Veterinary Medicine

microscopic image with blue, red, and green fluorescent labeling indicates cells that are developing to resemble germ cells

Rewiring blood cells to give rise to precursors of sperm

School of Veterinary Medicine researchers teamed with scientists at the University of Texas at San Antonio to transform blood cells to regain a flexible fate, growing into a precursor of sperm cells.

Katherine Unger Baillie ・

A Finnish spitz dog sniffs at a jar labeled CWD+

Trained dogs can sniff out a deadly deer disease

The proof-of-concept investigation by School of Veterinary Medicine researchers suggests detection dogs could be an asset in the effort to identify, contain, and manage chronic wasting disease, a highly contagious ailment.

Katherine Unger Baillie ・

fluorescent microscopic image of two cells being infected with virus

Harnessing an innate protection against Ebola

School of Veterinary Medicine researchers have identified a cellular pathway that keeps Ebola virus from exiting human cells, with implications for developing new antivirals.

Katherine Unger Baillie ・

Lung cells with RNA labeled in pink in each cell

How sex differences may influence lung injury

Comparing lung cells from male and female mice, School of Veterinary Medicine scientists found gene expression differences that may explain why older males are at a higher risk than females for worse outcomes from COVID-19 and similar diseases.

Katherine Unger Baillie ・

Microscopic image of lung with cells labeled in blue, red, and green

A target for improving recovery from lung injury

After a bout of severe respiratory disease, some patients never fully recover. New research from the School of Veterinary Medicine identifies a factor responsible for inappropriate tissue regrowth after infection, pointing to a possible therapeutic target.

Katherine Unger Baillie ・

Two chickens in a grassy yard

An evolving animal health emergency

More than 52 million birds in the U.S. have been affected by an outbreak of avian influenza. Researchers at the School of Veterinary Medicine are supporting Pennsylvania’s diagnostic work and launching new investigations to better understand the virus.

Katherine Unger Baillie ・



In the News


WHYY (Philadelphia)

Saving Philly’s bats, one DIY condo at a time

The Wildlife Futures Program at the School of Veterinary Medicine has facilitated the design and construction of wooden bat boxes to be installed in campus parks, with remarks from Julie Ellis. The project is the brainchild of Penn undergraduate Nick Tanner.

FULL STORY →

Voice of America

Can honeybees and dogs detect cancer earlier than technology?

Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine and colleagues at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center are training dogs to recognize certain cancer odors.

FULL STORY →

The Scientist

Dogs engage in scent-sational science to sniff out staphylococcus bacteria

Meghan Ramos and Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine and colleagues are training dogs to detect infections that accumulate on orthopedic implants after surgery.

FULL STORY →

CBS News

Cats that fetch are more common than you might think. New study finds 41% of felines retrieve

A study co-authored by James Serpell of the School of Veterinary Medicine finds that 41% of cats fetch.

FULL STORY →

Scientific American

Do cats really hate water?

Carlo Siracusa of the School of Veterinary Medicine says we tend to think cats are unique in not liking water, but there are also many dogs that do not like water.

FULL STORY →

The Conversation

Cats and dogs both like to play fetch − it’s rooted in their hunting instincts

James Serpell of the School of Veterinary Medicine explores just how common fetching is and what characteristics of a cat or dog and their environment are likely to predict fetching.

FULL STORY →