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Health Sciences
HIV/AIDS Drugs Interfere With Brain’s ‘Insulation,’ Penn-CHOP Team Shows
Antiretroviral therapies, or ART, have enabled people with HIV and AIDS to live much longer lives, transforming what was considered a death sentence into a chronic condition. Yet concerns for these patients remain.
"Mild Traumatic Brain Injury an Oxymoron:" New Protein Biomarker Highlights Damaged Brain Wiring After Concussion, Finds Penn Study
Physicians and others now recognize that seemingly mild, concussion-type head injuries lead to long-term cognitive impairments surprisingly often.
Penn Researchers Discover Why E. coli Move Faster in Syrup-like Fluids Than in Water
Swimming in a pool of syrup would be difficult for most people, but for bacteria like E. coli, it’s easier than swimming in water. Scientists have known for decades that these cells move faster and farther in viscoelastic fluids, such as the saliva, mucus, and other bodily fluids they are likely to call home, but didn’t understand why.
Penn Biologists Characterize New Form of mRNA Regulation
RNA, once thought to be a mere middleman between DNA and protein, is now recognized as the stage at which a host of regulatory processes can act to allow for flexibility in gene expression and thus the functions of cells and tissues.
Four Penn Professors Among Class of 2015 AAAS Fellows
Four faculty members at the University of Pennsylvania have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They are among a class of 347 researchers that have been awarded this honor by AAAS because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.
Penn Senior Jennifer Hebert Wins Rhodes Scholarship
University of Pennsylvania senior Jennifer (Jenna) Hebert from Pittsburgh, Pa., has won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in psychiatry at the University of Oxford in England.
Penn Collaborating in NSF’s Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub
The University of Pennsylvania is taking part in the newly established National Science Foundation Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub.
Unlocking the Criminal Mind Using Biological Keys
Barely one minute into his Penn Lightbulb Café talk on “The Anatomy of Violence,” Penn Professor Adrian Raine pointed to a slide projected on the screen behind him that showed the cracked skull of 19th century railro
Undergraduate Research Experiences at Penn Change Lives, Minds
When University of Pennsylvania senior Angela Perfetti arrived on campus more than three years ago, she says she had no interest in research and thought it had no connection to the “real world.” Since then, she’s changed her tune.
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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