Stress from Work and Social Interactions Put Women at Higher Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Drexel Study Suggests
April 9, 2021
Psychosocial stress – typically resulting from difficulty coping with challenging environments – may work synergistically to put women at significantly higher risk of developing coronary heart disease, according to a study by researchers at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health, recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
New Research Shows Disparities Limiting Access to Health Care Services, Including COVID-19 Vaccines, In Pennsylvania’s Underserved Communities
April 5, 2021
Report by AARP Pennsylvania and Drexel University Finds Health Inequities Driven by Geography and Race, Shortage of Health Care Workers, Digital Divide, and Pharmacy Deserts
Your Neighborhood May Influence Your COVID-19 Risk, Drexel Study Suggests
March 29, 2021
Markers of the pandemic’s impact – testing rates, positivity ratio (cases among total tests), case rates by overall population and deaths – are clustered in neighborhoods, with low-income and predominantly minority communities experiencing worse outcomes than wealthier and predominantly white neighborhoods. The findings, part of the first research to look at comprehensive neighborhood-level data from March through September 2020 from three large U.S. cities – Chicago, New York and Philadelphia – were published today in Annals of Internal Medicine by researchers from Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health.
Autism Online: A Review of How Autistic People Communicate Virtually
March 15, 2021
Researchers from the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute collected and reviewed published research about how autistic youth and adults use the internet to communicate and provide a framework for understanding contributions, gaps and opportunities in online autistic communities.
Drexel Solutions Institute and Merck Launch Leadership Program for Diverse Suppliers
March 10, 2021
Drexel University announced a collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., on a new initiative that will help diverse business owners enhance their leadership and business acumen and strengthen and grow their companies. The inaugural cohort of the newly launched “Merck Drexel Advanced Leadership Program for Diverse Suppliers (Merck Drexel ALP)” began coursework for the four-month certificate program last week.
Drexel Will Re-Open the Pearlstein Gallery in April to Introduce ‘Breathing Room’
March 1, 2021
Drexel University’s Leonard Pearlstein Gallery will re-open on Friday, April 2, 2021 after COVID-19 closed the doors to its contemporary art space for the last year. Fittingly, the Pearlstein Gallery will open with a new exhibition, called Breathing Room, presented in collaboration with local gallery Twelve Gates Arts.
Due to Low Satisfaction with Care Access, Rural Enrollees in Medicare Advantage are Switching to Traditional Medicare
March 1, 2021
More than one out of every 10 seniors (10.5%) enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, also known as a Medicare managed care option, and living in a rural area, switched to traditional Medicare during 2010-2016. The switch was driven primarily due to low satisfaction with care access, according to a study published this week in Health Affairs from researchers at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health.
Founder of Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra Jeri Lynne Johnson to Receive 2021 Woman One Award
February 25, 2021
The Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at Drexel University College of Medicine will present the Woman One Award to Jeri Lynne Johnson, Founder and Artistic Director of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, on April 26, 2021, in a livestreamed webcast from the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Raynier Institute & Foundation Establishes Fund to Support Minority Entrepreneurship at Drexel and the Science Center
February 18, 2021
The Raynier Institute & Foundation, a Seattle-based philanthropic organization with Philadelphia roots, has partnered with Drexel University and the University City Science Center to improve access to capital for minority entrepreneurs in the area. The institutions will collaboratively manage a seed fund created by a $500,000 grant from the Foundation, which was founded by an heir of Philadelphia transportation and real estate magnate Peter Widener, and supports programs of high merit for the betterment of humanity.
Talking to Kids about Weight: What the Internet Says and Why Researchers Are Wary
December 17, 2020
Researchers from the Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center) in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University systematically reviewed numerous independently published guidelines for having conversations with children about weight status to analyze their content, consistency, actionability and scientific support. They recommend future guidelines unify their messages for caregivers and health care professionals and be better supported by scholarly data.
