Study reveals the mechanism of bio-inspired control of liquid flow, enlightening breakthroughs in fluid dynamics and nature-inspired materials technologies
Hong Kong, China

The more we discover about the natural world, the more we find that nature is the greatest engineer. Past research believed that liquids can only be transported in fixed direction on species with specific liquid communication properties and cannot switch the transport direction. Recently, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) researchers have shown that an African plant controls water movement in a previously unknown way -- and this could inspire breakthroughs in a range of technologies in fluid dynamics and nature-inspired materials, including applications that require multistep and repeated reactions, such as microassays, medical diagnosis and solar desalination etc. The study has been recently published in the international academic journal Science.

Global Lifestyle Brand Announces Partnership with Global Environmental Non-Profit Kiss the Ground to Expand on Their Commitment to Regenerative Agriculture
Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniia

Anthropologie, the global lifestyle brand, has announced their partnership with Kiss the Ground, the leading voice of the regenerative agriculture and soil health movement. Through this exciting partnership, kicking off during Earth Month, Anthropologie hopes to improve awareness, education, and engagement around regenerative agriculture and how it contributes to a healthier planet for all.

Mechanism Found to Determine which Memories Last
New York, New York

Neuroscientists have established in recent decades the idea that some of each day's experiences are converted by the brain into permanent memories during sleep the same night. Now, a new study proposes a mechanism that determines which memories are tagged as important enough to linger in the brain until sleep makes them permanent.

The M Factor Film exploring menopause debuts October 18
Los Angeles, California

The film by Emmy-Award-winning filmmaker Jacoba Atlas and executive producers, Emmy Award-winning journalist Tamsen Fadal, Denise Pines, and Emmy Award-winning Joanne LaMarca athisen premieres on PBS October 18th, coinciding with World Menopause Day. Despite its universality, menopause has remained shrouded in stigma, silence and misunderstanding, contributing to the broader women's health crisis.

IDTechEx Predicts Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles to be 4% of the Zero Emission Solution
Boston, Massachusetts

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have made monumental progress in the passenger car market, becoming a standard drivetrain option. The success in cars is also overflowing into other vehicle segments, such as vans, trucks, buses, 2-wheelers, and more. However, despite some key proponents, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have had a much tougher time getting to significant adoption. What are the major barriers, and where can FCEVs still be part of a zero-emission transport network?

How is Artificial Intelligence Changing Work?
Omaha, Nebraska

"It's hard to overstate what "work" means to humanity -- it's an integral part of what we do. A defining characteristic. From chariots to cathedrals, currency, jet planes, and colliders, our hunger for innovation is plain as day. But will our pursuit of technological advancements lead to further flourishing, or will we work ourselves out of a job?" -- Excerpt: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work.

Auburn University agriculturalists shaping the future of farming in Alabama
Auburn, Alabama

How challenging is it to farm sustainably? The answer is complex. While technological and scientific advancements have improved the resiliency of modern farms, there are challenges that today's farmers face in adopting conservation practices.

Masdar Launches UAE's first utility scale wind project with breakthrough low wind speed Innovation
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Under the directives of the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, inaugurated the UAE Wind Program.

Energy industry unites and demonstrates commitment to decarbonising at world's largest energy exhibition
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

ADIPEC 2023, the world's largest energy exhibition, closed with the global energy industry delivering a clear message that it is united in its commitment to decarbonise and to fast-track the energy transition, while continuing to meet global energy needs. The event achieved a record-breaking attendance of over 184,000, the largest edition of ADIPEC ever.

COP28 President-Designate calls for holistic ecosystem to drive climate action during London Climate Action Week
London, England

During London Climate Action Week 2023, COP28 President-Designate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, traveled to London to collaborate with British stakeholders to develop holistic ecosystems that connect policy, technology, finance, and people. During his visit, he collaborated with the UK Government on polices which enable greater climate investments, he galvanized investors to fund climate technology, and he consulted with youth climate advocates to help shape the COP28 agenda.

Guidehouse Insights Explores Solutions for Recycling End-of-Life EV Batteries
Boulder, Colorado

A new report from Guidehouse Insights explores the development of solutions for recycling end-of-life EV batteries.

Ignoring Trustees' Warnings is Not Standing Up for Seniors
Washington, DC

The Concord Coalition has said that this year's reports from the Social Security and Medicare trustees demonstrate an urgent need for action to avoid severe benefit cuts by 2034 for Social Security's combined retirement and disability programs, and by 2031 for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance).

