Jun 14, 2018 | News
Yvonne Paterson of Penn Medicine and Penn Nursing (left) and Nicola Mason of Penn Vet (right) conduct cancer research that has advanced care for both dogs and people.
“Penn Integrates Knowledge” is more than a catch phrase; it’s a philosophy that encourages faculty and students at the University of Pennsylvania to cross traditional academic boundaries to enhance their work. In the health and science fields, this integration has led to new insights in cancer therapies, surgical methods, and more efficient, greener fuels.
In 2015, following the lead of the University’s research community, a group of communications staffers at Penn began meeting to share ideas about the promotion of innovative, interdisciplinary health research. Three years later, the Penn One Health Communications Group has a vibrant web presence, several media events under its belt, and a wealth of ideas for how to continue building the visibility of the University’s unique take on collaborative work.
“We created the group knowing that cross-disciplinary research was an area in which Penn excels,” says Katherine Unger Baillie, a science news officer in Penn’s Office of University Communications. “But, once we started meeting, we discovered that there are more examples than we were even aware of. Now not only are we trying to identify new projects and new research coming down the pike, but we’re also looking for ways we can promote and enhance these collaborations.”
While the group began with representatives from what may typically be considered Penn’s four health schools—the Perelman School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Nursing, and School of Dental Medicine—it has since expanded to include representatives from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Arts and Sciences, Annenberg School for Communication, and Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. This expansion broadens the traditional one-health perspective to be more inclusive of the interdisciplinary work at Penn.
Read the full story on Penn Today.
Jun 8, 2018 | News
Rats live in close proximity to humans and eat human food scraps, which means the chemical composition of rat bone remains can reveal clues about humans 2,000 years ago. (Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons/Airwolf)
By Jacob Williamson-Rea
Our weekly round-up compiles stories and news, both from here at Penn and around the world, that highlight the intersection of animal, environmental, and human health.
FEATURED ITEM:
Rat bones reveal how humans transformed their island environments
Smithsonian, June 6, 2018
Rats are a commensal species, which means they’re not domesticated and they’re not quite wild, but they rely on human scraps of food. Recently discovered rat remains in the Polynesian islands reveal important clues about the diet of the humans who lived there and the environment 2,000 years ago.
Global organizations join forces to address One Health issues
American Veterinarian, May 31, 2018
The World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have teamed up to tackle One Health-related issues.
Predicting future zoonotic disease outbreaks
The Scientist, June 1, 2018
Three out of four new or emerging infectious diseases spread from animals to humans. Scientists from various disciplines are working to understand why, where, when, and how this happens.
Toxic toads could devastate Madagascar’s biodiversity
Science, June 4, 2018
The Asian common toad’s slime contains enough toxicity to kill any species that tries to eat it. These new findings confirm that scientists rightly sounded the warning bells when the reptile first appeared in Madagascar in 2014.
New technology helps fishermen and conservationists both win
Earth.com, June 5, 2018
A new tool developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and San Diego State University provides fishermen with electronic maps of fishing zones that contain desired fish, as well as those that contain protected species.
Dogs carry a surprising variety of flu viruses
Science News, June 5, 2018
A recent study discovered that dogs in China might cause the next pandemic due to their ability to pass various flu viruses to people.
Williamson-Rea is a junior science writer in the University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Communications. He is also an MA candidate in Science/Medical Writing at Johns Hopkins University.
Jun 1, 2018 | News
If our planet’s climate continues warming at the current rate, we can expect more frequent and more severe hurricanes by the end of the century. (Photo credit: /NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
By Jacob Williamson-Rea
Our weekly round-up compiles stories and news, both from here at Penn and around the world, that highlight the intersection of animal, environmental, and human health.
FEATURED ITEM:
Stronger, wetter, slower: How hurricanes will change
Scientific American, May 30, 2018
Hurricanes will become stronger and more frequent if our climate continues warming at present rates. Here’s what recent hurricanes would look like if they occurred at the end of the century.
Some endangered frogs may be leaping back from extinction
The Washington Post, May 17, 2018
Harlequin frogs are in an evolutionary race against extinction in Panama’s forests.
As CO2 increases, rice loses B vitamins and other nutrients
Science News, May 23, 2018
Higher concentrations of carbon dioxide lead to a decline in rice nutrients, which poses a threat to rice-dependent countries.
Old world virus, new tricks: Inside Kerala’s quest to contain the deadly Nipah virus
Huffington Post, May 25, 2018
The Nipah virus—which leads to symptoms such as fatal encephalitis and acute respiratory syndrome—originates in animals and spreads to humans. Thanks to a greater understanding of the One Health approach, Kerala’s doctors quickly identified and contained the disease before it spread across the South India state.
How worms can help recycle plastic
Fortune, May 27, 2018
Recycling puts a dent in plastic pollution, but mealworms can consume plastics thanks to gut bacteria that breaks down polymers.
Could we work together with our bacteria to stop infection?
Science Daily, May 29, 2018
As scientists become increasingly worried about antibiotic superbugs, they’ve developed an alternative to antibiotics referred to as mutualisms, which utilize co-dependent relationships between bacteria and its host.
Williamson-Rea is a junior science writer in the University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Communications. He is also an MA candidate in Science/Medical Writing at Johns Hopkins University.