Successful Pilot Integrates PrEP and Syringe Exchange Services
December 16, 2020
A new study shows that implementing PrEP distribution within a community-based syringe services program gets the medication into the hands of women who inject drugs — a population disproportionately impacted by HIV. The results, from researchers at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health, were recently published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
SEPTA and Drexel Team up to Battle COVID-19
December 15, 2020
Researchers from Drexel University will be working with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) on a partnership aimed at enhancing efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on public transportation. Through a recently formed partnership, the institutions are pursuing a federal grant for research into risk assessment, mitigation and communication strategies that will help keep riders safe and healthy.
Does Sharing Health Data Help Maintain Weight Loss?
December 14, 2020
Research from the Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center) in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University suggests that health counselors having access to self-monitored health data would improve a person’s weight loss maintenance.
Faraday Fabric? MXene Coating Could Prevent Electromagnetic Interference in Wearable Devices
December 11, 2020
Researchers at Drexel University’s College of Engineering have reported that fabric coated with a conductive, two-dimensional material called MXene, is highly effective at blocking electromagnetic waves and potentially harmful radiation. The discovery is a key development for efforts to weave technological capabilities into clothing and accessories.
Drexel Board of Trustees Appoints New Members
December 10, 2020
Drexel University has appointed three new members to its Board of Trustees. The new members are Alfred F. Altomari, chair and CEO of Agile Therapeutics; Angela Dowd-Burton, president and CEO of Dowd-Burton and Associates; and Jerry James Martin, a retired senior Federal Bank regulator with over 37 years at the United States Treasury Department.
$9 Million Gift from Philanthropists Dana and David Dornsife to Establish Center on Racism and Health at Drexel
December 1, 2020
A $9 million gift from Drexel University alumna Dana Dornsife and her husband David to the University’s School of Public Health will help launch a new Center on Racism and Health, recruit and retain faculty experts on racial inequities in health and endow the deanship for public health. The longtime philanthropists, widely known for their humanitarian efforts, are the largest single benefactors in the University’s history, having donated more than $70 million. The School of Public Health was named in their honor after a $45 million gift in 2015.
National Autism Indicators Report: The Complex Health and Health Care of Individuals with Autism
December 1, 2020
In the recently published sixth report in the National Autism Indicators Report series, researchers from Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute highlight a holistic picture of what health and health care look like across the life course for people on the autism spectrum.
Sellers and Realtors Working Together May Make More Homes Smoke-free and Easier to Sell, Drexel Study Says
November 30, 2020
Even in a strong market, tobacco smoke residue in a home may discourage buyers from considering a property, according to a survey of 329 realtors in four Philadelphia-area counties published this month in the journal Tobacco Regulatory Science.
Ultrathin, Spray-Applied MXene Antennas Are Ready for 5G
November 30, 2020
New antennas so thin that they can be sprayed into place are also robust enough to provide a strong signal at bandwidths that will be used by fifth-generation (5G) mobile devices. Performance results for the antennas, which are made from a new type of two-dimensional material called MXene, were recently reported by researchers at Drexel University and could have rammifications for mobile, wearable and connected “internet of things” (IoT) technology.
Drexel to Launch New Center for Black Culture With Virtual Event
November 9, 2020
Drexel University will celebrate the virtual opening of its new Center for Black Culture Nov. 12, with a "Virtual Kickback" to welcome Black students, faculty, professional staff, alumni and allies. The Center will serve as a resource for the University community to gain a greater understanding of the Black experience and support a welcoming and wholly inclusive campus environment.
Drexel Study: Medicaid and Adults on the Autism Spectrum
October 15, 2020
Using administrative data from the Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX), researchers from Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute found a substantial increase in the percent of adults receiving services for autism in the Medicaid population from 2008-2012.
Drexel's Pearlstein Gallery Commissions Three Murals Depicting Indigenous Female Leaders
October 14, 2020
In advance of Native American Heritage Month, Drexel University will present (S)Heroes Among Us, a public art event that will be streamed on the Twitch channel of Drexel’s Pearlstein Gallery on Friday, Oct.18, 2020 at 1 p.m. Three Philadelphia-area artists, Priscilla Bell, BUSTA and Leon Rainbow, will paint murals to the sounds of a deejay informed by native music at 3401 Filbert Street in the yard of the gallery.
