Monthly Archives: January 2020

Immunology

Post Doctoral Researcher, Biology job with MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY | 194305 – Times Higher Education (THE)

Department : Biology

Closing Date : 05-Feb-2020

Applications are sought for position of Post-doctoral Researcher to conduct research within the Childhood Obesity Immunology research group of Dr. Andy Hogan. The successful candidate will join a programme of research investigating the impact of childhood obesity on the immune system.

This post is funded by the financial support of National Childrens Research Centre. Research in the research group aims to explore mechanisms of disease combining molecular, metabolic and cellular approaches utilizing well characterised patient cohorts.

More information on the research efforts of the Childhood Obesity Immunology group can be obtained from the following publications; Tobin et al, JCI insight 2017, Carolan et al, JI 2015, Carolan et al, JCEM 2013.

Post Doctoral Researcher Scale:37,874 - 40,221 per annum (3 Points)

Appointment will be made in accordance with the Department of Finance pay guidelines.

*New entrants to the public sector will be appointed on the first point of the above scale.

Closing Date:

23:30hrs (local Irish time) on Wednesday, 5th February 2020.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Read the original:
Post Doctoral Researcher, Biology job with MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY | 194305 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Immunology

William Petri – The Conversation UK

Profile Articles Activity

William A. Petri, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. studies immunology and molecular pathogenesis of enteric infections and their consequences. The scope of research includes molecular parasitology of Entamoeba, innate immune host defense against Clostridium difficile, and in Bangladesh acquired immunity to Cryptosporidium. We study infections in mouse models, in humans (including clinical trials) and at the lab bench.Petri leads the PROVIDE study of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that is exploring in Bangladesh and India the pathogenesis of enteric environmental dysfunction (EED) and its association with oral poliovirus and rotavirus vaccine failures, malnutrition and neurocognitive developmental delay. Petri has received from Governor Terry McAuliffe both the Commonwealth of Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award (2014) and the Outstanding Scientist Award (2017). He has been recognized at UVa with the Kadner Award for Graduate Teaching, the All-University Teaching, and Inventor of the Year Awards. Petri has served as President of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and Editor of Infection and Immunity, and is currently Associate Editor for PLoS Pathogens, Clinical Infections Diseases and Trends in Molecular Medicine. He has received the Oswald Avery Award of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Burroughs Wellcome New Investigator and Scholar Awards in Molecular Parasitology, and the Lucille P. Markey Scholar Award in Biomedical Research. He has served continuously since 1993 on advisory committees for the NIH. Bill Petri received the MD and PhD (Microbiology) degrees from UVA, did medicine residency at Case Western and returned to UVA for infectious diseases fellowship. He spends 3 months of every year caring for patients on the general medicine and infectious diseases services and the remainder is focused on research on infectious diseases, especially the molecular pathogenesis of diarrheal infections in children living in poverty in Bangladesh and the immunology of C. difficile infection in a mouse model and in patients at UVA hospital.

Read more from the original source:
William Petri - The Conversation UK

Immunology

Dal researchers sending medical supplies to heart of coronavirus outbreak – CBC.ca

Researchers at Dalhousie University are working to send much-needed medical supplies to health-care workers in Wuhan, the Chinese cityat the centre of the new coronavirusoutbreak.

Members of the university's department of microbiology and immunology have started collecting respirator masks, coverall suitsand other protective gear that can help prevent health-care workers from being exposed to the virus.

The 2019novel coronavirus is aflu-like illnessthat can cause pneumonia and other severe respiratory symptoms.

"Whatwe want to do is help protect the people who are looking after people,"said Alyson Kelvin, a virologist and assistant professor in the department. "The masks and the Tyvek suits are going to keep those people safe from contracting the virus and let them do their job."

The group has also set up a GoFundMe page to round up more equipment to send over.

Kelvin said they already have a good supply of items ready to goand they've ordered more that should arrive by mid-week. Once the last of the gear arrives, the researchers will quickly pack up the supplies and ship them to Wuhan.

Zhenyu Cheng, an assistant professor in the department who was born and raised in Wuhan, said his parents, extended family and many friends still live in the city. Cheng said he was lucky and no one he knows was struck down by the virus.

"I don't have the feeling they're very anxious right now, because none of my friends or family members are infected. So they have to stay put at home most of the time, but they can go out for grocery shopping. So briefly, of course, wearing masks," he said Sunday.

"That's great news for me, but in the meanwhile I'm really worried about the citizens and the medical workers in Wuhan right now."

The Canadian Society of Virology is also helping in efforts to get supplies out. Cheng and other researchers at Dalhousie hope to contact the federal government to help co-ordinate their efforts and bring down some of their costs.

In the meantime, the researchers at Dal are working with the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology andVIDO-Intervac in Saskatoon to start developing and testing potential vaccines against coronavirus.

"We have lots of experience developing vaccines for coronaviruses due to the emergence of SARS and MERS, so we're looking at what was learned from those experiences where we can kind of springboard off of that," said Kelvin.

It generally takes years to get vaccines approved and onto the market, however Kelvin said given the situation, health officials could look at speeding up the process.

In 2003, more than 400 Canadians were diagnosed with SARS and 44 died as a result of the epidemic that killed almost 800 people worldwide that year.

Since that outbreak the Canadian medical community has put in place policies and procedures to safely deal with coronaviruses and prevent their spread, said Kelvin.

