Coronavirus Research

A yellow Labrador retriever puts its nose up to a metal port

With impressive accuracy, dogs can sniff out coronavirus

In a proof-of-concept study led by the School of Veterinary Medicine, dogs identified positive samples with 96% accuracy.

A hospital room with all lights off but the fluorescent light above bed, which has a green blanket. Behind the bed is a hospital tray that swivels and a blue chair. On the yellow wall behind are about 8 outlets.

In the U.S., COVID-19 wasn’t sole cause of excess deaths in 2020

Comparing death rates in the United States with those of the five biggest European countries, Penn and Max Planck demographers found that significant excess mortality cost more lives annually than the epidemic itself.

Regeneron to seek U.S. OK for COVID-19 cocktail to be used for prevention

Katharine Bar of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about her research on the efficacy of a new preventative treatment for people in households where someone has contracted COVID-19. “These data pave the way for REGEN-COV to be used before patients become symptomatic,” she said.

Kati Kariko helped shield the world from the coronavirus

Katalin Kariko, who worked with colleague Drew Weissman in the Perelman School of Medicine to research mRNA, was profiled. Their findings laid the foundation for the development of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

Understanding and addressing barriers to COVID vaccine acceptance

Different communities have different reasons for wanting to wait on this shot. Getting to the heart of those concerns can help meet people where they are.

Pa. coronavirus update: North Philly to get vaccination site; Study finds variants spread in city

Frederic Bushman of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about a recent study that found that more than one-third of Philadelphia COVID-19 infections were caused by variants of the virus. “The fear is that the virus is evolving to infect people more efficiently,” he said.

Hormone drugs may disarm COVID-19 spike protein and stop disease progression

Hormone drugs that reduce androgen levels may help disarm the coronavirus spike protein used to infect cells and stop the progression of severe COVID-19 disease, suggests a new preclinical study.

Researchers hunt for cause of rare, COVID-19–linked immune disease in children

Audrey Odom John and Laura Vella of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and E. John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine are studying multi system inflammatory in children (MIS-C) and its relationship to COVID-19.

Two Pa. prisons have vaccinated more than 70% of inmates. An incentive program may be making a difference

Jessica Fishman of the Annenberg School for Communication is researching how incentives compare to other vaccine promotion methods. “I think it’s worth testing since we don’t have evidence that speaks directly to the policy debate, where some are quite adamant that it would absolutely backfire and increase fears of vaccination,” she said.

The cover of Research at Penn shows floating microscopic images of the coronavirus.

‘Research at Penn’ showcases University breakthroughs and innovations

Produced by the Provost’s Office, the brochure highlights groundbreaking research from each of Penn’s 12 schools. This year it is online-only.

Filters