Visioning the Future of the PES Refinery Complex
October 7, 2020
“Visioning the Future of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery Complex,” is a report about the potential long-term future of the former 1,400-acre Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) oil refinery site on the Lower Schuylkill. The report was designed to spark a conversation about how to ensure the long-term development of the site allows connectivity to the rest of the city and yields equitable economic and environmental benefits to the city and its residents. The report was created through a community visioning process funded by a grant from the William Penn Foundation.
Drexel’s LeBow College of Business Introduces Esport Business Degree
October 1, 2020
Identifying the growing trend in the industry, Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business is offering a new esport major within the already successful Sport Business program. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with an Esport Business major is designed for students who plan to pursue careers in the competitive video gaming industry.
Beating the Heat - Safely and Sustainably - During the Pandemic
September 25, 2020
When public pools and many cooling centers closed this summer due to COVID-19, Drexel University researchers teamed up with the William Penn foundation and members of the Hunting Park community to come up with strategies to safely and sustainably beat the heat.
Your Neighborhood May Raise Your Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease
September 23, 2020
A neighborhood’s overall socioeconomic status, including income and education-level, may influence its residents’ risk of chronic kidney disease, according to a study recently published in SSM Population Health by researchers from Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health.
Drexel Hosts Revival! a Virtual Celebration for Collective Joy and Resilience
September 17, 2020
Part dance party, part live video art performance, Revival! an audio-visual meditation event will be streamed on the Twitch channel of Drexel University’s Pearlstein Gallery on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. The event will stream for free and is presented in tandem with the gallery’s partners, the Westphal College Diversity Equity & Inclusion Council, Art & Art History Department, Urban Strategy Graduate Program, Retail & Merchandising Graduate Program and BlackStar Film Festival.
Drexel Medicine Researchers Develop New Technology to Target DNA Damage Repair in Cancer Patients
September 10, 2020
A team of Drexel University College of Medicine researchers is advancing a way to destroy cancer cells exploiting "synthetic lethality," which is caused by deficiency in the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. Synthetic lethality occurs when deficiencies in each of any two genes can be tolerated by the cell but the combination of these two deficiencies is lethal.
Is Philadelphia Advancing in the War Against Cancer?
September 9, 2020
As recent racial justice protests and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic illuminate the role that structural racism and socioeconomic factors play in the health of Americans, significant disparities may be found in cancer rates and outcomes, according to “State of Cancer in Philadelphia,” a report issued this week from Drexel University’s Urban Health Collaborative, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and Fox Chase Cancer Center, sponsored by Lazarex Cancer Foundation.
Drexel Joins Virtual B. PHL Citywide Innovation Festival
September 4, 2020
With a new virtual format and a focus on supporting COVID-19 recovery efforts in the Philadelphia region, the 2020 B. PHL festival — a celebration of the city’s creative spirit — will bring together innovators for three days of talks, workshops, meet-ups and curated experiences from the city and around the world. Admission to this year’s festival is free, with the option to make a donation to the PHL COVID-19 fund. Drexel University leadership, faculty and professional staff members, including President John Fry, will participate in several events during the festival, which will be held from Sept. 15-17.
Less Waste, More Nutrition: Drexel’s Food Lab and Terrain Cafe Partner for Weekly Sustainable Menus
September 3, 2020
As demand for more sustainable food practices increases, Drexel Food Lab, the culinary innovation lab within Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions, and Terrain Cafe have partnered to meet the challenge. Together, the Drexel Food Lab and Terrain Cafe will focus on up-cycling foods and creating sustainable menus through Terrain Cafe’s “Chef’s Fresh Picks,” a weekly specials menu that runs Friday through Saturday evenings.
Drexel Study: Measuring Social Networks of Young Adults with Autism
August 17, 2020
A new study from the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University has laid the groundwork to show how interpersonal relationships, and the resources they provide, could impact autistic youth's adult outcomes.
Drexel Professor Wants to Help Us All Have a Big Talk
August 7, 2020
There’s a lot to talk about right now and social distancing hasn’t made it easy to get it all out. Drexel University Professor Frank Lee, PhD, who is known for visually appealing and nostalgic architectural art installations, is hoping to provide a forum for conversation with some assistance from a seven-story building in Philadelphia.