She doesn't worry too much about Canada's ability to cope with the virus. Instead, her main concern is the workers in Wuhan who don't have enough supplies to keep themselves safe.

"Always you're worried about the people who are looking after people. They're the ones that will keep the community safe, they'll keep the virus contained. So we want to make sure that those people are again able to do their jobs," she said.

Read more here:
Dal researchers sending medical supplies to heart of coronavirus outbreak - CBC.ca

Immunology

Feds fund innovative health research happening at Dal, NSHA and IWK – Dal News

Dalhousie University is home to four of the newest recipients of funding from the Government of Canada for their innovative health research.

The $1,159,527 in funding is provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grants, which help researchers gather the kind of information they need to make real improvements to clinical practice, health service delivery, and public health policy.

The Project Grant competition is one of CIHRs flagship funding programs. They are multi-year grants that are designed to support researchers at various stages in their careers as they conduct health research and knowledge translation projects that cover the full range of health research topic. Project grant recipients are leaders in their fields and their projects tackle pressing health issues that matter to Canadians, such as chronic pain management, mental health literacy intervention for Indigenous youth, and harnessing mast cell responses to viral infections.

In addition, four clinician scientists affiliated with the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and the IWK Health Centre also received funding, bring the total in new health research funding to $3.2 million.

The researchers receiving funding include:

Paul Gratzer, Associate Professor, Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, School of Biomedical EngineeringProject: Application of Advanced Wound Care Products and Techniques in the Northern Ontario First Nations Community

Noreen Kamal, Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial EngineeringProject: Atlantic Canada Together Enhancing Acute Stroke Treatment (ACTEAST): Improving Access and Efficiency of Treatment

Jean Marshall, Professor, Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyProject: Harnessing Mast Cell Responses to Viral Infections

Yifeng Wei, Assistant Professor, Department of PsychiatryProject: Developing, Evaluating, Disseminating and Sustaining a School-Based Mental Health Literacy Intervention for Indigenous Youth

Javeria Hashmi, Affiliated Scientist, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative MedicineProject: Strategy for Understanding How Expectations Interfere with Chronic Pain Management: A Multi-Modal Neuroimaging Study.

Rudolf Uher, Psychiatrist, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Professor, Department of PsychiatryProject: Sleep and Circadian Rhythm as Development Antecedents to Major Mood Disorders

Francesca Di Cara, Department of Pediatrics, IWK Health Centre and Assistant Professor, Departments of Pediatrics/Microbiology and Immunology Project: Defining the Peroxisome-Lipid Signaling Network in Innate Immunity

Souvik Mitra, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, IWK Health Centre and Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics.Project: Relative Effectiveness and Safety of Pharmacotherapeutic Agents for Treatment of Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA) in Preterm Infants: A National Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Project.

Highlights of successfully funded projects:

Application of Advanced Wound Care Products and Techniques in the Northern Ontario First Nations Community

First Nations people living in Canada are among the highest risk population for diabetes and related complications. Community-based and culturally appropriate prevention strategies and monitoring of indications of diabetes among this high-risk population are essential to reducing health disparities.

With diabetes, minor abrasions and cuts on the feet can become chronic, infected wounds. Once the infection reaches the bone, amputation often becomes necessary. Canada currently spends $1.5 billion on direct costs for diabetic amputations, and in Ontarios North West Local Health Integration Network area alone, there were more than 100 amputations last year, which cost up to $43 million.

Paul Gratzer who has developed a new tissue engineered would care product called DermGEN, is working with Joanne Ogden, an award winning wound care nurse who has created a Wound Care Centre of Excellence in the Fort Frances area with a focus on limb preservation. DermGEN was created through research at Dalhousie and will be applied in a clinical study to assess the efficacy of this product in treating diabetic ulcers in the First Nations Communities of Northwest Ontario. DermGEN is unique in that it can be stored at room temperature, is easily transportable, and requires simple wound preparation and aftercare treatment which can be managed by patients at home.

"I am very excited to receive this funding as it enables my research to be used in helping a population who experience the highest rates in Canada of diabetic complications that lead to limb amputations, says Prof Gratzer. In partnership with the local First Nations communities, their Chiefs and Elders, and local wound care clinicians, we will bring advanced wound care technology directly to diabetic ulcer patients enabling them to heal faster and potentially eliminate the need for amputations.

Prof. Gratzers hope is that this research will significantly improve wound care in the First Nations communities at a lower cost.

Atlantic Canada Together Enhancing Acute Stroke Treatment (ACTEAST): Improving Access and Efficiency of Treatment

Stroke is a devastating disease, and the leading cause of severe physical disability. Ischemic stroke is the most common form of stroke; and is treatable with medical treatment and a new minimally invasive surgical procedure. These treatments can transform lives, but minutes matter for improving outcomes.

Dr. Noreen Kamals research is focused on increasing the proportion of ischemic stroke patients receiving treatment, and improving the efficiency of treatment. Her team will carry out this work across all of the Atlantic provinces, and employ an Improvement Collaborative intervention. This intervention uses the Model for Improvement adopted from Industrial Engineering, which employs alternatingface-to-face workshops and action periods to test and implement changes at local hospitals. The workshops involve sharing information with hospital teams and facilitation of cross-site learning.

