A new way to study HIV’s impact on the brain By culturing astrocytes, microglia, and neurons—all derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells—in one dish, researchers have created an effective model to study the cognitive impacts of HIV and other diseases. (Image: Sean Ryan) A new way to study HIV’s impact on the brain Using a newly developed laboratory model of three types of brain cells, Penn and CHOP scientists reveal how HIV infection—as well as the drugs that treat it—can take a toll on the central nervous system.
Impact of COVID-19 on homelessness Impact of COVID-19 on homelessness A new report coauthored by researchers at SP2 finds that COVID-19 could hospitalize some 21,295 people who don’t have housing, or about 4.3% of the nationwide homeless population.
Pavilion powers ahead to combat COVID-19 The $1.5 billion Penn Medicine Pavilion is scheduled to open in 2021. Pavilion powers ahead to combat COVID-19 Construction crews are on the job around the clock at the new hospital on the campus of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to expedite the completion of 120 patient rooms 15 months ahead of the facility’s planned opening.
Mission continuity plans help keep Penn operating Penn’s senior leadership and trustees 12 years ago asked schools and centers to develop plans to guide their actions in event of a crisis to help continue operations, mitigate risk, and minimize disruption. Known as mission continuity, those blueprints are now helping to manage the impact of the pandemic. Mission continuity plans help keep Penn operating Twelve years ago, the trustees and the University’s senior leadership asked the schools and centers to develop plans to guide them continuing operations during a crisis. Those plans are now helping manage the impact of the pandemic.
New feathered dinosaur was one of the last surviving raptors Dineobellator notohesperus is the name of a newly discovered species of dinosaur, that lived near the end of the reign of dinosaurs (Image: Sergey Krasovskiy) New feathered dinosaur was one of the last surviving raptors Dineobellator notohesperus lived 67 million years ago. Steven Jasinski, who recently earned his doctorate from the School of Arts and Sciences working with Peter Dodson, also of the School of Veterinary Medicine, led the effort to describe the find.
A critical enzyme for sperm formation could be a target for treating male infertility The activity of the Skp1 protein is crucial for sperm formation, Penn Vet scientists found. In a dividing sperm precursor cell, chromosomes (in purple) normally align in the middle, as shown on the left. But in cells lacking Skp1, as shown on the right, chromosomes fail to align and are instead distributed chaotically around the cell. (Image: Courtesy of the Wang laboratory) A critical enzyme for sperm formation could be a target for treating male infertility The protein, SKP1, drives a key transition step in male meiosis, the type of cell division process that results in sperm, School of Veterinary Medicine researchers found.
Health equity in a time of global crisis Health equity in a time of global crisis Jennifer Prah Ruger discusses global health equity in a time of global crisis, why it matters for everyone, where U.S. policy is succeeding and failing, and what we need to do going forward.
Penn establishes center to accelerate coronavirus research Penn establishes center to accelerate coronavirus research The Center for Research on Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Pathogens aims to advance research efforts and support development of new therapies and vaccines.
Meredith Schamun named new volleyball coach Meredith Schamun named new volleyball coach The Rice alumna has been an assistant coach at Villanova, Tulane, and the University of Central Florida.
Providing care from a distance Providing care from a distance Telemedicine is a critical tool in the COVID-19 epidemic. Clinicians at the medical, dental, and veterinary schools are making use of virtual encounters to keep providing patients with safe, timely, quality care.