Anatomy

Introducing: Anatomy Rabbit on shaking up the Thai indie scene | – Bandwagon

Dreamy and oh-so-relatable,AnatomyRabbit is a shining gem coming out of Thailand's diverse music scene.

Comprising ofOak(vocals, guitar)andTuch (drums), the indie duo was formed in 2018 after watching each other perform at a local bar. Taking their name from Oak's childhood rabbit 'Potter' and his admiration of the word "anatomy", Anatomy Rabbit was initially intended to be a side project for the two; that is before they started releasing music.

Characterised by their dreamy-pop sound and lyrics that pull the heartstrings, Anatomy Rabbit quickly became an act to look out for.

The duo released 'Are You out yet?'in 2019 and much to their surprise, it was an instant hit. A lo-fi bop about a hopeless romantic and her journey through unrequited love, the song is their most successful song yet, garnering over 13 million views on YouTube.

Following their successful single, Anatomy Rabbit released their first album entitled Holland Lop. Named after one of the smallest rabbit breeds, the record is a collection of emotions translated into songs that seamlessly thread between the lines of melancholy and fun.

"We wanted our music to come with no restrictions. We wanted the album to express as many feelings as possible," Oak tells Bandwagon.

The 'Wonder Why?' act is now gearing up for their sophomore album, expected to drop later this year. While we eagerly wait for the upcoming record, Bandwagon caught up with Anatomy Rabbit to talk about their musical journey, their favourite live stage memory, and what we can expect from their second album.

Hi, Anatomy Rabbit! Tell us about your musical journey.

OAK: I started my musical journey when I heard my cousin playing the guitar next door - that was when I fell in love with music. I met Tuch in a bar where we performed at then we started talking and ended up having similar likes. We had the same music style and goals, so we decided to start working together.

Could you describe each other in one sentence?

OAK : Saintly drummer.

TUCH: I love you, bro (laughs).

Your music has often been described as Dreamy Pop, what does that mean and how does that translate in the music you create?

OAK: We get inspired by many dream-pop songs and thats just how we want our music to sound.

Your debut song Are you out yet? is one of your most popular songs with over 2 million on Spotify. Could you tell us more about the track and why you think it resonated with people?

OAK: The context of the song reflects how people actually feel. It's a topic that many people can feel too.

TUCH: I think Are you out yet? got well known because of its content. It's content that Thai people are very into it. Also, the rhythm itself is quite catchy so people remember the song easily.

You mentioned you were working on your second album. What can we expect to hear from you?

TUCH: We don't really have the main concept of the album but we just know what we love and we create every single song from passion and hope people are going to love it too. I sometimes listened back to the very first album and proud of it because it is so us.

Youve performed in festivals all around Thailand, could you share with us your favourite festival memory?

OAK: Every single one! I would love to thank all of my fans for coming to each one of our shows.

TUCH: My favourite moment was during the NEONPLANET, Safeplanet's solo concert. We were the opening act for them and it was our first time seeing that many people, it was the most beautiful (fanlight audience).

Where else in the world would you like to perform?

OAK: England! It's my dream place to go to visit.

TUCH: We would love to go to Japan because we personally love Japanese culture, story, food, animations, and atmosphere. And, of course, their music shops.

Outside of music, what do you both enjoy doing?

OAK: Drawing, sleeping, and playing with my rabbit.

TUCH: Spending time with people I love like friends and family and also playing football.

Five years from now, where do you see Anatomy Rabbit?

OAK: I dont actually know but we've made every song we have with all our heart and a lot of effort so we just hope that our music will get more well known.

TUCH: We want more people to know about Anatomy Rabbit. We hope to do a lot of live performances in places where we never been and catch people's hearts and attention. We want them to see that we are different and have our own style of music.

Share with us any upcoming plans for your music.

OAK: We're finishing up the second album and then start the third one which we are going to make in English!

TUCH: The third album will be different from our albums, so get ready!

Listen to Anatomy Rabbit's debut albumHolland Lop here:

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Introducing: Anatomy Rabbit on shaking up the Thai indie scene | - Bandwagon

Anatomy

Future State Swamp Thing Rewrites The New Anatomy Lesson – Bleeding Cool News

Today sees the publication of Ram V, Mike Perkins, June Chung and Aditya Bidikar's Future State: Swamp Thing from DC Comics. Going forward thousands of years to a world that Swamp Thing either saved or destroyed, depending on your perspective. With a Swamp Thing who has solved problems that initially vexed him. And it goes back to that classic Swamp Thing issue by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and Rick Veitch, The Anatomy Lesson. The comic that changed everything for DC Comics. That looked at Swamp Thing's body and found problems.

Lungs made of vegetable fibre, too course to allow oxygen to flow. And all the plant-made human organs that had no function at all in his body, created to fill a mental rather than a practical need. A mocking initiation of human life revealed that Swamp Thing was not Alec Holland, but the memory of him, preserved in vegetation.

In Future State: Swamp Thing, we get another anatomy lesson, that seems to recall the original one as it seems that Swampy has learnt a thing or two over the millennia.

