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Innovating in a PInCh
It’s only fair that the Pitt Innovation Challenge would itself need to innovate. Find out which projects won this year’s competition—which awarded nearly $500,000—and how participants adjusted to a
Q&A: Paul Duprex on the Promise of a COVID-19 Vaccine
Pitt’s Jonas Salk Chair for Vaccine Research explains why we need multiple candidate vaccines, what’s special about SARS-CoV-2 and why he’s hopeful about the future.
Q&A: March of Dimes Expert on a COVID-19 Vaccine Going Global
When Jonas Salk and his Pitt team, supported by March of Dimes, tackled the polio pandemic, they came up with creative ways to make and distribute the vaccine. Dr. Rahul Gupta of March of Dimes
Where Does Your Swab Go After Surveillance Testing?
At Pitt, the MiGEL Lab and its robot liquid handler play a major role in processing surveillance testing samples. Learn how samples are pooled, tested and sequenced to help in the battle against COVID

Q&A: Peter Salk on the Lessons Learned from Vaccine Development History
Peter Salk was 11 years old when a University of Pittsburgh team led by his father, the late Jonas Salk, created the inactivated poliovirus vaccine. Today, at 76, he’s back in the spotlight as
Winter Could Be ‘Double-Whammy’ for Mood Disorders
As Americans continue to social distance, conditions such as seasonal affective disorder could make winter especially hard, says psychology’s Kathryn Roecklein. Read about her work and her tips for
Documentary on Thomas Starzl Honored by Organ Donation Organization
“Burden of Genius,” a documentary that came to life in Carl Kurlander’s classroom, will receive the Donate Life Hollywood Inspire Award tonight.
Pitt Professor Takes on Policy Challenges for People with Disabilities
In addition to his research on policy and wheelchair access, Mark Schmeler recently joined the City-County Task Force on Disability to study unconscious bias toward people with disabilities.
Pitt Alum, Entrepreneur Makes Tails Wag
With the help of an influential professor, Blake Dubé’s (ENGR ’17) portable oxygen company won several innovation competitions at Pitt and has now spun into a new market: helping pets.
Study Solves an HIV Mystery
In some patients with HIV who take medication, the virus still shows up in their blood. A study led by John Mellors has found “repliclones”—large clones of HIV-infected cells that produce infectious
Student Project Looks at Face Covering and Physical Distance Compliance on Campus
A team of undergraduate students and faculty members is using techniques from engineering to provide a picture of how well students are complying with safety standards on the Pittsburgh campus.

Pitt Launches Local Site of National Trial for COVID-19 Outpatient Treatments
A team led by Madhu Choudhary has joined a national trial testing therapies to keep COVID-19 patients out of the hospital. Funded through Operation Warp Speed, it is one of a handful of new trials at

Model Shows How COVID-19 Could Lead to Runaway Inflammation
A new study co-led by Ivet Bahar uses computational modeling to address a mystery first raised in March: Why do some people with COVID-19 develop severe inflammation?
A Model Solution
On World Heart Day, learn about how radiology’s Darshit Thakrar creates 3D models of children’s hearts and other organs to help surgeons better picture their procedures.
Pitt Collaborates with Pharma Company on Eye Treatments
Debasish Sinha will work with Astellas Pharma Inc. in a new research collaboration to address dry age-related macular degeneration—a common cause of vision loss.
Study: Therapy Leads to Fewer Hospital Readmissions for Pneumonia Patients
New Pitt research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that occupational and physical therapy after hospitalization for pneumonia is associated with a decreased risk
Watch: Researchers Take Filmmaking to the Health Sciences
Sara Baumann (GSPH ’19) and Jessica Burke have created a new form of public health research called Collaborative Filmmaking. The six-step process engages its participants to create a detailed

Pitt ranked No. 1 for small business support
The University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center has been chosen by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the national SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award winner of 2020.
Student Research Could Make Solar Energy More Efficient
Sooraj Sharma (ENGR ’20) and a team of Pitt students created a type of self-cleaning glass that allows more solar energy to reach the power-generating portion of solar panels.
Drug Supply Drop Likely Behind 2018 Overdose Death Downturn
Pitt Public Health scientists found that a drop in the supply of carfentanil, a potent drug, was likely the reason behind 2018's decrease in overdose deaths, rather than U.S. efforts to curb them.