Penn Bioengineering

What if we could better understand how to treat rare diseases?

That’s the question behind Yerahm Hong’s (BE’26) research. As a 2026 Rose Undergraduate Research Award recipient, she is exploring a gene therapy approach designed to intercept faulty genetic signals linked to rare pediatric epilepsy before harmful proteins are made.

For families facing conditions with few effective treatments, research like this plays an important role in building knowledge and opening doors to future possibilities.

Through mentorship, hands-on research, and a growing passion for neuroscience, Hong is developing the skills to contribute to this work long term.

Read her story: https://beblog.seas.upenn.edu/rose-award-yerahm-hong/

Penn Engineering