9/18
Immunology
Combo immunotherapy produces distinct waves of cancer-fighting T cells
Researchers from Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center have found that a novel tool that tracks immune health over time has revealed new insights on immune cell activation.
A newly identified immune checkpoint protein may lead to future cancer therapies
Penn Medicine researchers have found that knocking out a T cell’s CD5 gene greatly enhances the cell’s anticancer activity in a variety of preclinical cancer models.
New ‘armored’ CAR therapy produces significant responses in cancer patients
For patients whose cancers don't respond to current CAR T cell therapies, a new, modified CAR T cell therapy by Penn’s Carl June shows promise in a phase 1 clinical trial.
Honoring a life scientist’s lifesaving science
Carl June accepted the 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences at a Los Angeles ceremony, making him the sixth recipient from Penn.
Study reveals inequities in access to transformative CAR T cell therapy
Penn Medicine researchers have assessed the percentage of patients from minority health populations and reveal inequities in access to transformative CAR T cell therapy.
Accelerating CAR T cell therapy: Lipid nanoparticles speed up manufacturing
Penn Engineers have developed a novel method for manufacturing CAR T cells using lipid nanoparticles as delivery vehicles.
Initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations prime immune cells to respond to subsequent variants
Immunological imprinting from the original ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain has a significant impact on the antibody responses to the variants and boosters based on them.
Mapping pancreatic cancer to improve immunotherapy
Gregory L. Beatty, an associate professor of hematology-oncology and member of Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, and his team focus on improving immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer.
‘Dual target’ cell therapy appears to shrink brain tumors
Early Penn Medicine trial results show that targeting two tumor-associated proteins in patients with recurrent glioblastoma may be a promising step toward developing cell therapies for solid tumors.
What makes a breakthrough? ‘Eight steps back’ before making it to the finish line
Four of Penn’s Breakthrough Prize recipients, Carl June, Katalin Karikó, Virginia M-Y Lee, and Drew Weissman, were honored at a reception on Feb. 13.
In the News
Carl June: 2024 will be seen as a breakthrough year for brain cancer
Carl June of the Perelman School of Medicine shares five insights on using CAR T cell therapy to combat cancer, featuring remarks from Bruce Levine.
FULL STORY →
How to make yourself sneeze and find relief fast, according to doctors
John V. Bosso of the Perelman School of Medicine says that sneezing helps clear the nose of irritants, dirt, allergens, viruses, and bacteria.
FULL STORY →
A bird-flu pandemic in people? Here’s what it might look like
Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the bird flu virus would have to change significantly to be able to bind effectively to human cells.
FULL STORY →
Disease from parasite in U.S. water supply might finally be treatable
A paper by Katelyn A. Walzer and Boris Striepen of the School of Veterinary Medicine reveals the gene expression of the parasite cryptosporidium across its life cycle.
FULL STORY →
mRNA vaccine by UPenn scientists could manage bird flu outbreak
Researchers led by Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine have collaborated with Drew Weissman to develop an mRNA vaccine to treat the H5N1 avian flu.
FULL STORY →
Penn Medicine creates human bird flu vaccine
Researchers at Penn Medicine have created a human bird flu vaccine using mRNA, the same platform as the COVID-19 vaccine.
FULL STORY →