9/27
Coronavirus Research
Understanding the expanded role of clinical ethicists
Understanding the expanded role of clinical ethicists
COVID-19 brought troubling ethical issues to clinical care, creating significant distress for clinicians, patients, and families. Behind the scenes, clinical ethicists managed those issues to support frontline workers.
Chewing to curb COVID
Chewing to curb COVID
Penn Medicine will conduct a new clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a chewing gum designed by School of Dental Medicine researchers to trap SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva.
Who wants government health care and unemployment programs to expand?
Who wants government health care and unemployment programs to expand?
A study by Penn LDI fellows finds that people who felt most at risk from COVID-19 tend to favor expansions, regardless of their political attitudes.
Behind the scenes in the lab and the future of mRNA research
Behind the scenes in the lab and the future of mRNA research
Developing new vaccines and novel mRNA delivery methods, coupled with the satisfaction of mentoring and selfless dedication to medicine, inspire the work of scientists at the Weissman Lab.
Severe COVID-19 increases risk of life-threatening blood clots
Severe COVID-19 increases risk of life-threatening blood clots
A new Penn study finds the clotting condition, venous thromboembolism, was more common in those hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to those hospitalized with influenza.
Despite awareness of COVID-19 risks, many Americans say they’re back to ‘normal’
Despite awareness of COVID-19 risks, many Americans say they’re back to ‘normal’
According to a national survey data from the Annenberg Public Policy Center, many in the U.S. are living “pre-pandemic” lifestyles, despite the continuing risks.
Music-making and the flow of aerosols
Music-making and the flow of aerosols
If simply breathing can spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others nearby, what about blowing into a tuba? Researchers from the School of Engineering the School of Arts & Sciences used fluid mechanics to study the movement of aerosols generated by musicians.
University of Pennsylvania’s first NFT commemorates mRNA research
University of Pennsylvania’s first NFT commemorates mRNA research
Proceeds from the July auction of the non-fungible token—a digital asset—will benefit ongoing research at Penn.
Text messaging shows promise in reaching unvaccinated patients
Text messaging shows promise in reaching unvaccinated patients
A Penn study finds that while automated texting did not get more patients to get their vaccinations against COVID-19, it reached roughly the same amount as manned phone calls.
Dan Treglia on the caregivers lost to COVID
Dan Treglia on the caregivers lost to COVID
The associate professor of practice in the School of Arts & Sciences identifies the number of children who have lost parents and caregivers to COVID-19 and how to support them.
In the News
NPR
Pfizer and Moderna seek authorization of omicron booster for kids ages 5-11
Paul Offit of the Perelman School of Medicine says that uncertain benefits for children and lack of historical data on bivalent vaccines might not justify pediatric authorizations for omicron boosters.
FULL STORY →
Philadelphia Inquirer
COVID boosters take aim just at omicron. This Penn lab is going after coronaviruses the world hasn’t seen yet
In Drew Weissman’s lab at the Perelman School of Medicine, researchers like Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh, Benjamin Davis, and Garima Dwivedi are developing pan-coronavirus vaccines to guard against future variants.
FULL STORY →
Nature
mRNA pioneers refocus on therapeutics
Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine are noted for their key 2005 advances with synthetic mRNA.
FULL STORY →
Philadelphia Business Journal
Penn spinout Capstan Therapeutics launches with $165M and an all-star lineup of founders
Capstan Therapeutics, a Penn spinout whose founders include Carl June, Bruce Levine, and Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine, has launched with $165 million raised to develop a new type of CAR therapy that incorporates mRNA.
FULL STORY →
Science
New private venture tackles the riddle of Long Covid—and aims to test treatments quickly
E. John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the Long Covid Research Initiative’s greater risk tolerance and more rapid investment pivoting could enable it to outpace the National Institutes of Health.
FULL STORY →
Associated Press
Should you get a new COVID booster? If so, when?
John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine advises people who recently received COVID boosters to wait for their antibodies to wane before receiving an updated one.
FULL STORY →