Both the lungs that caused so much confusion and the rest of the bodies which the Swamp Thing is creating.

To recall another line from another comic written by Alan Moore,

VEIDT: But you'd regained interest in human life.DR. MANHATTAN: Yes, I have. I think perhaps I'll create some

Future State: Swamp Thing #1 is published today.

FUTURE STATE SWAMP THING #1 (OF 2) CVR A MIKE PERKINSRetail: $3.991120DC047| NOV207047 | DCC20110047 | DC Comics(W) Ram V (A/CA) Mike PerkinsFrom the ashes of a terrible war, life blooms anew in Swamp Thing's image. The remnants of humanity lie in hiding, forever in the shadow of the green god who now rules the planet. When the new avatar of the Green uncovers a stray human, a rebellion is revealed! But this Swamp Thing is no stranger to violent ends, and neither are his creations. If it's war humanity wants, it will be at their doorstepand Swamp Thing will never be the same! This title is fully returnable at a later date.Due Date: 11/27/2020 / FOC: 12/6/2020 / In-Store: 1/5/2021UPC: 76194137117700111

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.

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Future State Swamp Thing Rewrites The New Anatomy Lesson - Bleeding Cool News

Anatomy

We Sat Down With The Owners Of Miami’s Hottest Gym To Hear How They’ve Adapted And Continued To Expand While Being Impacted By Covid – Men’s Journal

Mens Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Questions? Reach us at [emailprotected].

Are you looking to start off the New Year with a fitness-based resolution? Then youll need all the help you can get. What you need to do, if youre in the Miami area, is look for the nearest Anatomy location and sign up now. Because the hottest gym in Miami has made the adjustments necessary in COVID times to get you on the right track.

Founded in 2014 as a collaboration among fitness, sports science, and nightlife veterans, Anatomy is a health and wellness sanctuary with locations in Miami Beach, Midtown Miami, inside the 1 Hotel South Beach, and Coconut Grove (slated to open Spring 2021).

Anatomy offers propriety programming, influenced by sports performance and the science of strength conditioning to provide members and guests a life-enriching community where they can sweat, enhance, and recover. The innovative concept combines state-of-the-art fitness equipment, proprietary personal training, and indoor/outdoor group fitness programming, with recovery and regeneration components including hot and cold plunges, infrared and cold saunas, and eucalyptus steam room. Anatomy is a holistic wellness experience fully equipped to address the unique needs and goals of its member.

Each location offers additional custom amenities based upon the needs of their community, including Vitamin Infusions by VitaSquad, hair & spa services, on-site spray tanning, top-of-the-line chiropractic, and physical therapy services, Kids Club program, and Endermologie.

Club locations include:

Anatomy @ Miami Beach: 1220 20th St, Miami Beach, FL

Anatomy @ Midtown: 3415 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL

Anatomy @ 1 Hotel South Beach: 2341 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL

Anatomy @ Coconut Grove: 3385 Pan American Drive, Coconut Grove, FL.

For more information visit http://www.anatomyfitness.com

Below, you can see our interview with the owners of Anatomy to hear about Anatomy and how they have changed with the times due to COVID.

Anatomy was founded in 2014, as a collaboration among fitness, sports science and hospitality veterans, to bring members and guests a life-enriching community where they can sweat, enhance, and recover together. Influenced by sports performance and the science of strength conditioning, the concept wasnt created to serve solely as a gym so to speak, but more so as a holistic wellness experience, built off of a sense of community and culture. I brought in my many years of nightlife and hospitality experience, while Marc Megna, a former NFL athlete and current Strength & Conditioning coach, brought in his extensive fitness experience. Anatomy currently has three open locations: Miami Beach, Midtown Miami and inside the 1 Hotel South Beach, with a 4th location opening in Coconut Grove in spring 2021. Each location offers custom amenities based upon the needs of the surrounding neighborhood, including Vitamin Infusions by VitaSquad, hair & spa services, on-site spray tanning, top-of-the-line chiropractic and physical therapy services, Kids Club programs, and Endermologie. Chris Paciello, Founder and Co-owner

Community is the real backbone of Anatomy, where we believe culture is everything. We work hard to provide our members and guests exceptional individual experiences in a safe and comfortable environment. We have a strong communal fitness philosophy here at Anatomy, so when we say culture is everything, we truly mean just that. Its become a mantra that has brought everyone together, even more so during the pandemic. During this time, weve also introduced some new programming and initiatives, such as our recent partnership with Tremble, which offers Tremble proprietary mega reformer classes to both members and non-members at our Midtown and Miami Beach locations, plus theres our additional added-value partnerships with local Miami establishments, Joia Beach, Pura Vida, and Reset Cryotherapy. Weve also launched new amenities in our clubs, added in new equipment, and have prioritized our safety protocols to the highest of standards to abide by city CDC guidelines, in efforts to provide a comfortable and safe environment for our guests and staff. David Geller, Chief Operating Officer and Partner

