Tag Archives: public-relations

Endocrinology

YPrime Research Reveals User-Centric eCOA Technologies as Key to Overcoming Challenges in Endocrinology … – GlobeNewswire

MALVERN, Pa., June 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YPrime, the leading pioneer in clinical trial technology, today released a comprehensive research report titled Endocrinology Clinical Trials: Advancing Research with the Help of eCOA Technologies. The report, based on a survey of clinical trial professionals specializing in endocrinology research, emphasizes the critical role of user-centric eCOA (electronic clinical outcome assessment) technologies in addressing the unique challenges faced by the industry.

The answers to several survey questions highlight the importance of patient-centricity in endocrinology clinical trials:

"At YPrime, we understand that every therapeutic area has its own unique challenges and requirements," said Mike Hughes, Chief Product Officer at YPrime. "By closely collaborating with patients, site staff, and sponsors, we develop eCOA solutions tailored to the specific needs of endocrinology trials. Our user-centric approach ensures that our technologies are not only cutting-edge but also intuitive and easy to use, ultimately leading to better patient engagement, higher data quality, and faster study timelines."

The report also highlights the growing adoption of connected devices in endocrinology clinical trials, with 44% of respondents already leveraging these technologies, primarily for at-home patient monitoring and another 46% considering adoption. In related news, YPrime recently announced the launch of its groundbreaking glucometer functionality, which integrates seamlessly with its eCOA platform. Developed in close collaboration with patients living with diabetes, this innovative feature promises to transform clinical trials with blood glucose endpoints by delivering a patient-centric, intuitive, and connected experience.

Please visit the YPrime website for the full version of Endocrinology Clinical Trials: Advancing Research with the Help of eCOA Technologies. The report offers valuable insights and practical recommendations for clinical trial professionals looking to optimize their endocrinology studies with the help of eCOA technologies.

About YPrime At YPrime, we streamline the clinical trial journey with a configurable platform designed for speed, quality, and certainty. With 50% faster IRT startup times, up to 30% faster eCOA launch times, and quality standards 50% above the industry average, YPrime can help you solve for certainty. Discover how by visitingwww.yprime.com or emailing marketing@yprime.com.

Media Contact Terry Rehm Head of Thought Leadership and Public Relations, YPrime trehm@yprime.com862-288-0329

Aninfographic accompanying this announcement is available at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3a9e66f2-0df1-4529-a9b4-91994c1fda44

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YPrime Research Reveals User-Centric eCOA Technologies as Key to Overcoming Challenges in Endocrinology ... - GlobeNewswire

Cardiology

PA Martine Altieri Brings an Obesity Medicine Clinic to Her Cardiology Patients – AAPA

PAs treat people with obesity every dayit affects every specialty

March 5, 2024

By Jennifer Walker

About nine years ago, when she was practicing in family medicine, Martine Altieri, PA-C, FMG, MHS, now a cardiology PA, was struck by how her collaborating physician addressed obesity with patients. He would tell them the long-held advice about treating this disease: They needed to exercise more; they needed to eat healthier food and less of it; they needed to fill half of their plate with greens. The patients really felt apprehensive about having this conversation because of the way he approached it and mostly blamed them for gaining weight, Altieri said. I always felt bad for them. I thought, Theres got to be another way.

During the pandemic, Altieri began to take courses on obesity medicine, completing the Fundamentals of Obesity Treatment course with the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) and the Obesity Management in Primary Care Training and Certificate Program with AAPA in collaboration with The Obesity Society. In these programs, she learned how to approach an obesity diagnosis and craft comprehensive, evidence-based plans for patients based on the four pillars of clinical obesity treatment: nutrition therapy, physical activity, behavior modifications, and medical interventions.

Then in 2022, Altieri found a way to formally bring obesity medicine into her work. She was applying for a position with MyCardiologist, a group of private practices in Florida, when interviewers asked what new ideas she could bring to their practice. Altieri expressed a desire to start an obesity medicine clinic tailored to cardiology patients. She was hired and has since been making that dream a reality.

Today, Altieri, who is based in Boca Raton, Florida, is focusing on building up the clinic to address obesity, which was classified as a chronic disease by the American Medical Association in 2013. She is also a leader, advocate, and educator in several special-interest groups and AAPA caucuses, including PAs in Obesity Medicine, for which she is director at large. Altieriwho is also the public relations chair for PAs for Women Empowerment and a co-host for the Journal of the American Academy of PAs (JAAPA) podcastvalues this role because she sees the importance of all PAs learning how to approach obesity with their patients.

Every PA should be interested in obesity medicine, she said. It affects every specialty.

Addressing Obesity in a Cardiology Practice Altieri graduated from medical school in Haiti before moving to the United States in 2008 to be with her husband. To become a physician in the U.S., she would have had to go through the lengthy process of taking the three-step United States Medical Licensing Exam and completing at least a three-year residency program. Then she learned about the PA profession through her sister-in-law, and realized that she could practice more quickly if she became a PA.

After graduating from the PA program at Miami Dade College in 2010, Altieri practiced in family medicine, urgent care, and hospital medicine before transitioning to cardiology. At MyCardiologist, about 80% of her patients are age 70 or older. Altieri has a full schedule in this specialty: She does rounds at the hospital, cares for patients in an outpatient setting, and spends a half-day a week doing implants of loop recorders, a device that looks for causes of cardiac symptoms, such as irregular heartbeats and palpitations.

