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A newly identified stem cell regulator enables lifelong sperm production
Illustration of different cell types that eventually give rise to sperm shows that blocking an early stage of cell development can prevent the formation of sperm

When the enzyme DOT1L is not functional, spermatogonial stem cells become exhausted, leading to a failure of sperm cell development. This crucial role for DOT1L places it in rarefied company as one of just a handful of known stem cell self-renewal factors, a Penn Vet team found. (Image: Courtesy of Jeremy Wang)

A newly identified stem cell regulator enables lifelong sperm production

Research led by Jeremy Wang of the School of Veterinary Medicine has discovered that the enzyme DOT1L, a stem cell renewal factor, is essential for mice to produce sperm throughout their adult lives.

Katherine Unger Baillie

University of Pennsylvania’s first NFT commemorates mRNA research
Lots of gold blobs, some larger and closer to the front of the image, some smaller and farther away, on a pinkish background.

A still image from the 3D animated video component of the non-fungible token, which will also include patent documents and a letter from Drew Weissman of Penn Medicine. (Image: Courtesy Penn Medicine and Christie’s)

University of Pennsylvania’s first NFT commemorates mRNA research

Proceeds from the July auction of the non-fungible token—a digital asset—will benefit ongoing research at Penn.

Penn Medicine , Brandon Lausch , Peter Winicov

A $365 million development will expand the life sciences hub at Pennovation Works
Rendering depicting aerial view of new life sciences building on Pennovation Works campus

A $365 million development will expand the life sciences hub at Pennovation Works

Penn Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli speaks with Penn Today about the evolution of the research and manufacturing project, led by Longfellow Real Estate Developers, and its value for Penn and the region.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Lighting the way for rare disease
Magnolia Wang posing with Penn Pavilion with the roof lit up

To commemorate Rare Disease Day, Magnolia Wang organized a lighting of the Pavilion of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in support of the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

Lighting the way for rare disease

After finding out about STAC3, a rare disease without a cure, biology major Magnolia Wang of the College of Arts and Sciences set out to raise awareness and advocate for those struggling with the illness.

Luis Melecio-Zambrano

An arms race that plays out in a single genome
Illustration of Alice in Wonderland chasing the Red Queen

Like Alice furiously running to keep up with the Red Queen, but remaining in one place, two genetic elements in the fruit fly genome are engaged in an evolutionary arms race to simply keep the biological status quo, according to new research by Penn scientists. (Image: John Tenniel in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass)

An arms race that plays out in a single genome

School of Arts & Sciences biologist Mia Levine and Cara Brand, a postdoc, shed light on an example of coevolution in fruit flies that has implications for human health.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Streamlining the health care supply chain
William and Luka pose in front of College Hall

William Danon and Luka Yancopoulos pose in front of College Hall in April 2022. They are co-founders of Grapevine and the winners of the 2022 President’s Innovation Prize. 

Streamlining the health care supply chain

William Danon and Luka Yancopoulos, winners of the 2022 President’s Innovation Prize, will offer a software solution to make the health care supply chain more efficient.
Frozen testicular tissue still viable after 20 years
Cross-section of testes tissue shows a variety of cells labeled pink and blue and sperm

After being transferred to an infertile mouse, testes tissue from a rat that had been frozen for more than two decades gave rise to sperm and germ cells. (Image: Eoin Whelan/PLOS Biology/CC-BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

Frozen testicular tissue still viable after 20 years

Many pediatric cancer treatments, though lifesaving, can compromise future fertility. In a new study in rodents, researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine showed that testicular tissue frozen for more than 20 years could give rise to sperm.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Symposium highlights range and reach of Penn Global research
Panelists sit on a stage at Perry World House, while another is on a Zoom screen behind them

The 2022 Launch Symposium at Perry World House brought together faculty from eight of Penn’s 12 schools to share presentations on their projects that span the globe.

Symposium highlights range and reach of Penn Global research

The Penn Global Research and Engagement Grant is supporting 21 faculty-led projects that span research, capacity-building, and development efforts across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, India, China, and beyond.

Kristen de Groot

Six from Penn elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022
A grid of people that includes, in the top row, Dorothy Roberts, Drew Weissman, and Katalin Karikó, and in the bottom row, Yale Goodman, Nicholas Sambanis, and Diana Kotzin.

Six researchers and faculty affiliated with the Perelman School of Medicine, School of Arts & Sciences, Graduate School of Education, and Penn Law have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022. (Images: Courtesy of [counterclockwise from top left] Penn Law, Peggy Peterson/Penn Medicine, Penn Engineering, Nicholas Sambanis, Graduate School of Education)

Six from Penn elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022

Faculty from the Perelman School of Medicine, School of Arts & Sciences, Graduate School of Education, and Law School join more 260 honorees recognized for contributions to academia, the arts, industry, public policy, and research.

Michele W. Berger

In the Galápagos, training community scientists to monitor water quality
Group poses in a tropical marine landscape holding a sign that reads Allianza para la Educaion e Investigacion en Galapagos

Under the umbrella of the Galápagos Education and Research Alliance, Penn Vet professor Daniel Beiting (far right) and others from Penn visited San Cristóbal Island in March, where they engaged students and scientists in water quality testing. (Image: Courtesy of Daniel Beiting)

In the Galápagos, training community scientists to monitor water quality

Both dense human populations and a plethora of wildlife can pose a challenge to marine and public health in the Galápagos Islands. With portable, user-friendly PCR technology, Penn faculty and students are training local scientists and school children to perform water quality research.

Katherine Unger Baillie