Free-Roaming Dogs Prevent Giant Pandas from Thriving in the Wild
August 17, 2020
Before China declared giant pandas a protected species in 1962 – hunters in pursuit of the black and white bear used dogs to track them. Since then measures have been put in place to protect the vulnerable pandas, but more than half a century later, dogs are still jeopardizing their safety, according to a group of researchers that included Drexel’s James Spotila, PhD.
Can Community Members Deliver Naloxone to Reverse Opioid Overdoses — And Do It Faster Than EMS?
August 5, 2020
Equipped with naloxone and a smartphone app, community members can save lives in the fight against America’s opioid crisis, according to a paper from researchers at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health and colleagues published this week in The Lancet journal EClinicalMedicine.
Drexel to Host Nation's First International Conference on MXene Research
July 30, 2020
Drexel University will host more than 2,000 researchers from around the world for a virtual conference, Aug. 3-7, to share their work and learn about the latest discoveries related to MXene, an extraordinarily versatile family of two-dimensional materials first discovered and studied at Drexel in 2011. Held on the ninth anniversary of their discovery, the MXene Conference 2020 is the fourth international gathering focused exclusively on these materials and the first to be held in the United States.
Drexel and KIST Researchers Discover a New MXene Material's Extraordinary Ability to Block Electromagnetic Interference
July 24, 2020
As we welcome wireless technology into more areas of life, the additional electronic bustle is making for an electromagnetically noisy neighborhood. In hopes of limiting the extra traffic, researchers at Drexel University have been testing two-dimensional materials known for their interference-blocking abilities. Their latest discovery, reported in the journal Science, is of the exceptional shielding ability of a new two-dimensional material that can absorb electromagnetic interference rather than just deflecting back into the fray.
Paul E. Jensen, PhD, Named Nina Henderson Provost at Drexel
July 21, 2020
Following a national search, Paul E. Jensen, PhD, has been named Executive Vice President and Nina Henderson Provost at Drexel University.
Lifelong Discrimination Associated with Greater Risk of High Blood Pressure in African Americans
July 17, 2020
Experiences of discrimination over a lifetime is associated with high blood pressure in African American adults, according to findings published this month in the journal Hypertension from researchers at the Urban Health Collaborative at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health.
Drexel Announces Changes to Fall Intercollegiate Athletics
July 17, 2020
Drexel University has announced that its varsity athletics teams will not be competing in intercollegiate athletics this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes teams that would be competing in both championship and non-championship seasons.
President John Fry Elected Chair of Colonial Athletic Association Board of Directors
July 10, 2020
Drexel University President John Fry has been elected as chair of the Colonial Athletic Association Board of Directors for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years. The Board of Directors is composed of the presidents and chancellors of the CAA’s member institutions.
New Report: Pandemic in PA’s Prisons Warns of a Looming Public Health Crisis
July 2, 2020
The spread of the virus in Pennsylvania’s correctional facilities is particularly likely and dangerous due to a confluence of systemic factors, which are documented in a recently released report, from legal scholars in the Andy and Gwen Stern Community Lawyering Clinic at Drexel University and the Amistad Law Project, titled Pandemic in PA’s Prisons.
ExCITe Center to Help Community Members Navigate Technology Access Challenges of Working and Learning From Home as Part of City's Digital Literacy Initiative
June 24, 2020
Drexel University’s Expressive and Creative Interaction Technologies (ExCITe) Center will join a network of organizations across the city to help ensure all Philadelphians have access to the devices and internet connections they need to learn and work remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic. With support from a Philadelphia Digital Literacy Alliance initiative, Drexel will be one of three partners to provide support on accessing low cost Internet options, connecting wireless devices, and providing computers to ensure access to internet service for community members in need.
Entrepreneurial Game Studio to Launch SIM-PHL, an Urban Planning Simulator Game Powered by Philadelphia's Open Data
June 10, 2020
In hopes of helping more people understand the political, economic and sociological forces that shape urban communities, game designers from Drexel University are turning Philadelphia’s open data into a SimCity-style urban planning game. With support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Open Data initiative, Drexel’s game, called Simulated Interactive Management of the City of Philadelphia (SIM-PHL), will be set in the city’s Mantua neighborhood, an area that is part of a national initiative to support and restore marginalized communities.