Yet, Altieri still has undertaken additional responsibilities to support her patients who have obesity and other chronic conditions that can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. She recently finished developing a template and resources for the obesity medicine clinic, including prioritizing the medication list and working with a dietician to create food plans that are specific for cardiac patients. When creating these resources, she thinks about her patients backgrounds. If you tell a Haitian patient they need to follow a Mediterranean diet, they dont know what that is, she said. We have to be specific. I give patients specific food lists so they know what they can buy and eat.

[For more information on obesity, check out AAPAs Obesity Toolkit]

When treating obesity, Altieri has also stuck to one approach that she learned in the beginning of her courses: She asks permission before starting the conversation. Not everyone is available or willing to talk about obesity, she said. You cant just offer obesity management. They have to be ready. Altieri likes to ask, May I talk to you about obesity? If her patients say no, she knows it is not the right time to address this topic.

Altieri also manages the Ambulatory Patient Monitoring Program to offer earlier interventions for patients who have high blood pressure, heart failure, and/or obesity. This initiative focuses on at-home monitoring of blood pressure, oxygen, pulse, and weight. Patients use a blood pressure device and a digital scale that transfer their readings to their charts via the cloud. Based on these metrics, which Altieri checks monthly, she will schedule virtual visits for patients if changes need to be made to their treatment plans for hypertension or heart failure. Altieri estimates there are more than 170 patients enrolled in the program.

We are looking for opportunities to add patients who have recurrent hospitalizations for heart failure or repeated ED visits with uncontrolled hypertension, and who we feel would benefit from more care at home, she said. Our goal is to prevent hospitalization and reduce ER visits. And patients like the idea of someone looking after them.

Educating Communities About Obesity and More Altieri is involved with several groups and activities that focus on various aspects of medicine. For PAs for Women Empowermentwhich focuses on advocating and promoting leadership roles for women in the PA profession and healthcare in generalAltieri manages the groups social media accounts. She educates the community about initiatives like The Pump Act, which states that mothers in the workplace have a right to break time and a secure spot to express milk for up to one year after their childs birth, and highlights women who hold or have held prominent positions within healthcare.

In 2023, Altieri also became a co-host for the JAAPA podcast. Previously, each episode of this show was focused on summarizing and reviewing JAAPA articles. But Altieri and her fellow co-host, PA Kim Ketchersid, introduced a new concept: They started to interview the authors who published the articles.

And since 2021, Altieriwho is currently working on a certification in cardiometabolic healthhas been a founding member of PAs in Obesity Medicine (PAOM). This group offers periodic information sessions that highlight obesity medicine education programs for PAs. PAOM also hosts webinars on obesity medicine topics throughout the year, such as a recent CME presentation on approaching and treating obesity from the endocrine perspective.

PAOM, whose membership has grown by 32% in three years, also plans to hold a meeting at AAPA 2024 in Houston, Texas, where several board members will present on obesity medicine. The groups goal is to reach as many PAs as possible with education and resources about the growing specialty.

PAs treat people with obesity every day, Altieri said. The more PAs know about obesity as a disease, the more we can help our patients.

Jennifer Walker is a freelance writer in Baltimore, MD. Contact Jennifer at[emailprotected].

You May Also Like Experts Address Pressing Questions Regarding Pharmacologic Obesity Treatment Bilingual PA Ledyenska Ballesteros Has Built an Obesity Medicine Program to Serve Her Primarily Hispanic Patient Population TV Host and Wellness Kitchenista PA Jessica DeLuise Promotes a Food-as-Medicine Philosophy

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PA Martine Altieri Brings an Obesity Medicine Clinic to Her Cardiology Patients - AAPA

Internal Medicine

Nagasaki University Presented Results Of a Specified Clinical Trial On The Use of L. lactis strain Plasma For Patients With COVID-19 – Yahoo Finance

TOKYO, May 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nagasaki University presented the results of a specified clinical trial on patients with COVID-19 using Lactococcus. lactis strain Plasma*1 (L.lactis Plasma, a postbiotic), researched and developed by Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (Kirin Holdings). The results of this research was presented at the 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Respiratory Society on Sunday, April 30. Nagasaki University and Kirin Holdings have jointly filed a patent application for the findings of this specified clinical trial.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230510005547/en/

Specified Clinical Research Contents (Graphic: Business Wire)

1 Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM 5805 is owned by the RIKEN BioResource Research Center (https://web.brc.riken.jp/en/)

Since December 2019, COVID-19 infections have repeatedly caused pandemics, infecting 676.57 million people worldwide and killing 6.88 million (as of March 10, 2023). With the emergence of Omicron variants, the number of cases in Japan has increased, and the COVID-19 has become a more familiar infectious disease. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have introduced widely and patients with mild illnesses account for a large proportion of the affected population, only a limited number of drugs are available in patients with mild illnesses who are not at risk of developing severe illnesses, and treatment is mainly based on symptomatic therapy.*2 Therefore, there is eagerly awaited for an easily accessible, safe, and effective treatment for COVID-19 in the community.

L. lactis strain Plasma was discovered by Kirin in 2010 as a lactic acid bacteria that activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), which are a leader of the immune system. Previous basic studies showed that L.lactis Plasma stimulated pDC to have a first-line defense to viral infectious diseases. Previous clinical studies have also shown that L.lactis Plasma stimulated pDC and suppress the onset of an illness from influenza virus, rotavirus, and dengue. These scientific evidence of its immune function brought L. lactis Plasma registered as the first*4 Food with Functional Claims in Japan on August 2020.

