One step closer to a clinical fix for the side effects of monovision The lab of neuroscientist Johannes Burge (above) focuses on how the human visual system processes the images that fall on the back of the eye. This line of work, closely related to a 100-year-old illusion called the Pulfrich effect, could have serious public safety and public health implications. One step closer to a clinical fix for the side effects of monovision Monovision counters the deterioration of the ability to see up close but also causes dramatic visual distortions. New research confirms that a solution that successfully works with trial lenses—the special lenses used by eye doctors—also succeeds with contact lenses.
Uniting against an invisible foe A tiny virus has transformed life as we know it. But in nearly every corner of Penn’s campus, researchers are making remarkable progress to combat it. (Image, also on homepage: National Institutes of Health) Uniting against an invisible foe All across the University, researchers have launched new areas of study, reaching across disciplinary boundaries to make stunning progress in combating COVID-19.
Parasitic worms offer ‘the missing link’ on the dual nature of a key immune regulator Samples of nasal polyps removed from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis revealed the perforin-2 protein (labeled in green) in the cellular plasma membrane. A pore protein, perforin-2 may be how IL-33, a key immune signaling molecule, is able to exit these cells to trigger an immune response, according to new work led by a Penn Vet-led team. (Image: Courtesy of De’Broski Herbert) Parasitic worms offer ‘the missing link’ on the dual nature of a key immune regulator Whether the signaling molecule IL-33 wakes up or turns down the immune response depends on what cell type releases it, School of Veterinary Medicine researchers found.
Wellness resources at your fingertips Wellness resources at your fingertips When facing the challenges of the current moment, Penn students, faculty, and staff have options to promote their emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
The role of data in a world reshaped by COVID-19 The role of data in a world reshaped by COVID-19 Experts across Penn share their insights on how data and data science affect their fields in the context of an ongoing pandemic.
Penn Nursing’s innovation ecosystem This is the fifth time Marion Leary, Penn Nursing’s first director of innovation, has taught Innovation in Health: Foundations in Design Thinking. Each semester, students use the design-thinking methodology to solve a real-world challenge. They start by empathizing with those facing the struggle and end by creating a prototype, like the one here meant to protect young, active people with irritable bowel syndrome against accidental bowel movements. Penn Nursing’s innovation ecosystem In the past five years, the school has been intentional about creating an atmosphere that rewards risk-taking and supports failures. It’s led to story slams and accelerators and a shift to an innovation-centric mindset.
How have new social norms emerged as COVID-19 has spread? How have new social norms emerged as COVID-19 has spread? In a study of nine countries, researcher Cristina Bicchieri found that motivating people to modify behavior requires changing their expectations about the actions and thoughts of those who matter to them.
Taking on HIV and oral health Temitope Omolehinwa came to Penn in 2013 as a trainee, seeking to improve her skills in clinical practice. Now as a faculty member she’s leading an NIH-funded research project on HIV and oral health with both basic science and clinical components. Taking on HIV and oral health Embarking on a new study of people living with HIV, the School of Dental Medicine’s Temitope Omolehinwa hopes to build data on an understudied issue.
A post-pandemic path to solving the nursing home crisis A post-pandemic path to solving the nursing home crisis A collaboration of experts across Penn schools has created a detailed, long-term policy plan for nursing homes, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
An ecosystem of innovation fosters tech-based solutions to COVID-19 challenges An ecosystem of innovation fosters tech-based solutions to COVID-19 challenges Clinicians, engineers, and IT specialists work together at Penn on innovations that help doctors provide the best care for patients amid continued social distancing and coronavirus restrictions.