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The art of retelling ancient stories: A Q&A with Steven Weitzman
Steven Weitzman standing upright and smiling, facing forward, in the Library at the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, next to a wall with books on display

Steven Weitzman is the Ella Darivoff Director of the Katz Center of Advanced Judaic Studies.

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  • Q&A

    • The art of retelling ancient stories: A Q&A with Steven Weitzman

    In his new book, the Penn professor and scholar of religion examines how the biblical story of the 10 plagues has been reshaped by people across time and culture to make sense of their experiences and find meaning in disasters.

    3 min. read

    Five from Penn named 2025 AAAS Fellows
    Portraits from left to right, first row: Cherie Kagan, Danny Krashen, George Pappas. Second row: Kai Tan, Patrick Walsh.

    (Top, from left) Cherie Kagan, Daniel Krashen, and George Pappas. (Bottom, from left) Kai Tan and Patrick Walsh.

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    Five from Penn named 2025 AAAS Fellows

    Five faculty researchers representing the School of Arts & Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Perelman School of Medicine have been elected 2025 American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows. They are among the nearly 500 scientists, engineers, and innovators spanning 24 scientific disciplines who are being recognized for distinguished achievements.

    3 min. read

    Stress tested, testing stress: Novel organoid models how the adrenal gland develops
    Michinori Mayama (left) is showing a culture dish to Kotaro Sasaki (right) in a lab.

    Michinori Mayama (left) and Kotaro Sasaki (right). 

    (Image: Courtesy of Kotaro Sasaki)

    Stress tested, testing stress: Novel organoid models how the adrenal gland develops

    Researchers led by Penn Vet’s Kotaro Sasaki and Michinori Mayama have developed an organoid system that faithfully mimics how the human adrenal gland develops and forms complex tissue structures, providing a powerful tool to study adrenal biology and laying the groundwork for regenerative therapies targeting adrenal diseases.

    3 min. read

    Targeting tumor supporting cells: Advancing CAR T success in pancreatic cancer
    Pancreatic cancer cells.

    Image: Nemes Laszlo/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

    Targeting tumor supporting cells: Advancing CAR T success in pancreatic cancer

    Research led by Penn Vet’s Ellen Puré has used lipid nanoparticles to generate CAR T cells directed at a type of tumor support cells—cancer-associated fibroblasts—melting away the protective barrier around pancreatic tumor cells and paving the way for a potentially safer, more accessible, and cost-effective method to treat solid tumors.

    3 min. read

    How does medicine come to be?
    A bowl of dried ginger root for traditional Chinese medicine.

    Image: LightStock via Getty Images

    How does medicine come to be?

    By tracing substances from their roots to how they’re used today, a team including Hsiao-Wen Cheng of the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations aims to answer questions about how medical practices evolve.

    From Omnia

    2 min. read

    Penn GSE organizes transformative leadership professional development in Alabama

    Penn GSE organizes transformative leadership professional development in Alabama

    As a part of an ongoing Wallace Foundation funded initiative, Penn’s Graduate School of Education (GSE) brought district teams from across the country to Montgomery, Alabama for immersive learning at the Legacy Sites with founder Bryan Stevenson and GSE professor Howard Stevenson.

    A stiff defense: Rethinking gum disease
    A section of healthy human gum tissue captured using an imaging technique called Second Harmonic Generation microscopy. In this sample, collagen fibers (shown in yellow), which give healthy gums their firm, resilient stiffness, are dense and well-organized—acting as a supportive scaffold for the surrounding cells (shown in teal).

    A section of healthy human gum tissue captured using an imaging technique called Second Harmonic Generation microscopy. In this sample, collagen fibers (shown in yellow), which give healthy gums their firm, resilient stiffness, are dense and well-organized—acting as a supportive scaffold for the surrounding cells (shown in teal).

    (Image: Hardik Makkar)

    A stiff defense: Rethinking gum disease

    Penn Dental Medicine’s Kyle H. Vining and Hardik Makkar take a biomaterials approach to understanding periodontal disease, using a hydrogel system to investigate how the physical properties of the gum tissue impact inflammation.

    3 min. read

    Music, friendship, and a podcast on the side
    Emily Wilson, Kevin Platt, and Paul St. Amour seated with microphones at Kelly Writers House.

    Emily Wilson, Kevin Platt, and Paul St. Amour recording an episode of SideGig at Kelly Writers House.

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    Music, friendship, and a podcast on the side

    Through their new project, SideGig, School of Arts & Sciences faculty Paul Saint-Amour and Kevin Platt explore songs and sound. Plus, it gives the pals a chance to hang out.

    From Omnia

    2 min. read