MIT Technology Review Insights' Green Future Index 2023 third annual ranking sees progress wavering as atmospheric carbon levels soar
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Produced by MIT Technology Review Insights in association with Kyndryl, Intel, and Iris Ceramica Group, the Green Future Index (GFI) is the third annual comparative ranking of 76 nations and territories on their progress toward developing a sustainable, low-carbon future for their economies and societies.

NIBS Consultative Council Issues Report on Decarbonization of the U.S. Built Environment
Washington, DC

The National Institute of Building Sciences Consultative Council has issued its 2022 Moving Forward Report, looking closely at the climate emergency and the path toward decarbonization of the U.S. built environment.

Thiaw calls on the private sector to help solve Earth's environmental challenges, including climate change, drought, water scarcity, land degradation and biodiversity loss. Doing so will give people a chance to generate 50 percent more wealth over the next three decades, Thiaw says. "The world has a choice: Either we continue with the current nature-destructive path and lose up to half of the global GDP by 2050, or we take a sustainable land management approach to combat the current environmental crises we're facing."
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The interior design of our cells: Database of 200,000 cell images yields new mathematical framework to understand our cellular building blocks
Seattle, Washington
Working with hundreds of thousands of high-resolution images, the team at the Allen Institute for Cell Science, a division of the Allen Institute, put numbers on the internal organization of human cells - a biological concept that has to date proven exceptionally difficult to quantify.

Understanding how cells organize themselves under healthy conditions - and the full range of variability contained within "normal" - can help scientists better understand what goes wrong in disease. The image dataset, genetically engineered stem cells, and code that went into this study are all publicly available for other scientists in the community to use.
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Study Finds Global Business Leaders Anticipate Investment Cuts and Want Renewables As First Approach to Climate in Response to Europe's Energy Crisis, Economic Headwinds
St Louis, Missouri

As the world faces stiff economic headwinds and Europe grapples with a deepening energy crisis with global impacts, a recent survey conducted by FleishmanHillard found that business leaders around the world expect investment reductions in key areas while renewing desires for a balanced approach to climate and energy. They expect fossil fuels to be given a prolonged role given supply shortages in Europe and the UK.

New Rankings of America's Small Cities and Towns Offers Clues About How Local Economies Survive Global Disruptions
Bentonville, Arkansas
COVID-19 shocked the global economy, and the reverberations of that disruption were felt acutely in America's micropolitans, where resident populations number 10,000 to 50,000. How did some not only survive but thrive during the pandemic? That is the subject of Heartland Forward's most recent research report, Most Dynamic Micropolitans.

Those micropolitans at the top shared certain characteristics, including access to outdoor recreation, industries that focused on food production or processing and specializations in oil and gas. The data suggests that the strongest way to ensure sustainable economic development is industry diversification. Micros that also provide natural amenities are among those that avoided economic ruin during the pandemic.
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The two-day meeting was convened by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) at its headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica, to discuss the strategic role of the region's agriculture sector in tackling climate change, ahead of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) in November, and to coordinate regional positions for this forum. The session also encouraged the sharing of information and experiences that will support the action of the countries.
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US and Iceland Government Officials, Business Leaders Strengthen International Cooperation to Achieve Climate Goals
Washington, DC

In September, The Atlantic Council, the Embassy of Iceland and Green by Iceland hosted the U.S.-Iceland Clean Energy Summit, Our Climate Future. The Summit convened Icelandic and U.S. government leaders, businesses, and civil society groups to discuss opportunities to strengthen international cooperation to achieve ambitious climate goals. Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir; Iceland's Foreign Minister Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir; U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree; Iceland's Ambassador to the U.S. Bergdis Ellertsdóttir; and officials from the U.S. Departments of Defense, Energy, and State; joined top executives from companies including Microsoft, BlackRock, Carbfix, Carbon Recycling International, Landsvirkjun, HS Orka, ON Power, and Running Tide to discuss opportunities and challenges to accelerate public and private partnerships to advance the energy transition and achieve urgent climate goals.

Bank of the West Creates First Disappearing Billboard for a Disappearing Habitat
San Francisco, California

Bank of the West, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, is bringing awareness to the urgent need to protect kelp forests with its latest marketing campaign, "Before it Disappears." Bank of the West commissioned artist Andres Amador to create a sand billboard on Dillon Beach in Northern California to bring attention to the threat climate change poses to coastal ecosystems, and the role finance can play in advancing a more sustainable future.

