‘The most human gesture’ brings the gift of a hand transplant at Penn Medicine (Image: Courtesy of Luka Krizanac) ‘The most human gesture’ brings the gift of a hand transplant at Penn Medicine Penn’s first bilateral hand transplant since the COVID pandemic gives a Swiss man new hands 16 years after childhood amputations. 7 min. read
What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles? In eusocial superorganisms like leafcutter ant colonies, labor is divvied up according to body shape and size, but PIK Professor Shelley Berger and her team discovered that molecular signals can override that blueprint. Their findings reveal how simple neuropeptides can reprogram ant behavior, reshuffling roles in nature’s most disciplined workforce.(Image: Courtesy of Tierney Scarpa) What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles? PIK Professor Shelley Berger and colleagues explored the genetic basis of labor distribution in communal-dwelling species and discovered that pathways dating back hundreds of millions of years are conserved across animal kingdoms. Their findings offer fundamental insights into complex social behaviors. 5 min. read
Penn’s Psychiatry chair is helping to reenvision how mental illness is diagnosed Maria Oquendo is the Ruth Meltzer Professor of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine.(Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine News) Penn’s Psychiatry chair is helping to reenvision how mental illness is diagnosed Maria Oquendo is leading a task force to reimagine the future of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 2 min. read
$50 million gift to launch the Lurie Autism Institute Jeffrey Lurie, CEO and Chairman of the Philadelphia Eagles, speaks at an event announcing the Lurie Autism Institute, a joint initiative between CHOP and Penn Medicine.nocred $50 million gift to launch the Lurie Autism Institute The transformational gift to Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia will establish a joint initiative for autism research and treatment. 4 min. read
Could gene therapy restore lost hearing? Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine Magazine Could gene therapy restore lost hearing? Experts at Penn Medicine are working to understand the genetic architecture of hearing loss in adults at the Penn Center for Adult-Onset Hearing Loss. 2 min. read
AI x Science Postdoctoral Fellows collaborate across disciplines Penn’s AI x Science Postdoctoral Fellows Program is breaking down traditional scientific boundaries by integrating artificial intelligence across diverse research fields. Less than a year in, the program is already paying dividends in the form of new collaborations and research publications for inaugural fellows like Brynn Sherman (left) of the School of Arts & Sciences and Kieran Murphy (right) of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.nocred AI x Science Postdoctoral Fellows collaborate across disciplines The new fellowship program, offered through the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, offers mentorship and peer engagement opportunities. 5 min. read
Improving T-cell responses to vaccines Image: franckreporter via Getty Images Improving T-cell responses to vaccines Penn Vet and Penn Medicine researchers have modified mRNA vaccines to include the cytokine IL-12 and improve T-cell responses which could improve the body’s ability to fight infections. 3 min. read
Trials aim to make cancer relapse a thing of the past Image: alvarez via Getty Images Trials aim to make cancer relapse a thing of the past At Penn Medicine, clinical trials are testing methods that may stop cancer from recurring. 6 min. read
Brothers follow similar paths in music and medicine Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine News Brothers follow similar paths in music and medicine Daniel Zhang co-founded the Penn Medicine Symphony Orchestra in 2016 and served as its founding conductor. When moved into residency training, his brother David stepped up; he is the orchestra’s current music director and conductor. 2 min. read
Dual-target CAR T-cell therapy slows growth of aggressive brain cancer Image: Naeblys via Getty Images Dual-target CAR T-cell therapy slows growth of aggressive brain cancer Researchers from Penn Medicine have demonstrated encouraging tumor reductions rarely seen in recurrent glioblastoma following phase I clinical trials. 3 min. read