11/15
Meredith Mann
meredith.mann@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Medicine
25 years of integration, innovation, and ideals
25 years of integration, innovation, and ideals
2018 marked 25 years since the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) was first established—a milestone that would undoubtedly make the institution’s founder, Benjamin Franklin, proud.
Energizing the immune system to eat cancer
Energizing the immune system to eat cancer
An Abramson Cancer Center study identifies a method of priming macrophages to boost an anti-tumor response wherein macrophages attack and eat cancer cells.
Using fat cells to predict response to anti-diabetes drugs
Using fat cells to predict response to anti-diabetes drugs
In a new study, a team of researchers have demonstrated—using fat cells derived from human stem cells—that individual genetic variation can be used to predict whether the TZD rosiglitazone will produce the unwanted side effect of increasing cholesterol levels in certain individuals.
Penn mourns the loss of Raymond G. Perelman
Penn mourns the loss of Raymond G. Perelman
The University of Pennsylvania is mourning the death of Raymond G. Perelman, one of its most significant and committed partners.
Resistance to cancer treatment is a chain reaction
Resistance to cancer treatment is a chain reaction
A study identifies a chain reaction in cells that enables cancer to resist treatments that target BRAF mutations.
The road to more hand transplants
The road to more hand transplants
Over the past 20 years, more than 85 amputees around the world have received a hand or bilateral hand transplant—including two adults and one child at Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Healing with words, through writing workshops for cancer patients
Healing with words, through writing workshops for cancer patients
Writing a Life, organized by the Abramson Cancer Center and held at Kelly Writers House each month, provides such patients the opportunity to creatively examine and express their experiences.
Boots on the ground for the opioid task force
Boots on the ground for the opioid task force
Opioid addiction is a “public health emergency,” according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Overdose deaths involving opioids—both prescription and illegal—have increased fivefold between 1999 and 2016.
Personalized gene editing is a family affair
Personalized gene editing is a family affair
A new stem cell-based test aims to decrease the uncertainty of gene variants and their affect on a patient’s health.
Injection improves vision in a form of childhood blindness
Injection improves vision in a form of childhood blindness
A new treatment for patients with a form of congenital retinal blindness has shown success in improving vision, according to results published today in Nature Medicine led by researchers at the Scheie Eye Institute in the Perelman School of Medicine
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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