Weve never really considered ourselves a gym. Intrinsically, we are a health and wellness retreat that offers a welcoming environment of supportive individuals who genuinely want to be a part of the community that they work out in. Whether through our interactive group classes, specially curated personal training programs, charity initiatives, or our specific attention to detail ingrained in all of our services, we aim really to be a health & wellness safe haven for our members. Consequently, many of our members have developed genuine friendships with one another. Theres a lot of pride and real passion that comes out of working out at Anatomy. Chris Paciello, Founder and Co-owner

For starters, we moved all of our indoor group classes to our expansive outdoor turf area at our Miami Beach location. We also expanded our Midtown location by tapping into the third floor of the building, adding an extra 11,000 sq. ft. of workout space to ensure our members can safely and comfortably maintain social distancing throughout our group classes. We also recently launched a partnership with Tremble, a local Miami-born Pilates concept, offering members even more classes in the Anatomy group fitness schedule at both of our locations to give an added benefit to our overall member experience. Marc Megna, Founder and Co-owner

Our personal training programming has grown stronger in light of the pandemic, as our members have found that one-on-one personal attention is simply more favorable during this time. Our clientele in particular prioritizes health and wellness. Whether indoors or outdoors, our personal training programming provides an opportunity for our members to buckle down and reaffirm their commitment with everything else going on. In turn, the demand for personal training has definitely gone up. Marc Megna, Founder and Co-owner

Our main focus as a brand right now is continuing to make the Anatomy experience special for our clients during these times. We are very excited to be growing in 2021 with an opening in Coconut Grove. Simultaneously, we are continuing to focus our efforts in expanding with a number of new locations in consideration at the moment. Also, our partnership with the 1 Hotel South Beach has been extremely successful and we are cultivating this relationship with 1 Hotels, even further. In the coming year, we will be expanding into additional 1 Hotel properties around the country. COVID has not slowed us down; it has actually allowed us to hone in on our community-driven brand goals and continue to develop. David Geller, Chief Operating Officer and Partner

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We Sat Down With The Owners Of Miami's Hottest Gym To Hear How They've Adapted And Continued To Expand While Being Impacted By Covid - Men's Journal

Anatomy

New anatomy centre at University of Sunderland approved to help train surgeons of the future and skill-up other medical staff – Sunderland Echo

The University of Sunderland has won planning permission from Sunderland City Council for a new cadaveric centre.

When completed, the centre will be key to the newly established School of Medicine alongside providing training for other students within the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing.

The centre at the universitys City Campus will also benefit many of the regions current surgeons and surgical trainees, providing vital facilities.

Debs Patten, Professor of Anatomy at the university, said the centre will bring huge benefits to the university and the region.

We deliver anatomy teaching to a range of healthcare education programmes across the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing using a blended approach of virtual dissection, digital and clinical imaging, portable ultrasound and living anatomy as well as using anatomical models, she said.

These learning resources are greatly appreciated by our students and staff, but undoubtedly, the inclusion of cadaveric anatomy will be of huge benefit to our institution and indeed the region.

Anatomy is widely appreciated as being one of the most significant elements of medical education.

Digital resources are highly effective educational tools, but cannot reproduce the variability and complexity of the human body and for this reason, medical students and their educators consider cadaveric anatomy to be the gold standard for anatomy education.

Most UK medical students will study cadaveric anatomy in fact only a handful of UK medical schools do not offer cadaveric anatomy but cadaveric provision for allied healthcare students is often limited.

Our facility will offer cadaveric provision for our medicalstudents and our allied healthcare students.

The facility will allow learners to improve their depth perception, spatial orientation and visualization of body structures below the skin.

Professor Patten added: A hands-on experience uniquely provides authentic tactile information on tissue texture which, when coupled with 3D visualization of anatomic structures, offers learners highly memorable learning experiences.

In addition, cadaveric anatomy is often students first encounter with death and it provides educators with a unique opportunity to teach students about death and to respect their patient at all times, in life and in death.

As well as the universitys medical students, the centre will be used by those on other programmes including paramedicine, physiotherapy, nursing and others.

Professor Patten went on to say: Moreover, the opportunity to provide a cadaveric facility and resources will be of great benefit to our surgeons and surgical trainees across the region as we will be able to host cadaveric Continued Professional Development (CPD) Courses.

Provision of CPD for surgeons will enhance our reputation and have positive impact within the region, providing training and research opportunities for our surgical colleagues.

Andrew Bumfrey, associate director of Space Architect, who designed the new centre, welcomed the planning approval.

It has been fantastic to closely collaborate with the School of Medicine to create this unique brief, generate a bespoke design response and achieve full planning approval, he said.

The project provides a great future for the teaching of anatomy and further enhances the schools facilities.

The new building will support a range of dedicated, state-of-the-art learning environments for staff and students, influencing the education of future generations of doctors, nurses and other key healthcare workers.

The news has also been welcomed by Dr Ian Pattison, Clinical Chair of NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group.

This new learning facility is a fantastic addition to the medical and surgical graduate offer in Sunderland and will help set the University of Sunderland as a centre of excellence in surgical training, he said.

The practical education that will be provided here will ensure that graduates are equipped with the specialist skills required to help patients for the whole of the North East region.