Story continues

Based on the results of Kirin Holdings research on L. lactis Plasma, Nagasaki University, as a research institute with significant achievements in the field of infectious diseases, interested in L. lactis strain Plasma which may effect in relieving symptoms in patientis with COVID-19, and has decided to conduct a specified clinical trial from December 2021.

Since December 2021, Kirin Holdings has been engaged in a specific clinical research project led by Dr. Kazuko Yamamoto, a lecturer at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital (currently a professor and chair at the Division of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Gastroenterological Medicine (First Department of Internal Medicine), University of the Ryukyus Graduate School of Medicine). This is a multicenter, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial conducted at Nagasaki University Hospital as a core facility. The efficacy and safety of 14 days oral intake of 4 hard capsules containing L. lactis Plasma (400 billion L. lactis Plasma in total) or 4 hard capsules without L. lactis Plasma (placebo) was to be evaluated*5 by having 50 patients with COVID-19 in each group.

2 Approach to Pharmacotherapy for COVID-19 Version 15.1- the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases3 Secrets of Immunity - Kirin's L. lactis strain Plasma Research https://health.kirin.co.jp/en/about/about.html 4 The first brand in Japan to be registered with the Consumer Affairs Agency as a food with a functional claims for immune function.5 Yamamoto K, et al. BMJ Open 2022;12:e061172

1, Change in subjective symptom overall score (primary endpoint)

The results of an overall score analysis of seven subjective symptoms (Cough, Shortness of breath, fatigue, Headaches, Anosmia and Dysgeusia, Anorexia, and Chest pain) on a 4-point scale (0 points: not affected, 1 points: little effect, 2 points: affected, 3 points: severely affected) showed no difference between the two groups.

2, Anosmia and Dysgeusia (secondary endpoints) (Graph1)

The percentage of patients who scored 0 (not affected) for smell and taste dysfunction among subjective symptoms were high in the L. lactis strain Plasma group compared to placebo group after day 9.

3, Percent change in blood pDC (secondary endpoint) (Graph2)

While the placebo group showed a significant decrease in % pDC in the blood during COVID-19 clinical course, the L. lactis strain Plasma group maintained % pDC in the blood.

4, Percent change in SARS-CoV-2 viral load (secondary endpoint) (Graph3)

The L. lactis strain Plasma group showed a significant reduction of SARS-CoV-2 viral load at day 4 of treatment whereas placebo group showed reduction at day 8.

5, Safety and adverse events

No critical adverse events of safety were observed in this study.

Although this study did not show an effect on the primary endpoint, the subjective symptom total score, these results suggested that maintained pDC by the intake of L. lactis strain Plasma may have resulted in an early reduction of SARS-CoV-2 and early recovery of smell and taste dysfunction.

Nagasaki University and Kirin hope that L. lactis Plasma will become one of the new treatment or adjunctive care to patients with mild COVID-19.

About Kirin Holdings

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is an international company that operates in the Food & Beverages domain (Food & Beverages businesses), Pharmaceuticals domain (Pharmaceuticals businesses), and Health Science domain (Health Science business), both in Japan and across the globe.

Kirin Holdings can trace its roots to Japan Brewery which was established in 1885. Japan Brewery became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, the company expanded its business with fermentation and biotechnology as its core technologies, and entered the pharmaceutical business in the 1980s, all of which continue to be global growth centers. In 2007, Kirin Holdings was established as a pure holding company and is currently focusing on boosting its Health Science domain.

Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV 2027), a long-term management plan launched in 2019, the Kirin Group aims to become A global leader in CSV*, creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals. Going forward, the Kirin Group will continue to leverage its strengths to create both social and economic value through its businesses, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth in corporate value.

* Creating Shared Value. Combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230510005547/en/

Contacts

Press ContactCorporate Communication DepartmentKirin Holdings Company, LimitedNakano Central Park South, 4-10-2 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo+81-3-6837-7028https://www.kirinholdings.com/en/ kirin-cc@kirin.co.jp

General Affairs Section, Nagasaki University Hospital (Public Relations and Evaluations)1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasakihttp://www.mh.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/en/ mhweb@ml.nagasaki-u.ac.jp

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Nagasaki University Presented Results Of a Specified Clinical Trial On The Use of L. lactis strain Plasma For Patients With COVID-19 - Yahoo Finance

Genetics

SOPHiA GENETICS to Participate in Canaccord Genuity 42nd Annual Growth Conference – StreetInsider.com

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BOSTON and LAUSANNE, Switzerland, July 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SOPHiA GENETICS SA (Nasdaq: SOPH), a leader in data-driven medicine, announced today Chief Financial Officer, Ross Muken, will attend and be a panelist at the Canaccord Genuity 42nd Annual Growth Conference on Thursday, August 11, 2022 at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston, MA, United States.

Ross will join other industry leaders for the panel Leveraging Omics-Based Data and Analytics to Advance Precision Health to the Next Level, starting at 9:30 a.m. EST.

A live webcast and replay of the session will be available on the investor relations section of the SOPHiA GENETICS website at https://ir.sophiagenetics.com.

