A hard reset on electroconvulsive therapy Image: gorodenkoff via Getty Images A hard reset on electroconvulsive therapy New research from Penn Medicine finds that ECT sets in motion a brain event that resets its neurons, and has the potential to guide personalized ECT dosing to target specific outcomes in the brain. 2 min. read
Delivering a one-two punch to superbugs to fight infections Researchers led by César de la Fuente of the Perelman School of Medicine have created new peptides that fight hard-to-treat “superbug” infections by punching holes in bacterial cells and stimulating immune cells to signal for more defenders.(Image: Courtesy of Jianing Bai) Delivering a one-two punch to superbugs to fight infections Penn researchers create mirror-image molecules that both kill pathogens outright and rally the immune system—an advance aimed at the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance. 3 min. read
New tools to treat retinal degenerations at advanced stages of disease Raghavi Sudharsan and William Beltran of the Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies at Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine.nocred New tools to treat retinal degenerations at advanced stages of disease A collaborative team of researchers led by vision scientists at the School of Veterinary Medicine have developed novel promoters that drive strong and specific gene expression in rod and cone photoreceptors in mid-to-late stages of disease, potentially offering new and improved options for gene therapy. 3 min. read
Loss of Medicare Part D subsidy linked to higher mortality among low-income older adults Loss of Medicare Part D subsidy linked to higher mortality among low-income older adults A new Penn Medicine study reveals that losing Medicaid coverage saw mortality rates jump between 4 and 22 percent. 2 min. read
Cost-effective, lifesaving weather predictions Image: Courtesy of NASA’s Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory Cost-effective, lifesaving weather predictions Penn professor Paris Perdikaris and collaborators developed Aurora, a machine-learning model that has predictive capabilities for air quality, ocean waves, tropical cyclone tracks, and weather. 5 min. read
Study sheds light on why for-profit hospitals have worse nursing and patient outcomes Image: Dana Neely via Getty Images Study sheds light on why for-profit hospitals have worse nursing and patient outcomes Penn Nursing researchers find that for-profit facilities in Illinois have lower investments in nursing services than not-for-profit ones, despite no statistically significant difference in operating margins. 2 min. read
Lillian Miller: May grad turned Penn Ph.D. Lillian Miller (left) graduated as a chemistry and environmental scieces double major in May. This summer, she returns to begin her graduate training in Irina Marinov’s (right), where researchers use big data and computational techniques to make better climate models.nocred Lillian Miller: May grad turned Penn Ph.D. Lillian Miller, a May graduate from the College, will begin graduate studies in the laboratory of Irina Marinov this summer, where she is leveraging big data to tackle ocean and climate-focused research. 5 min. read
President Jameson provides a ‘snapshot of Penn’s momentum’ nocred President Jameson provides a ‘snapshot of Penn’s momentum’ “In a time of constant change and renewal, what keeps us connected is our traditions,” said Penn President J. Larry Jameson at an Alumni Weekend gathering. 5 min. read
AI x Science Postdoctoral Fellowship Bhuvnesh Jain of the School of Arts & Sciences has teamed up with PIK University Professor René Vidal of the Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Engineering and Applied Science to create the AI x Science Fellowship offering postdoctoral researchers across the University opportunities to collaborate across disciplines.nocred AI x Science Postdoctoral Fellowship Bhuvnesh Jain and René Vidal have teamed up to create the AI x Science Fellowship, which builds on the thriving postdoctoral program of the Data Driven Discovery Initiative to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration among researchers across the University. 6 min. read
Livesaving personalized CRISPR editing therapy Penn Medicine’s Kiran Musunuru and Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas holding KJ post infusion.(Image: Courtesy of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) Livesaving personalized CRISPR editing therapy A landmark study from CHOP and Penn Medicine showcases the power of customized gene editing therapy to treat a patient with a rare metabolic disease 5 min. read