Work on the centre is expected to begin in around six weeks.

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New anatomy centre at University of Sunderland approved to help train surgeons of the future and skill-up other medical staff - Sunderland Echo

Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy: 10 Best Maggie Pierce Moments From The Show – Screen Rant

Although she hasn't been on the show as long as the other surgeons, Maggie Pierce has definitely become one of the most underrated characters.

The character of Maggie Pierce was introduced to the Grey's Anatomy universe at the end of season 10. Since then, she has become one of the central characters on the show. Coming in as the new head of cardiothoracic surgery which was Cristina's turf, and revealing herself to be Ellis Grey's biological daughter meant that she was immediately implicated in a lot of storylines on the show.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 5 Ways Alex Was The New Cristina (& 5 Ways It Was Maggie)

Maggie is an incredibly talented and successful surgeon, who is passionate about perfection and doing things right. She takes time to think things through and makes very sensible decisions about everything. Here are some of Maggie's best moments from the show so far.

Viewers first meet Maggie when she's interviewing for the Head of the Cardio department. Cristina runs the interview and is annoyed by the fact that Maggie had completed both high school and med school early, and had already been the Head of the department at another institution for two years.

From the get-go, fans get a glimpse of how talented and successful Maggie is. And how that could be potentially seen as annoying by some people.

The first time that Maggie offers to babysit Meredith's kids is quite a cute moment. She lists all the ways in which she's qualified to babysit children, starting from being registered as a babysitter when she was a teenager.

Maggie tells Meredith that she's the sort of friend who you can lean on. Maggie's genuine excitement at the prospect of babysitting her niece and nephew shows what an incredibly sweet person she is.

When Sabi died due to complications from the surgery, Maggie just quit surgery and holed up in her house. No one was able to get through to her. Richard was the one who kept pushing her and explained how to be imperfect was to be human.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 5 Times Richard Webber Was An Overrated Character (& 5 He Was Underrated)

Maggie realized that no one had told her this before and it was something that helped her a lot. Richard being able to get through a really upset Maggie was a nice bonding moment between the two.

When Bailey's mother was close to her death because of Covid-19 complications, Maggie was able to relate very closely with her. Their interaction on the bench outside where they talked, not just about their mothers' deaths, but the things their mothers had inspired them to do was such a beautiful moment of camaraderie between the two.

They frankly spoke about the ways in which their schools and guidance counselors have very unsubtly tried to make them feel out of place, but how they would overcome all that.

Amelia and Meredith are two really strong personalities who, at certain points in time, were constantly at odds with each other. The three "sisters" lived together in Meredith's old house. Maggie had to be the mediator between them on several occasions.

Maggie has infinite patience when it comes to both of them, and she tried her best to smooth things over with them. It is quite funny to actually see Maggie try to keep Meredith and Amelia both civil.

Maggie Pierce and Winston Ngudu hit it off brilliantly at the conference. Their first date was a long one, and they both seemed so happy and excited to be with each other. It was incredible how they immediately got together so well, and Maggie's cute crush coming to fruition was wonderful to watch.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 5 Characters To Invite Over For The Holidays (& 5 Who Would Be Terrible Guests)

Especially considering the tragic state of her love life. Her interactions with Winston on their first date was quite amazing to watch because of the intense chemistry between them.

Maggie Pierce was probably the first person in the hospital to find out about Teddy's pregnancy. The already complicated situation was made further complicated by the fact that Maggie was aware of Amelia becoming closer to Owen, and how Teddy's pregnancy would be a bombshell for them all.

Maggie had to keep it quiet because of doctor-patient confidentiality, but she was struggling to keep the secret and kept hounding on Teddy to tell Owen.

Maggie puts Amelia in her place when Amelia comes to her with questions about whether she had inadvertently given someone the impression that she was being racially biased.

Maggie tells Amelia that she's not a spokesperson for all Black people, and to always check and consider her white privilege. While it was a brief conversation between the sisters, it was thought-provoking nevertheless.

Maggie Pierce showed how you can be in a solid relationship, and even in love, during a pandemic. The cute dates between Maggie and Winston were adorable, to say the least.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: Why Meredith & Derek Are The Best Couple On The Show

They used technology in the best ways possible to keep their connection strong, and relied on each other for getting themselves through the day.

Maggie gives many impassionedmonologues in season 17 about how the effects of the pandemic are disproportionately affecting Black and other minority groups. She talks about how it was systemic racism that led to this condition, and it is quite a heartbreaking reaction to see how much this was deeply impacting her. It was also heartbreaking to discover that this systemic issue wasn't getting as much attention as it should have.

