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Health Sciences
Behavioral strategies to promote a national COVID-19 vaccine program
Behavioral strategies to promote a national COVID-19 vaccine program
National efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine at ‘warp speed’ are beginning to yield a safe and effective vaccine. But this important milestone is only the first step in an equally important challenge: getting a majority of the U.S. public vaccinated.
Novel anti-craving mechanism discovered to treat cocaine relapse
Novel anti-craving mechanism discovered to treat cocaine relapse
New research from School of Nursing has discovered that certain biological chemicals are expressed on specific cell types and neural circuits in the brain that reduce cocaine-seeking behavior.
From PPE to lab safety, supporting the campus community is a full-time job
From PPE to lab safety, supporting the campus community is a full-time job
The Environmental Health and Radiation Safety office plays an important role in keeping Penn safe and healthy. Now, during the COVID-19 crisis, the office has stepped up to support the resumption of on-campus activities.
Repurposing a proven gene therapy approach to treat, prevent COVID-19
Repurposing a proven gene therapy approach to treat, prevent COVID-19
In a Q&A, Penn Medicine’s James M. Wilson discusses using adeno-associated viral vectors to transport a lab-made antibody cocktail into the body. This method, delivered via nasal spray or mist, has the potential to act as a “bioshield” against SARS-CoV-2.
First COVID-19 vaccines arrive at Penn Medicine
First COVID-19 vaccines arrive at Penn Medicine
By week’s end, the health system expects to receive about 9,275 doses of the Pfizer vaccine for its frontline teams.
Jameson’s term extended as head of Penn Health System and Perelman School of Medicine
Jameson’s term extended as head of Penn Health System and Perelman School of Medicine
Penn president Amy Gutmann announced that Jameson will serve as dean of the Perelman School of Medicine through June 30, 2025.
Gun injuries in the U.S. each day number 329—for every death, two survive
Gun injuries in the U.S. each day number 329—for every death, two survive
Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine examine trends in fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries to inform prevention strategies.
From preserving mummies to practicing medicine
From preserving mummies to practicing medicine
Physician-in-training Charlotte Tisch draws on her background in archaeological artifacts for her medical training, even reaching out to museums for PPE during the pandemic.
Project Quaker testing program key to a safe campus reopening
Project Quaker testing program key to a safe campus reopening
Developed in partnership with Penn Medicine, the program aims to conduct 40,000 COVID-19 tests each week and will support ongoing plans to bring students back to campus this spring.
Vision researchers honored by End Blindness 2020
Vision researchers honored by End Blindness 2020
The Outstanding Achievement Prize highlights the contributions of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Gustavo D. Aguirre and the Perelman School of Medicine’s Jean Bennett and Albert M. Maguire toward a gene therapy for a form of blindness.
In the News
NPR
Current, deadly U.S. coronavirus surge has peaked, researchers say
David Rubin of the Perelman School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said that while there’s been a decline in COVID-19 transmission rates in most parts of the country, it will take many weeks or months for the number of people getting sick and dying to fall. "It's going to take a while. There's going to be a long tail, unfortunately," he said.
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The Washington Post
Some COVID-19 mutations may dampen vaccine effectiveness
E. John Wherry and Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about how new variants of the novel coronavirus might respond to the existing COVID-19 vaccines. “We don’t want people thinking that the current vaccine is already outdated. That’s absolutely not true,” said Wherry. However, he warned, the mutations “do in fact reduce how well our immune response is recognizing the virus.”
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The New York Times
Underselling the vaccine
Aaron Richterman of the Perelman School of Medicine said overemphasizing the COVID-19 vaccine’s imperfections and unknowns may do more harm than good. “Not being completely open because you want to achieve some sort of behavioral public health goal—people will see through that eventually,” he said.
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The New York Times
Need a new knee or hip? A robot may help install it
Matthew Sloan of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the increase in hip and knee replacement surgeries in the past 20 years. “Among the older patients, the big driver is the desire to stay active,” he said.
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CBS Philadelphia
Drug being tested at University of Pennsylvania to treat COVID-19 shows promise
Carl June of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about cyclosporin, an inexpensive drug that may help prevent severe inflammation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. “Hopefully, [FDA approval of the drug] would decrease the burden of patients in our hospitals,” June said.
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