Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System

Congratulations to Nobel Prize Laureates Katalin Karikó, PhD, and Drew Weissman, MD, PhD! Penn Medicine scientists Dr. Karikó and Dr. Weissman have been awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their development of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The Nobel Prize is awarded to those whose contributions “have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.” Rarely has the work of an honoree had such an immediate relevance to so many. We are so proud of these scientists and their groundbreaking discoveries, which have not only met the challenge of a global pandemic, but will have a profound impact on the treatment and prevention of many other diseases in the decades to come. Together, Dr. Karikó and Dr. Weissman have been recognized with multiple national and international commendations, including the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the Breakthrough Prize, the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research, the VinFuture Grand Prize, and the Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science. Learn more: https://spr.ly/6040uJxMq

University of Pennsylvania sophomore Emily Whitehead spoke at the Stand Up for Science rally in Washington, DC on Friday, as part of a call to preserve federal funding for biomedical research. In 2012, she became the first child treated with CAR T cell therapy, a treatment developed at Penn Medicine that engineers the immune system to fight cancer. "Without the funding that went into the research that created CAR T cell therapy, I wouldn’t be here today,” she told CNN's Jake Tapper. The then-experimental therapy cured her leukemia and has since revolutionized treatment for thousands of patients with blood cancers around the world. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Emily Whitehead Foundation

This Employee Appreciation Day, we're recognizing the hard work and dedication of our 48,000-strong team. To the faculty and staff across the health system who continue to provide exceptional patient care and drive innovation through research: thank you. Your compassion and expertise are behind every breakthrough and healing moment.

New wearable sensors could transform tendon rehabilitation. Researchers at Penn Engineering and Penn Medicine, led by Flavia Vitale, Associate Professor of Neurology and Bioengineering, and Josh Baxter, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, are using MXene-based flexible sensors to monitor tendon recovery in real-time. These ultra-thin, soft sensors adhere to the skin and act as a “second skin,” tracking the engagement of muscles, nerves, and tendons during movement. By sending and receiving signals, they provide insights into injury recovery, helping analyze how movement affects pain and healing. Currently in clinical trials for Achilles tendinopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, this noninvasive technology offers a data-driven approach to rehabilitation. With the potential to enhance injury treatment and recovery plans, MXene sensor technology could significantly impact sports medicine and orthopedics. https://lnkd.in/e7J_muED Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Maggie Wagner

The COVID-19 pandemic has been "a long road, but one we’ve traveled together,” says UPHS CEO Kevin Mahoney. Five years after its onset, Mahoney and others are reflecting on Penn Medicine's "spirit of teamwork and creative problem-solving" that "revealed new ways to strengthen public health, support providers, and connect with patients—whether at home, in their communities, or through telehealth.” Read the full story: https://spr.ly/6045LvJel

A Penn Medicine team that developed a "dual-target" CART T cell therapy strategy against glioblastoma is competing in #STATMadness! The bracketed competition from STAT aims to find the most innovative research institution in the country. Cast your vote for the team led by Donald O'Rourke and Stephen Bagley: https://spr.ly/6044LUtf4

Earlier this month, the Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania became the Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs. Take a look back as we celebrated the generosity of Catherine and Anthony Clifton, marking a bold new chapter that will shape the future of medicine.

A combination of mRNA and a new lipid nanoparticle could help heal damaged lungs, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine. “The lungs are hard-to-treat organs because both permanent and temporary damage often happen in the deeper regions where medication does not easily reach,” said study author Elena Atochina-Vasserman, MD, PhD. “Even drugs delivered intravenously are spread without specificity. That makes a targeted approach like ours especially valuable.” https://spr.ly/6045LpT7P

As the first Black woman to graduate from Penn's Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Arlene Bennett has left a lasting legacy. 6abc Action News recently told her story alongside fellow Penn Medicine trailblazers Dr. Nathan Mossell and Dr. Helen O. Dickens, illustrating their remarkable impact that spans centuries. "Seeing people who have done this before you who you can look up to, kind of reminds you that you do belong," said Penn medical student Yonatan Babore. #BlackHistoryMonth

Register now for Cellicon Valley ’25: The Future of Cell and Gene Therapies, an international meeting presented by Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This meeting provides a unique opportunity for clinicians, researchers, and business leaders to interact with world-renowned experts in CAR T cell therapy for cancer, hematologic disorders and autoimmune diseases. Special guest presentation by Katalin Kariko and a Keynote Panel including Secretary Valerie A. Arkoosh, Lee Greenberger, PhD, and Tom Whitehead. Learn more or register: https://spr.ly/6048LEm7I