NEXT: Grey's Anatomy: 10 Things We're Looking Forward To In Season 17

Next Modern Family: 10 Times The Main Characters Should Probably Have Gone To Jail

Vandana is a twenty-something student from Kerala studying in Chennai, India pursuing her Masters in English Studies. She prefers writing because she's no good at the talking business. You can read some of her other rants at : http://wheneverhoweverwhatever.blogspot.com

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Grey's Anatomy: 10 Best Maggie Pierce Moments From The Show - Screen Rant

Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Fans Want to See More of Tom’s ‘Softer’ Side – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

A show thats been on the air for 17 seasons is bound to have a few characters that people dont like. Greys Anatomy has had a slew of unlikeable characters, from Perfect Penny (the doctor that missed beloved Dereks brain bleed) to the ruthless Erica Hahn to Meredith Greys own mother.

One character that seems to strive for people not to like him is Tom Koracick. The neurosurgeon seems pretty full of himself, but hes really a good guy on the inside. Fans have caught glimpses of the sweet side of him, and they want more

Tom Koracick is a phenomenal neurosurgeon at Grey Sloan Memorial. Before coming to Grey Sloan, he was the Head of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, where he met Amelia Shepherd. He was her mentor and taught her a great deal.

When she learned that she had a brain tumor, Koracick was the first person she turned to for help.

Koracick comes across as incredibly arrogant, and spends a lot of time praising his skill as a surgeon. He purposely puts up a wall so people cant get too close, and this makes it difficult for anyone to like him. Hes actually a very caring person underneath the tough guy show he puts on.

Fans have seen the softer side of Tom numerous times throughout the series. He once helped April during a rough patch, when she was doubting her faith. He consoled Bailey after a miscarriage, and he is always thoughtful and friendly toward the pediatric patients.

When Bailey had the miscarriage, Koracick shared a story about his son. His son, David, died at 10 years old from a tragic accident with a baseball bat. It had been two weeks before Halloween, which was his sons favorite holiday. Fans saw the intense pain that Tom felt as he talked about his sons Luke Skywalker costume that he couldnt bear to put away.

Its clear that Greys fans would like to see more of that side of the prickly neurosurgeon. One fan on Reddit said, There was a time when Tom opened up to Bailey about losing a child. I think that softer side of him should be shown more. I really love how he actually cares about people around him but try to act cool. I think thats adorable.

RELATED: Will Teddy Altman End Up With Owen Hunt or Tom Koracick? Kim Raver Hints What Happens as Her Character Pick Her Person

Along with seeing more of Koracicks softer side, fans want to see more of him and Teddy. The two began getting to know each other when Koracick found her in the hospital lounge, massaging her feet after a long day. Teddy was pregnant with Owens baby, but after chatting, Tom learned that they werent a couple any longer.

Koracick fell for Teddy, but worried about her relationship with Owen. He became very involved with her pregnancy, and at one point, he found a house for her and the baby to live in. After Teddy had her baby, he went to the hospital to visit her, only to find out that she and Owen had reconciled. He told her he would be there waiting when things fell apart with Owen, because he loved her.

Although Koracick had promised to always wait for her, the latest encounter contradicted that. When Teddy tried to buy him a coffee and explain why she hadnt spoken to him much over the past few months, Tom asked her to leave him alone. He said he had been hurt so much and just needed to get over her.

So it doesnt seem too promising for Tom and Teddy, no matter how much fans are hoping for them to end up together One Reddit post summed up a lot of what the fans are feeling, him and Teddy had more chemistry in one episode than her and Owen ever had. But I feel like the show has been treating him like hes garbage, especially this season. Im not sure I want him to be with Teddy because she hurt him a lot, but I really hope he finally gets a happy storyline soon.

Things werent looking great for Koracick this season. Hed apparently given up on the woman he was madly in love with, and has COVID. However, in the last episode, he seemed to be looking in better spirits when he wheeled himself into Merediths room (who also has COVID) to chat.

The two joked around about who was a better surgeon, and it looked as if both were recovering well.

Most fans thought that one of these two surgeons hit with COVID would die this season. Killing off Meredith Grey would almost certainly mean the end of the series, while having Koracick die wouldnt change the show that much.

So for a while, many of us though that he would be the one to go. The winter finale might have people singing a different tune, however

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'Grey's Anatomy': Fans Want to See More of Tom's 'Softer' Side - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Immunology

Her dad was murdered. Her mom overdosed. Yet this Easton grad is studying to be a cancer researcher. – lehighvalleylive.com

Adryanna Jenkins improbable path from South Side Easton to Marshall Scholar at the University of Cambridge seemed impossible just seven years ago.

She failed her freshman year at Easton Area High School and was sent to Easton Area Academy to get back on track.

The 21-year-old biomedical student frequently missed school because she was trying to meet the needs of her four siblings and her mother. Her father wasnt available to help. He was murdered by his girlfriend in Bethlehem in 2007.

While helping her family shed frequently miss the school bus and had no way to get to school on time. By the time she walked to school or took a city bus shed be so late it wasnt even worth going.

She caught up on her classes at the academy the first half of her sophomore year and returned to Easton Area High School the second half of that year. After that, her mother overdosed.

I was very scared for her. I thought we lost her, said Nancy Smith, her gifted program advisor.

But Jenkins was able to overcome her troubled family history and put herself on a path to success. Shes poised to graduate Penn State University with a degree in immunology this spring. This fall shell pursue a masters degree in immunology in the United Kingdom under the prestigious Marshall Scholars program. She plans to ultimately obtain a dual M.D./Ph.D and become a cancer researcher.

