11/15
Meredith Mann
meredith.mann@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Medicine
Access to HIV self-tests in Kenya
Access to HIV self-tests in Kenya
Marking World AIDS Day, Harsha Thirumurthy of the Perelman School of Medicine offers four takeaways from his research exploring the impact access to free HIV self-tests had on women in Kenya and on the importance of HIV awareness.
Common cardiac device implants and persistent opioid use overlap
Common cardiac device implants and persistent opioid use overlap
A new study from Penn Medicine shows that about 12% of patients who receive implantable cardiac devices will continue taking pain medication in the months afterward.
A better estimate for tick numbers with ‘citizen science’ data
A better estimate for tick numbers with ‘citizen science’ data
A team led by School of Arts & Sciences biologists found a way to account for biases in data collected by members of the public, using it to create a comprehensive abundance map of the tick responsible for transmitting Lyme disease.
Common gene variants linked to sepsis and COVID-19 severity in African Americans
Common gene variants linked to sepsis and COVID-19 severity in African Americans
Two genetic risk variants that are carried by nearly 40% of Black individuals may exacerbate the severity of both sepsis and COVID-19. A Penn Medicine study identifies two potential pathways to reduce the health disparities driven by these gene mutations.
Learning to listen in troubled times
Learning to listen in troubled times
The SNF Paideia Program and partners featured Ernesto Pujol and Aaron Levy, an artist and an interdisciplinary scholar who have transformed both what it means to listen and what the act of listening can achieve as part of a lecture and workshops.
A FAST approach to helping food insecurity
A FAST approach to helping food insecurity
FAST (Food Access Support Technology) is a new platform created by Penn Medicine’s Center for Health Equity Advancement (CHEA) that connects health systems, food access community-based organizations and minority-owned small businesses to fight food insecurity.
Automated texting system saved lives weekly during first COVID surge
Automated texting system saved lives weekly during first COVID surge
Patients enrolled in COVID Watch, an algorithmically driven text messaging system backed by a small team of nurses, were 68% less likely to die from COVID-19.
Penn Medicine launches new Colton Center for Autoimmunity
Penn Medicine launches new Colton Center for Autoimmunity
The Center, made possible through a $10 million gift from alumni Stewart and Judy Colton, unites game-changing research and patient care programs across the University, and connects Penn’s efforts to two other world-renowned institutions.
Penn launches $750M investment in science, engineering, and medicine
Penn launches $750M investment in science, engineering, and medicine
The investment will cover research in novel therapeutics and health-related initiatives, energy and sustainability, data engineering and science, and infrastructure to support physical science research over the next five years.
Clinician peer networks remove race and gender bias
Clinician peer networks remove race and gender bias
Research from Damon Centola of the Annenberg School for Communication shows that structured health care networks significantly reduce health care inequities and disparities in patient treatment.
Media Contact
In the News
The Washington Post
The latest skincare trend: Beef fat. Yes, beef fat
Bruce Brod of the Perelman School of Medicine says that there’s no evidence to show beef tallow is better than conventional moisturizers.
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CBS Philadelphia
Philadelphia doctors and scientists encourage young women to pursue STEM careers at Penn event
The STEM Goes Red event hosted at Penn Medicine showed young Philadelphia women in high school how to program miniature computers, with remarks from Helene Glassberg of the Perelman School of Medicine.
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ScienceFriday.com
CAR-T cell therapies show promise for autoimmune diseases
Daniel Baker, a Ph.D. student in Carl June’s lab at the Perelman School of Medicine, discusses the results of a study on donor CAR-T cell therapy.
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AARP.org
Fifteen things to know about the two new Alzheimer’s drugs
Jason Karlawish of the Perelman School of Medicine says that some reactions to new Alzheimer’s drugs can resemble flu-like symptoms, such as chills, shortness of breath, and rash.
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Stat
Social media misinformation is scaring women about birth control
In an opinion essay, postdoc Emily Pfender of the Leonard Davis Institute and Perelman School of Medicine cautions that social media can set back women’s health by perpetuating fear and misinformation instead of empowering informed choices.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Does it matter what time you take your medicine?
Garret FitzGerald of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the timing of medication dosing can substantially influence the drug levels in people’s blood.
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