Wharton Executive MBA student and retired U.S. Army Major Nicholas Dockery has been awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military decoration for valor, by President Donald J. Trump for his actions in Afghanistan in 2012 during a White House ceremony. This prestigious recognition highlights the exceptional bravery of a member of the University of Pennsylvania community.
In significant medical advancements, Penn Medicine announced that its CAR T cell therapy has led to potential cures in over one-third of B-cell lymphoma patients, with some achieving 10-year remissions. Hematologist Stephen J. Schuster said, "As oncologists, we use the word ‘cure’ with great care, but I am increasingly confident that CAR T cell therapy has the potential to cure a meaningful number of patients with B-cell lymphomas." Furthering cancer research, engineers led by Xue “Sherry” Gao developed a gene-editing tool for fungi, identifying eight new molecules, three of which show promising anti-cancer activity in cell lines.
Artificial intelligence is also playing a crucial role in healthcare innovation at Penn. Researchers developed an AI-powered framework, FireANTs, for quickly and accurately comparing complex medical scans, aiding treatment planning. Additionally, an AI strategy for identifying CAR T cell therapy targets was created. Lead author Daniel Baker explained, "Human experts excel at going deep, while LLMs are good at looking across a broad range of data. We created a framework that combines these strengths to build a systematic way to nominate and prioritize potential targets." Penn Washington also partnered with PennAITech and Penn Nursing to explore AI tools for supporting aging and improving quality of life for older adults.
The University also marked the 100th anniversary of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, originally the Delaware River Bridge, which opened this month. Faculty from the Weitzman School of Design, including architecture chair Paul Philippe Cret, contributed to its elegant design, transforming travel between Philadelphia and Camden. In leadership news, Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor Dolores Albarracín was appointed the new director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. Dean Sarah Banet-Weiser praised her, saying, "Dolores is an exceptional scholar whose work on communication, behavior, and public health is especially vital in this moment."
WXPN, Penn’s public radio service, is commemorating America’s semiquincentennial with "Philly Anthems," a project featuring freedom-themed songs by local artists. Penn Climate also announced four new projects funded through the Power Purchase Agreement Renewable Energy Research Program, supporting renewable energy initiatives.