Im really, really thankful and grateful to have received the scholarship, Jenkins said, adding, I have a lot of brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles. Theyre all proud of me.

Smith said Jenkins benefitted from counseling both at the now-defunct Easton Area Academy and later at the high school.

She said Jenkins was paired with another girl who had also recently lost her mother so each could see they werent alone in their grief. She was sent that summer to a multicultural leadership session at DeSales University. She saw others who looked like her on a track to success and wanted that for herself, Smith said.

That was a big change for her. I think she actually saw a future for herself beyond what she was living in, Smith said.

Smith said Jenkins came back to school her junior year ready to work. She hasnt looked back since.

Her academic experience includes a summer studying biomedicine at the Yale University School of Medicine.

A'dryanna Jenkins of Easton won a scholarship to study immunology at the University of Cambridge. She lost both of her parents by the time she was 16. She was a BioMed Amgen Scholar at the Yale School of Medicine in the summer of 2019.Courtesy A'dryanna Jenkins

She said she wants to become a doctor because there werent many Black doctors for her or her family to turn to when she was growing up. Its hard enough for underprivileged people to obtain proper medical care, and on top of that theyre skeptical of what doctors can offer and seek alternative medical treatments. Thats how her mother wound up overdosing, she said.

Having witnessed many of my family members resort to these risky alternatives, I became determined to better address the needs of marginalized groups by increasing diversity and representation in healthcare, Jenkins said.

She sees a career as a laboratory immunologist as an opportunity for her to help as many people as possible.

I was amazed that one laboratory finding could improve the lives of millions, she said. I realized that marginalized patients throughout the world benefit directly from research that informs the development of medical therapies.

She lived with four siblings but actually has 10 brothers and sisters. Shell be the first of any of them to graduate from college. She hopes other young people who share her socio-economic status see her story as proof that they too can follow their dreams.

You are not predestined to live the same life as people who are struggling around you, Jenkins said. You can go on and do great things and be anything you want to be.

A'dryanna Jenkins of Easton won a scholarship to study immunology at the University of Cambridge. She will graduate from Penn State University this spring with a degree in immunology.Courtesy A'dryanna Jenkins

A'dryanna Jenkins of Easton won a scholarship to study immunology at the University of Cambridge. She lost both of her parents by the time she was 16. She studied abroad in Berlin, Germany, in 2019.Courtesy A'dryanna Jenkins

Initially conceived as a way to strengthen U.K. and U.S. relations after World War II, and a thank you from the U.K. for its namesake -- the Marshall Plan -- the Marshall Scholarship program gave U.S. applicants their choice of study at any British university. The program has grown from 12 students awarded the scholarship in 1953 to 46 students in 2021.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.

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Her dad was murdered. Her mom overdosed. Yet this Easton grad is studying to be a cancer researcher. - lehighvalleylive.com

Immunology

Nektar Appoints Dr. Brian Kotzin as Interim Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development – PRNewswire

"We are pleased that Dr. Kotzin will take on this key role on our development team at Nektar," said Jonathan Zalevsky, Chief R&D Officer of Nektar Therapeutics. "Since he joined Nektar in 2017, Dr. Kotzin has demonstrated strong leadership and strategic insight. He has extensive development experience and over 30 years of expertise in immunology and his strategic guidance will be invaluable toNektaras we continue to execute on development activities for our immune-oncology and immunology pipeline."

Brian Kotzin, MD added, "I am honored to expand my role at Nektar and work alongside Dr. Zalevsky. This is an exciting time for the company with multiple registrational studies underway in a range of tumor types for BEMPEG, a broadening clinical program for NKTR-358 in a number of auto-immune disorders, and an emerging opportunity for NKTR-255 in both hematological malignancies and solid tumors."

While at Nektar, Dr. Kotzin has spearheaded the NKTR-358 development program partnered with Eli Lilly & Co. and he has also served as a development program lead for early development of NKTR-255 and NKTR-262. Dr. Kotzin was previously at Amgen for 11 years, where he served as Vice President, Global Clinical Development and Head of the Inflammation Therapeutic area directing the global development efforts for Amgen product candidates, including all immunology programs. During his tenure at Amgen, he also served as Vice President of Translational Sciences and Head of Medical Sciences/Early Development, where he was responsible for the planning and execution of early-phase clinical development in all therapeutic areas as well as the discovery and implementation of pharmacodynamic biomarkers and clinical immunology support for clinical studies. Prior to joining Amgen, Dr. Kotzin served as Head of Clinical Immunology in the Department of Medicine and as director of the Autoimmunity Center of Excellence at theUniversity of Colorado Health Sciences CenterinDenver. He previously held the position of Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Immunology at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center inDenver. In addition to academic posts in rheumatology and microbiology/immunology, Dr. Kotzin served at the Veterans Administration Medical Center inDenveras chief of the Rheumatology Section. Dr. Kotzin received a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Southern California and an M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in rheumatology and medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. He was also a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is board certified in rheumatology and internal medicine.