It is anticipated that the potential benefit for patients experiencing ischemic stroke is profound. It is anticipated that 10-20% of ischemic stroke patients will have improved outcomes, which means that up to 550 more patients each year in Atlantic Canada can return to their homes with no or little disability, and use much less rehabilitation and long-term care services.

This funding means so much because ACTEAST is incredibly important to me for a number of reasons, says Dr. Kamal.The first reason is for the patients of course, who deserve the best possible outcomes that medical evidence has to offer. This brings me to my second reason, this is a cluster trial using a novel design to rigorously study the impact of an implementation, which will show its impact on being able to mobilize knowledge obtained from randomized clinical trial into practice. Finally, I have fallen in love with this region and its people; I look forward to working with the people from Atlantic Canada across four provinces and multiple health authorities to make it one of the best performing acute stroke systems in the world.

For more information about the CIHRs Project Grant program can be found on the CIHR website.

Visit link:
Feds fund innovative health research happening at Dal, NSHA and IWK - Dal News

Immunology

Lilly and Incyte Announce Top-Line Results from Phase 3 Study (BREEZE-AD4) of Oral Selective JAK Inhibitor Baricitinib in Combination with Topical…

- Safety profile was consistent with the known safety findings of baricitinib in atopic dermatitis (AD)

- Study was conducted outside of the U.S. and is the first and only report of a JAK inhibitor in patients who failed, were intolerant, or contraindicated to cyclosporine

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 24,2020 /PRNewswire/ --Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Incyte (NASDAQ: INCY) announced today that baricitinib met the primary endpoint in BREEZE-AD4, an investigational Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of baricitinib in combination with topical corticosteroids (TCS) forthe treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) who were inadequate responders, intolerant or had contraindication to treatment with cyclosporine. The primary endpoint was defined by the proportion of patients achieving at least a 75% or greater change from baseline in their Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) at Week 16.

"There is a high need for additional treatment options for patients living with moderate to severe AD, particularly those who failed conventional systemic treatments likecyclosporine," said Lotus Mallbris, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of immunology development at Lilly. "As we look to progress our treatment portfolio for chronic skin conditions, the continued insights from the development program in AD further the potential of baricitinib to pursue this indication and to reach patients."

BREEZE-AD4 is a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted outside of the U.S. The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the 1-mg, 2-mg and 4-mg doses of baricitinib in combination with TCS in patients with moderate to severe AD who have experienced failure to cyclosporine or are intolerant toor have contraindication tocyclosporine. In this study, the 4-mg dose of baricitinib plusTCS met the primary endpoint as defined by the proportion of participants achieving EASI75 at Week 16.

The safety profile was consistent with the known safety findings of baricitinib in AD. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) included nasopharyngitis, headache, and influenza. No venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) or deaths were reported in the trial.

Lilly recently submitted baricitinib for regulatory review in Europe as a treatment for patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis and plans to submit for approval in the U.S. and Japan in 2020. Full results from the BREEZE-AD4 study will be disclosed at future scientific venues and in peer-reviewed journals.

Baricitinib is approved for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in more than 60 countries, including the U.S., member states of the EU and Japan, and is marketed as OLUMIANT.

Indication and Usage for OLUMIANT (baricitinib) tablets (in the United States) for RA patientsOLUMIANT (baricitinib) 2 mg is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapies.Limitation of Use: Use of OLUMIANT in combination with other JAK inhibitors, biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or with potent immunosuppressants such as azathioprine and cyclosporine is not recommended.

SERIOUS INFECTIONS: Patients treated with Olumiant are at risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death. Most patients who developed these infections were taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids. If a serious infection develops, interrupt Olumiant until the infection is controlled. Reported infections include:

Carefully consider the risks and benefits of Olumiant prior to initiating therapy in patients with chronic or recurrent infection.

Closely monitor patients for the development of signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment with Olumiant including the possible development of TB in patients who tested negative for latent TB infection prior to initiating therapy.

MALIGNANCIES: Lymphoma and other malignancies have been observed in patients treated with Olumiant.

THROMBOSIS: Thrombosis, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), has been observed at an increased incidence in patients treated with Olumiant compared to placebo. In addition, there were cases of arterial thrombosis. Many of these adverse events were serious and some resulted in death. Patients with symptoms of thrombosis should be promptly evaluated.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

SERIOUS INFECTIONS: The most common serious infections reported with Olumiant includedpneumonia, herpes zoster and urinary tract infection. Among opportunistic infections, tuberculosis, multidermatomal herpes zoster, esophageal candidiasis, pneumocystosis, acute histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, cytomegalovirus and BK virus were reported with Olumiant. Some patients have presented with disseminated rather than local disease and were often taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids. Avoid Olumiant in patients with an active, serious infection, including localized infections. Consider the risks and benefits of treatment prior to initiating Olumiant in patients:

Closely monitor patients for infections during and after Olumiant treatment. Interrupt Olumiant if a patient develops a serious infection, an opportunistic infection, or sepsis. Do not resume Olumiantuntil the infection is controlled.

Tuberculosis Before initiating Olumiantevaluate and test patients for latent or active infection and treat patients with latent TB with standard antimycobacterial therapy. Olumiant should not be given to patients with active TB. Consider anti-TB therapy prior to initiating Olumiant in patients with a history of latent or active TB in whom an adequate course of treatment cannot be confirmed, and for patients with a negative test for latent TB but who have risk factors for TB infection. Monitor patients for TB during Olumiant treatment.