Squaring the Circle: An Innovation Barn, Urban Lumber, And Food Forests
Charlotte, North Carolina
Consensus Digital Media presents episode #6 of Made In America: American Innovators, featuring Envision Charlotte, a public-private partnership between the city of Charlotte, Cisco, Charlotte Center City Partners, Duke Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy. Come along and see the environmental impact, job creation, and economic competitiveness thriving in the heart of an innovation center making waves in the Tar Heel State and setting a national example.

In this episode, we meet Amy Aussieker, Executive Director of Envision Charlotte -- she's at the helm of the Innovation Barn. This retrofitted old barn houses entrepreneurs and innovators leading the way toward creating and sustaining a circular economy. The industrialists at the Innovation Barn offer new solutions and ways to scale composting, recycling glass, using fly larvae to reduce food waste, and fostering "volunteer" forests.

Between creating a circular economy and energy monitoring and efficiency, Envision Charlotte has already helped the city of Charlotte and local companies save millions of dollars while also having a significant impact on carbon reduction. From a Smart City building project to Carolina Urban Lumber and Crown Town Compost, we meet just a few leaders and entrepreneurs stepping up to find solutions with the help of Envision Charlotte.
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National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors Statement on SCOTUS Decision in West Virginia v. EPA
Washington, DC
In their recent decision, the U.S. Supreme Court greatly limited the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants by curtailing its long-standing authority under the Clean Air Act.

The National League of Cities (NLC) and The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) joined together in an amicus brief in West Virginia v. EPA supporting the Clean Power Plan.

Responding to this decision, Clarence Anthony, NLC CEO and Executive Director, and Tom Cochran, USCM CEO and Executive Director, issued the following statement:

"Local leaders are on the front lines of battling the climate crisis – but we can't do it alone. This announcement represents a major step back in our fight to keep our communities safe from the devastating effects of the climate crisis, including stronger and more frequent natural disasters, extreme temperatures, negative public health effects, and more. Many cities, towns and villages will continue to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but this decision leaves us working uphill against this threat."
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LifeStance Survey Finds That 68% of Parents Have Seen Their Children Face Significant Mental and Emotional Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Scottsdale, Arizona
LifeStance Health, one of the nation's largest providers of outpatient mental health care, has released its State of Youth Mental Health Report, a nationwide survey by LifeStance with OnePoll that explores how parents are addressing their children's mental health. The survey of 2,000 American parents found that the majority are grappling with the mental health implications of the pandemic on their children and looking for solutions.

"When a child is experiencing a physical health condition, most caregivers don't think twice about reaching out to their pediatrician. Yet, emotional issues in children can be trickier to spot and, understandably, some parents may not know how or when to involve a mental health professional," said Dr. Anisha Patel-Dunn, Chief Medical Officer, LifeStance. "Mental health should be treated no differently than physical health -- they're incredibly intertwined, and both play a critical role in children's wellbeing and development."
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How Obesity Can Rewire the Immune System and the Response to Immunotherapy and How to Change That
San Francisco, California
When mice with atopic dermatitis -- a common type of allergic skin inflammation -- are treated with drugs that target the immune system, their thickened, itchy skin generally heals quickly. But scientists have now discovered that the same treatment in obese mice makes their skin worse instead. That is because obesity changes the molecular underpinnings of allergic inflammation, both in mice and humans.

For the new study, researchers at Gladstone Institutes, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and UC San Francisco (UCSF) teamed up. Their findings, reported in the journal Nature, shed light on how obesity can change the immune system and, potentially, how clinicians might be able to better treat allergies and asthma in obese people.

"We're living in an era when the rate of obesity is increasing around the world," says Alex Marson, MD, PhD, director of the Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology and a senior author of the study. "Changes in diet and body composition can affect the immune system, so we have to think about how diseases that involve the immune system might differ between individuals."

"Our findings demonstrate how differences in our individual metabolic states can have a major impact on inflammation, and how available drugs might be able to improve health outcomes," says Ronald Evans, PhD, senior author of the study, and director of Salk's Gene Expression Laboratory and the March of Dimes Chair in Molecular and Developmental Biology at Salk.
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The BA.2 subvariant is a reminder that hygiene can't fall by the wayside
Parsippany, New Jersey
As cases of what the World Health Organization calls the "Omicron variant of concern," BA.2, increase the world must reinvigorate its hygiene efforts or else risk a springtime COVID-19 surge.

Since the start of the pandemic, handwashing, mask wearing, sanitizing, social distancing and social isolation have become commonplace in a bid to keep COVID-19 infections at a minimum. While certain countries, including the United Kingdom, have since relaxed the rules and regulations surrounding such measures, the latest variants and subvariants highlight the criticality of maintaining such hygiene habits.

