Institute for Immunology and Immune Health (I3H)

The latest @immunologypodcast.com episode mentions new research from @pennmedicine.bsky.social that leverages CAR T cell therapy—a personalized form of #immunotherapy used in cancer treatment—to treat atherosclerotic plaques in mice.

A preclinical study led by Penn Medicine has shown that CAR T-cell therapy—a personalized form of #immunotherapy used in cancer treatment—could be an effective tool against atherosclerosis, the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. https://bit.ly/48oJC5P

#CARTCell based hyperlocalized targeting of #InflammatoryPathways involved in development of #AtheroscleroticPlaque doi.org/10.1161/CIRC... @IAmDrDex @PoseyLab #CellTherapy #ImmunoTherapy #Atherosclerosis #TranslationalScience

Researchers in #autoimmunity + #immunology - Have you registered for this month's Colton Consortium virtual seminar (12/16, 11am ET) yet? Dr. Rolls (Tel Aviv University) will be presenting on "Immunoception: Brain Representation and Control of Peripheral Immune States." 🧠 RSVP: bit.ly/RollsDec16

New findings from Penn Medicine led by Golnaz Vahedi, PhD and Robert Faryabi, PhD may open the door to detecting — and potentially preventing — Type 1 diabetes long before irreversible damage occurs. https://bit.ly/44Hqnlm

A skincare trend backed by science! Recent Penn research shows rosemary extract, especially carnosic acid, can help wounds heal without scarring. Inspired by TikTok, Penn students and Thomas Leung, MD, PhD found it works via the TRPA1 nerve sensor. Learn more: https://bit.ly/43IrYHp

Congrats to the 2025 Immune Health Hackathon People’s Choice winners! 👏

Best Use of AI ($1,000): SCELLM
Most Innovative ($1,000): BUMP
Best Pitch ($500): KAML Viz

Impressive problem-solving and ingenuity from each team. Stay tuned for a full recap of this year's Hackathon...

Congrats to the Judges' Prize winners of the 2025 Immune Health Hackathon! 🏆

1st: SCELLM ($2,500)
2nd: Silicon Speedsters ($1,500)
3rd: OncoPredict ($750)

Showcasing exceptional creativity, technical skill, and bold ideas in immune health. Stay tuned for a full recap of the Hackathon!

Immunostimulatory herbal intake & autoantibody positivity in dermatomyositis ft. Xiwei Yang, Aretha On, Shae Chambers, Hammad Ali, Lais Lopes Almeida Gomes, Touraj Khosravi-Hafshejani & Victoria Werth (Dermatology) jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Using Existing Drugs in New Ways to Treat & Cure Diseases of Brain & Body | Dr. David Fajgenbaum Dr. David Fajgenbaum shares how he survived Castleman's disease using repurposed drugs and reveals how approved medications can treat diseases beyond their original use.

Penn physician–scientist and Colton-affiliated researcher David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc joins the Huberman Lab podcast to discuss how repurposed drugs—many already FDA-approved—can unlock new treatments for #autoimmunity, rare diseases, and beyond.

🎧 Listen: www.hubermanlab.com/episode/davi...

Thank you to our generous sponsors: @awscloud.bsky.social, @coltonconsortium.bsky.social, and the Penn Institute for Biomedical Informatics.

The #ImmuneHealthHackathon is in full swing.⚡️Teams are exploring big questions and testing new ideas that could move immune health forward. Keep an eye on the next 48 hours — there’s real innovation on the horizon.

Congratulations to @davidfajgenbaum.bsky.social (@pennmedicine.bsky.social), recipient of the 2025 John Scott Award! @amphilsociety.bsky.social @itmat.bsky.social @i3h-upenn.bsky.social tinyurl.com/ya5fm8mx

From the Apollo Era to the World's First Cell Therapy: Sitting Down With Bruce Levine Bruce Levine shares his journey from a childhood steeped in science to co-founding the first CAR T-cell trials, and explains why communication and regulatory collaboration are crucial for the field’s ...

In 2010, leukemia patients at Penn Medicine received an experimental treatment with results “too good to be true.” That bold idea became the first approved CAR T-cell therapy—Kymriah. Dr. Levine reflects on the breakthrough and the future of cell and gene therapies: https://bit.ly/4i5tXLS

Cleanet automates doublet detection in cytometry data ft. Matei Ionita, Michelle McKeague, @markmpainter.bsky.social, Divij Mathew, Ajinkya Pattekar, Ayman Rezk, Shwetank, Damian Maseda, @ejohnwherry.bsky.social & Allison Greenplate (@i3h-upenn.bsky.social) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Robert Vonderheide

Congrats to Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, Director of the Abramson Cancer Center on receiving the 2025 Jill Rose Award—BCRF’s highest scientific honor! His pioneering work in cancer interception and immunotherapy is shaping the future of breast cancer care. https://bit.ly/3JT8QzB

Next week's @coltonconsortium.bsky.social's seminar (Nov. 18, 11:00 a.m. ET) ft. Dr. Hafler (@yaleschoolofmed.bsky.social) is a great opportunity for #immunology and #neuroimmunology researchers. Registration is required, so be sure to RSVP to secure your spot.

