Penn Medicine announced a transformative gift from Catherine and Anthony Clifton, ushering in a new era of innovation in clinical care, research, and education. The Penn Pavilion will be renamed The Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs in recognition of the gift. “Catherine and Anthony Clifton are revolutionizing the future of health care in profound ways. Their extraordinary generosity will leave an indelible mark on Penn Medicine, accelerating innovation in patient care, research, and medical education,” says Interim President J. Larry Jameson. (Image: Eddy Marenco)
In a message to the Penn community, Interim President J. Larry Jameson reaffirmed Penn’s enduring values and principles in the face of recent executive orders, outlined the University’s response, and expressed what the Penn community can do in this moment. “Today’s challenges are profound and multimodal, and they will test us,” said Jameson. “We are resourced and inspired by a community that loves Penn, and that pursues its future with idealism and pragmatism, courage and compromise. These characteristics, and our enduring principles, have served us well and will continue to guide our future.”
After serving as interim EVP and interim dean since December 2023, Jonathan A. Epstein was named executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania for the health system and dean of the Perelman School of Medicine. “Dr. Epstein is an eminent physician-scientist, a visionary leader, and a dedicated institutional citizen who has played an integral role in shaping Penn Medicine’s excellence across research, education, and patient care,” said Interim President J. Larry Jameson. Epstein has been a key leader at Penn Medicine for more than two decades. (Image: Margo Reed)
In a message to the Penn community, Interim President J. Larry Jameson explained the impact of cuts by the National Institutes of Health that cap Facilities & Administration (F&A) rates on research grants to universities at 15 percent. “NIH-funded research at Penn has enriched the world in innumerable and lifesaving ways, whether combatting cancer with CAR T therapy; developing vaccines with mRNA technology; creating gene editing tools and advancing gene therapy cures; developing drugs that treat a range of maladies, including those that combat macular degeneration and rare forms of congenital blindness—the list is long and powerful in its impact,” said Jameson. “The reduction in funds announced by the federal government would blunt this critical, lifesaving work.”
In an explainer, Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Mark Dingfield and Senior Associate Vice Provost and Senior Associate Vice President for Research Missy Peloso discussed “indirect costs” and the implications of potential NIH funding cuts. “The finances matter, but more important is the life-changing science, patients, and jobs that would be at risk—and not just at Penn, but throughout the large ecosystem of companies that do business or are affiliated with Penn’s research enterprise,” says Dingfield. (Image: iStock/pattonmania)
Interim President J. Larry Jameson announced that Matthew Grossman, currently the chief brand and communications officer at Techstars, a global leader in early-stage technology investment, will serve as vice president for University Communications. The appointment is effective April 7. “Matt Grossman brings a wealth of communications experience and a strategic, innovative mindset to this vital leadership role,” says Jameson. “His ability to forge meaningful connections, shape thoughtful dialogue, and advance impactful narratives will be essential as we build on Penn’s strengths to educate future generations, inspire discovery, and lead on the great challenges of our time.”
The University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees has approved a 3.7% increase in tuition and a $328 million undergraduate financial aid budget for the coming academic year.
At a gathering in February at Eisenlohr Hall, members of the Penn community celebrated and formally recognized the architectural legacy of Julian Abele, Penn's first Black graduate of architecture who contributed to the design of what is now the residence of Penn’s presidents. Said Bill Whitaker of the Architectural Archives at the celebration: “Abele’s work is of course more than just shaping details; it is the art of shaping proportion, rhythm, materials, into a vessel for the daily pulse of human experience.”
Penn faculty are working on a new mRNA vaccine for the H5N1 virus, studying its transmission, and helping the state test samples from birds and mammals.“The implications of this outbreak extend beyond animal health,” says Eman Anis, a Penn Vet assistant pathobiology professor, noting not just the threat of human infections but the economic impact of the virus on the poultry and dairy industries. (Image: Ellen F. O’Connell/Hazleton Standard-Speaker via AP)
Jason Altschuler, César de la Fuente, Liang Wu, and Anderson Ye Zhang each received a 2025 Sloan Research Fellowship, which recognizes early-career scientists in North America. Since the fellowships were first awarded in 1955, 135 faculty from Penn have been recipients.
Penn President Emerita Amy Gutmann accepted the Yale Legend in Leadership Award at the Yale Higher Education Leadership Summit in New Haven, Connecticut. During her tenure, Gutmann, who was Penn’s longest-serving president, oversaw expansions of student financial aid, innovative collaborative research, and patient-centered clinical care—in addition to the single largest private contribution to the Philadelphia School District. (Image: Harold Shapiro)
The Eagles defeated the Vince Lombardi-led Green Bay Packers 17-13 on Dec. 26, 1960, at Franklin Field—securing the NFC championship. A reported 67,325 spectators visited Franklin Field, largest crowd to witness an NFL Championship Game at the time.
Penn faculty and staff have been hard at work planning campuswide interactive programs, forums, lectures, and publications to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. “We’re not just trying to look back. We’re trying to understand where we came from, where we are now, and also where we’re headed in the future,” says Lynne Farrington of Penn Libraries, who has been leading the efforts, known as “America 250 at Penn.” (Image: iStock/Pgiam)
The Institute of Contemporary Art debuted its latest exhibition, “Carl Cheng: Nature Never Loses,” the first in-depth museum survey of his long and varied career. Cheng, based in California, works in photography, plastic, wood, metal, plants, and sand, and his practice delves into critical topics such as identity, technology, and ecology. (Image: Constance Mensh)
Rachel Liu, a first-year doctoral candidate in Penn’s Graduate School of Education, is working with Ryan Baker of GSE and the team at the Penn Center for Learning Analytics to develop a virtual teaching assistant, “JeepyTA,” used by instructors, teaching assistants, and students. Baker says the tool initially began as a resource for asking questions about the syllabus, but found it has been most helpful for formative feedback—“feedback that helps students think about things,” he says.
As part of Energy Week, School of Veterinary Medicine Dean Andrew M. Hoffman moderated a discussion with Grace Wu, an assistant professor of environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Jonathan Thompson, senior ecologist and research director at Harvard Forest. The talk fostered dialogue on the existential challenge of climate change and how to protect thousands of acres of forest while still meeting carbon reduction goals. (Image: Ashley Hinton/Penn Vet)
Researchers at the School of Dental Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have identified a promising new therapeutic option for apical periodontitis—commonly treated with a root canal—that could potentially disrupt current treatments. A new paper published shows that ferumoxytol, an FDA-approved iron oxide nanoparticle formulation, greatly reduces infection in patients diagnosed with apical periodontitis and is a safer alternative to the current gold standard disinfectant solution. (Image: Peter Olson Photography)
