Penn Engineering
With 21 projects funded to date and nearly $40M raised toward the goal of $200M by 2030, we are pursuing bold ideas that challenge conventional thinking and open entirely new directions for research, innovation and education.
Can engineered cells automatically adjust themselves before becoming toxic?
Penn helped pioneer CAR-T therapy, which revolutionized cancer treatment by harnessing a patient’s own immune system to destroy cancer cells. Now, Penn Engineering researchers are engineering immune cells that can intelligently regulate themselves, making CAR-T treatment safer and more effective.
Can we move quantum networking from the laboratory to the real world?
Classical computing networks are limited by security, bandwidth and computational constraints. Penn Engineers are developing the technologies that will make quantum networking practical, laying the foundation for ultra-secure communications, next-generation computing and critical infrastructure.
Can we eliminate “forever chemicals” before they reach our water?
Exposure to “forever chemicals” has been linked to many health risks, including cancer. Penn Engineers are developing reusable materials that capture and remove dangerous chemicals like PFAS, leading to cleaner water, healthier communities and more sustainable manufacturing.
Can AI invent medicines that nature has never made?
Traditional drug discovery is time-consuming, costly and creates one-size-fits-all solutions. Penn Engineers are using generative AI to design entirely new therapeutic molecules with precisely engineered properties, creating avenues for treating diseases that have long resisted conventional drug discovery.
Can getting dressed independently become possible again for millions of older adults?
Dressing can become challenging for older adults due to everyday tasks like fastening buttons, reaching and coordinating movements becoming more difficult with age. Penn Engineers are reimagining clothing as an intelligent assistive technology, preserving dignity, confidence and quality of life.
Can we make RNA therapies safe enough to use over and over again?
Traditional RNA therapies can be difficult to use long term because they can be quickly degraded and can trigger immune responses over time. Penn Engineers are developing biodegradable nanoparticles that safely deliver RNA medicines, opening the door to treatments for a wider range of diseases.
Can we reinvent how the computer chips we need for AI, advanced computing and robotics are fabricated?
Current semiconductor chip fabrication techniques require high heat, limiting the use of certain materials and increasing energy demands. Penn Engineers are pioneering a new way to bond semiconductor chips at room temperature, paving the way for the next-gen chips needed for AI, robotics and national security.
Can a simple blood test detect Alzheimer’s or ALS years before symptoms become irreversible?
Early neurological disease diagnosis is challenging because symptoms often appear only after significant progression. Penn Engineers are exploring a new way to detect devastating neurological diseases by harnessing the body’s own immune system as an early warning signal, providing precious time to intervene.
Can we identify the greatest, yet still unknown, risks posed by microplastics?
The true health effects of microplastics remain unclear because their presence across the environment is still not fully understood. Penn Engineers are developing new technologies to detect the smallest plastic particles, giving scientists the tools to better understand (and ultimately reduce) their impact.
Can your doctor know you need treatment before you do?
Traditional periodic physician visits provide only snapshots of a patient’s health, delaying interventions and personalized treatments. Penn Engineers are developing intelligent wearables that continuously monitor neurological health, helping physicians personalize treatment before symptoms worsen.
Can robots use only the computational power they need, exactly when they need it?
Robots that inefficiently use computing power decrease their use cases because computation impacts speed, energy use, cost and reliability. Penn Engineers are infusing the principles of human cognition into AI systems, enabling autonomous robots to think smarter and expand their ability to assist people in the real world.
Can AI uncover medical treatments faster than ever before?
Traditional medical discovery is slow, expensive, fragmented and increasingly outpaced by the complexity of human biology. Penn Engineers are combining AI with automated experimentation to rapidly identify promising new therapies, dramatically speeding the search for medicines that improve human health.
Can yesterday’s industrial waste become tomorrow’s clean-energy resource?
Supplies of the raw materials enabling modern technology are increasingly unreliable, while valuable resources in industrial waste are discarded. Penn Engineers are developing new ways to recover rare earth elements and critical minerals, powering the energy transition and strengthening U.S. resilience.
Can AI learn from every biomedical discovery ever published?
The number of publications from biomedical research is growing exponentially, meaning transformative insights could remain hidden across millions of papers. Penn Engineers are using AI to transform these papers into structured data, turning scattered discoveries into a powerful resource for future breakthroughs.
Can we build the infrastructure needed to remove carbon at a meaningful scale?
Today’s carbon capture systems are too energy intensive and expensive to deploy at the scale needed to significantly reduce global emissions. Penn Engineers are creating frameworks to connect carbon removal with existing industry and energy systems, accelerating the transition to a lower-carbon future.
Can an autonomous drone think as fast as it flies?
Drones must make complex decisions in real time, but onboard computing power is limited by weight, battery life and size. Penn Engineers are developing more efficient ways for these machines to process information, enabling autonomous robots to better assist in disaster response and infrastructure inspection.
Can AI become an effective tool for learning?
AI has the potential to weaken learning, hindering the development of critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills. Penn Engineers are leveraging the power of AI to design learning systems that strengthen, rather than replace, human understanding, helping students learn more effectively.
Can robots distribute energy the way the internet distributes information?
Energy use is a limiting factor in the use of embodied intelligence technologies. Penn Engineers are reimagining how robots could better distribute power, enabling autonomous machines that can safely assist people, strengthen critical industries and respond more efficiently in dangerous environments.
Can we ensure that AI recommendations are accurate, reliable and aligned with human interests?
Concerns with AI system trustworthiness can hinder adoption, especially in high-stakes areas like health, education and public safety. Penn Engineers are creating AI systems that behave responsibly, tell the truth and are worthy of our trust, leading to tools that people can rely on when making important decisions.
Can your doctor’s exam room help prevent missed diagnoses?
Valuable information from health care visits can be lost, inconsistently recorded or require significant time for documentation. Penn Engineers are transforming the exam room into an intelligent partner that helps clinicians, leading to earlier diagnoses, more complete care and better patient outcomes.
Can we ensure that engineering education evolves for an AI-driven world?
AI is raising questions about foundational skills and changing what students need to learn. Penn Engineering is preparing graduates to lead alongside AI, equipping them with the systems-thinking, design and problem-solving skills that will define the next generation of engineering.
Can clinicians detect and eliminate disease before symptoms ever appear?
Can buildings generate more resources than they consume?
Can robots understand the physical world as naturally as people do?
Can education adapt as quickly as technology evolves?
The answers to these questions and many more are within our reach. With the help of visionary philanthropic partners, the Futures Fund will accelerate the solutions that society urgently needs.
