RTW Foundation donates $8M to reimagine physician training in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine (From left) Kevin Mahoney, chief executive officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS); Jennifer Kogan, vice dean for Undergraduate Medical Education; Penn President J. Larry Jameson; Rod Wong and Marti Speranza Wong; Lisa Bellini, executive vice dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and senior vice president of academic affairs for UPHS; Jonathan Epstein, dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for UPHS.nocred RTW Foundation donates $8M to reimagine physician training in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine The gift sparks curriculum transformation, new lectureship, and names Entrepreneurship Pathway in honor of alumnus Rod Wong. 2 min. read
Can aging be treated at the cellular level? Image: Wladimir Bulgar via Getty Images Can aging be treated at the cellular level? Penn researchers Shelley Berger and Esra Sahingur explain senescence, the process of cellular aging, and discuss the complexities of developing anti-aging therapies that target these cells. 4 min. read
People with PCOS can take birth control to alleviate symptoms without increasing heart disease People with PCOS can take birth control to alleviate symptoms without increasing heart disease The findings, from researchers at Penn Medicine, challenge the current practice of combining birth control and metformin to moderate risks from birth control in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. 2 min. read
Gene therapy ‘switch’ may offer non-addictive pain relief Image: nopparit via Getty Images Gene therapy ‘switch’ may offer non-addictive pain relief In a preclinical study, Penn Medicine researchers have uncovered a new gene therapy that targets only pain signals while leaving the rest of the brain untouched. 2 min. read
New video dataset to advance AI for health care Kevin Johnson, left, demonstrating the recording process with Karen O’Connor, right.(Image: Sylvia Zhang) New video dataset to advance AI for health care Penn Engineering’s multimodal medical dataset, Observer, links video, audio, and transcripts to clinical data and electronic health records. 2 min. read
Awards and accolades for Penn faculty nocred Awards and accolades for Penn faculty A roundup of appointments and awards for various members of Penn’s faculty across several schools. 2 min. read
20 breakthroughs of 2025 The Polyhedral Structures Laboratory is housed at the Pennovation Center and brings together designers, engineers, and computer scientists to reimagine the built world. Using graphic statics, a method where forces are mapped as lines, they design forms that balance compression and tension. These result in structures that use far fewer materials while remaining strong and efficient.(Image: Eric Sucar) 20 breakthroughs of 2025 From ancient tombs and tiny robots to personalized gene editing and AI weather models, Penn’s 2025 research portfolio showed how curiosity—paired with collaboration—moves knowledge into impact and stretches across disciplines and continents. 5 min. read
New AI tool helps doctors to sift and synthesize patient data New AI tool helps doctors to sift and synthesize patient data An AI-guided platform at Penn Medicine allows clinicians to quickly and easily unearth pertinent information from patients’ electronic health records that otherwise might have been difficult to find.
Major gaps block genetics evaluation and testing for Black and low income patients Major gaps block genetics evaluation and testing for Black and low income patients Despite barriers to testing, a new study from Penn Medicine finds that Black patients benefit the most once they receive genetic testing results.
Addressing the psychological impacts of inflammatory bowel disease Image: lorenzoantonucci via Getty Images Addressing the psychological impacts of inflammatory bowel disease In a collaborative study, Psychologist Melissa Hunt and gastroenterologist Chung Sang Tse showed that cognitive behavioral therapy reduced disability for patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and that psychologists with no prior gastrointestinal experience could learn to deliver IBD-informed CBT effectively. 3 min. read