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Research
Comparing urban and rural excess mortality during COVID-19
The first-ever county-level study of excess mortality in the United States shows monthly excess deaths spread from large cities to rural counties in the second year of the pandemic.
Using marine bacteria to detoxify asbestos
Researchers from the School of Arts and Sciences have shown that bacteria from extreme marine environments can reduce asbestos’ toxic properties.
Presidential Ph.D. Fellows are making their mark
Penn Today catches up with doctoral candidates from the $30 million initiative’s inaugural cohort. This upcoming academic year, the program will welcome its third class of fellows.
Antibody treatment prevents graft versus host disease in advanced preclinical tests
Penn Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston Children’s Hospital research finds single antibody treatment blocked donor T-cell attack and increased survival rates in preclinical models.
A better understanding into how genes make us prone to allergies
Slight alterations in the ETS1 protein level can lead to allergic inflammation.
The problem of race-specific tests in lung care
Using different baseline lung function for Black and white patients leads to lower rates of diagnosis in Black patients, say Penn LDI fellows.
A novel method for squeezing molecules together could significantly reduce chemical manufacturing waste
Penn engineers collaborated on an effort that would lessen the negative environmental impact of chemical production.
When child care and domestic gig workers have problems, where do they turn?
A new study from professor Julia Ticona and doctoral candidate Ryan Tsapatsaris uncovers the online spaces where domestic workers and their clients talk about using Care.com.
New, precise, and efficient DNA sequencing method may lead to easier testing and earlier cancer detection
The technique, created by Penn Medicine researchers, requires smaller DNA samples for testing and opens up potential new opportunities for next-generation diagnostics.
RNA nanoparticle therapy stops the spread of incurable bone marrow cancer
By creating a roadblock in cancer’s commute through the body, researchers removed a longstanding barrier in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
In the News
There’s still no standard test to detect pancreatic cancer early. Scientists are working to change that
A 2020 study from the Perelman School of Medicine found that a blood test to screen for certain biomarkers associated with pancreatic cancer was 92% accurate in its ability to detect disease.
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Hedge funder famous for his ‘black swan’ strategy says there’s ‘something immoral’ about America’s reliance on debt—and future generations ‘will bear the burden for this’
A 2023 study by the Wharton School found that the U.S. has about 20 years left for corrective action to fix the national debt before it hits 200% of GDP.
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Can money buy you happiness? Yes, it can. However…
Research by Matthew Killingsworth of the Wharton School reveals there is no monetary threshold at which money's capacity to improve well-being diminishes.
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Sugar-coated gold nanoparticles could replace some antibiotics
According to a Penn Medicine study, a new therapy involving laser light and sugar-coated gold nanoparticles can reduce tooth decay and infected wounds without needing antibiotics.
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Alzheimer’s may be caused by a build-up of fat in brain cells
A study by Michael Haney of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests that the root cause of Alzheimer’s is a build-up of fat droplets in brain cells.
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A new strategy to attack aggressive brain cancer shrank tumors in two early tests
A clinical trial led by Stephen Bagley of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests that targeting two associated proteins with CAR T cell therapy could be a viable strategy for shrinking brain tumors.
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