"Over the past two years, Wei has played a leadership role in recruiting an experienced clinical development organization and executing a late-stage clinical development strategy for BEMPEG, positioning it for future success. I would like to thank him for his contributions to Nektar, and wish him the best in his next opportunity," continued Zalevsky.

About NektarNektar Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company with a robust, wholly owned R&D pipeline of investigational medicines in oncology, immunology, and virology as well as a portfolio of approved partnered medicines. Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional operations in Huntsville, Alabama and Hyderabad, India. Further information about the company and its drug development programs and capabilities may be found online at http://www.nektar.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements which can be identified by words such as: "will," "develop," "may" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the therapeutic potential of bempegaldesleukin (BEMPEG), NKTR-255, NKTR-358, and NKTR-262, as well as the availability of results and outcomes from clinical studies of our drug candidates. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, anticipated events and trends, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: (i) our statements regarding the therapeutic potential of our drug candidates are based on preclinical and clinical findings and the expected therapeutic potential for each of our drug candidates is subject to change as research and development continue; (ii) our drug candidates are in clinical development and the risk of failure remains high and failure can unexpectedly occur at any stage for one or more of the indications being studied prior to regulatory approval due to lack of sufficient efficacy, safety considerations or other factors that impact drug development; (iii) data reported from ongoing preclinical and clinical trials are necessarily interim data only and the final results will change based on continuing observations; (iv) scientific discovery of new medical breakthroughs is an inherently uncertain process and the future success of potential new drug candidates (such as bempegaldesleukin, NKTR-255, NKTR-358, and NKTR-262) is therefore very uncertain and unpredictable; (v) the timing of the commencement or end of clinical studies and the availability of clinical data may be delayed or unsuccessful due to regulatory delays, slower than anticipated patient enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, evolving regulatory requirements, clinical trial design, clinical outcomes, delays caused by our collaboration partners, and enrollment competition; (vi) patents may not issue from our patent applications for our drug candidates, patents that have issued may not be enforceable, or additional intellectual property licenses from third parties may be required; and (vii) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in Nektar's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2020. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Contact:

For Investors:Vivian Wu of Nektar Therapeutics628-895-0661[emailprotected]

For Media:Dan Budwick of 1AB973-271-6085[emailprotected]

SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics

http://www.nektar.com

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Nektar Appoints Dr. Brian Kotzin as Interim Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development - PRNewswire

Immunology

If you’ve had Covid-19, do you still need a vaccine? Here’s what the experts say. – The Daily Briefing

The United States has just started rolling out the country's two authorized Covid-19 vaccines, but Vox's Brian Resnick writes that some of the more than 20 million Americans who've had Covid-19 are wondering: Do I need to get vaccinated?

Your top resources on the Covid-19 vaccine

According to Resnick, some people who've had Covid-19 may question whether they need to be vaccinated because their bodies have already mounted an immune response against the novel coronavirus and Covid-19and that immune response could mean they've developed some degree of protection against the virus and the disease. In fact, Resnick writes, scientists in lab studies have found that most people who've contracted the novel coronavirus develop neutralizing antibodies that can render the virus "harmless."

Nevertheless, immunologists and vaccine experts told Resnick that people who've had Covid-19 should get inoculated once vaccines become widely available. Why?

One of the main reasons why experts think everyone should receive a Covid-19 vaccination, including those who've had Covid-19, is because everyone's immune system responds differently to the virus, Resnick writes.

According to experts, documented cases of reinfection from the novel coronavirus suggest some people who've contracted the virus may have had a weak or waning immune response to pathogen, meaning their body hasn't mounted a strong or lasting immunity to the virus. Resnick writes that scientists generally believe when it comes to the novel coronavirus, "the worse the first infection, the stronger the immune response will be."

In an email to Resnick, Akiko Iwasaki, a professor of immunology at Yale University School of Medicine, explained that some people who've had Covid-19 "develop very high levels of neutralizing antibodies and are likely in no need of vaccines, while others develop undetectable levels of neutralizing antibodies" and therefore may need a vaccine to protect against the coronavirus and Covid-19.

Alexander Sette, an immunologist at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, said he and his colleagues have found that about 90% of people will mount a durable immune response against the novel coronaviruswhich can last up to eight monthswhile about 10% of people will not have as strong of an immune response.

However, Sette explained that it's not clear which of those categories patients who've been infected with the coronavirus fall into. As such, Sette said that not taking any precautionsincluding wearing a face mask, practicing social distancing, or getting vaccinatedafter an initial coronavirus infection is comparable to "driving a car where you're 90% sure the car has brakes."

That's why experts say people who've been infected with the novel coronavirus still should get vaccinated: to "level out the variability" in immune responses, Resnick writes. Covid-19 vaccines offer patients a more consistent level of protection against the pathogen, experts said.

"During a natural exposure to [the novel coronavirus], there are multiple factors that interfere with a robust immune response," Iwasaki explained. For example, "[t]he exposure dose may be too little." In addition, "The virus interferes with our immune system (both innate and adaptive) to block proper antibody induction," Iwasaki said.

