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mRNA Research

A new hub for AI-driven RNA research
from left: Drew Weissman, Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research; Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering; Daeyeon Lee, Russell Pearce and Elizabeth Crimian Heuer Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the facility’s director; Susan Marqusee, head of NSF’s Biological Sciences Directorate; David F. Meaney, Solomon R. Pollack Professor in Bioengineering and Penn’s Vice Provost for Research; Pennsylvania State Senator Frank A. Farry.

(From left) Drew Weissman, Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research; Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering; Daeyeon Lee, Russell Pearce and Elizabeth Crimian Heuer Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the facility’s director; Susan Marqusee, head of NSF’s Biological Sciences Directorate; David F. Meaney, Solomon R. Pollack Professor in Bioengineering and Penn’s Vice Provost for Research; and Pennsylvania State Senator Frank A. Farry.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering)

A new hub for AI-driven RNA research

Penn’s newest collaborative institution is the U.S. National Science Foundation Artificial Intelligence-driven RNA BioFoundry (NSF AIRFoundry) which uses AI to improve, accelerate, and scale the design, manufacture, and delivery of RNA.

Ian Scheffler

2 min. read

Building better delivery vehicles for medicine
A machine in Michael Mitchell’s lab.

Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering

Building better delivery vehicles for medicine

Penn researchers in the Mitchell Lab are modifying lipid nanoparticles, the delivery vehicles for mRNA therapies, to make them more potent, precise, and better tolerated.

Ian Scheffler

2 min. read

Future mRNA vaccines may prevent food and seasonal allergies
A table of common food allergens including shellfish, peanuts, legumes, eggs, and milk.

Image: fcafotodigital via Getty Images

Future mRNA vaccines may prevent food and seasonal allergies

Early research from Penn Medicine finds a new mRNA vaccine stops allergens from causing immune reactions and life-threatening inflammation, with promise for future treatment for a variety of seasonal and food allergies.

Alex Gardner

2 min. read

New research seeks an mRNA therapy for heavy menstrual bleeding
Kathleen O’Neil speaking with someone at her desk with a medical scan on her computer screen.

Kathleen O’Neill, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and the program director of the Uterine Transplant Program.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine)

New research seeks an mRNA therapy for heavy menstrual bleeding

A new research program at Penn Medicine is working to explore the underlying causes of abnormal uterine bleeding alongside a new mRNA treatment.

2 min. read

A new recipe for safer, stronger mRNA vaccines
Emily Han and Dongyoon Kim in the research lab filled with bottles and other lab equipment..

Bioengineering researchers Emily Han (left) and Dongyoon Kim.

(Image: Bella Ciervo)

A new recipe for safer, stronger mRNA vaccines

Penn engineers have found a way to redesign mRNA vaccines that sidestep the the most common side effects.

Ian Scheffler

2 min. read

Improving T-cell responses to vaccines
Person in mask holding vaccine vial.

Image: franckreporter via Getty Images

Improving T-cell responses to vaccines

Penn Vet and Penn Medicine researchers have modified mRNA vaccines to include the cytokine IL-12 and improve T-cell responses which could improve the body’s ability to fight infections.

3 min. read

National Academy of Sciences elects four from Penn
Four headshots of Penn Faculty. Top left tile clockwise: Mark Devlin, Katalin Karikó, E. John Wherry III, and Virginia M.Y. Lee

Four faculty have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their innovative contributions to original scientific research. The newly honored scholars are Mark Devlin (top left) from the School of Arts & Sciences and Katalin Karikó (top right), Virginia M.Y. Lee (bottom left), and E. John Wherry III (bottom right) from the Perelman School of Medicine.

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National Academy of Sciences elects four from Penn

The newly elected members, recognized for their innovative contributions to original research, are Mark Devlin of the School of Arts & Sciences and Katalin Karikó, Virginia Lee, and E. John Wherry III of the Perelman School of Medicine.

3 min. read

Five Penn faculty elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Top row: Dennis Discher, Michael Correa-Jones, and Cherie Kagan. Bottom row: Sophie Rosenfeld and Susan Weiss.

Top row: Dennis Discher, Michael Correa-Jones, and Cherie Kagan. Bottom row: Sophie Rosenfeld and Susan Weiss.

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Five Penn faculty elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Dennis E. Discher, Michael Jones-Correa, Cherie R. Kagan, Sophia Rosenfeld, and Susan R. Weiss are being recognized for their contributions to engineering, political science, history, and biology.

3 min. read

New technology is poised to bring gene therapy to common chronic diseases

New technology is poised to bring gene therapy to common chronic diseases

New research from Penn Medicine reveals a safe delivery system of DNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles directly to cells, which could transform treatment for common chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

From Penn Medicine News

2 min. read