Infectious Diseases

Experimental mRNA avian flu vaccine

Promising preclinical results from a new Penn Medicine study suggest an mRNA vaccine platform could limit the impact of avian flu pandemics.

From Penn Medicine News

A hopeful time for Cryptosporidium research

Boris Striepen of Penn Vet organized the First Biennial Cryptosporidium Meeting, bringing together researchers and clinicians from around the world to discuss the problems and progress around the parasite and the diarrheal disease it causes.

Erica Moser

A space for lifesaving, collaborative work

Gov. Josh Shapiro, President Liz Magill, and others from the University community celebrated the new home of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation.

Lauren Hertzler

Uncovering the role of skin microbiome and immune response in cutaneous leishmaniasis

Two new studies led by Phillip Scott of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Elizabeth Grice of the Perelman School of Medicine demonstrate how bacteria found in leishmaniasis skin lesions and an associated immune response drive disease burden and treatment failure—and suggest new possibilities for treatment of the parasitic disease.

Abbey Porter



In the News


The New York Times

‘This is a dangerous virus’

According to Louise Moncla of the School of Veterinary Medicine, reinfections suggest that the H5N1 bird flu virus could circulate on farms indefinitely, creating opportunities for it to evolve into a more dangerous form.

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NPR

Tuberculosis rates plunge when families living in poverty get a monthly cash payout

Aaron Richterman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that there are large and underappreciated benefits of cash-transfer programs, such as potentially ending a tuberculosis epidemic.

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Time

Scientists are racing to develop a new bird flu vaccine

Drew Weissman and Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine are testing a vaccine to prevent a strain of H5N1 bird flu in chickens and cattle.

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Live Science

‘Any protein you can imagine, it can deliver’: AI will help discover the next breakthrough in RNA, says Nobel Prize winner Dr. Drew Weissman

Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine is launching a new RNA research hub that will use artificial intelligence to help train scientists and guide their experiments.

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The Washington Post

Keep forgetting your shingles shot? These sufferers wish they hadn’t

Paul Offit of the Perelman School of Medicine says that shingles is one of the worst pains in medicine, comparable to childbirth and corneal abrasions.

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Nature

Is bird flu spreading among people? Data gaps leave researchers in the dark

Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine says that there are fears of bird flu spreading at low levels through humans in a Missouri community.

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