About SOPHiA GENETICSSOPHiA GENETICS (Nasdaq: SOPH) is a healthcare technology company dedicated to establishing the practice of data-driven medicine as the standard of care and for life sciences research. It is the creator of the SOPHiA DDM Platform, a cloud-native platform capable of analyzing data and generating insights from complex multimodal data sets and different diagnostic modalities. The SOPHiA DDM Platform and related solutions, products and services are currently used by more than 790 hospital, laboratory, and biopharma institutions globally. For more information, visit SOPHiAGENETICS.COM, or connect on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Where others see data, we see answers.

Investor Contact:Jennifer PottageHead of Investor Relations[emailprotected]

Media Contact:Don GranesePublic Relations[emailprotected]

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SOPHiA GENETICS to Participate in Canaccord Genuity 42nd Annual Growth Conference - StreetInsider.com

Cell Biology

Professor’s Drive to Help the Community Gets Underway for 13th Year | Newsroom – UC Merced University News

Merced is a community with a lot of poverty, made worse with the Great Recession in 2009 and the COVID-19 pandemic. To help people in need, Professor Patti LiWang has been leading a diaper and toilet paper drive for the past 12 years.

When we moved here, the recession hit. It was hard for us, a two-income family, so I understood it must be much harder for one- and low-income families, she said. Then I read an interview with a social worker who said she had seen people re-using diapers and taking napkins from fast-food restaurants for toilet paper. I thought we had to do something.

She arranged to put a donation box in the Science and Engineering 1 Building, where her department, Molecular and Cell Biology, is housed and told everyone she knew about the drive. People began donating, sometimes boxes of diapers, sometimes money. Over the years, a few others put donation boxes in their buildings and helped gather more goods.

LiWang takes the donations to the Merced County Food Bank, which distributes them either directly or through many local food pantries.

Last year, during the pandemic lockdown, LiWang took more monetary donations and gathered some boxes of diapers and packages of toilet paper from peoples front porches and doorsteps contact-free and managed to donate more than 6,000 diapers.

We need all size diapers, all size packages, she said. I usually buy the Target brand because the name-brands are more expensive, but we accept any kind.

The drive has begun for this year. Theres a donation box in S&E1 near the vending machines and one at the Downtown Campus Center near the Public Relations Department on the first floor.

If you would like to host a box in your building and can serve as the point person to let LiWang know when donations are ready for pickup, or if you would like to donate money (cash or checks), email LiWang. She also has a Venmo account, @Patricia-LiWang, to accept donations.

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Professor's Drive to Help the Community Gets Underway for 13th Year | Newsroom - UC Merced University News

Immunology

Race for the discovery of COVID-19 medications – Gnome Qubec, in partnership with IRIC, Universit de Montral and Mila announce funding of $1M in…

MONTREAL, June 17, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ -Gnome Qubec, in partnership withthe Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Universit de Montral, Universit de Montral, Mila Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute and McMaster University, is proud to announce funding for a new research project intended to accelerate the discovery of antiviral COVID-19 medications. Spearheaded by professors MichaelTyers (IRIC/Universit de Montral), YoshuaBengio (Mila/Universit de Montral) and AnneMarinier (IRIC/Universit de Montral), the $1million project was launched in fast-track mode on June 1, 2020.

The project combines genomics, artificial intelligence and medicinal chemistry to discover new inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. The use of genomic screens will lead to a better understanding of the genetic interactions between the virus and human host cells and thereby the identification of new targets for drug discovery. Artificial intelligence will be used to design novel chemical inhibitors against viral proteins and human host proteins on which the virus depends. And finally, with advanced medicinal chemistry, the team will be able to synthesize and test these inhibitors.

"We are very enthusiastic about combining our expertise in the fields of genomics, artificial intelligence and medicinal chemistry to understand how the virus interacts with human cells and to design new inhibitors of viral replication," said Michael Tyers, Principal Investigator at IRIC's Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology Research Unit.

"Medicinal chemistry will play an important role in this research because it will enable us to validate and improve new genomics and AI-based approaches to drug discovery. We are delighted to contribute to research efforts aimed at defeating this global pandemic," added Anne Marinier, Principal Investigator, Director of Medicinal Chemistry and Director of IRIC's Drug Discovery Unit.

Over the long term, this combined genomics/artificial intelligence approach could help significantly accelerate when compared to traditional approaches the discovery of antiviral medications for future pandemics. The approach can also be applied to the development of new treatments for cancer and many other diseases.

"This is an exciting project, first because of its potential to discover medications that could have a significant impact on COVID-19, then because the methodology used could be generalized to research into new therapeutic molecules in other areas. And finally, because the project raises research questions that are way off the beaten path, which will contribute to advancements in science as a whole," explained Yoshua Bengio, Scientific Director of Mila.

By consolidating world-renowned expertise in genomics, artificial intelligence and medicinal chemistry, this project is placing Qubec and Canada at the cutting edge of research in precision medicine. "At Gnome Qubec, we are especially proud of being able to actively contribute to the fight against COVID-19 by supporting such a highly reputable team of researchers. The project clearly demonstrates the important global role Qubec plays in genomics, but also in artificial intelligence," said Daniel Coderre, President and CEO of Gnome Qubec.

Selected as part of a joint Genome Canada-Gnome Qubec program, the project will also receive funding from Mila, IRIC and McMaster University.