‘Building Wealth and Health Network’ Reduces Food Insecurity Without Providing Food
June 10, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic forces so many to reckon with growing food insecurity and increased health challenges, the Building Wealth and Health Network program of Drexel University’s Center for Hunger-Free Communities is reducing food insecurity and improving mental health – without distributing any food or medicine.
Infant Mortality in the U.S. Remains High; A New Drexel Study Shares How to Best Spend Money to Save Lives
October 19, 2020
Increasing state and local funding for environmental, educational and social services may lower infant mortality among those at highest risk, particularly among infants born to teenage mothers, according to findings published this week in the journal Pediatrics from researchers at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health.
National Autism Indicators Report: The Connection Between Autism and Financial Hardship
June 9, 2020
A new report from the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University highlighted the financial challenges facing households of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States. According to the report, households of children with ASD experience higher levels of poverty, material hardship and medical expenses than households of children with other special health care needs.
The More You Know: How Better Understanding of Transgender and Nonbinary Biology Benefits Those Patients
May 22, 2020
In a recently published scholarly review of research gaps related to treatment of individuals who identify as gender nonbinary, Deborah Clegg, PhD, associate dean of research in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, found that enhancing the scientific understanding of biological origins of gender identity may reduce stigma and barriers to care for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Tower Health and Drexel Celebrate ‘Topping Off’ at New Facility for College of Medicine
May 19, 2020
Tower Health and Drexel University celebrated an official “Topping Off” ceremony for the development of an additional site location of Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health, to be opened in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.
Real-Time Data Show COVID-19 Led to 60% Decline in Leisure, Hospitality and Retail Employment
May 5, 2020
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 crisis is affecting the U.S. economy and labor markets in an unprecedented way. The leisure, hospitality and retail industries have been hit the hardest by shutdown orders nationwide but new research that uses data from Homebase, a time-tracking software, to provide real-time employment estimates shows that the report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, expected later this week, may not capture the full extent of the contraction.
Pausing Nature's Crystal Symmetry to Advance Targeted Medicine Delivery
May 1, 2020
From snowflakes to quartz, nature’s crystalline structures form with a reliable, systemic symmetry. Researchers at Drexel University, who study the formation of crystalline materials, have shown that it’s now possible to control how crystals grow – including interrupting the symmetrical growth of flat crystals and inducing them to form hollow crystal spheres. The discovery is part of a broader design effort focused on the encapsulation of medicine for targeted drug treatments.
Created for Anthrax Attacks, Cold Plasma Air Filter Is Now Being Prepped to Face COVID-19
April 23, 2020
Researchers at Drexel University’s C. & J. Nyheim Plasma Institute are modifying an air sterilization system they created to combat the threat of anthrax attacks post-9-11 in hopes it can now help to ward off COVID-19.
Screen Time for Babies Linked to Higher Risk of Autism-Like Symptoms Later in Childhood
April 20, 2020
Sitting a baby in front of a tablet or television, as well as less parent-child play time, are associated with developing greater autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like symptoms later in childhood. These findings, from the first prospective study on the subject, are published today in JAMA Pediatrics from researchers at Drexel University’s College of Medicine and Dornsife School of Public Health.
Beyond Encryption: Protecting Consumer Privacy While Keeping Survey Results Accurate
April 17, 2020
In a recent paper published in the Journal of Marketing Analytics, LeBow College of Businessan assistant professor of Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems at Drexel University’s Matthew Schneider, PhD, and Dawn Iacobucci, PhD, of Vanderbilt University, proposed a new methodology that permanently alters survey datasets to protect consumers’ privacy —when data is shared— while still preserving a level of reasonable accuracy for these datasets.
Genetic Tracing 'Barcode' Is Rapidly Revealing COVID-19's Journey and Evolution
April 16, 2020
Drexel University researchers have reported a method to quickly identify and label mutated versions of the virus that causes COVID-19. Their preliminary analysis, using information from a global database of genetic information gleaned from coronavirus testing, suggests that there are at least six to 10 slightly different versions of the virus infecting people in America, some of which are either the same as, or have subsequently evolved from, strains directly from Asia, while others are the same as those found in Europe.