therapy could be a viable strategy for shrinking brain tumors.
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Alzheimer’s may be caused by a build-up of fat in brain cells
A study by Michael Haney of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests that the root cause of Alzheimer’s is a build-up of fat droplets in brain cells.
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Cats aren’t jerks. They’re just misunderstood
James Serpell of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that the domestic cat suffers from its legacy of being a not-quite-wild animal on the margins of society.
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Philadelphia hospital program adds psychologists to bridge mental health services for trauma survivors
A new psychology team at the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program has provided about 46 survivors with short- and long- term therapy, featuring remarks from Elinore Kaufman and Lily Brown of the Perelman School of Medicine.
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