Learn more about the project

About Gnome QubecGnome Qubec's mission is to catalyze the development and excellence of genomics research and promote its integration and democratization. It is a pillar of the Qubec bioeconomy and contributes to Qubec's influence and its social and sustainable development. The funds invested by Gnome Qubec are provided by the ministre de l'conomie et de l'Innovation duQubec (MEI), the Government of Canada, through Genome Canada,and private partners. To learn more, visit http://www.genomequebec.com

About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Universit de MontralAn ultra-modern research hub and training centre located in the heart of the Universit de Montral, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Universit de Montral was created in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter this disease. The IRIC operates according to a model that is unique in Canada. Its innovative approach to research has already led to discoveries that will, over the coming years, have a significant impact on the fight against cancer.

About Universit de Montral Deeply rooted in Montreal and dedicated to its international mission, Universit de Montral is a leading research university. It ranks among the top100 universities worldwide and among the five best French language universities. With its affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montral and HEC Montral, UdeM attracts over $500million in research funding every year, making it one of the top three university research hubs in Canada. UdeM has more than67,000 students, 2,300 professors and researchers, and an active global network of 400,000 alumni.

About Mila Founded by Professor Yoshua Bengio of the Universit de Montral, Mila is a research institute in artificial intelligence which rallies over 500 researchers specializing in the field of deep learning. Based in Montreal, Mila is a non-profit organization recognized globally for its significant contributions to the field of deep learning, particularly in the areas of language modelling, machine translation, object recognition and generative models.

SOURCE Gnome Qubec

For further information: or interviews: Ccile Vignes, Acting Director, Communications, Gnome Qubec, 514 702-2077, [emailprotected]; Nomie Desbois Mackenzie, Communication Advisor, Public Relations, IRIC, 514 475-7682, [emailprotected]; Julie Gazaille, Press attach, Universit de Montral - Bureau des communications et des relations publiques, 514 343-6796, [emailprotected]; Vincent Martineau, Head, Communications and Media Relations, Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, [emailprotected]

http://www.genomequebec.com

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Race for the discovery of COVID-19 medications - Gnome Qubec, in partnership with IRIC, Universit de Montral and Mila announce funding of $1M in...

Anatomy

The anatomy of UConn’s long, winding road back to the Big East Conference – CT Insider

On June 19, 2019, UConn athletic director David Benedict spent 21/2 hours on a conference call with the American Athletic Conference finance committee.

There was a lot on the agenda, so much that Benedict, the committee chairman, suggested they arrive early to the AACs football media day in Newport, R.I. in a couple of weeks to get in some more work. Hed even arrange for a golf outing.

Benedict is the type of person who likes to be as direct and transparent as possible with people. However, he was harboring a secret that no one at the AAC, and only a very small circle of people at UConn, knew. A secret that would make his involvement with the AAC finance committee moot.

UConn was leaving the American and going back to the Big East.

It was remarkable the secret had been kept under wraps for so long, especially with UConn in the midst of a presidential transition, and with several other people and entities needing to sign off on the deal.

One national basketball writer just about had the story and had been calling Benedict nearly every day for three weeks, but could never quite confirm it. However, on June 21 a Friday evening the news broke via a most unlikely source.

Terry Lyons, a St. Johns alum who worked in NBA public relations for 25 years and now runs his own website, Digital Sports Desk, had gotten wind of UConns move earlier in the week first at the NBA Draft, then at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell.

By Saturday morning, Lyons story had the attention of national media and fans alike. After years of rumors, UConns return to the Big East which had nearly happened a few years earlier, only to die on the vine due to UConns continued hope of someday joining a Power Five conference, only to gain steam again when the school finally decided to abandon those hopes was actually happening.

Huskies fans were ecstatic. AAC officials were shocked. Sure, they knew UConn wasnt overly happy about its conference situation. Long-term employees dating back to the original Big East had also witnessed West Virginia, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and later Louisville, Rutgers and the Catholic 7 depart the league.

But they didnt see this one coming.

Needless to say, Benedict wasnt invited to the finance committee meeting in Newport, and there was no golf event. He did show up to the AAC football media day. In fact, UConns departure has largely been handled with class by both sides.

Benedict was confident he had made the right decision for his athletic program. That point was hammered home a few weeks later, while attending one of his sons baseball games. A man Benedict recognized asked him to come meet his 7-year-old son, who had something to tell him.

I thought he was gonna give me a high-five or something, Benedict recalled.

Benedict bent down, and the youngster knocked off the ADs UConn hat while proclaiming, St. Johns is gonna kick your butt!

That is the stuff weve been missing, Benedict related. That father and son, even though theyre not our fans, theyre gonna be in our arena when we play St. Johns. We havent had that. I cant wait to see our fan base show up at Providence or Seton Hall, and I also cant wait for them to be in our arenas.

The feeling, apparently, is mutual.

I think its a great thing, said Providence athletic director Robert Driscoll. Ive always been a UConn fan. Its a blue-blooded college basketball program. Having been in the Big East for 20 years, I think it was a real loss when we were no longer playing them. With our fans, itll be the biggest game on our schedule.

After a long and winding seven-year road, UConn, a charter member of the Big East, officially returns home on July 1.

Itll actually be even better than it was before, in one sense, because of the excitement that goes with being back, said UConns Hall of Fame womens basketball coach Geno Auriemma. Because weve been gone so long, going back to it I cant imagine youre gonna be able to get a ticket to any mens Big East game.

A NEAR-DEAL GOES DEAD IN THE WATER

If there was one theme to Susan Herbsts eight years as UConns 15th president, in terms of athletics, it was getting the schools conference situation right.

