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mRNA Research

Why Penn research powers many FDA-approved treatments
Aerial image of Penn Medicine staff in the atrium celebrating.

On August 30, 2017, faculty and staff at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine gathered for a “flash mob” celebration of the the FDA approval of a Penn Medicine-developed personalized cellular immune therapy.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine News)

Why Penn research powers many FDA-approved treatments

Since 2017, the FDA approved more than two dozen new therapies with roots at Penn Medicine—almost half of which are first-in-class for their indications.

Karen L. Brooks for Penn Medicine Magazine

New mRNA vaccine to fight 20 known subtypes of influenza
Four bottles of Influenza vaccine beside one medical syringe.

Image: Bernard Chantal for Adobe Stock

New mRNA vaccine to fight 20 known subtypes of influenza

Heading into clinical trials, the new research from Penn Medicine may serve as a general preventative measure against future flu pandemics.

From Penn Medicine News

Behind the scenes in the lab and the future of mRNA research
A gloved hand holding a small vial of Sars-CoV2 mRNA vaccine.

Behind the scenes in the lab and the future of mRNA research

Developing new vaccines and novel mRNA delivery methods, coupled with the satisfaction of mentoring and selfless dedication to medicine, inspire the work of scientists at the Weissman Lab.

Alex Gardner

University of Pennsylvania’s first NFT commemorates mRNA research
Lots of gold blobs, some larger and closer to the front of the image, some smaller and farther away, on a pinkish background.

A still image from the 3D animated video component of the non-fungible token, which will also include patent documents and a letter from Drew Weissman of Penn Medicine. (Image: Courtesy Penn Medicine and Christie’s)

University of Pennsylvania’s first NFT commemorates mRNA research

Proceeds from the July auction of the non-fungible token—a digital asset—will benefit ongoing research at Penn.

Penn Medicine , Brandon Lausch , Peter Winicov

From a pandemic, scientific insights poised to impact more than just COVID-19
emulsions of oil and water separated by a layer of nanoparticles.

Bijels, or bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels, are structured emulsions of oil and water that are kept separated by a layer of nanoparticles. Penn Engineering researchers will develop a way of using them to manufacture mRNA-based therapeutics. (Image: Penn Engineering Today)

From a pandemic, scientific insights poised to impact more than just COVID-19

Pivoting to study SARS-CoV-2, many scientists on campus have launched new research projects that address the challenges of the pandemic but also prepare us to confront future challenges.

Katherine Unger Baillie

From foundational discoveries to profound impact
weissman and kariko in the lab Today, Weissman and colleagues are working to develop a pan-coronavirus vaccine capable of protecting the population against SARS, MERS, SARS-CoV-2, and more. At BioNTech, Karikó is overseeing parallel but distinct research on a range of diseases in which patients receive mRNA encoding therapeutic proteins. (Image: Peggy Peterson)

From foundational discoveries to profound impact

How decades of mRNA research at Penn made powerful new COVID-19 vaccines possible—and opened a new vista for future discoveries.

Ashley Rabinovitch