Gutmann, Moreno talk ‘Pandemic Ethics’ at Power of Penn event Gutmann, Moreno talk ‘Pandemic Ethics’ at Power of Penn event The co-authors of ‘Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die’ joined virtually with moderator Andrea Mitchell and Penn Alumni to discuss the many bioethical concerns that have only heightened with COVID-19’s spread.
Take-at-home tests boost colorectal cancer screening tenfold Take-at-home tests boost colorectal cancer screening tenfold By making it the default to send screening tests to patients’ homes unless they opted out via text message, screening rates increased by more than 1000%.
When the message matters, use science to craft it Jessica Fishman, director of the Message Effects Lab, is a faculty research associate with appointments at the Annenberg School for Communication and in the Department of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine. (Image: Courtesy of Annenberg School for Communication) When the message matters, use science to craft it An interdisciplinary initiative called the Message Effects Lab aims to understand, tap into, and develop communication around what motivates specific behaviors for specific populations. Its first projects center around COVID-19 testing and vaccines.
From animals to people and back again Humans aren’t the only species susceptible to COVID-19. A growing number of other animal species have become infected, posing a threat to the health of wildlife and domesticated animals, and in some cases exacerbating threats to people. From animals to people and back again Penn researchers are studying the propensity of SARS-CoV-2 to cross between species, and they are working to protect people, pets, and wildlife from COVID-19 infection.
Stem cell study illuminates the cause of an inherited heart disorder Pictured, an iPSC-cardiomyocyte harboring an LMNA mutation. Researchers at Penn studied how mutations in LMNA impact how DNA is organized in the cell. (Image: Penn Medicine News) Stem cell study illuminates the cause of an inherited heart disorder A new study from Penn Medicine shows that LMNA gene mutations can disrupt the ‘identity’ of heart muscle cells, leading to a congenital form of dilated cardiomyopathy.
Antibodies to common cold coronaviruses do not protect against SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies to common cold coronaviruses do not protect against SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies that react to both ordinary coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 are common in the population but don’t neutralize the COVID-19-causing virus.
Penn Medicine opens the largest equipment sterilization facility in the country Penn Medicine opens the largest equipment sterilization facility in the country The Interventional Support Center, an instrument processing and surgical supply preparation facility, will support two hospitals and three outpatient centers.
More thoughts on the state of American democracy More thoughts on the state of American democracy In part two of this series, five Penn experts offer their insights on public health, election legitimacy, student loan debt, and more.
Evicted and infected: How the housing crisis could worsen the COVID-19 pandemic Evicted and infected: How the housing crisis could worsen the COVID-19 pandemic A research team found that evictions could lead to a considerable uptick in COVID-19 infections in U.S. cities. With rising eviction rates, COVID cases in Philadelphia could cause 53,000 additional infections.
An ‘electronic nose’ to sniff out COVID-19 An ‘electronic nose’ to sniff out COVID-19 Through a newly funded grant, researchers across the University are developing a device that can rapidly detect COVID-19 based on the disease’s unique odor profile.