We were like a feather in the wind of conference realignment, Herbst, who stepped down as president in 2019 and is now a professor at UConns Stamford campus, told Hearst Connecticut Media. I felt like we were getting battered and blown around. It wasnt any particular persons fault, or commissioner or league. We were caught in kind of a perfect storm.

In 2012, UConn was beaten out by Louisville for a final spot in the ACC, a crushing blow. A few years later, there was a flirtation with the Big 12 that ultimately fell short when that league decided not to expand. Always, a return home loomed.

In my gut, said Herbst, there was always this feeling that its not gonna be right until were back in the Big East.

Within a month of replacing Warde Manuel as UConns AD in March, 2016, Benedict was in Jim Calhouns office at the Werth Family Champions Center, asking for the Hall of Fame former Husky coachs thoughts about returning to the Big East.

There was no doubt in my mind that there was nothing wrong with the American, and I mean that very honestly, Calhoun recalled. I used the example that Gonzaga did just fine. But, with the emergence of Villanova being a national power and other programs moving up, I just thought the Big East was one of the three or four best basketball leagues in the country, and what a good thing it would be for us. And you take all the other things from recruiting to where youre gonna play to travel it would be a great thing.

Calhoun also had informal conversations with Herbst, board of trustees member Tom Ritter and others.

I wasnt asked about football, just basketball, Calhoun added. UConn basketball is much, much better in the Big East.

By several accounts, UConns return to the Big East started picking up steam around 2017. The Big East seemed very receptive, but was worried about one thing: If the ACC or another Power Five conference came calling, would UConn bolt?

UConn couldnt give any assurances. It had a football program to worry about, and the allure of Power Five dollars was simply too great. According to sources, the Big East looked for ways to ensure UConn would stay put, in the form of either exorbitant entry or exit fees or both. UConn wouldnt go for it.

Football was a deal-breaker. UConns return to the Big East was dead in the water. In fact, any potential move was hardly broached if at all when Dan Hurley interviewed for the UConn mens job in March, 2018, following Kevin Ollies dismissal.

Soon, however, there was a gradual realization that UConn wasnt getting a P5 invite any time soon. There was also dissatisfaction with the AACs new TV deal, which essentially gave all of the conferences rights to ESPN and put the UConn womens basketball teams important partnership with SNY in jeopardy though Benedict called the widely-held notion that the TV deal was the defining factor to leave the AAC wholly inaccurate.

What does that have to do with the impact (being in the AAC) has on recruiting in mens basketball?, he asked, rhetorically. It has nothing to do with that. It has nothing to do with the excitement our fan base has in returning to the Big East, playing against long-time rivals.

There was some thought that the Big Easts presidents might vote for UConns return to the league at their annual meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. in the summer of 2018. It didnt happen, but over the ensuing months, particularly the following winter, talks rekindled and things started to take off. The decision-making was done among the Big East presidents; basketball coaches in the league were almost entirely in the dark.

Over the final few months, negotiations went pretty smoothly, according to Herbst. By June, 2019, it was essentially a done deal. Thanks to Terry Lyons travel itinerary from the NBA Draft to Cromwell, it soon became public.

ITS A WIN-WIN

There was no one source or one person, Lyons said of his scoop. What I can say, it wasnt Big East people. Most people think it was the Big East, but it was not. It was around the edges, thats all Ill say.

Lyons big scoop was short on details, like what would happen with football? The program would go independent, and though that seemed risky, Benedict has done some impressive scheduling for the program for the next several years.

Still, this move was essentially about one sport.

I dont think anybody would disagree that this is primarily a mens basketball move, Auriemma acknowledged, because its so important for our mens basketball program and how crucial its success is to our university. That ends up benefiting everybody else in the athletic department.

For Auriemma, it means leaving a league where, privately, even AAC officials admit to being disappointed no other program could step up and be competitive (the UConn women never lost a league game in their seven seasons in the AAC, though Auriemma rightly points out that in four of those seasons, the Huskies would have gone undefeated in any league in the country).

And UConn womens games about 16-18 per year will remain on SNY.

Of course, the Big East didnt need UConn back. The league was doing just fine as a 10-team unit. Villanova won a pair of national titles, the league earned numerous NCAA tournament bids per year and consistently ranked as one of the best in the country, its championship tournament at Madison Square Garden routinely selling out.

We could have stayed pat, PCs Driscoll pointed out, but we want to be the best basketball conference in the nation.

If any school may have earned reservations about the UConn men returning to the Big East, its Providence. At Big East Media Day last October, PC coach Ed Cooley said he felt the league gave Connecticut new life, gave their fan base new life, and criticized UConn for chasing football dollars the past seven years, adding, Shame on (UConn) for making that decision upfront.

Cooley reckoned Hurley and his staff will become even more of a recruiting force on the East Coast and, indeed, the Huskies have already reeled in a pair of prime 2020 New York/New Jersey recruits in Andre Jackson and Adama Sanogo the latter snatched right from Seton Halls grasp.

Itll make it tougher, because now weve got a real competitor in the Northeast again, Driscoll conceded. But Im OK with that. I think it really helps the Big East brand. Our brand has been phenomenal, probably better than anyone thought when we reconvened. But bringing UConn back only adds to that national cache. I think its a win-win.

