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DEATHS
On the Death of Jesse Gelsinger
Eighteen-year-old Jesse Gelsinger, a participant in the experimental
gene therapy trial for ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, died
on Friday, September 17th--four days after being injected with corrective
genetic material. Jesse was the 18th patient to participate in the Phase-I
clinical trial, which began in April of 1997 as a means to develop an effective
treatment for OTC deficiency--an inherited disorder that, in its most common
form, causes death in affected newborn males because of their inability
to properly process nitrogen in food proteins due to a genetic defect in
the liver. None of the 17 other trial participants who preceded Jesse in
the OTC trial developed any serious unexpected or untoward clinical responses
to the gene-therapy protocol. The OTC clinical trial--conducted by researchers
at the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Human Gene Therapy--has
been voluntarily halted until the cause or causes of Jesse Gelsinger's death
can be determined. In addition, appropriate regulatory agencies, including
the FDA, have been notified.
"We are deeply saddened and surprised by the death of Jesse Gelsinger,
an energetic and bright young man who unselfishly participated in this important
study so that, in the longterm, an effective therapy might be developed
to prevent or treat OTC deficiency," said Dr. James M. Wilson, director
of Penn's Institute for Human Gene Therapy. "We offer our heartfelt
condolences and sympathy to Jesse's family and friends; and we join with
them in recognizing and honoring the bravery and altruism of this young
man in choosing to help advance our knowledge of genetic disease by participating
in this trial."
--University of Pennsylvania Health System
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Dr. Howard E. Mitchell
At presstime, Almanac learned of the death of Dr. Howard E. Mitchell,
emeritus professor of management and human resources, on September 30, at
the age of 78. An obituary will be published next week. |
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Ms. Scipio, Residential Maintenance
Marnzia Ann Scipio, office manager in Housing and Conference Services,
died on September 15, at the age of 42, after a bout with cancer. She had
been at Penn for ten years, serving the first eight as Residential Maintenance's
office manager/business administrator until the unit was outsourced to Trammell
Crow in 1998.
A member of the Zion Hill Baptist Church at 53rd & Spruce Sts.,
Ms. Scipio was the Church's assistant financial secretary and president
of its Senior Choir. "Ranzi touched the lives of many people throughout
the Penn community, and her passing is a sad loss to us all," said
co-worker Lynn Rotoli. Another, Jeff Rusling, called her "delightful
to work with--always very positive, helpful, and with a smile for everyone;
the kind of person who was committed to the success of the departmental
mission while taking time to care about the people with whom she worked."
Ms. Scipio is survived by her daughter Na-tasha, parents Lewis and Eddie
Mae Scipio, a brother, Bernard, three sisters, Jennie Dickens, Diane Scipio,
and Sharon Scipio; and a host of relations and friends.
Almanac, Vol. 46, No. 6, October 5, 1999
| FRONT
PAGE | CONTENTS
| JOB-OPS
| CRIMESTATS
| COUNCIL
YEAR END REPORTS 98-99 | TALK
ABOUT TEACHING | BETWEEN
ISSUES | OCTOBER at PENN
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