Viral Reactivation Viral reactivation, including cases of herpes virus reactivation (e.g., herpes zoster), were reported in clinical studies with Olumiant. If a patient develops herpes zoster, interrupt Olumiant treatment until the episode resolves.

The impact of Olumiant on chronic viral hepatitis reactivation is unknown. Screen for viral hepatitis in accordance with clinical guidelines before initiating Olumiant.

MALIGNANCY AND LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS:Malignancies were observed in Olumiant clinical studies. Consider the risks and benefits of Olumiant prior to initiating therapy in patients with a known malignancy other than a successfully treated non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) or when considering continuing Olumiant in patients who develop a malignancy. NMSCs were reported in patients treated with Olumiant. Periodic skin examination is recommended for patients who are at increased risk for skin cancer.

THROMBOSIS: Thrombosis, including DVT and PE, has been observed at an increased incidence in Olumiant-treated patients compared to placebo. In addition, arterial thrombosis events in the extremities have been reported in clinical studies with Olumiant. Many of these adverse events were serious and some resulted in death. There was no clear relationship between platelet count elevations and thrombotic events. Use Olumiantwith caution in patients who may be at increased risk of thrombosis. If clinical features of DVT/PE or arterial thrombosis occur, evaluate patients promptly and treat appropriately.

GASTROINTESTINAL PERFORATIONS: Gastrointestinal perforations have been reported in Olumiant clinical studies, although the role of JAK inhibition in these events is not known. Use Olumiantwith caution in patients who may be at increased risk for gastrointestinal perforation (e.g., patients with a history of diverticulitis). Promptly evaluate patients who present with new onset abdominal symptoms for early identification of gastrointestinal perforation.

LABORATORY ABNORMALITIES:Neutropenia Olumiant treatment was associated with an increased incidence of neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] <1000cells/mm3) compared to placebo. Avoid initiation or interrupt Olumiant treatment in patients with an ANC <1000cells/mm3. Evaluate at baseline and thereafter according to routine patient management.

Lymphopenia Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) <500cells/mm3 were reported in Olumiant clinical trials. Lymphocyte counts less than the lower limit of normal were associated with infection in patients treated with Olumiant, but not placebo. Avoid initiation or interrupt Olumiant treatment in patients with an ALC <500cells/mm3. Evaluate at baseline and thereafter according to routine patient management.

Anemia Decreases in hemoglobin levels to <8g/dL were reported in Olumiant clinical trials. Avoid initiation or interrupt Olumiant treatment in patients with hemoglobin <8g/dL. Evaluate at baseline and thereafter according to routine patient management.

Liver Enzyme Elevations Olumiant treatment was associated with increased incidence of liver enzyme elevation compared to placebo. Increases to 5x and 10x upper limit of normal were observed for both ALT and AST in patients in Olumiant clinical trials.

Evaluate at baseline and thereafter according to routine patient management. Promptly investigate the cause of liver enzyme elevation to identify potential cases of drug-induced liver injury. If increases in ALT or AST are observed and drug-induced liver injury is suspected, interrupt Olumiant until this diagnosis is excluded.

Lipid Elevations Treatment with Olumiant was associated with increases in lipid parameters, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Assess lipid parameters approximately 12weeks following Olumiant initiation. Manage patients according to clinical guidelines for the management of hyperlipidemia.

VACCINATIONS: Avoid use of live vaccines with Olumiant. Update immunizations in agreement with current immunization guidelines prior to initiating Olumiant therapy.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Adverse reactions (1%) include: upper respiratory tract infections (16.3%, 14.7%, 11.7%), nausea (2.7%, 2.8%, 1.6%), herpes simplex (0.8%, 1.8%, 0.7%) and herpes zoster (1.0%, 1.4%, 0.4%) for Olumiant 2 mg, baricitinib 4 mg, and placebo, respectively.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: No information is available to support the use of Olumiant in pregnancy or lactation. Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with Olumiant.

HEPATIC AND RENAL IMPAIRMENT: Olumiant is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment or in patients with severe renal impairment.

Please click to access full Prescribing Information,including Boxed Warning about Serious infections, Malignancies, and Thrombosis, and Medication Guide.

BA HCP ISI 11OCT2019

About BREEZE-AD4BREEZE-AD4 is a long-term, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 study in adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). BREEZE-AD4, conducted outside of the U.S., evaluated the efficacy and safety of the 1-mg, 2-mg and 4-mg doses of baricitinib in combination with topical corticosteroids in participants with moderate to severe AD who have experienced failure to cyclosporine or are intolerant toor have contraindication tocyclosporine. The primary endpoint was defined by the proportion of participants achieving Eczema Area and Severity Index 75 (EASI75) at Week 16. BREEZE-AD1, -AD2 and -AD7 results were disclosed in 2019.

About OLUMIANTOLUMIANT is a once-daily, oral JAK inhibitor approved in the U.S. for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more TNF inhibitor therapies, and approved outside of the U.S. for patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more DMARDs.1 There are four known JAK enzymes: JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2. JAK-dependent cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.2OLUMIANT has greater inhibitory potency at JAK1, JAK2 and TYK2 relative to JAK3; however, the relevance of inhibition of specific JAK enzymes to therapeutic effectiveness is not currently known.1OLUMIANT is approved in more than 60 countries.

