Penn Today spoke with historian Daniel Richter, philosopher Jennifer Morton, and democratic governance expert Claire Finkelstein about the Declaration’s historical context, political ideas, and evolving legacy.
What a ‘silenced’ chromosome can tell us about autoimmunity
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, is an autoimmune disorder that occurs more frequently in women. Having multiple X chromosomes has been associated with an increased risk of developing lupus; however, the reason for this link is still not fully understood and may involve how X chromosomes are regulated in female immune cells.
Chapters of Change: Thirty years of life sciences transformation at Penn
In the fourth and final installment of the series, “Chapters of Change” highlights another transformational moment in Penn’s past when the evolution of life sciences research sparked the University to commit to investing in new research facilities and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
A bioengineered bean gum from the lab of Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell is found to reduce the levels of three microbes associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer to almost zero, without affecting the beneficial bacteria normally found in the mouth.
(Image: Kevin Monko/Penn Dental Medicine)
Fighting oral cancer with bioengineered chewing gum
Research led by Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell shows that antiviral and antibacterial chewing gums reduce the levels of three microbes linked to worse outcomes in oral cancers, paving the way for more effective and affordable therapies.
(From left) Bruce Levine, Stephan Grupp, Tom Whitehead, Emily Whitehead, Kari Whitehead, Carl June, and David Porter.
(Image: Daniel Burke)
A retrospective on CAR T cell therapy: From long shot to lifesaver
More than 30,000 patients have undergone CAR T cell therapy since it was developed by immunologist Carl June and his team at the University of Pennsylvania.
The "PARCCitect" team seeing the Betty supercomputer for the first time.
(Image: Ken Chaney)
Penn’s newest supercomputer is transforming research
Penn’s first campus-wide HPC and AI cluster, “Betty,” is expanding access to powerful computing, enabling groundbreaking projects, and fostering new collaborations across disciplines.
Michinori Mayama (left) and Kotaro Sasaki (right).
(Image: Courtesy of Kotaro Sasaki)
Stress tested, testing stress: Novel organoid models how the adrenal gland develops
Researchers led by Penn Vet’s Kotaro Sasaki and Michinori Mayama have developed an organoid system that faithfully mimics how the human adrenal gland develops and forms complex tissue structures, providing a powerful tool to study adrenal biology and laying the groundwork for regenerative therapies targeting adrenal diseases.
Image: Nemes Laszlo/Science Photo Library via Getty Images
Targeting tumor supporting cells: Advancing CAR T success in pancreatic cancer
Research led by Penn Vet’s Ellen Puré has used lipid nanoparticles to generate CAR T cells directed at a type of tumor support cells—cancer-associated fibroblasts—melting away the protective barrier around pancreatic tumor cells and paving the way for a potentially safer, more accessible, and cost-effective method to treat solid tumors.