"Over the past two years, people have become more aware of their hygiene habits in a way they probably weren't before. It's now extremely clear how important good hygiene is for our overall health and just because the COVID-19 rules have relaxed, it doesn't mean our hygiene habits should too," said Simon Sinclair, RGHI Executive Director, adding that with these improved hygiene behaviors the world is now far better equipped to stave off other illnesses and infections.
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SARS-CoV-2 vaccination creates a strong, persistent T-cell response
Memphis, Tennessee
Scientists have harnessed T cells to better understand the immune response to mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The findings from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis were published in Cell. The findings suggest that some aspects of the immune response to mRNA vaccines remain robust six months after vaccination.

Much of the research on immune response to mRNA vaccination has focused on antibody levels, which can be measured by a blood test. However, this is just one aspect of immunity. Researchers wanted to better understand the specificity and structure of the T-cell response to vaccination.

Researchers focused on a certain kind of T cells in the lymph nodes, which facilitate antibody development in vaccinated individuals. The team used samples from Washington University as well as from the St. Jude Tracking of Viral and Host Factors Associated with COVID-19 cohort. The cohort was established in 2020 with hospital St. Jude employees who volunteered to have their immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination monitored.

"Our study lays out a new way of discovering what the T-cell responses are directed against in SARS-CoV-2, and found a surprisingly large T-cell response that is likely shared by over half the world," said co-corresponding author Paul Thomas, Ph.D., St. Jude Department of Immunology. "If your immune system is putting this much effort into seeing that particular piece of the virus, we need a better understanding of that interaction to get a full picture of how the immune system reacts to vaccination."
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Breakthrough Discoveries on Novel Features of Omicron Variant and An Anti-Omicron Antibody JMB2002
Shanghai, China
Joint research results from Biologics of Jemincare and Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has confirmed that JMB2002, an anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody (NAb) discovered by Biologics of Jemincare is still effective against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

A team of scientists led by Dr. Su-Jun Deng from biologics of Jemincare R&D Center, and another team of scientists from SIMM of CAS, led by Professor H. Eric Xu and Dr. Wanchao Yin, not only confirmed the binding and pseudovirus neutralization activity of JMB2002 against Omicron variant, but also solved the structures of Omicron spike protein in complex with ACE2 and JMB2002 respectively. Joint research efforts revealed the mechanisms of increased infectivity and immune escape of the Omicron variant at molecular level, and demonstrated the unique binding mechanism of JMB2002 differing from all reported NAbs. Detailed findings of novel features of Omicron variant and JMB2002 have been published on bioRxiv preprint website (Reference 1).

The latest research results indicated that JMB2002 had high binding activity to the Omicron variant and showed potent Omicron pseudovirus neutralization function. It is encouraging considering that most approved and clinical-stage SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody drugs have lost their neutralization activity or have shown significantly reduced neutralizing potency due to multiple mutations of the spike protein in Omicron variant.
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US Farmers and Ranchers in Action Partners US and Global Thought Leaders with US Farmers to Benefit the Food Systems of the Future
Chesterfield, Missouri
U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA) is one of -- if not the only -- organization that has successfully connected farmers and ranchers to food and agriculture stakeholders to co-create sustainable food systems through four tremendous back-to-back events in two weeks' time.

Beginning with the third annual USFRA Honor the Harvest Forum which brought together farmers and ranchers with agricultural value chain leaders in food, fiber, and energy to address the needs of the next #DecadeofAg. The more than 120 participants brought together 100% of the food and ag value chain for three full days of identifying and addressing specific actions to further innovation and investment that will be necessary to unlock the full potential of climate-smart agriculture nationwide.

Several key themes and action areas emerged during the plenary sessions, breakout discussions, presentations, and leadership talks including collaboration is key to moving the industry forward and ongoing dialogue and relationships must start with the farmers. USFRA Chairman and Nebraska farmer Anne Meis said of the Forum, "The leadership we've seen, the insight and tough questions we've heard, and the focused conversations must continue."

From meaningful investment to data privacy to elevating producers to educating consumers, the Forum focused on breaking old stereotypes and meeting this critical critical moment with a sense of urgency. "In this pivotal time, we can be leaders in tackling the climate crisis -- to be effective, we must work for and with farmers, ranchers, and landowners," said U.S Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack who addressed the participants on the first day.
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Threats to Employee Wellbeing Intensify as Pandemic Wears On, Study Finds
Boston, Massachusetts
Threats to employee wellbeing continue to intensify well over a year into the pandemic, as evidenced by a 21% rise in burnout and a 17% increase in somatic stress symptoms, a new study found. The study examined changes in overall wellbeing among 5,474 meQuilibrium members from a broad range of industries representing managers and individual contributors.

