2022 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences awarded to mRNA pioneers Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó Twenty-five years ago, Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó struck up their first conversations at Penn by a copy machine, where both were printing journal articles. That chance encounter laid the foundation for a revolution in mRNA technology, innovations that are now being leveraged to confront a host of biomedical challenges. (Image: Peggy Peterson) 2022 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences awarded to mRNA pioneers Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó Weissman and Karikó are honored for engineering modified RNA technology which enabled rapid development of effective COVID-19 vaccines.
The best new implants may be a piece of you HUP patient Stacy Haley received free-flap reconstruction surgery after receiving a double mastectomy. (Image: Penn Medicine News) The best new implants may be a piece of you Innovative techniques like autologous surgery involves implanting patients with something taken from a different part of their body, which eliminates the risk of infection and erosion of synthetic materials.
Packaging-free design quadruples microbatteries’ energy density Weighing about as much as two grains of rice but with the energy density of a much larger, heavier battery, the researchers’ packing-free design could enable a host of otherwise impossible electronics. (Image: Penn Engineering Today) Packaging-free design quadruples microbatteries’ energy density New research from the School of Engineering and Applied Science shows a new way to build and package microbatteries that maximizes energy density even at the smallest sizes.
Penn Medicine’s first living donor uterus transplant Penn Medicine’s first living donor uterus transplant Cheryl Cichonski-Urban donated her uterus to Chelsea Jovanovich through Penn Medicine’s Uterus Donation program. In May, Jovanovich gave birth to a baby boy.
Latest ‘organ-on-a-chip’ is a new way to study cancer-related muscle wasting Latest ‘organ-on-a-chip’ is a new way to study cancer-related muscle wasting New “muscle-on-a-chip” technology allows for drug testing on human muscles outside the body while capturing the complexity of human physiology.
Penn receives $5m cryptocurrency gift, largest in University’s history Penn receives $5m cryptocurrency gift, largest in University’s history The gift, facilitated by NYDIG, an industry leader in providing Bitcoin technology and financial services, will support the growth of programs within the Stevens Center for Innovation in Finance at the Wharton School.
Inaugural Projects for Progress recipients announced Inaugural Projects for Progress recipients announced Awardees include three Penn teams that will help address health care, education, and environmental justice, respectively, in Philadelphia.
Rapid COVID-19 diagnostic test delivers accurate results within 4 minutes Image: Penn Medicine News Rapid COVID-19 diagnostic test delivers accurate results within 4 minutes The low-cost biosensor test developed by Penn Medicine could extend COVID-19 testing with 90% accuracy to remote and disadvantaged areas.
Beer with no buzz: 2021 Y-Prize awards dealcoholization project Beer with no buzz: 2021 Y-Prize awards dealcoholization project LiberTech, the award-winning team, pitched their plan to filter alcohol from beer using a nanostructured membrane, which preserves the flavor of beer.
In the vaccine trenches with Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman In the vaccine trenches with Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman Key breakthroughs leading to the powerful mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 were forged at Penn, and the COVID-19 vaccines may only be the beginning of its impact on 21st-century medicine.