Sara Cherry, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, is one of ten University of Pennsylvania scholars named to the 2021 Class of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows. They are among a group of 564 scientists, engineers, and innovators recognized by the organization for their "scientifically and socially distinguished achievements."

Dr. Cherry is being recognized for her distinguished contributions to the field of virology and the development of novel technologies used to identify new pathways in and treatment of virus-induced diseases. Recently, Cherry has expanded her studies to include the screening of thousands of compounds to combat SARS-CoV-2. Her lab has discovered many new potential treatments to prevent or reduce symptoms of the virus.

The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science. It is the publisher of publisher of the journal Science, as well as Science Translational Medicine; Science Signaling; a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances; Science Immunology; and Science Robotics. Founded in 1848, the AAAS has maintained the tradition of naming Fellows since 1874. This year members were awarded this honor, nominated either through the steering groups of the association’s 24 sections, or by current AAAS members or the AAAS chief executive officer. Members are considered for the esteemed Fellows title if they have had continuous involvement with the organization for four years.

Read the Penn Medicine news release
Read the University of Pennsylvania news announcement