Jiaqi Song on his Roman quarantine Jiaqi Song shoots a vlog in the middle of Times Square during a career trek organized by Wharton Asia Exchange (pre-pandemic photo). Jiaqi Song on his Roman quarantine Jiaqi Song meant to study in Italy for his spring semester—just not like this. Penn Today talks with the Penn sophomore about navigating online classwork, personal projects, and family time.
Blocking tumor signals can hinder cancer’s spread Studying the molecular players that foster cancer’s spread, a team of basic science researchers from Penn have identified a way to halt it. By inhibiting an enzyme, they successfully reduced the spread of lung metastases in a mouse model of melanoma, also significantly prolonging survival. (Image: Courtesy of Serge Fuchs) Blocking tumor signals can hinder cancer’s spread A cross-campus team led by Serge Fuchs of the School of Veterinary Medicine used an inhibitor of an enzyme called p38α kinase to suppress the spread of melanoma to the lungs in a mouse model.
At a community health center, doctors offer COVID testing—and screening for depression At a community health center, doctors offer COVID testing—and screening for depression The Sayre Health Center in West Philadelphia is including anxiety and depression screening with COVID-19 testing, a necessity for a population especially at risk for both.
The joys and trials of defending a dissertation virtually Aja Carter (seen here in May 2018) recently earned her doctorate from the Department of Earth and Environmental Science in the School of Arts & Sciences. In the lab of Peter Dodson, she studied how the structure of the vertebrae in the spinal column changed over time and how that affected the way animals move. As most aspects of university life moved online because of COVID-19, so did her thesis defense and that of so many others. The joys and trials of defending a dissertation virtually When most aspects of university life moved online because of COVID-19, so, too, did the thesis defense for Ph.D. candidates. Despite some challenges, the shift had unexpected benefits.
Will the pandemic cause food shortages? Will the pandemic cause food shortages? Wharton’s Marshall Fisher examines what’s behind the supply chain disruptions in grocery stores, with suppliers experiencing production slowdowns due to the pandemic.
Literary characters as masks: A reflection on identity during a pandemic For the final project in a Penn English course on young adult literature, Amy Juang created masks for characters in five books. A double major in English and visual studies from Minneapolis, Juang graduated in May. Literary characters as masks: A reflection on identity during a pandemic An English and visual studies double major, May graduate Amy Juang created five masks to reflect the identities of characters in novels she studied in a young adult literature course taught by Melissa Jensen.
New liver cancer research targets non-cancer cells to blunt tumor growth New liver cancer research targets non-cancer cells to blunt tumor growth By targeting senescent cells using “senotherapy,” researchers can greatly reduce tumors in models.
COVID-19’s assault on Black and Brown communities COVID-19’s assault on Black and Brown communities Racism, inequality, and the coronavirus have combined to cause an alarming number of COVID-19 cases and deaths among African-American and Latinx populations.
Higher education system faces the inequities COVID-19 exposes Higher education system faces the inequities COVID-19 exposes With pandemic budget cuts looming, Penn GSE’s Laura Perna says policymakers should prioritize low-income college students.
Penn Law’s key role in Pennsylvania 30 Day Fund for small businesses Meagan Benz, owner of the Crust Vegan Bakery and recipient of funding from the Pennsylvania 30 Day Fund. (Image: Penn Law) Penn Law’s key role in Pennsylvania 30 Day Fund for small businesses Penn Law and Wharton MBA students put their new skills to practice to help draft the Pennsylvania 30 Day Fund, which allocates forgivable loans to small businesses impacted by the pandemic’s economic downturn.