6.19
Health Sciences
Researchers discover cell type dictates form of Parkinson’s disease protein
Different Parkinson’s-related brain disorders are characterized by misfolded proteins embedded in cells. A team from the Perelman School of Medicine discovered that the type of cell effected dictates which disease strain may emerge.
A chemotherapy companion to save thousands of lives
A trio of Penn students created the startup Sanguis, producing an inexpensive, portable blood cell counting device.
New ‘match’ streamlines clinical training experience for psych graduate students
A new “match” for clinical psychology graduate students connects trainees with potential externship sites. In its second year, the initiative successfully matched more than 250 trainees in the mid-Atlantic region.
With second FDA approval, the transformative power of CAR-T is multiplied
After last year’s approval to treat pediatric lymphoma, the latest indication will expand the number of patients that can be treated with personalized cell therapy almost tenfold.
The path through Penn Medicine
Medical students can commiserate with each other over the experience of med school and share a level of empathy and understanding with one another. But the reality of being a med student is a unique experience for everyone. Two students who were profiled in their first and second years of training reflect on their third year at the Perelman School of Medicine.
A faster way to make drug microparticles
Penn Engineers have developed a liquid assembly line process that controls flow rates to produce particles of a consistent size at a thousand times the speed.
Penn Medicine students to participate in first-ever citywide medical story slam
Students will share experiences through five-minute stories at the May 7 event at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Veterinary experts work to stay ahead of equine doping
As in human sports, unscrupulous practices occasionally make their way into horse racing. Researchers and veterinarians at the School of Veterinary Medicine are keeping an eye on illicit drug use, evaluating samples, and designing tests to maintain the integrity of the sport and keep the competitors safe.
Newly approved heart surgery procedure debuts at Penn Medicine
The first surgery using high-resolution mapping of the heart successfully located areas of arrhythmia to eliminate.
Race has a place in human genetics research, philosopher argues
New research out of the philosophy department argues that certain racial classifications have utility in medical genetics, particularly when considering those classifications as ancestry groups.
In the News
PhillyVoice
When to See the Doctor When You’re Traveling, and When to Suck It Up
Penn Global’s Erica Sebastian advised travelers to factor in a visit to the doctor when planning a trip, especially “if you have a chronic health condition.”
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Reuters Health
Workplace Noise in Daytime Linked to Sleep Problems at Night
The Perelman School of Medicine’s Mathias Basner weighed in on the effects of noise environments on stress levels.
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BBC
Why Do Only Some People Get Blackout Drunk?
Reagan Wetherill of the Perelman School of Medicine discussed “inherent brain vulnerabilities, and genetic vulnerabilities,” that put adolescents at risk of future alcohol abuse.
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The Washington Post
Forget ‘Man vs. Machine.’ When Doctors Compete with Artificial Intelligence, Patients Lose
Carrie Kovarik, Caroline Nelson, and John Barbieri of the Perelman School of Medicine co-authored an argument for collaboration, not competition, between doctors and AI technology.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
New Blood Test for Pregnant Women Could Predict Preterm Birth
The Perelman School of Medicine’s Michal Elovitz discussed the results from her research exploring methods for predicting preterm births. The study’s results were published in Science.
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