How can lawmakers help lower prescription drug costs? LDI’s Mark Pauly says offering consumers comprehensive information to compare pharmacy plans could help them find lower-cost options. Read more: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/congress-is-fighting-the-wrong-pharmacy-battle/

Congress is Fighting the Wrong Pharmacy Battle

LDI expert Mark Pauly says better plan choices would lower drug costs in a new blog post.

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Does gentrification affect infant mortality? New study in Michigan found no overall link, but rising housing costs were linked w/ higher infant mortality risk among term infants & those w/ lower socioeconomic status, while rising incomes were associated w/ lower risk. https://go.nature.com/4wycyBX

Gentrification, measures of neighborhood change, and infant mortality in Michigan - Journal of Perinatology

Journal of Perinatology - Gentrification, measures of neighborhood change, and infant mortality in Michigan

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🎉 Congratulations to our 2026–2027 CICADA Scholars: @alonbergman.bsky.social, Holly Elser, and @jnwanajienwerem.bsky.social! Through mentorship and pilot research, CICADA helps junior faculty advance research to improve care for older adults. Read more: https://bit.ly/4ciwm3T

Penn LDI CICADA Initiative Names Researchers for 2026-2027 Cohort

The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Improving Care Delivery for the Aging (CICADA) has named three new postdoctoral and junior faculty members to its 2025-2026 cohort.

ldi.upenn.edu

The entire "Good Science" series from @pennldi.bsky.social is amazing! Great sci-comm in an era where we need to build trust. (PS. I'm not biased because of who the host is.)

Population Aging Research Center@pennaging.bsky.social · 6d ago

Research Associate Atul Gupta is featured in the @pennldi.bsky.social series “Good Science,” which delves into the future of health care & health policy by discussing the questions that inspire research, evidence generated, & real-world impact. https://youtu.be/FBU1UeSlyQw?si=x6VQ3jHdz8lod7rj

Why do so many Americans feel “stuck”—and what does that mean for public health? In the @inquirer.com, LDI's @atheendar.bsky.social argues that understanding economic insecurity, disability, isolation, and limited mobility is key to improving health nationwide. https://bit.ly/4xgdef1

Americans feel stuck — and it’s making us sick | Opinion

We’ve reached our 250th anniversary as a stuck country. It’s more than just poverty, loneliness, or a lack of opportunity — and it is one of the biggest threats to our public health.

inquirer.com

Can culturally tailored meals reduce hospitalizations for adults with #HeartFailure? A randomized trial in rural Navajo Nation by Fellow Lauren Eberly found that tailored meals reduced hospitalizations/ED visits & improved food insecurity, quality of life & blood pressure. https://bit.ly/4ftgYnB

Traditional Navajo Foods Reduced Hospitalizations in Heart Failure Trial

At a hospital serving the Navajo Nation, a research team led by University of Pennsylvania LDI Senior Fellow and cardiologist Lauren Eberly, MD, MPH, tested whether medically tailored meals featuring…

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How could the expiration of enhanced ACA Marketplace subsidies affect families? LDI's Betsy Salazar & colleagues conducted a simulation, and found that premiums could rise to 15% of total income for some middle-income families. Salazar discusses this finding in a new Q&A: https://bit.ly/4bHPd8z

Why Some Family Health Insurance Is Now Pricier

LDI/CHOP experts estimated the potential effect of the expiration of enhanced ACA Marketplace subsidies on family premiums across income levels.

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Earlier #Alzheimer's disease testing is changing when families begin thinking about caregiving. New research examines expectations, emotional reactions, and suggests ways that clinicians can better prepare and support future caregivers. See more: https://bit.ly/4z4C17I CC @pennaging.bsky.social

Effects of caregiving experience on expectations of becoming an Alzheimer’s disease caregiver in the future

AbstractObjectives. Research often focuses on persons who are or have been caregivers to a person with dementia. Little is known about stigma reactions in

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NEW STUDY: Social media revealed stark differences in reactions to first COVID-19 vaccines based on a county's political identity, suggesting that social media can help public health officials understand public sentiment and tailor communication strategies more effectively. https://bit.ly/4x62bFa

Emotional Responses to the COVID-19 Vaccine on Social Media

This cross-sectional study evaluates changes in social media emotional expression across US counties before and after the first COVID-19 vaccine administration and whether changes varied by county-lev...

