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Perelman School of Medicine
Reproductive science by experts, for teens
Reproductive science by experts, for teens
High school girls who take part in the Penn Academy for Reproductive Science get a hands-on lab course with top epigenetic and reproductive health experts.
CAR T cell therapy may be harnessed to treat heart disease
CAR T cell therapy may be harnessed to treat heart disease
Penn Med researchers used genetically modified T cells to improve heart function in an animal model after cardiac injury, a step forward in expanding the use of the technology to treating, or even reversing, heart failure.
Competition works better than support or collaboration to increase daily step counts
Competition works better than support or collaboration to increase daily step counts
A clinical trial using a behaviorally designed gamification program found that adding competition to motivate exercise is a catalyst for real results.
Is treatment forever? Success of gene therapy for inherited blindness depends on timing
Is treatment forever? Success of gene therapy for inherited blindness depends on timing
An FDA-approved gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis, an inherited vision disorder with a childhood onset and progressive nature, has improved patients’ sight. But new research underscores the importance of further investigation to halt the progression of the disorder.
A molecular ‘atlas’ of animal development
A molecular ‘atlas’ of animal development
Scientists have studied the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans for decades, making essential contributions to basic science. In the latest milestone, a team uses cutting-edge technology to individually profile the genes expressed in more than 80,000 cells in a developing C. elegans embryo.
Researcher Virginia M.Y. Lee receives $3 million Breakthrough Prize
Researcher Virginia M.Y. Lee receives $3 million Breakthrough Prize
The Breakthrough Prize award recognizes Lee’s work studying underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other dementias.
The U.S. and Canada are seven times more likely to prescribe opioids than Sweden
The U.S. and Canada are seven times more likely to prescribe opioids than Sweden
Within 30 days of discharge, nearly half of all surgical patients in the United States received opioids in excess of 200 morphine milligram equivalents, compared to just 11 percent of the patients in Sweden.
A potential new treatment for a deadly form of prostate cancer
A potential new treatment for a deadly form of prostate cancer
Blocking a specific protein sets off a chain reaction that results in the death of prostate cancer cells that have spread and are resistant to standard therapies.
Hormone that helps stabilize blood pressure cuts blood transfusions by half
Hormone that helps stabilize blood pressure cuts blood transfusions by half
A Penn study shows that trauma patients with severe blood loss, most often gunshot victims, need only half the usual volume of blood when receiving an arginine vasopressin treatment.
Many kidneys discarded in the United States would be transplanted in France
Many kidneys discarded in the United States would be transplanted in France
A new study, led by Penn Medicine and Paris Transplant Group, found French transplant centers are far more likely to transplant kidneys from older donors.
In the News
NPR
CRISPR gene-editing may offer path to cure for HIV, first published report shows
Carl June of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on new efforts by Chinese scientists to treat HIV using CRISPR technology. “This says there will be blue skies ahead,” he said. “We’re going to see many, many applications now since they got to first base here on this one.”
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Fast Company
Buying prescription drugs online is easier than ever. But there are side effects
Matthew McCoy of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on direct-to-consumer drug companies, which some fear may lead to transactional relationships between doctors and patients. “The idea of requiring a prescription is that you talk to a doctor—somebody who’s an expert in these issues—and they help advise you based on particular needs you have,” said McCoy. “So it’s concerning that companies might be moving the physician to the back of this process.”
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Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane (WHYY-FM)
‘Chasing my cure’
David Fajgenbaum of the Perelman School of Medicine was interviewed about his memoir and his research on Castleman’s disease.
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The Washington Post
We need the travel pillow. But we hate the travel pillow
Harvey Smith of the Perelman School of Medicine expressed skepticism about the usefulness of the travel pillow. While he said there isn’t much research in support of the pillows, they are “not necessarily bad. They’re not going to cause any harm.”
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Alzheimer’s pioneer Virginia Lee wins $3 million Breakthrough Prize for work at Penn
Virginia Man-Yee Lee of the Perelman School of Medicine won a Breakthrough Prize for her research on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
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