What evolutionary and comparative immunology can teach about fish and human immune systems | Penn Today Penn Vet’s J. Oriol Sunyer explores how studying the evolution of the immune system reveals surprising connections between fish and human immunity, and what these discoveries could mean for the develo...

By tracing the evolution of adaptive immunity, J. Oriol Sunyer and his team at Penn Vet are revealing unexpected connections between fish and human immune systems—offering clues that could guide future therapies. https://bit.ly/4nOD5p7

Thank you to our generous sponsors for their support of this year's Hackathon: @awscloud.bsky.social, @coltonconsortium.bsky.social, and the Penn Institute for Biomedical Informatics.

No team? No problem. No coding experience? Still welcome. All you need is curiosity and creativity! Open to all members of the Penn community—researchers, data scientists, clinicians, students, and more—with cash prizes for top teams.

Three weeks to go!⏳Register for the Immune Health Hackathon (Nov. 20–21). Join the Penn community for 48 hours of collaboration and discovery as teams tackle real-world challenges in immunology research. Don’t miss it—register today: i3hevents.org

An Off-The-Grid Nobel Win, And Antibiotics In Ancient Microbes When the Nobel committee called, Fred Ramsdell did not pick up. Plus, searching ancient archaea for solutions to modern antibiotic resistance.

Penn's César de la Fuente joined Science Friday to discuss how his lab is using #AI to uncover new antibiotics hidden in ancient microorganisms—potentially offering new solutions to the global antibiotic resistance crisis. 🎧 Listen: https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/nobel-prize-archaea/

Penn is expanding its research in immunology — a field just honored with a Nobel Prize E. John Wherry, director of Penn's Colton Center for Autoimmunity, spoke with the Inquirer about the future of immunology research at Penn and the new $376 million research facility.

E. John Wherry, PhD, Director of I3H and @penncoltoncenter.bsky.social, sat down with @inquirer.com to discuss the future of #immunology — a field just honored with a Nobel Prize — and Penn's new $376M research facility. “This is the most exciting time in my lifetime for immunology.” bit.ly/471uuKQ

Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support: Amazon Web Services (@awscloud.bsky.social), the Colton Consortium for Autoimmunity (@coltonconsortium.bsky.social), and the Penn Institute for Biomedical Informatics.

Immune Health Hackathon: Accelerating Immunology Research Through Technology. Nov. 20-21, 2025 (9am-5pm). QR code to register. www.i3hevents.org.

Have you registered for the Immune Health Hackathon (Nov. 20-21)? Over the course of 48 hours, participants will work in interdisciplinary teams to tackle pressing challenges in immunology research to win cash prizes. Open to all members of the Penn community. Learn more and register: i3hevents.org

BCMA CAR T Access Disparities Persist Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Patients With Myeloma | Targeted Oncology - Immunotherapy, Biomarkers, and Cancer Pathways A study reveals significant disparities in access to CAR T therapy for multiple myeloma among racial and ethnic minorities, despite similar treatment outcomes.

A Penn Medicine-led study revealed significant disparities in access to CAR T cell therapy for multiple myeloma among racial and ethnic minorities, despite similar treatment outcomes, highlighting the need for collaborative approaches to achieve equitable access. https://bit.ly/48OEGYz

Congratulations to Leo Le Wang, MD, PhD on receiving the NIH Early Independence Award! His innovative work uses hydrogels that release healing signals to help skin regrow hair follicles—paving the way for scar-free recovery after injury or surgery. https://bit.ly/4oibmxR

Party With a Purpose 2025 Marks Progress Against Melanoma This year, Party with a Purpose honors melanoma researchers Lynn Schuchter and Alexander Huang, and humanitarian honoree Patricia Wellenbach.

Congratulations to Alexander Huang, MD, assistant professor of Hematology-Oncology, who will be recognized as the 2025 Early Career Investigator Honoree at the Friends of AACR Foundation’s Party with a Purpose celebrating advances in melanoma research. https://bit.ly/4n3JAEa

Janis Burkhardt, PhD

Congratulations to Janis Burkhardt, PhD, on her appointment as Associate Dean for Postdoctoral Research Training and Director of Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs (BPP) at the University of Pennsylvania. Learn more about her experience and new role: https://bit.ly/48kFEeL

Uncovering new antibiotics with AI | Penn Today César de la Fuente leverages machine learning to accelerate the discovery of lifesaving drugs and help reduce antibiotic resistance, a rising global health problem.

Researchers led by César de la Fuente have developed new peptides that fight drug-resistant “superbugs” by breaking down bacterial cells and activating immune defenses — a breakthrough made possible by Penn’s cross-disciplinary collaboration. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3KAKH0S