4/22
Research
Five takeaways on urbanicity and depression research
Five takeaways on urbanicity and depression research
Colin Xu and Robert DeRubeis discuss a recently published meta-analysis of the effects of urbanicity on depression in developing and developed countries.
New office supports the Penn postdoc experience
New office supports the Penn postdoc experience
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs was established this past spring as a boost to the general postdoc community, providing centralized resources, information, and events.
Uncovering the role of skin microbiome and immune response in cutaneous leishmaniasis
Uncovering the role of skin microbiome and immune response in cutaneous leishmaniasis
Two new studies led by Phillip Scott of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Elizabeth Grice of the Perelman School of Medicine demonstrate how bacteria found in leishmaniasis skin lesions and an associated immune response drive disease burden and treatment failure—and suggest new possibilities for treatment of the parasitic disease.
High pregnancy weight gain tied to higher risk of death in the following decades
High pregnancy weight gain tied to higher risk of death in the following decades
Findings from a Penn Medicine study, which analyzed 50 years of data, highlights the health risks tied to conditions like heart disease and diabetes that can occur when more weight is gained in pregnancy than recommended.
Experiencing record-breaking heat days affects perception of weather trends
Experiencing record-breaking heat days affects perception of weather trends
New research from Penn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that for residents in areas with record-breaking heat, the perception that the weather is getting hotter increases.
Privacy and racial justice in law
Privacy and racial justice in law
In the Richmond Journal of Law & Technology, Melany Amarikwa explores the harms perpetuated by TikTok’s unique use of recommendation algorithms.
Measuring the ripple effects of reforestation and sustainable cocoa cultivation
Measuring the ripple effects of reforestation and sustainable cocoa cultivation
With support from the Penn Global Engagement Fund, Heather Huntington is investigating the impact of reforestation and sustainable agriculture interventions on livelihoods, biodiversity, and human health in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Combined treatment takes a bite out of tooth decay
Combined treatment takes a bite out of tooth decay
A collaborative interdisciplinary team of researchers from Penn Dental, Medicine and Penn Engineering have discovered a game-changing synergy between ferumoxytol and stannous fluoride in treating dental caries.
2023 Presidential Ph.D. Fellows announced at Penn
2023 Presidential Ph.D. Fellows announced at Penn
The Fellows come from the nine schools at Penn that offer Ph.D. programs, and will receive a three-year fellowship, including funds to support their research.
Neanderthals carried genes acquired from ancient interactions with ‘cousins’ of modern humans
Neanderthals carried genes acquired from ancient interactions with ‘cousins’ of modern humans
A new collaborative study led by Sarah Tishkoff shows that Neanderthals inherited at least 6% of their genome from a now-extinct lineage of early modern humans.
In the News
CNN
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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Fortune
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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Kiplinger
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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Newsweek
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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Associated Press
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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New Scientist
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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