Research News
Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, Penn’s historic mRNA vaccine research team, win 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine
The highest honor was bestowed for foundational discoveries that gave the world a vaccine to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Focus On: Cancer Research
Mapping pancreatic cancer to improve immunotherapy
‘Dual target’ cell therapy appears to shrink brain tumors
‘Switchable’ bispecific antibodies pave way for safer cancer treatment
Imaging just one week after starting treatment can predict melanoma response to immunotherapy
Focus On: Innovation
Focus On: Nanotechnology
The Singh Center for Nanotechnology turns 10
‘In vivo’ RNA-based gene editing model for blood disorders developed
RNA lipid nanoparticle engineering stops liver fibrosis in its tracks
Tiny swimming robots can restructure materials on a microscopic level
Focus On: Robotics
Focus On: Artificial Intelligence
How AI tools can help assess verbal eyewitness statements
New chip opens door to AI computing at light speed
Going head-to-head with the new health care AI revolution
Penn Engineering announces new degree in artificial intelligence
Focus On: Neuroscience
New treatment reverses Alzheimer’s disease signs
Penn scientists reflect on one year of ChatGPT
Brain signals can predict how often a news article is shared online
How humans use their sense of smell to find their way
Big Ideas
A look at a few of our big picture priorities that improve Penn as we create knowledge to benefit the world.
New molecules, inspired by space shuttles, advance lipid nanoparticle delivery for weight control
Penn Engineering researchers have invented a new way to synthesize the key chemical components of lipid nanoparticles that help protect and deliver medicinal payloads.
‘Switchable’ bispecific antibodies pave way for safer cancer treatment
Immunotherapy utilizing an FDA-approved drug has enabled Penn researchers to develop a novel switchable bispecific T cell engager that mitigates negative outcomes of immunotherapy.
Illuminating the invisible: Bringing the smallest protein clusters into focus
Penn engineers are opening new avenues for detecting the proteins implicated in diseases like Alzheimer’s and testing new treatments.
The Supreme Court arguments on social media laws
Justin (Gus) Hurwitz, academic director at the Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition at Penn Carey Law, discusses the pair of cases and the consequential ramifications of a ruling.
Alexei Navalny’s death and legacy
Three experts from around the University share their thoughts on what Navalny’s death means for the opposition movement, for Putin’s grip on power, and for Russia going forward.
Finding new ways to evaluate voters’ beliefs
In his dissertation research, joint communication and political science doctoral student Nicholas Dias searches for new ways to gauge voter competency.
Initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations prime immune cells to respond to subsequent variants
Immunological imprinting from the original ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain has a significant impact on the antibody responses to the variants and boosters based on them.
‘Natural’ deaths likely COVID-19 related
New study led by Penn and Boston University provides the most compelling data yet to suggest excess mortality rates from chronic illnesses and other natural causes were driven by COVID-19 infections.
Researchers breathe new life into lung repair
A collaborative effort from teams across Penn culminates in new techniques to repair lung tissue after damage from flu and COVID-19.
Penn celebrates operation and benefits of largest solar power project in Pennsylvania
Solar production has begun at the Great Cove I and II facilities in central Pennsylvania, the equivalent of powering 70% of the electricity demand from Penn’s academic campus and health system in the Philadelphia area.
Imagining a sustainable future in Southern Greenland
Billy Fleming and landscape architecture students in the Weitzman School of Design brainstormed possibilities for a green economy in a former mining town in one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth.
COP28 takeaways
Perry World House Fellows and Advisors Lolita Jackson, Stephen Hammer, and Wolfgang Blau offered their insights from the conference in a discussion last week, moderated by Perry World House Interim Director Michael Weisberg.