Health & Medicine | Penn Today Skip to Content Skip to Content News from University of Pennsylvania Try Advanced Search Pet first aid training comes to the rescue Penn Vet student Alison Kowalski and her Lab mix, Kona, taking a break from play at a local park. (Image: Mo Icasiano) Pet first aid training comes to the rescue For Penn Vet Class of 2026 student Alison Kowalski and her Lab mix, Kona, first aid training helped Kowalski stay cool during Kona’s heat emergency. 2 min. read Voting is linked to living longer nocred Voting is linked to living longer A new study co-authored by SP2’s Femida Handy shows that voting is associated with reduced mortality risk in older adults. 2 min. read How a free medical telesimulation platform is saving children’s lives CHOP physician Madiha Raees and colleagues are in the process of analyzing data from a study in Botswana that utilized Annenberg Hotkeys to help medical providers retain information from an in-person training simulation on pediatric resuscitation. For the study, they filmed videos using mannikins in CHOP's simulation lab. (Image: Courtesy of Shannon Wolf/CHOP) How a free medical telesimulation platform is saving children’s lives A new study on sepsis training in Ghana builds on prior research showing the impact of Annenberg Hotkeys, a free platform developed in 2020. It is being used in other medical settings—and its co-creator sees potential in nonmedical uses. 3 min. read Fighting oral cancer with bioengineered chewing gum A bioengineered bean gum from the lab of Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell is found to reduce the levels of three microbes associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer to almost zero, without affecting the beneficial bacteria normally found in the mouth. (Image: Kevin Monko/Penn Dental Medicine) Fighting oral cancer with bioengineered chewing gum Research led by Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell shows that antiviral and antibacterial chewing gums reduce the levels of three microbes linked to worse outcomes in oral cancers, paving the way for more effective and affordable therapies. 2 min. read Blood test predicts kidney failure risk to Black Americans years before onset Image: Rasi Bhadramani via Getty Images Blood test predicts kidney failure risk to Black Americans years before onset A new study from Penn Medicine identifies disease risk among those carrying the high-risk APOL1 gene variant before kidney function declines. 2 min. read New KIR-CAR T cell therapy shows promise in multiple solid cancers New KIR-CAR T cell therapy shows promise in multiple solid cancers The first-of-its-kind phase I clinical trial at Penn Medicine uses a CAR T cell therapy modeled after natural killer cells and designed to limit T cell exhaustion. Penn Medicine, CHOP team awarded Breakthrough Prize for developing gene therapy for inherited blindness Physician-scientists Jean Bennett and Al Maguire (right and left, respectively, pictured in their home), and Katherine High received the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for their trailblazing work on the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited condition, which dramatically improves sight in people with a form of blindness called Leber congenital amaurosis. (Image: Peggy Peterson) Penn Medicine, CHOP team awarded Breakthrough Prize for developing gene therapy for inherited blindness Jean Bennett, Albert Maguire, and Katherine High have been honored for their trailblazing work on the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited condition. 2 min. read A new hub for AI-driven RNA research (From left) Drew Weissman, Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research; Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering; Daeyeon Lee, Russell Pearce and Elizabeth Crimian Heuer Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the facility’s director; Susan Marqusee, head of NSF’s Biological Sciences Directorate; David F. Meaney, Solomon R. Pollack Professor in Bioengineering and Penn’s Vice Provost for Research; and Pennsylvania State Senator Frank A. Farry. (Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering) A new hub for AI-driven RNA research Penn’s newest collaborative institution is the U.S. National Science Foundation Artificial Intelligence-driven RNA BioFoundry (NSF AIRFoundry) which uses AI to improve, accelerate, and scale the design, manufacture, and delivery of RNA. 2 min. read How ‘The Pitt’ lands with a Penn emergency department nurse Noah Wyle in Season 2 Episode 14 of “The Pitt.” (Image: Warrick Page/HBO Max) How ‘The Pitt’ lands with a Penn emergency department nurse From nurse representation to specific cases, Penn Presbyterian registered nurse Bobbie Poller shares his take on season two of the HBO Max medical drama. This article contains spoilers. 3 min. read Penn Vet launches Pathway to Rural Veterinary Practice to strengthen Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy and align with USDA rural workforce strategy Penn Vet launches Pathway to Rural Veterinary Practice to strengthen Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy and align with USDA rural workforce strategy The Pathway to Rural Veterinary Practice is a new program designed to expand the pipeline of trained veterinarians able to serve rural communities and strengthen Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy. Load More