1.21
Health Sciences
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.
Away from the lab bench, Khoa Tran is a ‘science superhero’
Away from the lab bench, Khoa Tran is a ‘science superhero’
The research fellow in the Berger Lab and co-founder of JKX Comics makes science and STEM disciplines more accessible by translating abstruse concepts into approachable comics.
Nudges and machine learning triples advanced care conversations
Nudges and machine learning triples advanced care conversations
During the pandemic, a Penn-developed algorithm helped sustain end-of-life care discussions with patients with cancer.
Taking on HIV and oral health
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.
Amy Gutmann and Michael Doyle create Gutmann Leadership Scholars Program at Penn Nursing with $2M gift
Amy Gutmann and Michael Doyle create Gutmann Leadership Scholars Program at Penn Nursing with $2M gift
As as part of the University’s Power of Penn Campaign, the newly endowed program will select and fund 10 scholars annually across undergraduate and graduate degree-levels, creating new cohorts of leaders at Penn.
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.
Five Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Five Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Five faculty from Penn are among the newest members of the National Academy of Medicine: William Beltran of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Matthew McHugh of the School of Nursing, and Ronald DeMatteo, Raina Merchant, and Hongjun Song of the Perelman School of Medicine.
Crowd-sourcing optogenetics data to tackle neurological diseases
Crowd-sourcing optogenetics data to tackle neurological diseases
The specialized field of neuroscience, optogenetics, shows clinical promise for conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson’s. But before human trials can get fully underway, the field must better understand a crucial intermediate step, aided by 45 labs in nine countries sharing information.
What nutrients fuel a healthy beating heart?
What nutrients fuel a healthy beating heart?
A first-of-its-kind Penn Medicine study paints a detailed picture of the heart’s fuel and nutrient use.
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.
FULL STORY →
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.”
FULL STORY →
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.
FULL STORY →
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.
FULL STORY →
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.
FULL STORY →