11.27
School of Veterinary Medicine
Uniting against an invisible foe
Uniting against an invisible foe
All across the University, researchers have launched new areas of study, reaching across disciplinary boundaries to make stunning progress in combating COVID-19.
Parasitic worms offer ‘the missing link’ on the dual nature of a key immune regulator
Parasitic worms offer ‘the missing link’ on the dual nature of a key immune regulator
Whether the signaling molecule IL-33 wakes up or turns down the immune response depends on what cell type releases it, School of Veterinary Medicine researchers found.
Five Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Five Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Five faculty from Penn are among the newest members of the National Academy of Medicine: William Beltran of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Matthew McHugh of the School of Nursing, and Ronald DeMatteo, Raina Merchant, and Hongjun Song of the Perelman School of Medicine.
In paleontology, Peter Dodson is a king begetting kings
In paleontology, Peter Dodson is a king begetting kings
World-renowned paleontologist Peter Dodson names his greatest accomplishment: being a mentor.
In a time of uncertainty, resources for grad students hold steady
In a time of uncertainty, resources for grad students hold steady
Penn staffers discuss resources available to graduate and postdoctoral students during this challenging time.
Tracking the working dogs of 9/11
Tracking the working dogs of 9/11
A study of search and rescue dogs led by the School of Veterinary Medicine showed little difference in longevity or cause of death between dogs at the disaster site and dogs in a control group.
Penn Vet expands timely dual degree during COVID-19 pandemic
Penn Vet expands timely dual degree during COVID-19 pandemic
The interdisciplinary “One Health in Practice” curriculum positions veterinarians for new career pathways in human, environmental health.
Campus workers deliver a ‘team effort’
Campus workers deliver a ‘team effort’
As Penn settles into Phase II of research resumption and the fall semester gears up, essential workers keep the campus running. Penn Today spoke with three workers about their “new normal.”
Progress toward a treatment for Krabbe disease
Progress toward a treatment for Krabbe disease
The inherited disease, which typically kills children before their second birthday, has no cure, but a School of Veterinary Medicine study in a canine model offers hope for an effective gene therapy with lasting results.
Poultry in a pandemic: Getting the facts on keeping backyard flocks
Poultry in a pandemic: Getting the facts on keeping backyard flocks
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Penn Vet’s Sherrill Davison has seen an increase in phone calls from new flock owners looking for general management resources for their birds. Here, she offers health and safety advice for keeping flocks healthy.
In the News
Nature
Can dogs smell COVID? Here’s what the science says
Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine spoke about training dogs to identify COVID-19 infections by scent. “The dogs can do it. The challenge is the ignorance that we have as humans as to what can confuse the dogs,” she says.
FULL STORY →
NBC News
Your dog may love you, but doesn't love the sight of your face, study finds
Carlo Siracusa of the School of Veterinary Medicine commented on a study that found dogs were more stimulated by seeing other dogs than people. “Mother Nature will not invest in something that is not relevant to survival, either in dog-to-dog or even wolf-to-wolf interactions,” he said. “They use other ways of communicating such as ear position—which can be seen from the front and from behind. The ear position will tell about the mood of the dog. We humans don’t move our ears.”
FULL STORY →
Fast Company
UPenn releases surprising report on 9/11 rescue dogs and their causes of death
Research from the School of Veterinary Medicine tracked the causes of death for 95 search-and-rescue dogs deployed on 9/11 and showed that most of the dogs died of typical age-related conditions and outlived others of their breeds. “Dogs have a really good filtering system,” said Cynthia Otto. “Their lungs are different—they don’t get asthma, for example.”
FULL STORY →
CBS Philadelphia
University of Pennsylvania program training dogs to sniff out spotted lanternfly eggs
Jennifer Essler, a postdoc in the School of Veterinary Medicine, spoke about a new program that trains dogs to detect the presence of spotted lanternfly eggs. “For the dogs, it’s a game, it’s like anything else. They don’t know that they are saving the planet in any way,” she said.
FULL STORY →
Philadelphia Inquirer
Billy the Philly hero dog wins state vet award for bravery
Rachel Williams and Martin Hackett of the School of Veterinary Medicine spoke about Billy, a local dog that survived multiple gunshots sustained while protecting his owners from armed robbers. “He’s really almost a miracle,” said Williams.
FULL STORY →