5/18
Perelman School of Medicine
Penn Medicine students to participate in first-ever citywide medical story slam
Students will share experiences through five-minute stories at the May 7 event at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Newly approved heart surgery procedure debuts at Penn Medicine
The first surgery using high-resolution mapping of the heart successfully located areas of arrhythmia to eliminate.
FDA approves CAR T therapy for large B-Cell lymphoma developed at Penn
The nation’s first approved personalized cellular therapy is now available for a second indication.
Two faculty members elected to National Academy of Sciences
Shelly Berger and Karen Goldberg are among 84 new members elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors for a scientist.
One-fifth of homeless youth are victims of human trafficking
A new study highlights the pipeline from abuse to homelessness to sex trafficking among youth in Philadelphia, D.C., and Phoenix, the largest study to date on human trafficking and teens.
Healthy T cells have a fighting chance for cell therapy
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have a healthy amount of T cells prior to treatment (“early memory” T cells) responded positively to CAR T therapy, highlighting a powerful biomarker for successful therapies for that specific type of leukemia.
A potential new weapon in the battle against addiction
New research revealed that FDA-approved drugs to treat diabetes and obesity may reduce cocaine relapse and help addicts break the habit. Such medications work by targeting receptors for glucagon-like peptide 1, a hormone in the brain.
Teens might put their phones down while driving. For a price.
Researchers found that teen drivers are receptive to relinquishing some, but not all, mobile device habits, with the right incentives.
Carl June named one of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People
His work on CAR-T cancer treatment was approved by the FDA in 2017, and this year June is celebrated as an influential global pioneer.
Division of Public Safety unveils drug drop-off box
A safe site for prescription drug disposal on campus is a major step forward in stemming the opioid epidemic.
In the News
What’s going on with tranq?
Jeanmarie Perron of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the appearance and progression of skin ulcers and tissue loss on xylazine users is different than with other intravenous drugs.
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It’s time to end the Medicare-Medicaid merry-go-round
In an opinion essay, Rachel M. Werner of the Leonard Davis Institute, Wharton School, and Perelman School of Medicine says that Medicare and Medicaid fail to integrate coverage and coordinate care across their two plans.
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Inside Penn’s transfer center
Penn Medicine’s transfer command center gets patients from affiliated hospitals and hospitals outside Philadelphia to specialized care that can save lives, with comments from CEO Kevin Mahoney.
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Operating rooms are major sources of greenhouse gasses. Penn is eliminating a form of anesthesia that hangs in the air for more than a decade after use
Penn Medicine is phasing out the anesthesia desflurane at four of its six hospitals to eliminate harmful greenhouse gases, with remarks from Greg Evans.
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Broad Street runners from Penn are racing with gyroscopes to study the Achilles tendon
Casey Jo Humbyrd and Josh Baxter of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues will track data from running the Broad Street Run to understand how a healthy Achilles tendon functions.
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