News Archives

Genetic Study Led by University of Pennsylvania and Cornell Clarifies African and African-American Ancestry

PHILADELPHIA –- People who identify as African-American may be as little as 1 percent West African or as much as 99 percent, just one finding of a large-scale, genome-wide study of African and African-American ancestry released today.

Penn Law students help reform state criminal law

Economic Update from President Gutmann

Dear Members of our University Community:

Statement from President Amy Gutmann and Board Chair David Cohen on the Death of Christopher H. Browne.

It is with great sorrow that we inform you of the death Sunday of Charter Trustee and SAS Board Chair Emeritus Christopher H. Browne (C'69).

Penn Researchers Find Reproductive Germ Cells Survive and Thrive In Transplants, Even Among Species

PHILADELPHIA –- Reproductive researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have succeeded in isolating and transplanting pure populations of the immature cells that enable male reproduction in two species—human spermatogonia and mouse gonocytes. These germline stem cells, taken from testis biopsies, demonstrated viability following transplantation to mouse testes within a controlled laboratory setting.

Antidepressants May Change Personality, Leading to Reduced Depression, Says Penn Collaboration

PHILADELPHIA –- Examining data obtained from a University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University psychology study, researchers at these universities and Northwestern University have reported the first placebo-controlled evidence that antidepressant medications—particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs—can substantially change patients’ personalities. The personality changes also appeared to be linked to long-term improvements in mood.

Penn Grad Sarah-Jane Littleford Named Rhodes Scholar

 PHILADELPHIA –- Sarah-Jane Littleford, a 2009 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship for study at Oxford University in England. Littleford, who is from Harare, Zimbabwe, was one of two Rhodes Scholars selected from that country. She learned of the honor today after an interview with the selection committee. “I am delighted and humbled to have been selected as one of two Zimbabwe Rhodes Scholars for this year!” she said in an email this morning.

Mark Alan Hughes blogs from Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen

Mark Alan Hughes, distinguished senior fellow at Penn's School of Design, will be posting a daily video blog from the United Nation's Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, from Dec. 13 to 18. Hughes' dispatches will focus on the scene, the debate, the personalities at the conference, the issues, the side events and the lessons for Philadelphia. To follow the blog click here.

University of Pennsylvania Law School Professor and Students Aid Pennsylvania Lawmakers in Reforming Criminal Law

University of Pennsylvania Law School Professor and Students Aid Pennsylvania Lawmakers in Reforming Criminal LawDec. 11, 2009

Deadline is Feb. 1 for Submitting Arts Grant Applications

PHILADELPHIA –- Applications will be accepted through Feb. 1 for the spring 2010 round of arts grants, made available as part of the University of Pennsylvania’s Arts and the City Year celebration. This program will award up to $750 to arts projects scheduled for February through April.