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Can chatting with an AI bot increase vaccine-hesitant parents' intentions to vaccinate their children against HPV? An RCT by LDI Fellows found a brief increase in intentions, but the chatbot didn't outperform standard public health materials & the effect faded after 45 days. https://bit.ly/4bO3TCU

AI Chatbot Boosts HPV Vaccine Intent–But Effects Fade

AI’s adoption in health care is accelerating, moving quickly from ‘experimentation to execution’. But it hasn’t happened without hiccups. The widespread use of AI-powered chatbots raises questions…

ldi.upenn.edu

✏️ Our four-session virtual op-ed course returns this October, helping researchers craft publication-ready opinion pieces with personalized feedback from instructors Torie Bosch of @statnews.com, editor Matthew Zencey, and LDI's Karl Stark. Space is limited, register soon! https://bit.ly/3WhAhFu

Mastering the Art of Opinion Writing for Health Policy

A four-session virtual course to help researchers and health policy pros craft compelling opinion pieces for the public.

ldi.upenn.edu

Research Associate Karen Lasater is featured in the @pennldi.bsky.social series “Good Science,” which delves into the future of health care & health policy by discussing the questions that inspire research, evidence generated, & real-world impact. https://youtu.be/1IBMb4Jbf3c?si=kus1D0h5dKk9B9-Z

Penn LDI: “Good Science” with Karen Lasater, PhD, RN

YouTube video by PennLDIvideo

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How should the U.S. regulate clinical AI? LDI experts say treat it like a human clinician, who gets licensed and supervised. In a new Q&A, LDI Fellows Alon Bergman and Eric Bressman outline the rapidly changing AI environment and their recommendations for what’s next. https://bit.ly/4pAjuLY

How to Regulate AI Without Stifling Health Innovation

LDI experts discuss the current landscape and questions around regulating clinical AI systems on the state- and federal-levels.

ldi.upenn.edu

🗓️ Join us August 10–14 for the 2026 SUMR Research Symposium to hear @upenn.edu Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research (SUMR) scholars present their faculty-directed health services research. A great opportunity to meet the next generation of researchers! https://bit.ly/4bkt0Nr

2026 SUMR Research Symposium

The 2026 Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research Scholar Program will culminate in a six-day SUMR Symposium.

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A new executive order could accelerate research on psychedelics for mental health treatment. What does the evidence show, and how should researchers and policymakers proceed? LDI and @upenn.edu experts weigh in. https://bit.ly/4b9XotS

Trump Order Gives Psychedelic Therapy a Boost

LDI experts welcome new momentum in psychedelic therapy, but warn that key evidence and oversight gaps remain.

ldi.upenn.edu

We're thrilled to introduce Dr. Jonathan Tan as a new Senior Fellow at Penn LDI! Dr. Tan’s lab is developing the next generation of geospatial tools and spatial analytics for pediatric health system science. Learn more about his work here: https://bit.ly/4pBHeiY

💡 Want expert insights on the biggest challenges in U.S. health care and health policy? Explore our virtual seminar library for expert discussions on long-term care, drug pricing, AI in health care, Medicaid after HR1, the opioid epidemic, and more. ▶️ Watch here: https://bit.ly/3TDATHE

Virtual Seminar Recordings

Check here for an archive of recordings from our virtual seminars.

ldi.upenn.edu

What role should AI play in dementia care? In his STAT News column, LDI Fellow Jason Karlawish argues that AI should support—not replace—human care for people living with cognitive impairment. https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/the-role-of-ai-in-dementia-care/

The Role of AI in Dementia Care

LDI Fellow Jason Karlawish discusses the promise of AI in supporting people with dementia and related concerns in a new STAT News column.

ldi.upenn.edu

How can harm reduction workers better inform efforts to reach Black people who use drugs? LDI Fellows interviewed West and Southwest Philadelphia community members, who described how the war on drugs, systemic racism, and medical mistrust shape care experiences. https://bit.ly/4fxV94Q

“The community’s memory is timeless”: exploring cultural and community context to inform the public health response to the overdose crisis in black communities - Harm Reduction Journal

Background Substance use treatment and harm reduction strategies are vital tools in addressing the overdose crisis, however, effectiveness depends on access and uptake. Little is known about perceptio...

