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Katherine Unger Baillie
Senior Science News Officer
Katherine Unger Baillie covers the School of Veterinary Medicine, the School of Dental Medicine, and in the School of Arts and Sciences, manages media relations for biology, earth and environmental science, and history and sociology of science. She also occasionally covers scientific research coming from other parts of Penn.
From corals to humans, a shared trigger for sperm to get in motion
Coral sperm require a specific pH to move, according to research from the School of Arts & Sciences, which identifies a signaling pathway that is shared by organisms including humans. The results inform how corals may fare with climate change.
Before geoengineering, some fundamental chemistry
Research led by Joseph S. Francisco of the School of Arts & Sciences examines the chemistry of a proposal to curb climate change’s effects—creating a sunshade in the upper atmosphere made of sulfuric acid—and finds that there’s more work to do to successfully pull off such a feat.
Novel gene therapy for hemophilia A
The multicenter study, led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, showed improved and sustained production of a needed clotting factor and reduced bleeding events.
In the brain’s cerebellum, a new target for suppressing hunger
A research team led by J. Nicholas Betley in the School of Arts & Sciences has identified an entirely new way the brain signals fullness after eating. The findings offer a novel target for therapies that could dramatically curb overeating.
A new class of CAR T cells targets previously untargetable cancer drivers
Focusing on neuroblastoma, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have harnessed the immune system to destroy tumors.
With more kids eligible for vaccines, is the pandemic in a new phase?
With the FDA authorization last week, 28 million more children are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Experts from the School of Nursing and Perelman School of Medicine share their thoughts about what to expect in the weeks and months to come.
Historic move ushers in new era of care
Over eight hours, 310 patients moved to the Pavilion, a 17-story, 1.5-million-square-foot addition to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Supporting Philadelphia newcomers and longtime residents through Palms Solutions
Founded by a Penn alum, the West Philadelphia-based nonprofit connects members from area African and Caribbean immigrant communities with students through mentoring and tutoring alongside social and cultural exchanges.
A hub for zoonotic disease research
The new Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases, launched by the School of Veterinary Medicine, leans on Penn’s strengths in immunology and infectious disease to prepare for emerging threats to animal and human health.
‘Nanozyme’ therapy prevents harmful dental plaque buildup
An iron-oxide nanoparticle that is FDA-approved to treat anemia acts as an enzyme to activate hydrogen peroxide to suppress the growth of tooth-decay-causing biofilms in the human mouth, according to a study led by the School of Dental Medicine.