5/18
Health Sciences
Study shows promise of new anti-KRAS drug for pancreatic cancer
A small molecule inhibitor that attacks the difficult cancer-causing gene mutation KRAS successfully shrunk tumors or stopped cancer growth in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer.
Two from Penn named Distinguished Members of the Association for Computing Machinery
Jing (Jane) Li of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and Li Shen of the Perelman School of Medicine have been named distinguished members of the Association for Computing Machinery.
How ketamine acts as ‘switch’ in the brain
Penn researchers find that the anesthetic and fast-acting antidepressant switches natural patterns of neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex.
For ‘spirit of innovation,’ three from Penn named National Academy of Inventors Fellows
Vijay Kumar of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine were honored with the recognition.
What the Twitter upheaval means to Penn health services researchers
LDI senior fellows weigh in on Twitter’s current upheaval, and whether they think the situation at the social media company will impact how they disseminate research in the future.
Abandoned house repairs reduced nearby gun violence
Installing working windows and doors, cleaning trash, and weeding at abandoned houses led to safety improvements and should be considered in efforts to create healthy communities, according to researchers from University of Pennsylvania and Columbia.
HPV-related cancers are on the rise in men
Recent CDC data show that roughly four of every 10 cases of HPV-induced cancer now occur in men. Penn Medicine research has found that differences in levels of a particular HPV protein may inform treatment.
Tackling the ethical considerations of dementia research
Alzheimer’s research poses tricky questions. Bedside-nurse-turned-bioethicist Emily Largent wants to answer them, and to improve the lives of Alzheimer’s patients.
New mRNA vaccine to fight 20 known subtypes of influenza
Heading into clinical trials, the new research from Penn Medicine may serve as a general preventative measure against future flu pandemics.
Minimally invasive method tracks how the brain spends energy
Penn researchers have developed a new technique for monitoring the brain’s metabolic rate of oxygen consumption, a measure of the brain’s consumption of energy.
In the News
What’s going on with tranq?
Jeanmarie Perron of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the appearance and progression of skin ulcers and tissue loss on xylazine users is different than with other intravenous drugs.
FULL STORY →
It’s time to end the Medicare-Medicaid merry-go-round
In an opinion essay, Rachel M. Werner of the Leonard Davis Institute, Wharton School, and Perelman School of Medicine says that Medicare and Medicaid fail to integrate coverage and coordinate care across their two plans.
FULL STORY →
Inside Penn’s transfer center
Penn Medicine’s transfer command center gets patients from affiliated hospitals and hospitals outside Philadelphia to specialized care that can save lives, with comments from CEO Kevin Mahoney.
FULL STORY →
The quest for treatments to keep weight off after Ozempic
Researchers at Penn are conducting a co-authored study of the brains, fat and muscle cells, and eating patterns of people trying to maintain new body sizes.
FULL STORY →
Operating rooms are major sources of greenhouse gasses. Penn is eliminating a form of anesthesia that hangs in the air for more than a decade after use
Penn Medicine is phasing out the anesthesia desflurane at four of its six hospitals to eliminate harmful greenhouse gases, with remarks from Greg Evans.
FULL STORY →