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Policy Engagement Update 📣 LDI Fellows Rachel M. Werner, Scott Halpern, and Carmen Guerra submitted formal comments to the Office of Management and Budget on the proposed rule revising the award and administration of federal grants. Read more here: https://bit.ly/45imiUC

Comments on the Regulation of Federal Financial Assistance

Several LDI Fellows submitted formal comments to the Office of Management and Budget on the proposed rule “Regulation of Federal Financial Assistance.”

ldi.upenn.edu

Are children being shortchanged in kidney allocation? LDI research finds many high-quality donor kidneys are prioritized for adults needing multi-organ transplants, yet many fail early after transplant. Policy changes may not make more of these kidneys available to children. https://bit.ly/4vCg24R

📱 Could brief smartphone check-ins help improve #SuicidePrevention? In the Journal of Affective Disorders, LDI Fellow Lily Brown and Tao Lin suggest that real-time smartphone assessments may improve suicide risk monitoring among veterans and active-duty military personnel. https://bit.ly/4fplLXb

Smartphone Check-Ins May Outperform Weekly Therapy Sessions in Predicting Suicide Risk

New study of veterans and active duty personnel points a promising of a new patient monitoring system

ldi.upenn.edu

An NFL player recently found out he had testicular cancer—by accident. LDI Fellow @drdmgriffith.bsky.social & @ucf.bsky.social’s Michael Rovito argue that revisiting USPSTF guidance on testicular cancer screening could improve early detection and advance young men’s health. https://bit.ly/4wWuxS3

New, great knowledge translation covering our paper on geriatric abdominal pain--it's approachable, hits the clinical problem right on the head & talks about the actual numbers in accurate ways without using jargon: www.instagram.com/reel/DbCDpEJ...

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Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.

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👋Introducing Dr. An Pham as a new Senior Fellow at Penn LDI! Dr. Pham’s research addresses current gaps to identify and support the diversity of eating pathologies that exist in adolescents. Learn more about her work here: https://ldi.upenn.edu/fellows/fellows-directory/an-pham-md-mph/

Administrative work is a major part of the U.S. health care affordability problem. In a recent Health Affairs Forefront piece, LDI Fellow @zekeemanuel.bsky.social and Kevin Schulman argue that utilizing AI can make the problem worse & offered three ways to modernize billing. https://bit.ly/3TaXWJO

Achieving Affordability Without Compromising Care

In Health Affairs Forefront, LDI Fellow Zeke Emanuel and Kevin Schulman say the government can take action to lower administrative costs in health care.

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📩 Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get the latest data-driven, policy-relevant research from @upenn.edu experts, info about upcoming events featuring national experts, and more! https://lnkd.in/ewrVqVDP

Penn LDI enewsletter sign-up

Penn LDI publishes two newsletters: A bi-weekly edition for Penn/CHOP affiliates and a monthly edition for a national audience, featuring the latest research, news, events, and more.

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In a feature on ways to address the nation’s alcohol epidemic, STAT highlighted Penn Medicine’s use of behavioral “nudges” to encourage emergency department clinicians to ask patients about alcohol use and, when appropriate, prescribe naltrexone, an inexpensive medication that reduces cravings.

How can health systems reduce ED boarding and prevent patient deterioration? In response to an @annalsofem.bsky.social study, LDI's @abfriedman.com and @kitdelgado.bsky.social argue that boarding is a system-level issue and offer short- and medium-term recommendations. https://bit.ly/3QV8YCo

A Dose of Delay: Emergency Department Boarding and Early Clinical Deterioration

Check access to the full text by signing in through your organization.

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Many caregivers go without food while staying with a hospitalized child because they can't afford hospital meals. LDI’s Aditi Vasan of @childrensphila.bsky.social argues hospitals should treat this hidden hunger as a health issue, not just a social one. Read more: https://bit.ly/4wGTBwh

Why Pediatric Hospitals are Paying More Attention to Caregiver Hunger

Some caregivers accompanying a child during a pediatric hospital admission go without food because they simply cannot afford it.

ldi.upenn.edu