3/19
Perelman School of Medicine
High pregnancy weight gain tied to higher risk of death in the following decades
Findings from a Penn Medicine study, which analyzed 50 years of data, highlights the health risks tied to conditions like heart disease and diabetes that can occur when more weight is gained in pregnancy than recommended.
Leveraging the body’s postal system to understand and treat disease
An interdisciplinary team of researchers in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Perelman School of Medicine, and School of Arts & Sciences has developed a technique that allows for characterization of both individual carrier and cargo for clinically important molecules.
Study shows promise for iNKT cell platform to treat cancer
Researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine have shown that invariant natural killer T cells from a healthy donor can persist in MHC-mismatched canines, demonstrating a reliable platform to inform human clinical trials.
Measuring the ripple effects of reforestation and sustainable cocoa cultivation
With support from the Penn Global Engagement Fund, Heather Huntington is investigating the impact of reforestation and sustainable agriculture interventions on livelihoods, biodiversity, and human health in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Combined treatment takes a bite out of tooth decay
A collaborative interdisciplinary team of researchers from Penn Dental, Medicine and Penn Engineering have discovered a game-changing synergy between ferumoxytol and stannous fluoride in treating dental caries.
Disparities persist across levels of surgery department leadership in U.S.
A new Penn Medicine-led study highlights the need for thoughtful leadership planning to increase representation of women and minorities in roles with paths for promotion.
Viral persistence and serotonin reduction can cause long COVID symptoms
A new Penn Medicine study finds components of the SARS-CoV-2 virus remain in the gut of some long COVID patients, causing persistent inflammation, vagus nerve dysfunction, and neurological symptoms.
2023 Presidential Ph.D. Fellows announced at Penn
The Fellows come from the nine schools at Penn that offer Ph.D. programs, and will receive a three-year fellowship, including funds to support their research.
Neanderthals carried genes acquired from ancient interactions with ‘cousins’ of modern humans
A new collaborative study led by Sarah Tishkoff shows that Neanderthals inherited at least 6% of their genome from a now-extinct lineage of early modern humans.
Understanding the brain via a molecular map
PIK Professor Michael Platt and collaborators have generated the first single-cell “atlas” of the primate brain to help explore links between molecules, cells, brain function, and disease.
In the News
Sugar-coated gold nanoparticles could replace some antibiotics
According to a Penn Medicine study, a new therapy involving laser light and sugar-coated gold nanoparticles can reduce tooth decay and infected wounds without needing antibiotics.
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Alzheimer’s may be caused by a build-up of fat in brain cells
A study by Michael Haney of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests that the root cause of Alzheimer’s is a build-up of fat droplets in brain cells.
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A new strategy to attack aggressive brain cancer shrank tumors in two early tests
A clinical trial led by Stephen Bagley of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests that targeting two associated proteins with CAR T cell therapy could be a viable strategy for shrinking brain tumors.
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Philadelphia hospital program adds psychologists to bridge mental health services for trauma survivors
A new psychology team at the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program has provided about 46 survivors with short- and long- term therapy, featuring remarks from Elinore Kaufman and Lily Brown of the Perelman School of Medicine.
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Social factors may ‘disproportionately’ affect transplant process
A 2023 study led by researchers at Penn found that 44% of patients evaluated for liver transplants were not placed on organ wait lists, with nearly 17% rejected because of psychosocial or financial reasons. Marina Serper and Tamara Cozzi of Penn Medicine discuss the evaluation process for transplants.
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