Biology | Penn Today

Earth Week to feature hands-on activities and events

Taking place April 21-27, Earth Week events include origami with bioplastics, birding, networking, a culinary session, and more.

3 min. read

Shelley Berger honored by AACR for cancer research

Berger, the Daniel S. Och University Professor with appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine department of Cell & Developmental Biology and a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor in the School of Arts & Sciences, is recognized for her outstanding contributions to cancer research by the American Association for Cancer Research with the 2025 AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Lectureship.

Penn alum Hoang C. Le awarded a 2025 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans

Le, a Class of 2023 graduate, has been awarded a Fellowship to the merit-based program that provides graduate school funding for immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States. Le’s research explores the evolution of viral-host interactions to uncover novel molecular tools and therapeutic targets.

Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs

The lab of César de la Fuente has created synthetic peptides, a class of antibiotics, derived from the secretions of a frog commonly found in South Asia.

2 min. read

Meniscus injuries may soon be treated by customizable hydrogel

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine found a new 3D-printed customizable hydrogel performed well in preclinical trials with several different types of meniscal tears, offering a potential mend for common joint injuries.

1 min. read

A major evolutionary enigma solved: How simple cells gave rise to complex ones

César de la Fuente of the Perelman School of Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Science comments on the analogy between biological evolution and computational algorithms.

2025 CAREER Award recipient: Jina Ko

Ko, a professor in bioengineering in Penn Engineering and in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine, is awarded the 2025 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award for her expertise across bioengineering, molecular biology, and chemistry in developing transformative technologies for molecular diagnostics of diseases, especially with respect to how brain-related conditions are diagnosed and treated.

Your brain has a switch that can turn off anxiety, say scientists

Postdoc Pei Chin of the School of Arts and Sciences investigated how serotonin in the cerebellum affects anxiety-related behavior.

Migratory birds mainly responsible for bird flu outbreak, experts tell Pa. lawmakers

Louise Moncla of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that avian flu viruses are being spread far geographically because of wild migratory birds.

The U.S. is losing its next generation of health scientists

In a co-written opinion essay, James Alwine of the Perelman School of Medicine says that slashing of research funding for NIH and the National Science Foundation will eliminate the next generation of health scientists.

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