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Health Sciences
Parasitic worms offer ‘the missing link’ on the dual nature of a key immune regulator
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.
Two key events that turn normal cells into cancer
Two key events that turn normal cells into cancer
The discovery of a unifying mechanism could inform new therapeutic approaches to prevent normal cells from transforming into any type of tumor.
To catch and contain COVID-19, testing is step one
To catch and contain COVID-19, testing is step one
Penn Medicine is partnering with sites around the city to offer COVID testing, contributing to 9% of all testing in the state.
In the pandemic’s early days, a third of U.S. adults felt depressed, anxious
In the pandemic’s early days, a third of U.S. adults felt depressed, anxious
According to new research from Penn, those feelings worsened as the month of March progressed, and economic worries rather than social distancing or fear of the virus itself played the largest role.
Key genes and cell pathways may be treatment targets for rare female lung disease
Key genes and cell pathways may be treatment targets for rare female lung disease
New research out of the Perelman School of Medicine finds that a deleted gene may be responsible for activating signaling pathways for lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and targeting the pathways may be a way to treat it.
Penn Vice Provost Ezekiel Emanuel named to President-elect Biden’s Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board
Penn Vice Provost Ezekiel Emanuel named to President-elect Biden’s Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board
Emanuel has been tapped as member of a team of leading public health and scientific experts to advise on the Biden-Harris COVID-19 response.
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.
At the Clyde Barker Transplant House, respite and comfort food for the soul
At the Clyde Barker Transplant House, respite and comfort food for the soul
A partnership between the Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House and the Walnut Hill College culinary school gives transplant patients and their families hearty meals and much-needed comfort from the West Philadelphia community.
Fatal police shootings among Black Americans remain high, unchanged since 2015
Fatal police shootings among Black Americans remain high, unchanged since 2015
Violent encounters with police represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S., especially among Black, Indigenous, and people of color. A new study characterizes trends and quantifies inequities across racial/ethnic groups.
Inside the pandemic’s health provider financial crisis
Inside the pandemic’s health provider financial crisis
In an LDI virtual seminar, experts from top hospital, health center, and primary care positions detailed the fiscal disruption and uncertain future created by the COVID crisis.
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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