11/15
Meredith Mann
meredith.mann@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Medicine
Finding patterns in a class of neurological disorders
Finding patterns in a class of neurological disorders
Research from Penn Engineering and the Perelman School of Medicine has found that the shared pattern is misfolded in Fragile X Syndrome, a member of the class of disorders that also includes ALS and Huntington’s disease
CAR T cell therapy receives approval for use across European Union
CAR T cell therapy receives approval for use across European Union
The European Commission has approved a personalized cellular therapy developed at the Abramson Cancer Center, making it the first CAR T cell therapy permitted for use in the European Union in two distinct indications.
New insights into malaria culprit
New insights into malaria culprit
New insights from the Perelman School of Medicine on the origins of deadly infectious diseases are vital to understanding the emergence of human pathogens, and may even lead to eradicating malaria.
A promising candidate for a universal flu vaccine
A promising candidate for a universal flu vaccine
A flu vaccine that targets a deeper level of the virus itself may be the key to a universal flu vaccine that is more effective at protecting humans from any strain of flu each season.
New Parkinson’s disease biomarker guidelines invigorates drive for treatments
New Parkinson’s disease biomarker guidelines invigorates drive for treatments
Identifying biomarkers of Parkinson's disease, such as proteins found in blood, is key to discovering treatment for the disease. New guidelines, published in Science and Translational Medicine journal, are the result of a collaboration between researchers with unique expertise outside of academia.
Knockdown and replace: A gene therapy twofer to treat blindness
Knockdown and replace: A gene therapy twofer to treat blindness
More than 150 different mutations in the light-sensing molecule rhodopsin can cause retinitis pigmentosa, characterized by a progressive loss of night and peripheral vision, and a team of researchers have developed a treatment for the condition. Successful results in dogs set the stage for testing in humans.
Two students’ paths to White Coat Day
Two students’ paths to White Coat Day
Ralph St. Luce & Rotem Kimia, two members of a new class of medical students at the Perelman School of Medicine, discuss what brought them to medicine, in anticipation of the school's annual White Coat Ceremony.
Drugs in development for cancer may also fight brain diseases, including ALS
Drugs in development for cancer may also fight brain diseases, including ALS
In a study done by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Arts and Sciences, PARP inhibitors, which are used for fighting cancer, can be useful for the treatment and prevention of brain disorders such as ALS.
Cancer cells send out ‘drones’ to battle the immune system from afar
Cancer cells send out ‘drones’ to battle the immune system from afar
Checkpoint inhibitor therapies have made metastatic melanoma and other cancers a survivable condition, but only for some patients. Researchers uncovered a novel mechanism by which tumors suppress the immune system, raising the possibility that a straightforward blood test could predict which patients could respond to immunotherapy.
Therapy for rare cancers receives FDA approval
Therapy for rare cancers receives FDA approval
A trial led by researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center received first approval for AZEDRA, an anti-cancer drug for advanced pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma patients who are not candidates for surgery.
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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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