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: http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pspr.ly/6040uJxMq

CAR T cell therapy is widely considered to be a revolutionary treatment for blood cancers, with promise to tackle solid tumors in the future. But in the early days of its development, researchers struggled to receive funding for clinical trials. Director of Cell Therapy and Transplant Dr. David Porter looks back at those initial obstacles and the lifesaving success that eventually followed.

"When you save one life, it's as if you've saved the entire world," said Bruce Levine, PhD. The Penn Medicine researcher helped develop CAR T cell therapy, a revolutionary treatment that trains the body's own immune system to fight cancer. Dr. Levine recently shared his story with "tell us", a creative film agency dedicated to storytelling that inspires and creates real impact. Watch the short film here: http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pspr.ly/6046fKWEI

Throwback to the big unveiling of our new mobile mammogram van earlier this month! A few days later, we hit the road for our very first screening event in West Philly. “This mobile mammography [van] is telling our patients that you matter, that we’re coming to help,” UPHS CEO Kevin Mahoney said during a ribbon-cutting event at Pennsylvania Hospital, where PA State Representatives Gina H. Curry and Morgan Cephas joined in the celebration. We're so excited to bring lifesaving breast cancer screenings to more communities across the region.

Eduart Cuka didn’t have many choices with a glioblastoma diagnosis—but he did have the choice to be part of a Penn clinical trial. And last month, he learned his tumor had shrunk. Behind every success like Eduart’s is a whole system of innovation, investment from government agencies and private sources, and continuous learning. Often beginning with federal research funding, this virtuous cycle connects basic research, clinical trials, local jobs and economic activity, and in the best cases, lives saved and diseases cured. Learn more about how public investments in biomedical research help discoveries become cures: http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pspr.ly/6041fB0Uh

CAR T cell therapy has been hailed as a "living drug" that trains a person's own immune system to fight cancer. Director of Cell Therapy and Transplant Dr. David Porter explains how CAR T cells work and why they're so transformative.

While in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in 2010, David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc, now an associate professor of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, became critically ill with Castleman’s Disease. After receiving his last rites and narrowly escaping death, he searched for his own cure and found one in an already existing FDA-approved drug. Fajgenbaum is now using AI to repurpose existing drugs for other rare diseases and will soon be the subject of a major motion picture about his life. http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pspr.ly/60454CiH7

Our joint program with Independence Blue Cross is speeding and simplifying patient access to necessary imaging services like PET scans and MRIs. The new authorization process grants some physicians automatic approval for the most common tests if they have a history of few insurance denials. Recent data from the initiative, first launched in 2023, shows that the majority of outpatient radiology requests within the program are approved in “one-tenth” of the time that the prior authorization process can typically take. Mitchell Schnall, MD, PhD, senior vice president for Data and Technology Solutions, said the program has helped Penn Medicine save resources and save staff time. http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pspr.ly/60414AYbD

New research from Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System challenges the belief that the likelihood of finding undiagnosed genetic conditions decreases with age. “Our study shows that genetic disorders are a surprisingly common reason people end up in the intensive care unit, even in adults,” Theodore G. Drivas says. “Genetic disease does not only affect pediatric patients and young adults but appears to be important—and underdiagnosed—across the life span.” Read More: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/44SRkCd

Today, we unveiled our new mobile mammogram van, which will soon hit the streets of Greater Philadelphia! The van allows us to meet people where they are, increasing the chances of early detection and promoting health equity. “When we bring our mammography services directly to community partners and events, we can make lifesaving breast cancer screenings more accessible for all," said Brian Englander, MD, chair of Radiology at Pennsylvania Hospital. The unit will offer its first screenings THIS SUNDAY, 7/13, at our FREE Community Health Fair in West Philly. We're excited to partner with local businesses to bring the mobile mammogram van to more events across the region. For details on this weekend's Health Fair and our plans for the future, visit: http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pspr.ly/60464LR62