About Atopic Dermatitis Atopic dermatitis (AD), or atopic eczema, is a chronic, relapsing skin disease characterized by intense itching, dry skin and inflammation that can be present on any part of the body.3AD is a heterogeneous disease both clinically and biologically, but may be characterized by chronic baseline symptoms of itch, redness and skin damage that are often punctuated with episodic, sometimes unpredictable, flares or exacerbations.4,5AD affects approximately 1-3% of adults worldwide.6

Moderate to severe AD is characterized by intense itching, resulting in visibly damaged skin.7Like other chronic inflammatory diseases, AD is immune-mediated and involves a complex interplay of immune cells and inflammatory cytokines.8

About Lilly in DermatologyBy following the science through unchartered territory, we continue Lilly's legacy of delivering innovative medicines that address unmet needs and have significant impacts on people's lives around the world. Skin-related diseases are more than skin deep. We understand the devastating impact this can have on people's lives. At Lilly, we are relentlessly pursuing a robust dermatology pipeline to provide innovative, patient-centered solutions so patients with skin-related diseases can aspire to live life without limitations.

About Eli Lilly and CompanyLilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us atwww.lilly.comandnewsroom.lilly.com/social-channels.P-LLY

About IncyteIncyteis aWilmington, Delaware-based, global biopharmaceutical company focused on finding solutions for serious unmet medical needs through the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information onIncyte, please visit Incyte.com and follow @Incyte.

This press release also contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about OLUMIANT (baricitinib) as a treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and as a potential treatment for patients with moderate- to severe atopic dermatitis, and reflects Lilly's and Incyte's current beliefs. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of development and commercialization. Among other things, there can be no guarantee that OLUMIANT will receive additional regulatory approvals or be commercially successful. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's and Incyte's most recent respective Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly and Incyte undertake no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

1Olumiant Prescribing Information, 2019. 2Walker JG and Smith MD. J Rheumatol. 2005;32;1650-1653. 3Zuberbier T, Orlow SJ, Paller AS, et al. Patient perspectives on the management of atopic dermatitis. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2006;118: 226-32. 4Thijs JL, Strickland I, Bruijnzeel-Koomen C, et. al. Moving toward endotypes in atopic dermatitis: identification of patient clusters based on serum biomarker analysis. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2017. 5Langan SM, Thomas KS, Williams HC. What is meant by "flare" in atopic dermatitis? A systematic review and proposal. Arch Dermatol. 2006;142:1190-1196. 6Nutten S. Atopic dermatitis: global epidemiology and risk factors. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2015;66(suppl 1): 8-16. 7Yosipovitch G, Papoiu AD. What causes itch in atopic dermatitis? Current Allergy and Asthma Reports. 2008;8:306-311. 8Weidinger, S, Novak, N. Atopic dermatitis. The Lancet Volume 387. 2016;10023:1109-1122.

Incyte logo. (PRNewsFoto/Eli Lilly and Company) (PRNewsfoto/Eli Lilly and Company)

Eli Lilly and Company logo. (PRNewsFoto, Eli Lilly and Company) (PRNewsfoto/Eli Lilly and Company)

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lilly-and-incyte-announce-top-line-results-from-phase-3-study-breeze-ad4-of-oral-selective-jak-inhibitor-baricitinib-in-combination-with-topical-corticosteroids-in-patients-with-moderate-to-severe-atopic-dermatitis-not-controlle-300993285.html

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

Read the rest here:
Lilly and Incyte Announce Top-Line Results from Phase 3 Study (BREEZE-AD4) of Oral Selective JAK Inhibitor Baricitinib in Combination with Topical...

Human Behavior

Its official: posting loads of selfies is linked to narcissism – Dazed

You know thatselfie-posting habit youve been cultivating on Instagram? Well, apparently its linked to some forms of narcissism, according to a new study by Computers in Human Behavior.

The new study aims to understand the relationship between selfies and narcissism, a personality disorder where a person has an inflated sense of self-importance and a lack of empathy for others mechanisms that are used to mask the individuals low self-esteem. These behaviours exist on a spectrum, meaning that a person can exhibit narcissistic traits without having a full-blown disorder.

For the study, researchers measured the narcissistic traits and selfie-posting behavior of 470 American and 260 Lebanese students, found a correlation between selfie-posting on Facebook and Instagram and grandiose narcissism, characterised by an overinflated ego and sense of self-importance.

However, displays of other types of narcissism leadership narcissism, entitlement narcissism, and vulnerable narcissism were not associated with selfies.

The researchers also found unshockingly that students from northeastern America tend to post more selfies than those from midwestern America and Lebanon. Capitalism, go figure.

Due to the scope of our study, we were only scratching the surface of community-based differences in predictive models for online behaviour. We desperately need more cross-cultural studies that investigate differences in online behaviour and the models that predict online behaviour. Research is needed to explore which elements of a geographic community (e.g., collectivism vs. individualism) might be linked with certain online behaviours, said Christina Shane-Simpson, who authored the study.

The findings from our study also suggest that personality predictors of online behaviour may differ across geographic community, and therefore, we should explore which personality traits are predictive within specific cultural communities.

Admittedly, the study should be taken with a pinch of salt. Just because you posted a thirsty pic last night doesnt make you a narcissist, but in the meantime, dont panic. Another study by Psychology and Aging found that boomers are more narcissistic than millennials, anyway.

