Left to right: Camila Amorim, Phillip Scott, Elizabeth Grice, Daniel Beiting, and Tej Singh (Image: John Donges/School of Veterinary Medicine)
Two new studies led by Phillip Scott, PhD, of Penn Vet, and Elizabeth A. Grice, PhD, of the Perelman School of Medicine, demonstrate how bacteria found in leishmaniasis skin lesions and an associated immune response drive disease burden and treatment failure—and suggest new possibilities for treatment of the parasitic disease.
Read More
Left to right: Nicola Mason and Antonia Rotolo (Image: John Donges/School of Veterinary Medicine)
Nicola J. Mason, BVetMed, PhD, and Antonia Rotolo, MD, PhD, along with a team of researchers from Penn Vet and the Perelman School of Medicine, have shown that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells from a healthy donor can persist in MHC-mismatched canines. The data generated using canine cells has laid the groundwork for performing pre-clinical studies in canine patients with cancer and inflammatory diseases, which will inform the use of these cells in the human clinic.
Read More
Stroma-targeting CAR T cells (green) accumulate in the stroma surrounding a tumor in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. (Image: Zebin Xiao)
Ellen Puré, AB, PhD, is a senior author on a new study in Nature Communications that has revealed how the tumor microenvironment prevents T cells from attacking tumors. Using mouse models, the researchers showed that cancer-associated fibroblasts along with extracellular matrix within the tumor microenvironment create a physical barrier to T cell entry, and these cells also actively suppress T cell function. When the researchers used CAR T cells to target and remove these fibroblasts, rather than targeting the tumor cells themselves, T cells were able to infiltrate and attack the tumor.
Read More
Genetic Switch Turns Tumor Suppressor Into Oncogene in Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and only around 10% of patients survive for five years after being diagnosed. Research led by Penn Vet’s Ning Li, MD, and Christopher J. Lengner, PhD, and published in the journal Gut, has identified a potential treatment target for advanced CRC.
Read More
Left to right: Fuyu Guan, Zibin Jiang, Joanne Haughan, Mary Robinson, Bethany Keen, Youwen You, and Darko Stefanovski
Strong Representation at the International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians
New Bolton Center and the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL) were well represented at the 23rd International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians, which was held in Hong Kong, China, September 15—23, 2023. Five abstracts were presented by the laboratory of Mary Robinson, VMD, PhD, DACVCP (below).
Guan F, Adreance MA, McGoldrick LK, You Y, Robinson MA. Identification of Bicarbonate in a Confiscation Sample by Electrospray Ionization High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.
Guan F, Adreance MA, McGoldrick LK, You Y, Robinson MA. Identification of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin and Recombinant Human Granulocyte-Stimulating Factor in Confiscation Samples.
You Y, Missanelli J, Proctor R, Haughan J, Robinson MA. Simultaneous Analysis of Oxycodone and Its Metabolites in Equine Urine by UHPLC-MS/MS.
Jiang Z, Haughan J, Robinson MA. Designing and Evaluating Primers for PCR to Distinguish AAV2-Mediated Gene Doping from Wild Type AAVS Infection.
Haughan JE, Missanelli J, Stefanovski D, You Y, Robinson MA. Measuring Oxycodone Metabolites in Plasma and Urine Enhances Detection of Oral Oxycodone Administration to Horses.
Penn Vet Research Retreat 2023
Penn Vet’s Annual Research Retreat was held on Friday, October 6, 2023, at the Inn at Swarthmore. The organizing committee was led by Dr. Montserrat C. Anguera and included faculty members Matthew J. Atherton, Charles W. Bradley, Anna M. Massie, Michael J. May, Andrew J. Modzelewski, Louise H. Moncla, Mary A. Robinson, and Phillip Scott.
The program included 12 faculty speakers, three from each of Penn Vet’s four departments. The Robert R. Marshak Lecture was delivered by Brian Hare, PhD, Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University. Dr. Hare delivered a fascinating and very entertaining talk entitled, Is cognition the secret to dogs’ success?
An unprecedented 46 poster abstracts were received. Academic prizes were awarded for four outstanding poster presentations. Prizes were awarded to Jennifer Alexander, PhD; Madeline Boyes, DVM; Jennifer Kwok, DVM; and Daniel Sorobetea, PhD.
The retreat culminated with the granting of the Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence to Kotaro Sasaki, MD, PhD. The award recognizes researchers whose innovative studies have advanced the scientific standing of veterinary medicine. Dr. Chris Lengner, Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, presented the award and noted that Dr. Sasaki’s research at Penn Vet has led to unprecedented insights into development and disease in the urogenital, reproductive, and endocrine organ systems.
The organizers are already working on plans for the 2024 Research Retreat, which will mark the 30th anniversary of the event. The Research Retreat was conceived by Dean Alan M. Kelly (1994—2005) to create a scientific event to bring basic science and clinical faculty together from Philadelphia and New Bolton Center to meet one another and learn about each other's work. The first retreat was held on June 14, 1994.