Medicine | Penn Today

Rendering of a lengthwise wisdom tooth in the lower jaw.

Pulling wisdom teeth can improve long-term taste function

A Penn Medicine study shows, for the first time, positive long-term effects of third molar extraction on taste.

An etched silicon and glass wafer on a surface with a quarter beside it for scale.

New microfluidic device delivers mRNA nanoparticles a hundred times faster

With a “liquid assembly line,” Penn researchers have produced mRNA-delivering-nanoparticles significantly faster than standard microfluidic technologies.

African American COVID patient wearing a respirator in a hospital bed.

Trauma patients with COVID-19 face greater risk of complications and death

Penn Medicine research shows COVID-19-positive patients with traumatic injuries have six times higher risk of death and complication than patients without COVID.

Lipid panel with check marks with a stethoscope resting on top of the file.

Lipids model how to explore for unexpected diseases

Lipids are known heritable risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but increasing evidence also supports shared genetics with diseases of other organ systems.

Microscopic image of cells labeled blue, green, and pink

With remarkable similarities to MS, a disease in dogs opens new avenues for study

Researchers at the School of Veterinary Medicine led by Jorge Iván Alvarez and Molly Church found that the canine disease granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis shares many of the same pathological and immunological features as MS.

Two people seated at a table in front of a panel that reads "Penn Medicine" many times over. The person on the left is wearing a gray suit, with a white shirt and red tie. The person on the right is wearing glasses, an orange shirt, and a black cardigan.

Penn mRNA pioneers receive the Princess of Asturias Award

Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó earned the prestigious honor for their foundational research that led to development of two lifesaving mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Black hospital patient in bed with nurse in full PPE preparing to put oxygen mask on patient’s face.

Higher COVID-19 mortality among Black patients linked to unequal hospital quality

If Black patients were admitted to the same hospitals that serve a majority of white patients, Penn Medicine researchers show their risk of death would drop by 10%.

How mRNA vaccines help fight cancer tumors

Penn researchers are looking to mRNA vaccines for applications outside of infectious diseases, as they can not only prompt strong antibody responses to fight off invaders, like COVID-19, but also potent cytotoxic T cell responses.

HUP’s p-tube system keeps services up and running

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s pneumatic tube system delivers nearly 4,000 specimens, blood and blood products, and other urgently needed supplies and medications to stations throughout the campus each day.

Third COVID vaccine dose helps some transplant patients

Richard Wender of the Perelman School of Medicine said specialists, not primary care doctors, should be responsible for responding to emerging vaccination recommendations for unique populations such as transplant patients. Primary care doctors’ “focus needs to be on helping to overcome hesitancy, mistrust, lack of information, or anti-vaccination sentiment to help more people feel comfortable being vaccinated—this is a lot of work and needs constant focus,” he said.

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