Follow this link:
Its official: posting loads of selfies is linked to narcissism - Dazed

Human Behavior

UCLA researchers find success with preventative therapy for bipolar disorder – Daily Bruin

A UCLA-led study found that involving family members in therapy for children and adolescents with early indicators of bipolar disorder may help delay depressive episodes.

A team of researchers from UCLA, the University of Colorado and Stanford University studied 127 children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 17 who showed early signs of bipolar disorder. Each patient was randomly assigned to one of two therapies: 12 sessions of family-focused therapy or six sessions of standard psychoeducation therapy, both over the course of four months.

Family-focused therapy helped the patients stay well for longer durations compared to standard treatment options, according to the study.

People with bipolar disorder experience extreme moods, said David Miklowitz, lead author of the study and professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. The moods change from high-energy manic episodes, characterized by being overly happy or excited with a sense of grandiosity, to low energy or depressive episodes, characterized by lack of energy, disinterest in daily activities and suicidal thoughts, Miklowitz said.

The children and adolescents involved in the study were at risk of developing bipolar disorder because they had a parent or grandparent with the disorder and showed symptoms such as depression, Miklowitz said.

During family-focused therapy sessions, clinicians teach the family more about bipolar disorder and help them form plans in the case of a relapse. Families learn to recognize when the childs symptoms worsen and are taught ways to help by forming better communication and problem-solving skills, Miklowitz said.

The therapist is kind of like a director, but the actual acting is done by the family, Miklowitz said. For example, when we teach them about listening, we dont just say Heres what good listening is nodding your head and keeping good eye contact. We actually have them do it in the session, so you speak and someone else in the family practices listening, and then we have them rehearse it.

The psychoeducation therapy was a combination of three family meetings and three meetings with just the patient, focusing on identification of bipolar symptoms, talking about different treatments and developing a plan the family could use to handle future symptoms, said Aimee Sullivan, a co-author of the study and a psychologist at the University of Colorado Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center.

Though psychoeducation is beneficial because it educates the patient and parents about the disorder and available treatments, it does not change the factors that contribute to earlier onset or more severe symptoms, such as tension at home or the child feeling isolated, that make it difficult for the individual to respond or improve with treatments, said James McCracken, director of the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Semel Institute.

In the study, 77% of the children and adolescents in the family-focused therapy experienced a recurrence of a depressive episode after an average of 87 weeks, while 65% of the children and adolescents in the psychoeducation therapy experienced a recurrence after an average of 63 weeks, Miklowitz said.

What this means is that we may be able to identify kids who are at risk of developing bipolar disorder early and give them a brief course of family therapy in 12 sessions, Miklowitz said. That may help them from having future episodes, or at least elongate the periods in which theyre well between episodes.

The patients had the option to take medication alongside the therapy, but only about 60% chose to use medication, Miklowitz said. After the four months of treatments ended, the participants episodes were tracked over the course of one to four years, depending on when they entered the study and how long they continued in it, he added.

It is common in other fields of health for individuals with an elevated risk of developing conditions such as heart disease or diabetes to receive information to delay or prevent the onset of the illness later on, Sullivan said. However, she said this practice has not been embraced in other fields.

But in the field of behavioral health, psychology and psychiatry, were just starting to look at this idea of preventative behavioral treatment for high-risk populations, Sullivan said. Given the strength of the impact of family-focused therapy on kids and adults who have bipolar disorder, we wanted to see if it would have this potential impact for high-risk kids in either delaying or preventing the onset of bipolar disorder.

Sullivan said she works primarily with bipolar patients and teaches skills from family-focused therapy often. The skills taught in the family sessions are especially applicable to families that have high levels of conflict, she added.

Both UCLA researchers and the team at Colorado have been trying to increase access to their research to people not affiliated with the research study, Sullivan said. She said she is visiting clinics in Colorado to train other clinicians to use family-focused therapy.

This study is important because it is one of several that show how important a childs environment and family is to their well-being, McCracken said.

Even though they are children at high risk for developing bipolar disorder, which people often presume is completely determined by their genetics, this study shows so strongly that the childs environment and their relationships with parents and their siblings are really important in determining their well-being and future, McCracken said.

Read this article:
UCLA researchers find success with preventative therapy for bipolar disorder - Daily Bruin

Human Behavior

Automation Anywhere, But Should It Be Automation Anything? – Forbes

Finding the intersection point between the worlds of digital intelligence and human empathy is ... [+] surely the biggest challenge on the automated road ahead.

The world is obviously going through some changeable times. The United Kingdom is about to ride through the (many would argue) uncertain period of post-Brexit independence and global geopolitical swings continue to have an impact upon international trade and investment.

The technology industry thinks it can help, well, when doesnt it? In particular, the tech business is keen to extol the virtues of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) as key tools to help manage the things that humans shouldnt be troubling themselves with.

The question we need to ask is: can automation technologies really change lives when such massive socio-economic change is happening and at what point should we stop applying algorithmic intelligence?

Digitally evangelical

VP and digital worker evangelist at software bot (short for RPA robot) development company Automation Anywhere is James Dening. Arguing that by 2021, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) will be a $2.9 billion industry, Dening says that 85% of the market is still untapped.

According to research conducted by Goldsmiths University, businesses augmented by automation achieved 31% higher financial performance and 30% greater business performance than their non-augmented counterparts. But for augmentation to yield the maximum return on investment (ROI), businesses must take a holistic approach not one that simply focuses on short-term gains to the bottom line, said Dening.

