News

Mar 17, 2022

Inhalable aerogel triggers immunity to COVID-19 in mice, may block transmission

An inhalable "aerogel" loaded with DNA that encodes for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein successfully induces an immune response against COVID-19 in the lungs of mice, according to new research conducted at Penn State.

Full Article

Mar 16, 2022

Huck Students Receive Alumni Awards

Two Huck IGDP students have been recognized as part of the 2021-22 Graduate School Alumni Association faculty and student awards in the Life & Health Sciences section.

Full Article

Mar 07, 2022

Studying diseases with better delivery of gene-editing tools

Using gene-editing tools with stem cells can be challenging because their delivery into cells can be inefficient, time-consuming, or expensive. A Penn State-led team of interdisciplinary researchers has developed a method that improves the lifespan and efficiency of CRISPR gene-editing tools after delivery.

Full Article

Mar 03, 2022

Researchers publish how-to guide for monitoring and analyzing brain activity

Penn State researchers have developed a set of tools and methods to better monitor and analyze sleep-related signals and fidgeting in rodent brain studies. Considered the bedrock of biomedical research, rodent studies often provide the first advanced understanding of brain activity and are the foundation on which human studies are eventually built.

Full Article

Mar 02, 2022

Students in Department of Animal Science receive accolades for research

There are many opportunities to participate in undergraduate- and graduate-level research in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Graduate students Emily Van Syoc and Sophia Kenney are among those reaping the numerous benefits.

Full Article

Feb 25, 2022

Repurposing FDA-approved drugs may help combat COVID-19

Several FDA-approved drugs — including for type 2 diabetes, hepatitis C and HIV — significantly reduce the ability of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 to replicate in human cells, according to new research led by scientists at Penn State. Specifically, the team found that these drugs inhibit certain viral enzymes, called proteases, that are essential for SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected human cells.

Full Article

Feb 18, 2022

Penn State biologist Michael Axtell named distinguished professor

Michael Axtell, professor of biology at Penn State, has been selected to receive the title of distinguished professor of biology in recognition of his exceptional record of teaching, research, and service to the University community.

Full Article

Feb 18, 2022

Penn State biochemist Manuel Llinás named distinguished professor

Manuel Llinás, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and of chemistry at Penn State, has been selected to receive the title of distinguished professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in recognition of his exceptional record of teaching, research, and service to the University community.

Full Article

Feb 16, 2022

World’s first gene editing tools for ticks may help decrease tick-borne diseases

Reducing tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, may now be possible thanks to two new gene editing methods developed by researchers at Penn State; the University of Nevada, Reno; and the University of Maryland. The methods could allow scientists to alter parts of the tick genome that are involved in harboring and transmitting pathogens.

Full Article

Jan 26, 2022

Omicron genetics and early transmission patterns are characterized in new study

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 diverged from previous SARS-CoV-2 variants as a result of adaptive evolution, in which beneficial mutations are passed on to future generations through natural selection, rather than through recombination between previous variants, according to a large international team of researchers. The study, which published recently in Nature, is the first to describe the genomic profile of Omicron and explore the origins of the variant.

Full Article