In contrast, Iwasaki said, "vaccines are formulated to provide just the right dose" of the viral protein needed to generate a robust immune response, resulting in a "much more uniform and higher level of antibodies generated with a vaccine."

According to Sette, clinical trial data on the two vaccines currently authorized for use in the United States shows both vaccines have high levels of efficacy, which suggests the inoculations can produce robust immune responses in a majority of people.

Still, it's not yet known whether Covid-19 vaccines will boost a person's natural immune response to the novel coronavirus after an initial infection. Experts say, however, that an inoculation against Covid-19 likely won't cause harm to people who've already been infected with the novel coronavirusand there may be some potential benefits.

In an email to Resnick, Helen Chu, an immunologist and physician at the University of Washington, wrote that although scientists haven't yet determined whether vaccines will offer an immunological boost to people who've had a weak immune response to a natural coronavirus infection, she believes getting the vaccine could be beneficial, because "[a]ntibody wanes over time, and it is likely that the vaccine will boost your pre-existing antibody titers."

Scientists are still working to definitively prove whether Covid-19 vaccines provide an immunological boost to people who've already been infected with the coronavirus, though. According to Resnick, Moderna vaccine scientist Jacqueline Miller recently said the company is "anticipating data in the coming weeks" on whether its Covid-19 vaccine improves the immune response of people who've already been infected.

But in the meantime, experts say that once coronavirus vaccines become widely available, people who've been infected with the novel coronavirus should be vaccinated. "To be safe, I recommend getting the vaccine, even after you recover from [Covid-19], when the vaccines become sufficiently available," Iwasaki said (Resnick, Vox, 12/18).

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If you've had Covid-19, do you still need a vaccine? Here's what the experts say. - The Daily Briefing

Immunology

Researchers discover protein crucial to T cell metabolism and anti-tumor immune response – News-Medical.net

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that a protein called NF-kappa B-inducing kinase (NIK) is essential for the shift in metabolic activity that occurs with T cell activation, making it a critical factor in regulating the anti-tumor immune response.

The preclinical research, published today in Nature Immunology, suggests that elevating NIK activity in T cells may be a promising strategy to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, including adoptive cellular therapies and immune checkpoint blockade.

In a preclinical melanoma model, the researchers evaluated melanoma-specific T cells engineered to express higher levels of NIK. Compared to controls, these T cells displayed stronger tumor-killing abilities and improved survival, suggesting that increasing NIK activity may improve the effectiveness of adoptive T cell therapies.

NIK is a novel regulator of T cell metabolism that works in a very unique manner. Biologically, NIK activity stabilizes the HK2 glycolytic enzyme through regulating the cellular redox pathway. From the therapeutic point of view, we were able to improve the efficacy of adoptive T cell therapies in preclinical models by overexpressing NIK in those cells."

Shao-Cong Sun, Ph.D., Professor of Immunology, Corresponding Author

T cells generally exist in a relatively quiet state with low energy demands and little cell division, Sun explained. However, upon recognizing an antigen, T cells begin expanding and activate the glycolysis metabolic pathway to meet the increased energy demands of carrying out their immune function.

This metabolic shift is closely regulated by immune checkpoint proteins, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1, which act to repress T cell metabolism. Thus, immune checkpoint inhibitors can reinvigorate T cell anti-tumor activity by boosting metabolism. In addition, T cells begin producing proteins called costimulatory molecules after they become activated, which work to stimulate metabolism and the immune response.

Knowing that the NIK protein functions downstream of many of these costimulatory molecules, the researchers sought to better understand its role in regulating T cell function. In melanoma models, NIK loss resulted in an increased tumor burden and fewer tumor-infiltrating T cells, suggesting NIK plays a crucial role in anti-tumor immunity and T cell survival.

Further experiments revealed that NIK is essential for the metabolic reprogramming in activated T cells through its control of the cellular redox system. Increased metabolism can lead to elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage the cell and stimulate protein degradation.

The researchers discovered that NIK maintains the NADPH redox system, an important antioxidant mechanism to reduce the accumulation of ROS. This in turn leads to the stabilization of the HK2 protein, a rate-limiting enzyme within the glycolysis pathway.

"Our findings suggest that without NIK, the HK2 protein is not stable, and is constantly being degraded. You need NIK to maintain HK2 levels in T cells," Sun said. "Interestingly, we found that adding more NIK to the cells, you can further increase the levels of HK2 and make glycolysis more active."

As a potential therapeutic application, the researchers currently are working to evaluate modified chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in the laboratory engineered to overexpress NIK. In the future, they hope to explore other therapeutic approaches, such as targeted therapies that could manipulate NIK activity in tandem with other immunotherapy approaches, including immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Source:

Journal reference:

Gu, M., et al. (2021) NF-B-inducing kinase maintains T cell metabolic fitness in antitumor immunity. Nature Immunology. doi.org/10.1038/s41590-020-00829-6.

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Researchers discover protein crucial to T cell metabolism and anti-tumor immune response - News-Medical.net