So there are caveats here and Automation Anywheres Dening agrees that AI initiatives should not be thought of as just a technology investment. To make them work in practical pragmatic real world ways for real human beings, organizations need to understand how people, processes, technology and digital workers all come together. In order to do that, we have to look at the end-to-end customer journeys, that state of current processes in play... and human behavior. Only when we do that are we able to create a new work process, reformulated and optimized for both human and digital workers.

Stop - Dont Automate Me!

For want of a real world example, imagine if a user booked a flight and received an automated upgrade because the airline booking system recognized the individuals mileage membership status. But, what if that person had friends on the flight who were sat back in coach? What if that person could see the seat allocation and wanted to try their luck at bagging a row-of-four middle section to make themselves a seat bed? A users choice might be overridden because the software system works on the basis of programmed logic, but we humans dont always think and behave logically do we?

Software automation and database algorithmic power can be more powerful than user choice; so as we start to apply these increasing layers of intelligence into our lives we must also think about the nuances of human behavior that machines wont initially be able to understand. Okay, this is hardly an answer to geopolitical unrest... but does illustrate how careful we need to be when adding automation to our world.

Automation Anywheres Dening likes to talk about the perhaps more finessed use of digital augmentation, where repetitive and low-value tasks are shifted onto automated systems to free humans to think creatively and strategically. This will be key if the machines of the future will be able to understand our personality nuances and behavioral idiosyncrasies.

New jobs are likely to involve very different skills, and this will require a commitment from organisations to provide access to training and development, to prepare the workforce. In the UK, companies are reporting that highly skilled AI professionals are hard to find and expensive to hire, driving up the cost of adoption and slowing technological advancement. Organisations that make a conscious decision to use automation in a way that enhances current employees skills and complements their working style may be able to mitigate some of these obstacles, but ultimately business need to move faster now on upskilling and reskilling their workforce for the augmented future, said Dening.

Intersecting empathy-to-digital

Automation Anywhere advises on what it calls the targeted use of automation technology and says that its research has pointed to a heightened ability of augmented companies to operate bimodally so that they can prioritize both present and future, tactical and strategic, goals.

The World Economic Forum believes that new technology will create twice as many job opportunities as are lost. Simultaneously, it says, there will be growth in so-called low automatability sectors such as human health, social work and education, as these jobs require social skills, empathy and creativity.

Finding the intersection point between the worlds of digital intelligence and human empathy is surely the biggest challenge on the automated road ahead.

Automation Anywhere's James Dening: It's time to look at upskilling and reskilling the workforce for ... [+] the augmented future.

Go here to read the rest:
Automation Anywhere, But Should It Be Automation Anything? - Forbes

Human Behavior

This Is What You Need To Focus On To Reshape The Future Of Work, Says LinkedIn Report – Forbes

Getty

Last week,LinkedInreleased its annual Global Talent Trends report for 2020, which explores the big trends fueling the future of the workplace. Underlying all four trends is a key theme that will change the way you hire and retain talent:empathy.

The report, which combines survey results from more than 7,000 talent professionals in 35 countries, LinkedIn behavioral data, and 40 interviews with experts, states that putting human experience at the center of HR and hiring is crucial and includes actionable advice for leaders to turn insights into action.

According to the report, the 2020s will be all about putting people first:

Companies will work to understand their talent more deeply than ever before in order to better serve them. Many are well on their way. In late 2019, nearly 200 CEOs signed on to a Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation. Instead of putting shareholder value over all, they say, a companys purpose now includes investing in employees. Companies are becoming more empathetic not only to attract candidates but to retain their workforce amid increasing expectations of what employers owe to their people.

Of course, the idea of putting people first isnt new. VaynerX Chairman Gary Vaynerchuk attributes his success to his empathetic approach, even naming his head of people Chief Heart Officer. Simon Sinek believes its the most important instrument in a leaders toolbox. And Oprah Winfrey cites it as fundamental to leadership.

Yet for years, the soft skill of empathy was viewed as too squishy for business or confused with sympathy, which is feelingcompassionfor somebody. Empathy is about putting yourself in someone elses shoes and seeing things from their perspective.

In this case, your talents.

Heres a peek at how empathy factors into the years top four trends:

Companies will work for their employees (instead of just the other way around) and find new ways to cater to them. The report cites a whopping 96% of talent professionals say employee experience is becoming more important, with 77% of companies focusing on employee experience to increase retention.

This means that HR teams are going all-in on employee experience to attract and retain talent, mapping and making manageable an employees whole journey, regularly collecting feedback, and actively collaborating with employees to create an experience that works for all.

Or, as summed up by Mark Levy,former Head of Employee Experience at Airbnb and Allbirds: Employee experience is about doing things with and for your employees, not to them.

The LinkedIn report cites a 242% increase in HR professionals with data analysis skills over the last five years. And no wonder: with the proliferation and ease of accessing people analytics, companies will focus on better understanding and capitalizing on human behavior, a must-have skill in HR.

Indeed, the more a company knows about its people, the more strategic it can be in its workforce planning, predicting attrition, and evaluating employee performance. Providing insights to support better decision-making is the key purpose of people analytics, says David Green, global people analytics expert. By bringing data to the conversation, you can be more confident about your recommendations.

Talent professionals are rediscovering a key talent pool: their own people.

