mRNA Research | Penn Today

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

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.

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

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 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.

2 min. read

Oblong-shaped terminals and wall art portraying the workings of the brain.

Brain power on display at the Franklin Institute

Several researchers from Penn Medicine’s Department of Neurology are featured throughout the Franklin Institute’s Body Odyssey exhibit.

1 min. read

A researcher holding a vaccine vial in a lab next to a microscope.

Pursuing vaccines to stop celiac disease

Scientists at Penn’s Institute for RNA Innovation are using messenger RNA to stop the immune response that triggers celiac disease symptoms.

Jonathan A. Epstein named head of Perelman School of Medicine and Penn Health System

Epstein has served as interim EVP and interim dean since December 2023.

How Penn is helping with bird flu research and disease surveillance

Faculty are working on a vaccine for the H5N1 virus, studying its transmission, and helping the state test samples from birds and mammals.

Scientists holding a model of something (forthcoming)

Penn Center for Innovation celebrates 10 years

The University’s nexus for technology transfer supports researchers in their innovative efforts, from CAR T to mRNA advancements that have dramatically reshaped the world.

Microscopic rendering of mRNA inside a lipid nanoparticle.

Refining lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies

A new method developed by Penn engineers for designing ionizable lipids is expected to have broad implications for mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics.

Novel mRNA vaccine prevents and treat C. difficile

Penn Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have developed the first mRNA vaccine against C. difficile to successfully ward off the bacterial infection.

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