"Employee wellbeing continues to be under threat 18 months into the pandemic," says Brad Smith, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, meQuilibrium. "Our data shows that workers continue to feel the cumulative mental health impacts of the crisis in the form of increased stress symptoms, burnout, and diminished motivation. We need to take action now to protect employee wellbeing before the clock runs out."

The study also revealed a particularly large burnout risk increase among younger workers of 64%, which was nearly three times the increase for employees over 30 (22%). The increase in burnout symptoms is especially high among managers (+54%), hospitality (+48%), health care (+32%) and finance (30%) industry workers.

When it comes to gender differences, meQuilibrium found that although men and women are experiencing about the same rate of increase in burnout (+24% in women and +25% in men), men's somatic stress levels are rising at a faster rate than women's (+9% for men vs +3% for women).

No matter what job title, gender or industry, a key factor in wellbeing risk is employer support. Employees who felt strongly supported by their employers reported the highest levels of wellbeing and were less likely to report turnover intent.
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"Choose Fairtrade. Choose The World You Want." Campaign Raises Awareness Of Fairtrade's Positive Impacts on People and the Planet
Washington, DC
In honor of October as Fair Trade Month, Fairtrade America is launching its second annual, national campaign to generate broader awareness for how a simple action, like purchasing a Fairtrade certified product, can be a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of the almost 2 million farmers and workers participating in Fairtrade across the globe.

The 'Choose Fairtrade. Choose the world you want.' campaign features murals in three major U.S. cities -- Austin, Minneapolis, and Tacoma, Washington --that connect stories of the people who produce the things we enjoy every day, such as cocoa, bananas, coffee and more, to the positive impacts of Fairtrade. Now in its second year, this campaign brought inspiring murals to Denver, Los Angeles and Nashville in 2020. Throughout October, consumers can participate in online giveaways and learn more about Fairtrade via educational resources at choosefairtrade.org. When shoppers see the Fairtrade America label on a product, it means farmers were fairly compensated and the ingredients were sourced in compliance with Fairtrade's rigorous gender equality, fair wage, climate change and child labor standards.

Fairtrade America partnered with notable mural artists and key retailers in three major metropolitan cities where mural art is already a prominent part of the culture. Each mural features real farmers and a key benefit of choosing Fairtrade. While consumer awareness and purchase intent of Fairtrade products is increasing in the U.S., this campaign is intended to reach more Americans and educate them about the value of purchasing Fairtrade certified products. Visit Fairtrade's new Product Finder to easily identify and purchase thousands of certified products.

"We are thrilled to continue a campaign that beautifully celebrates and honors the hardworking farmers and workers who produce the goods we enjoy everyday, while overcoming tremendous challenges to do so," said Peg Willingham, Executive Director of Fairtrade America. "We hope this positive expression of Fairtrade's mission inspires shoppers to give more thought to the people behind the foods they purchase, and opt for Fairtrade certified products when possible. Choosing Fairtrade certified products actively supports initiatives that fight poverty, foster gender equality and more across the globe."
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Vaccination and education toolkit helps companies join the fight against COVID-19
Geneva, Switzerland
Widespread misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccines has generated public mistrust, resulting in vaccination hesitancy around the world. In an effort to promote protective behavior and maximize the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines that are now coming on stream, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has partnered with the University of Brighton, the International Social Marketing Association, and Anheuser Busch InBev (AB InBev) to publish a series of toolkits designed to support public authorities and private companies in their COVID-19 vaccination communication strategies.

"All actors, including those in the private sector, can play a role in the fight against COVID-19 by bringing their expertise to the table," said Estrella Merlos, Global Head for the Road Safety Training Initiative at UNITAR. "The challenges we now face with respect to vaccines are diverse, from how to ensure the vaccine reaches all corners of the world (and not only developed nations) to how to convince populations of its efficacy and benefits. We must overcome these obstacles to advance, as a global community, in the fight against COVID-19."

