Medicine | Penn Today

Gloved hand holds a vial of blood for a blood test

Blood test may help doctors catch pancreatic cancer early

A blood test may be able to detect the most common form of pancreatic cancer while it is still in its early stages while also helping doctors accurately stage a patient’s disease and guide them to the appropriate treatment.

closeup of prescription pills on a surface beside a stethoscope and blood pressure gauge

Commonly used blood pressure meds may affect outcomes on COVID-19

Penn Medicine launches an international trial to study whether the medications are beneficial or harmful in the treatment of hospitalized patients.

Two large and three small temporary tents outside the Emergency Department at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn ED tents ready for COVID-19 surge

The aim of the temporary structures is to identify and sort patients before they enter the hospitals. Those with mild symptoms can get tested and sent home, leaving the space inside for more severe cases.

DIY origami face masks for COVID-19

The professor of materials science and engineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering is leading an effort to design an effective face mask that can be made at home.

stethoscope on a table beside an ultrasound image

A cost-effective drug combination for women suffering miscarriage

A pretreatment medication for women who suffer miscarriages called mifepristone is not only more clinically effective when combined with misoprostol, but also more cost effective

Drying medical masks hanging due to a scarcity of PPE in hospitals

How can hospitals address scarce resources during COVID-19?

Most hospitals have general contingency plans for resource allocation in times of medical scarcity, but not detailed guidelines for the process of actually making those allocation decisions. School of Arts and Sciences political scientist and LDI Senior Fellow Julia Lynch has created those guidelines.

Microscopic rendering of DNA helix repairing itself

PARP inhibitor drugs can be ‘tuned’ for better killing of tumor cells

Using innovative techniques, a new Penn Medicine study helps clear up mystery about why PARP-inhibiting compounds vary so much in their clinical effectiveness

cartoon of a hand holding a magnifying glass up to a coronavirus germ

Why clinical trials during disease outbreaks may need a new approach

Scientists around the world are racing to develop vaccines and treatments for the novel coronavirus, while hoping to avoid mistakes made during the West African Ebola epidemic, in which incomplete studies led to inconclusive results.

3D rendering of antibodies activated by vaccine and drugs like hydroxychloroquine attacking viruses inside the human body.

New trial will evaluate hydroxychloroquine to treat and prevent COVID-19

A new trial led by the Perelman School of Medicine will evaluate whether the drug hydroxychloroquine can benefit people infected with COVID-19 and whether taking the drug preventatively may help people avoid infection altogether.

Signage on the wall at that reads Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Match Day in a global pandemic

With the help of social media, FaceTime, and video chats, Perelman School of Medicine students celebrated Match Day 2020 online.

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