Understandably, the move comes with initial costs to UConn. There is a $3.5 million entry fee (potentially as much as a third of the Big Easts asking price a few years earlier) as well as a $17 million exit fee from the American. UConns first two down payments toward that fee come from the AAC withholding the programs year-end, conference-related distributions from 2018-19 and 2019-20 (the latter of which wont be known until June). UConn will then pay about $1 million a year until the balance is paid off.

Then theres the $30 million exit fee UConn must pay if it leaves the Big East a number that gradually decreases after six years.

We didnt join the Big East to leave, Benedict pointed out. They didnt bring us in to leave, and we didnt join to leave.

There are many who deserve credit for UConns return: Herbst and other UConn administrators, Big East commissioner Val Ackerman and dont discount Auriemmas longtime friendship with Ackerman.

And Benedict, who deserves as much credit as anyone.

He worked hard at it, said Driscoll. He built a lot of relationships and did a good job of convincing us, Were gonna be a good teammate.

On July 1, UConn officially returns to the Big East.

Now, said Susan Herbst, its about every day, making the Big East feel as though we belong with them, we matter, and were an incredibly good partner.

david.borges@hearstmediact.com

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The anatomy of UConn's long, winding road back to the Big East Conference - CT Insider

Genetics

Leading National Genetics Foundation to Present Adapted Bikes to San Antonio-Area Children with Genetic Conditions – Herald-Mail Media

BETHESDA, Md., March 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine and genetics professionals from around the world will be on hand Friday, March 20th from 10:30 11:00 AM in the Henry B. Gonzlez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas to present bicycles to local San Antonio-area children from the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation and the Down Syndrome Association of South Texas as part of the 2020 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting.

The annual ACMG Foundation Day of Caring is sponsored by the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, a prominent national nonprofit genetics foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland.

DeAnna Navarro, administrator and community health worker with the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation, said, "Our hearts are filled with gratitude by the thoughtfulness of the ACMG Foundation. We are genuinely grateful to have been selected to partner in the 2020 Day of Caring! The customized bicycles will provide ideal activity for children affected by sickle cell disease that is low-impact and therapeutic. We are excited that this gesture will help to bring a sense of normalcy to their lives."

Nicole Galindo, development manager at Down Syndrome Association of South Texas (DSASTX), said, "We are so grateful and ecstatic to be participating in ACMG's Day of Caring this year. The DSASTX is beyond thankful to have been chosen to receive these awesome bicycles for some of our awesome families. Having a bike that is custom fitted to each child provides such fun, gets them outdoors and can be seen as a confidence booster."

"We all look forward to the Day of Caring event as a way to express our respect for patients and families who deal with genetic conditions every day. We are grateful to our sponsors and to our members for making this event possible," said Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, FACMG, president of the ACMG Foundation.

The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, whose theme is Better Health through Genetics, supports education, research and a variety of other programs to translate genetic research into better health for all individuals. The ACMG Foundation 2020 Day of Caring is supported by PerkinElmer, members of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), and the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine.

Note to assignment desks, news desks and editors: This is a wonderful photo, television and video opportunity. To arrange interviews with experts in medical genetics, local San Antonio-area families participating in the 2020 Day of Caring or to receive a complimentary pass to attend and cover the ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting, March 17-21, 2020 at the Henry B. Gonzlez Convention Center, contact Kathy Moran, MBA, ACMG senior director of public relations, at kmoran@acmg.net.

About the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine

The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a community of supporters and contributors who understand the importance of medical genetics and genomics in healthcare. Established in 1992, the ACMG Foundation supports the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) mission to "translate genes into health." Through its work, the ACMG Foundation fosters charitable giving, promotes training opportunities to attract future medical geneticists and genetic counselors to the field, shares information about medical genetics and genomics, and sponsors important research. To learn more and support the ACMG Foundation mission to create "Better Health through Genetics" visit http://www.acmgfoundation.org.

Kathy Moran, MBAkmoran@acmg.net

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Leading National Genetics Foundation to Present Adapted Bikes to San Antonio-Area Children with Genetic Conditions - Herald-Mail Media

Biochemistry

Chromatography Instruments Market Demand, Recent Trends and Developments Analysi – News by aeresearch

New 2019 Report onChromatography Instruments Market size | Industry Segment by Applications (Pharmaceutical Industry, Biochemistry, Food and Beverage Testing and Environmental Analysis), by Type (Gas Chromatography Instruments, Liquid Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid Chromatography, Thin-layer chromatography and Other Components), Regional Outlook, Market Demand, Latest Trends, Chromatography Instruments Industry Share & Revenue by Manufacturers, Company Profiles, Growth Forecasts 2025.Analyzes current market size and upcoming 5 years growth of this industry.

The report also assesses driving forces of Chromatography Instruments market and changing dynamics which have been examined as growth-boosting factor. Also, the Chromatography Instruments study sheds light on limitations and restraints that could probably become obstruction while the Chromatography Instruments industry is proceeding to achieve substantial revenue. The report also aids readers to gain in-depth knowledge of a Chromatography Instruments market environment that comprises terms such as entry barriers, and trading policies as well as regulatory, political, financial and social concerns that may also hamper Chromatography Instruments market growth momentum.

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The study includes the profiles of key players in the Chromatography Instruments market with a significant global and/or regional presence. The study on the global Chromatography Instruments market includes qualitative factors such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities. The study covers the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market segmented based on type, technology, and vertical. Moreover, the study provides similar information for the key geographies.

