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Health Sciences
Newly approved heart surgery procedure debuts at Penn Medicine
The first surgery using high-resolution mapping of the heart successfully located areas of arrhythmia to eliminate.
Race has a place in human genetics research, philosopher argues
New research out of the philosophy department argues that certain racial classifications have utility in medical genetics, particularly when considering those classifications as ancestry groups.
Innovative vaccine offers canine cancer patients a shot at a longer, happier life
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer to affect dogs. It is a painful and aggressive disease. Affecting more than 10,000 dogs annually, predominantly larger breeds, it kills more than 85 percent within two years.
Two faculty members elected to National Academy of Sciences
Shelly Berger and Karen Goldberg are among 84 new members elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors for a scientist.
FDA approves CAR T therapy for large B-Cell lymphoma developed at Penn
The nation’s first approved personalized cellular therapy is now available for a second indication.
One-fifth of homeless youth are victims of human trafficking
A new study highlights the pipeline from abuse to homelessness to sex trafficking among youth in Philadelphia, D.C., and Phoenix, the largest study to date on human trafficking and teens.
Healthy T cells have a fighting chance for cell therapy
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have a healthy amount of T cells prior to treatment (“early memory” T cells) responded positively to CAR T therapy, highlighting a powerful biomarker for successful therapies for that specific type of leukemia.
A potential new weapon in the battle against addiction
New research revealed that FDA-approved drugs to treat diabetes and obesity may reduce cocaine relapse and help addicts break the habit. Such medications work by targeting receptors for glucagon-like peptide 1, a hormone in the brain.
The human story of coal’s downturn
A forthcoming report from the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy will offer a range of strategies to directly impact the economic and mental health crisis in coal country.
Teens might put their phones down while driving. For a price.
Researchers found that teen drivers are receptive to relinquishing some, but not all, mobile device habits, with the right incentives.
In the News
Americans are sleeping more than ever. See how you compare
Mathias Basner of the Perelman School of Medicine says that work and traveling are the major sleep killers, with the majority of traveling being commuting to and from work.
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Should you try oil pulling to boost your oral health? Dentists explain benefits and side effects
Dean Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine says there aren’t enough robust, large-scale clinical studies or trials demonstrating the supposed benefits of oil pulling.
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Cannabis reclassification could be game-changer for U.S. drug policy
Michael Cirigliano of the Perelman School of Medicine says that marijuana deserves to be removed from the same category as LSD, heroin, and fentanyl.
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These two Philly-area nurses are on a mission to get nursing recognized as a STEM field
Marion Leary of the School of Nursing is co-leading a national coalition seeking to convince federal agencies to recognize the field of nursing as a STEM profession.
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Fentanyl overdoses hit a surprising group of San Franciscans: the city’s dogs
Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that fentanyl can be absorbed across the mucous membranes in canine noses, causing dogs to face a life-threatening overdose.
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