According to LinkedIn data, role changes within organizations (via promotion, transfer, or lateral move) have increased steadily by 10% over the last five years, and workplace learning is helping to build skills internally, so theres less need to import them from elsewhere.

Internal recruiting can be more cost-effective for organizations and one key to retaining talent. The report states a 41% longer employee tenure at companies with high internal hiring compared to those with low internal hiring.

For all the focus on mapping the external talent marketplace, the irony is that theres not enough focus placed on the talent underneath ones own roof, says Chuck Edward, Head of Recruiting at Microsoft.

The workforce is expanding like never before, heralding a new frontier for age diversity. The report states that 89% of talent professionals say a multigenerational workforce makes a company more successful, and inclusive companies stand to benefit by embracing everyones strengths, proving that good work is ageless.

To attract and retain Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, Millennials, and now Gen-Z workers, some companies are getting creative, carving out new career paths, flexible benefits, and ways to share intelligence. The key, cites the report, is for companies to eliminate generational bickering among age-diverse teams and to create conditions that encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Perhaps generational expert and author Jason Dorsey sums it up best: Organizations that take the time to break through stereotypes and myths can create tremendous trust, teamwork, communication, and openness that unlock the potential of every generation.

More:
This Is What You Need To Focus On To Reshape The Future Of Work, Says LinkedIn Report - Forbes

Human Behavior

Updated: Content moderation is hard, but there’s a new approach and it’s fueled by Spectrum Labs – Benzinga

San Francisco, CA, Jan. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yes, the internet has become the most transformative invention of the modern age it has forever changed technology, communication, gaming, marketing, banking, dating and more. But along with that change comes a dark side: The internet has also become a cesspool of toxic human behavior, poisoning the experience both for users and for the content moderators charged with safeguarding online platforms.

But, real talk: Faced with harassment or a disgusting experience online, many of us never report it. Instead, up to 30% of users decide to close their account or stop using certain social networks altogether. They just leave. All that focus on growth? Wasted.

Which begs a couple of questions: With all the transformation and dizzying innovations brought by technology, why do we still see daily headlines of online harassment, radicalization, human trafficking, child sex abuse, and more? And can online platforms manage growth while still keeping their communities safe?

Many companies think of "Trust and Safety" as just a compliance play a box to check, rather than seeing the connection to their platform's health and growth.

But Spectrum Labs, a San Francisco-based Contextual AI platform, thinks that's a mistake. Growth is directly tied to user experience.

Platforms like Facebook have faced backlash for outsourcing their content moderation services traumatizing lower-paid contractors with images and videos of shootings, violence and hate and only removing a fraction of toxic content on their platform.

Content moderation tools, while seeing some improvement over the last decade, are still flawed and need to be drastically improved. That's where Spectrum Labs comes in.

Spectrum Labs has developed an astonishingly accurate Contextual AI system that identifies toxic behaviors like hate speech, radicalization, threats, and other ugly behaviors which drive users away from online communities. They've also made it dead-simple, so that even people who don't understand code or datasets can know what's happening on their platforms any time. Spectrum Labs' approach is gaining traction with giant names in social networks, dating, marketplaces and gaming communities.

Legacy content moderation technologies typically use some form of keyword and simple message recognition (classification), which works best for interactions that occur at a single point in time. But most toxic behavior builds gradually; and Spectrum Labs' superpower is spotting those larger patterns of toxic behavior in context. Some customers have already seen a reduction of 75% or more in violent speech, heading them off before they ever reach users, while flagging the trickier, ambiguous cases to human moderators on the Trust and Safety team.

"Our customers put the safety of their community first and are seeing better retention rates and satisfaction. Our technology gives them the visibility and power to easily know what's happening on their platforms, any time, and in real time."

"In 16 years of working in tech, this is the first company I've been with where we are actually saving and improving lives users, players, kids, and moderators. We never forget that online experiences can have offline impact, so we're excited to continue helping companies make the Internet safer and healthier for their users," Davis added.

Spectrum Labs has built a library of large labeled datasets for over 40 unique models of toxic behavior, such as self-harm, child abuse/sexual grooming, terrorism, human trafficking, cyberbullying, radicalization and more, across multiple languages. Spectrum Labs centralizes its library of models across languages and then democratizes access so that each client can tune the service to their own specific platform and policies. No one-size-fits-all because a) it doesn't exist and b) it doesn't work (see: headlines every day of one-size-fits-all keyword recognition failing, with disastrous consequences).

This collaborative approach solves the "cold start" problem of launching new models without training data, and brings together a fractured and siloed data landscape, giving online platforms the ability to automate their moderation needs, at scale, while allowing for human judgment to be the final arbiter of what to allow on their platform.

Additionally, the ethical use of AI, in combination with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, and transparent data sets are just a few of the critical elements needed in order to operationalize automated AI systems that can recognize and respond to toxic human behaviors and content on social platforms at scale without causing harm to employees, contractors and users.

Tiffany Xingyu Wang, Chief Strategy Officer of Spectrum Labs said, "Whether it's the content children are watching, the dating apps adults are on, the gaming done by both children and adults, enjoying the experience safely is the priority." Wang added, "Internet safety is no longer just a nice-to-have. We're getting closer to a world where investments in trust and safety are differentiators that drive topline revenue."

Contact:

Tiffany Wang tiffany@getspectrum.io

See the original post:
Updated: Content moderation is hard, but there's a new approach and it's fueled by Spectrum Labs - Benzinga