With the clear insight this report also helps in understanding Chromatography Instruments market dynamics, structure by analyzing the Chromatography Instruments market segments, and project the Chromatography Instruments market size. Actual market sizes and forecasts have been provided for all the above-mentioned segments.

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The Chromatography Instruments Analysis report offers an entire substantial study of the Chromatography Instruments market, key tactics followed by leading Chromatography Instruments industry Players and impending segments. The previous and current Chromatography Instruments industry forecast analysis in terms of volume and value along with research conclusions is a decisive part of Chromatography Instruments market analysis report.

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Chromatography Instruments Market Demand, Recent Trends and Developments Analysi - News by aeresearch

Neuroscience

Phoenix Childrens Is the First-Ever Health System in the U.S to Use Medtronic Stealth Autoguide Cranial Robotic Guidance Platform for Neurosurgery -…

Pediatric Health System First to Use Groundbreaking Cranial Robotic System in a Patient Surgery

DUBLIN and PHOENIX, Jan. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nationally ranked pediatric leader, Phoenix Childrens Hospital, is the first-ever health system in the U.S. to receive and deploy the newly FDA-cleared Medtronic Stealth Autoguide platform. Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology, chose Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) at Phoenix Childrens as its first partner using this robotic technology. The highly advanced surgical tool is intended for use with the Medtronic StealthStation system, and Phoenix Childrens Hospital will use it in surgery for pediatric patients suffering from a range of neurological conditions.

Phoenix Childrens is proud to invest in the best possible technology for use while we provide outstanding care to children, said Daniel Ostlie, M.D., surgeon in chief and chair of Surgery at Phoenix Childrens. We are committed to being at the forefront of surgical innovation and having the most advanced solutions for pediatric patients.

BNI at Phoenix Childrens surgical staff have undergone comprehensive training with the Medtronic team as they prepared to use the Stealth Autoguide robotic guidance system in patient neurosurgery cases in early January.

The Stealth Autoguide is a tremendous addition to the neurosurgical teams tools at Phoenix Childrens, said P. David Adelson, division chief of Neurosurgery and director of BNI at Phoenix Childrens. Neurosurgery is such an intricate specialty, and having this technology at our fingertips perfectly aligns with our mission to provide state-of-the-art care to improve the health and quality of life for the children we see here.

Ranked a top pediatric neuroscience, neurosurgery and neurology program by U.S. News & World Reports Best Childrens Hospitals, BNI at Phoenix Childrens is eager to combine its deep bench of clinical talent with Medtronics cutting-edge innovation.

With our new technology deployed, we are thrilled to work with Phoenix Childrens and to support their mission of providing exceptional care for pediatric patients, said Dave Anderson, vice president and general manager, Enabling Technologies, which is part of the Restorative Therapies Group at Medtronic.

Phoenix Childrens Hospital Foundation received funding for the Stealth Autoguide from close community partners who support Phoenix Childrens in providing the best care by advancing pediatric medical solutions.

"We are extremely appreciative of the communitys support of the Stealth Autoguide, said Steve Schnall, senior vice president at Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation. We are grateful to the Del E. Webb Foundation, Thunderbirds Charities, and WINGS, the womens auxiliary board of Phoenix Childrens, for investing in this state-of-the-art technology."

About Phoenix Childrens HospitalPhoenix Childrens Hospital is Arizonas only childrens hospital recognized by U.S. News & World Reports Best Childrens Hospitals with rankings in all ten specialties. Phoenix Children's provides world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest childrens hospitals in the country, Phoenix Childrens provides care across more than 75 pediatric specialties. The Hospital is poised for continued growth in quality patient care, research and medical education. For more information about the hospital, visithttp://www.phoenixchildrens.org.

About Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's HospitalBarrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital heals children with neurological and mental health diseases and disorders so that they can have a happy and healthy quality of life by offering the most comprehensive inpatient and outpatient neurological care and services to infants, children and teens. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a leading Neuroscience Center for our collaborative and comprehensive approach to clinical medicine, Barrow at Phoenix Children's is largest pediatric neuroscience center in the Southwest. This is due in large part to BNIs commitment to education and research, along with the integration of pediatric neurosurgery, neurology, psychology, psychiatry, neurodevelopmental pediatrics and rehabilitation in the global care of children. Specialized medical equipment, pediatric patient rooms and pediatric specialists, in addition to a family-centered focus, make the institute and hospital uniquely qualified to treat complex neurological disorders in pediatric patients. For more information, visit:http://barrow.phoenixchildrens.org.

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About Stealth AutoguideTheMedtronic Stealth Autoguideis designed for accurate positioning of instruments to support a variety of neurological procedures. The technology can generally be used as a tool during stereoelectroencephalographies (sEEG), biopsies, and Visualase procedures. The Stealth Autoguide combines advanced software, navigation and instrumentation to enable accuracy during surgical procedures.

About MedtronicMedtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the worlds largest medical technology, services and solutions companies alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

-end-

David T. YoungMedtronic plcPublic Relations+1-774-248-2746

Ryan WeispfenningMedtronic plcInvestor Relations+1-763-505-4626

Erica SturwoldPhoenix ChildrensMedia Relations+1-602-933-5871

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Phoenix Childrens Is the First-Ever Health System in the U.S to Use Medtronic Stealth Autoguide Cranial Robotic Guidance Platform for Neurosurgery -...