Penn Update - October 2020 | University of Pennsylvania

Robert and Jane Toll Foundation makes $50 million gift to Penn Law

The Robert and Jane Toll Foundation has made a $50 million gift to the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School that will double the number of public interest graduates in the next decade. Toll Public Interest Scholars will receive a combination of full and partial tuition scholarships. “We are profoundly grateful for this spectacularly transformational gift from Bob and Jane that builds on their previous support of the Law School and will ultimately enable us to double the number of public interest graduates in the future,” says Penn President Amy Gutmann.

Introducing the Year of Civic Engagement

The University ushered in its 14th theme year, the Year of Civic Engagement. The Netter Center for Community Partnerships, Civic House, and the SNF Paideia Program at Penn will collaborate to cultivate a spirit of civic engagement that includes voting and volunteer work, but also looks beyond these oft-cited actions. “We hope to help students cultivate a broad sense of civic engagement that could involve a variety of ways of thinking about, connecting to, learning about, and supporting their communities,” says Leah Anderson of SNF Paideia.

Ensuring an ethical path to a ‘warp speed’ vaccine

Penn scholars discussed the ethical considerations around development and allocation of a COVID-19 vaccine. The politicization of the FDA, public polling on interest in a vaccine, and fair prioritizing of vaccine distribution are among the topics they explored.

Research Recovery Program supports scholars impacted by the pandemic

Spurred by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research launched a new funding mechanism for the Penn research community. The funding is meant to support those whose research has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Nursing student volunteers play critical role at campus COVID-19 testing site

Thirty-seven fourth-year nursing students contributed to the process of more than 13,000 tests at Houston Hall since early August. “The nursing students have been an exceptional addition to what we’re doing here,” says Erika Gross, Penn’s chief operating officer for Wellness Services.

Long-term effects of COVID-19 and support to cope

Clinicians are learning more about the lasting effects of a COVID-19 infection, once the acute symptoms have passed. Some will have lingering complications from strokes, others may face consequences of time spent on a ventilator. Still, the full picture is yet to appear. “We’re all on a steep learning curve,” says Robert Kotloff of Penn’s Harron Lung Center.

Seeking refuge in the climate emergency

The Perry World House 2020 Global Shifts Colloquium included two days of talks about climate change and national security, with guests former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and CNN analyst Samantha Vinograd. Part of these discussions was the analysis of how people’s decisions about where to live will change as climate does the same.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg made the impossible look easy

The Philadelphia Inquirer published an op-ed from the School of Law’s Serena Mayeri about the legacy of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. While commending her collegiality and strong sense of justice, she also emphasizes her ability to persevere during moments when the odds seemed against her. “To honor Justice Ginsburg’s legacy, we, too, must accomplish what may seem impossible, so that others might enjoy the world of possibilities she made,” Mayeri says.

Penn announces COVID-19 childcare grant

The Penn COVID-19 Childcare Grant helps faculty, staff, and postdoctoral trainees at the University who incur childcare expenses for care during the academic year. The program offers reimbursements up to $2,000 per eligible household.

Using PennOpen Pass for the early detection of COVID-19

PennOpen Pass, a daily symptom tracker for members of the Penn community, launched as a way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 for those engaged with on-campus academic, research, or clinical activities. “It’s not just assuring you are safe to be on campus, it’s also providing access to screening and testing and, if you test positive, to go back and to facilitate expeditious contact tracing among anyone with whom you have had close contact,” says Penn Medicine’s Chief Medical Officer Patrick J. Brennan.

In a time of uncertainty, resources for grad students hold steady

Penn staff emphasized that resources—from counseling to peer accountability groups—for graduate and postdoctoral students remain available, albeit virtually. “We’re here for them, and we’re here for them in all of the ways we were during pre-pandemic days,” says Michael Saraf of Counseling and Psychological Services.

Tracking the working dogs of 9/11

The School of Veterinary Medicine studied the longevity and cause of death between dogs at Ground Zero during 9/11 and those in a control group. Reassuringly, the 9/11 group was found to have lived a similar lifespan as their breed average. “Honestly, this was not what we expected; it’s surprising and wonderful,” says Cynthia Otto of Penn Vet.

Penn joins Public Interest Technology University Network

As a new member of the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN), the University will participate in a partnership between universities and colleges that fosters civic-minded technologists. PIT-UN will be housed in the SNF Paideia Program at Penn and encourage students to explore STEM-related opportunities in the public sector.

Domestic violence an increasing concern in Philadelphia area because of COVID-19, study suggests

Susan Sorenson of the School of Social Policy & Practice co-authored a report indicating an increasing concern in Philadelphia about domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. A drop in calls to domestic violence hotlines, she warns, does not mean less violence is occurring. “Was it because women don’t think it’s safe for them to call? Maybe they didn’t have a safe space from which to call," she told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “We didn’t take the not calling as an indicator of a lack of violence in the home.”

Researchers discover new molecules for tracking Parkinson’s disease

A proof-of-concept study led by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine and School of Arts & Sciences describes a new approach for identifying and evaluating candidate molecules that can image and track the progression of a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases—most notably, Parkinson’s disease. “I really see this as being a game change ron how we do PET probe development,” says Robert Mach of Penn Medicine.