Private companies can meaningfully contribute to increasing vaccine uptake around the world if they work in close collaboration with government actors and local public health organizations. UNITAR's latest toolkit provides companies wishing to contribute to vaccination campaign efforts with guidance on how to work with local, national, and international public health organizations and government stakeholders to develop effective COVID-19 communication strategies. This is especially relevant given that trust in companies has been shown to have risen significantly during the pandemic, favorably positioning businesses to make a difference in public education efforts.
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Positive New Data for Johnson & Johnson Single-Shot COVID-19 Vaccine on Activity Against Delta Variant and Long-lasting Durability of Response
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Johnson & Johnson has announced data that demonstrated its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine generated strong, persistent activity against the rapidly spreading Delta variant and other highly prevalent SARS-CoV-2 viral variants. In addition, the data showed that the durability of the immune response lasted through at least eight months, the length of time evaluated to date. The two preprint study summaries have been submitted today to bioRxiv.

"Today's newly announced studies reinforce the ability of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to help protect the health of people globally," said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer at Johnson & Johnson. "We believe that our vaccine offers durable protection against COVID-19 and elicits neutralizing activity against the Delta variant. This adds to the robust body of clinical data supporting our single-shot vaccine's ability to protect against multiple variants of concern."

"Current data for the eight months studied so far show that the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine generates a strong neutralizing antibody response that does not wane; rather, we observe an improvement over time. In addition, we observe a persistent and particularly robust, durable cellular immune response," said Mathai Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Janssen Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson. "With each new dataset, we build on our solid foundation of evidence that our single-shot COVID-19 vaccine plays a critical role in ending the pandemic, which continues to evolve and pose new challenges to global health."
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Buck HR survey finds U.S. workforce 'sharply divided' on COVID-19 vaccination
New York, New York
Buck, an integrated HR and benefits consulting, technology, and administration services firm, released findings from its survey report indicating that nearly one-third (30%) of U.S. employees plan to take a "wait and see" approach to getting the COVID-19 vaccine, with members of the same group describing it as "not worth the risk."

The report, "Talking to employees about vaccine hesitancy" surveyed 820 full time workers at U.S. companies between February 25 and March 1. Leading Indicator Systems, which provides human capital research, conducted the study.

According to the report, approximately two in five American workers have at least some "anti-vaxxer" sentiments and 40 percent "don't trust the government's oversight of this vaccine." Brand preference based on perceived effectiveness was also a concern: More than half (52%) say they are "waiting for their preferred choice of vaccine" from among the Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J options.

The study also identified misconceptions about the perceived cost of the vaccine, which is provided at no out-of-pocket charge to the recipient. The majority (55%) believe there is an out-of-pocket cost for getting vaccinated, with the median cost estimated at $7. Fully one-quarter (25%) believe this cost will be more than $60.
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Control Over Personal Data Developing as Key Concern with Vaccine Passports
Wilmington, North Carolina
With the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations well underway, many organizations in the United States are now turning their attention to vaccine passports -- a way for individuals to prove they've received the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes the White House, which in March, suggested vaccine passports come in both a physical and digital form, include a scannable code, and are designed to protect an individual's private data and information.

While many companies are scrambling to build such a product, one North Carolina-based company has been providing COVID-19 vaccination IDs since January that not only match this description, but also ensure an individual's data is never sold, abused or misused. Known as the Real Vaccination ID, these driver's license-sized cards feature a scannable QR code, provide verified physical and digital proof of vaccination and have protections in place to ensure individuals maintain complete control and ownership over their personal data.

The originator of the cards, CastleBranch, is an infectious disease screening company with 20+ years of experience reviewing over 35 million medical documents and vaccine records, as well as an accredited consumer reporting agency with strict processes in place to protect sensitive personal information from abuse and misuse. Real Vaccination ID has been endorsed by both the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the nation's two largest nursing healthcare associations, representing over 80 percent of nursing education in the country.
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Blackbaud Data Highlights the Impact of Healthcare Philanthropy During COVID-19
Charleston, South Carolina
Blackbaud, the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, has released data that illustrates the impact of philanthropy on the healthcare industry during 2020.

Analysis of Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT data from U.S. healthcare organizations that raised more than $1M in at least one of the past three calendar years shows that:

* Healthcare organizations raised $4.9B in cash in 2020, a year-over-year increase of 2.7%
* In-kind donations to healthcare organizations increased by 61% in 2020
* Healthcare cash-giving increased by 2.7% in 2020, but total transactions decreased by 6.7% indicating that larger gifts are coming from fewer donors

"With health systems and hospitals already operating on thin margins at the onset of the pandemic, pausing elective surgeries to enter the fight against COVID-19 made philanthropic dollars more important than ever," said Page Bullington, president and general manager, Healthcare and Foundation Solutions, Blackbaud. "Healthcare organizations experienced an outpouring of public support in 2020, and with healthcare currently universally top of mind, we're witnessing an inflection point in history that is providing exponential opportunity for healthcare philanthropy."

