Research

A person driving pressing a button on a mounted smartphone.

To get drivers to put down their phones, make it a game

A large trial of strategies to reduce distracted driving presented by Penn Medicine experts show that those that were “gamified” yielded a lasting reduction in handheld phone usage while driving.

What happened to crash rates when one state legalized speed cameras?

A study by Erick Guerra of the Weitzman School of Design and colleagues suggests that speed cameras lead to a substantial and statistically significant reduction in fatalities and crashes.

If you’re not getting a good night’s rest, it might be time for sleep ‘physical therapy’

According to a 2018 study from the Perelman School of Medicine, a quarter of Americans develop acute insomnia every year.

Want students to succeed? Give them safe homes

A 2021 Penn study showed that home repairs in low-income, predominantly Black neighborhoods led to a decrease in crime.

Four doctors and nurses having a discussion in a hospital hallway.

Uncovering the extent and drivers of burnout among Hispanic nurses

School of Nursing researchers found higher rates of burnout among Hispanic nurses, driven by a younger average age and poorer work environments.

Breaking through the mysteries of predicting coma recovery

Penn Medicine’s David Fischer created the RECOVER (REcovery of COnsciousness Via Evidence-Based Medicine and Research) program to provide specialized, comprehensive, and ongoing care for coma patients in various stages of coma recovery.

Study details ‘transformative’ results from L.A. pilot that guaranteed families $1,000 a month

Amy Castro of the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the School of Social Policy & Practice and colleagues found that participants in a guaranteed income pilot program in Los Angeles experienced a host of financial benefits.

A veteran speaking with someone taking notes.

Genetic study highlights importance of diversity in understanding health disparities

A Penn Medicine partnership with the Million Veteran Program finds that genetic data in non-European population aligns with reporting from underrepresented groups.

Wildfire smoke is probably harming your brain

A study by Holly Elser of the Perelman School of Medicine finds that wildfire smoke exposure can significantly increase the risk of dementia.

The political shockwaves of America’s falling birth rates

Jagadeesh Gokhale of the Penn Wharton Budget Model has built demographic models that show immigration’s huge growth impacts on the nation’s population levels.

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