11/15
Meredith Mann
meredith.mann@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Medicine
Blood test identifies more treatable cancer mutations than biopsies alone
Blood test identifies more treatable cancer mutations than biopsies alone
A new study shows patients with treatable mutations identified by liquid biopsies rather than tissue biopsies also largely respond to therapy.
Immune cells involved in triple-negative breast cancer could offer future therapeutic target
Immune cells involved in triple-negative breast cancer could offer future therapeutic target
New research led by Rumela Chakrabarti reveals how immune cells called myeloid-derived immunosuppressor cells contribute to the progression of triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive cancer. Pairing chemotherapy with a drug that blocks these cells may one day help stem its growth.
A study in prenatal gene editing with DNA in utero
A study in prenatal gene editing with DNA in utero
A Penn Medicine and CHOP team shows the first example of using base-editing tools to treat a disease in animal models in utero.
Medicaid expansions linked to slower rises in overdose deaths
Medicaid expansions linked to slower rises in overdose deaths
A recent study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine contradicts the idea that state expansions of Medicaid leads to more illicit use of prescription opioids.
The next frontier of precision medicine: Parkinson’s disease
The next frontier of precision medicine: Parkinson’s disease
The Molecular Integration in Neurological Diagnosis (MIND) Initiative is working to understand the nature of Parkinson's disease with molecular-level accuracy, so doctors can treat the root cause.
Seven Penn researchers receive NIH Director Awards
Seven Penn researchers receive NIH Director Awards
Seven researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, and School of Engineering and Applied Science are to receive National Institutes of Health Director Awards, highly competitive grants to support innovative biomedical research.
Discovering a single cell that leads to relapse
Discovering a single cell that leads to relapse
Research from the Abramson Cancer Center identified a single leukemic cell, engineered for CAR T therapy, that caused a deadly recurrence of pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
DNA vaccine leads to immune responses in HPV-related head and neck cancer
DNA vaccine leads to immune responses in HPV-related head and neck cancer
Researchers from the Abramson Cancer Center find immunotherapy approach can help T cells infiltrate tumors.
Flu vaccination rates in clinics drop as day progresses, but ‘nudges’ give them a boost
Flu vaccination rates in clinics drop as day progresses, but ‘nudges’ give them a boost
A new study shows that nudges prompting staff to create templates for vaccine orders increases flu vaccination rates.
Targeting a viral vulnerability to treat disease
Targeting a viral vulnerability to treat disease
Robert Ricciardi company ViRAZE utilizes interdisciplinary approaches to drug discovery. Its first target is molluscum contagiosum, a disease that targets children and immune-compromised adults with no current FDA-approved therapy.
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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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