COVID-19 prompted many fundraising changes, especially in the healthcare sector. Community hospitals experienced a surge in goodwill, resulting in an influx of in-kind donations ranging from meals for healthcare workers to personal protective equipment (PPE). In Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT, healthcare organizations recorded more than $170M in in-kind donations in 2020, compared to a 28% decline in in-kind donations in all other sectors combined over the previous three years. This increase in donations was largely coordinated by hospital foundation staff who stepped up to help in any way possible.

Healthcare fundraisers were among the first to be shifted to remote work and may continue to rely on virtual meetings and donor tours in the future, accelerating the idea of e-philanthropy—a full strategy shift to a virtual mindset. In addition to online cultivation and stewardship, healthcare organizations saw an increase of 11.7% in online giving according to the Blackbaud Institute's 2020 Charitable Giving Report.
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Rapid breath test for Covid-19 detection to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccines including the Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine
Tel-Aviv, Israel
NextGen Biomed Ltd. reports that Scentech-Medical received approval from the Shamir Medical Center (Asaf Harofe) Review Board (Helsinki committee) for a new clinical trial. Scentech-Medical has initiated this trial, which to the best of the company's knowledge is the first of its kind in the world, to demonstrate the company's ability to monitor the antibody levels and type of antibodies developed by the population of subjects getting vaccinated for the coronavirus.

As part of the research, Scentech-Medical will test subjects getting vaccinated to map biomarkers specifically related to antibodies of type IgM and IgG. The test to monitor antibody levels and type (which is being developed concurrently with the rapid breath test for coronavirus detection) will be able to provide a quick indication as to the efficacy of all vaccines available on the market, including the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Moreover, such a test has the potential to indicate the immune system's response to various types of vaccines.

In light of the knowledge gained so far on the coronavirus, which has been active all year, there is a clear need for a diagnostic tool that can provide information regarding the immunity levels and efficacy durations of those immunized. Monitoring antibody levels and type of antibodies is of utmost importance due to the fact that there are multiple coronavirus vaccines available on the market and even more expected to come to market in the near future.
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COVID-19 Brings Crisis of Access for Millions Living with Diabetes
Arlington, Virginia
According to a new nationwide survey, the 34 million Americans living with diabetes face unique, acute and intensified challenges to their health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – challenges that may increase their COVID risk for complications. The study, released by the American Diabetes Association in partnership with Thrivable and the Diabetes Daily community, shows that the financial and economic toll of the pandemic has left scores of Americans with diabetes without access to the drugs, devices, insurance, and food that they need to properly manage their diabetes or even survive during this time.

While the data focus on the circumstances faced by people with diabetes during the pandemic, the effects of the trends uncovered by the study may last well beyond the crisis, creating what may be dangerous long-term repercussions for the health of this community and placing new strains on the health care system.

"For months we have known that people with diabetes are at heightened risk during COVID. Yet what this data show is that the level of adversity facing our community from this crisis is at an even more critical point," said Tracey D. Brown, CEO of the American Diabetes Association. "As many as 40 percent of the COVID fatalities -- 120,000 Americans -- have been people with diabetes, and more in our community may be at risk of the worst of the virus' effects because so many are now unable to manage their diabetes effectively. Now we must be even more mindful that our community, which includes an outsized portion of people of color and those of lesser means, must be a priority for relief efforts, including prioritized access to the COVID vaccine."
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Johnson & Johnson Announces European Commission Approval of Agreement to Supply 200 Million Doses of Janssen's COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Johnson & Johnson has announced that the European Commission (EC), acting on behalf of the European Union (EU) Member States, has approved an Advance Purchase Agreement in which the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies will supply 200 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate to EU Member States following approval or authorization from regulators. The EU Member States also have the option to secure up to 200 million additional doses.

"The COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten communities worldwide and we have a responsibility to ensure access to our COVID-19 vaccine as soon as we can. We appreciate the Commission's and the Member States' support for our COVID-19 vaccine candidate and development efforts," said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson.

This contract follows the conclusion of exploratory talks with the EC. The Company is in ongoing discussions with other stakeholders, including national governments and global organizations, as part of its efforts to meet its commitment to make its vaccine candidate accessible globally, provided the vaccine has a good safety profile, is efficacious and receives approval or authorization from regulators.

Separate to the agreement with the EC, as part of the Company's larger commitment to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson & Johnson has also announced plans to allocate up to 500 million vaccine doses toward international efforts to ensure access for lower income countries, with delivery beginning mid next year following approval or authorization from regulators. Recognizing the unique global demand for COVID-19 vaccines, the company is working tirelessly to further expand the number of available doses.
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Association for Molecular Pathology Releases Preliminary Results to Second 2020 Nationwide SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Testing Survey
Rockville, Maryland
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, molecular diagnostic professional society, has released the preliminary results of its August 2020 SARS-CoV-2 Testing Survey for clinical laboratories. The anonymous survey was created and administered to monitor, understand, and collect real-time data on laboratories' efforts and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic response. Compared to the previous April 2020 survey, respondents are experiencing continued supply chain interruptions and are now also facing significant staffing shortages, all while demand for molecular diagnostic testing continues to increase. Survey results are being used to help inform AMP's advocacy and clinical practice programs related to improving future pandemic responses.

AMP's 100-question survey assessed many important aspects of SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnostic testing, including sample types, patient populations, methodologies, validation, performance, supply chain, public health reporting, laboratory workforce, and reimbursement. The preliminary results included feedback from 113 representatives from US-based academic medical centers, commercial reference laboratories, public health laboratories, and community hospitals. Overall, 54% of the respondents indicated testing demand was currently higher than capacity due to the reopening of local businesses and schools across the country. These laboratories are also anticipating further increases in SARS-CoV-2 testing demand over the next few months with the fall and winter influenza season, as well as the need for more surveillance and screening testing.
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Breakthrough study confirms global food production poses an increasing climate threat
Auburn, Alabama
A study published in Nature and led by an Auburn University researcher has found that rising anthropogenic nitrous oxide emissions are jeopardizing climate goals and the Paris Accord. The significant use of nitrogen fertilizers in the production of food worldwide is increasing concentrations of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. which remains in the atmosphere longer than a human lifetime.

This finding is part of a study co-led by Professor Hanqin Tian, director of the International Center for Climate and Global Change Research at Auburn University's School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and an Andrew Carnegie Fellow. The study was published in Nature, the world's most highly cited interdisciplinary science journal. Tian co-led an international consortium of scientists from 48 research institutions in 14 countries under the umbrella of the Global Carbon Project and the International Nitrogen Initiative. The objective of the study, titled "A comprehensive quantification of global nitrous oxide sources and sinks," was to produce the most comprehensive assessment to date of all sources and sinks of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide.

Tian's Auburn colleagues including Professor Shufen Pan, postdoctoral fellows Rongting Xu, Hao Shi and Yuanzhi Yao and graduate student Naiqing Pan served as co-authors among an international research team of 57 scientists. The study points to an alarming trend affecting climate change: Nitrous oxide has risen 20 percent from pre-industrial levels, and its growth has accelerated over recent decades due to emissions from various human activities.
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Top US Scientists First To Report Data On New Biodefense Technology Proven To Eliminate Airborne Transmission Of SARS-CoV-2 To Control Spread Of COVID-19 Indoors
Houston, Texas
As evidence showing a real risk of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus responsible for COVID-19) continues to mount, Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) has announced the publication of a peer-reviewed paper detailing a novel biodefense indoor air protection technology. The novel, heated HVAC filter has been proven to destroy 99.8% of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. In addition, this technology offers protection against other biological pathogens on contact using a propriety biodefense technology. The breakthrough studies were conducted at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at University of Houston (TcSUH) & Galveston National Laboratory, the nation's premier facility for biodefense research.

The first of its kind results confirmed this breakthrough technology to be 99.8% effective at killing the SARS-CoV-2 and 99.9% effective at killing anthrax spores in a single pass, making this technology protective against other potentially dangerous bio pathogens. The scientific research behind this biodefense indoor air protection technology has been published in the highly respected, multi-disciplinary journal Materials Today Physics.

Replicative studies on the biodefense filter system recently validated original findings from the Galveston National Laboratory, this time with the addition of non-ozone producing UVC-light. Even though a 270-fold higher concentration of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) was used in these experiments, the biosampler was unable to detect any active virus, proving an enhanced first pass kill of 99.999% by this novel biodefense filter.

"We now know that SARS-CoV-2 is an airborne pathogen, capable of traveling through the air at greater distances than first thought. The virus can survive for hours, suspended in the air, resulting in COVID-19 spread through the air we breathe, necessitating the urgent need for an indoor air protection system," says Dr. Faisal Cheema, Associate Professor of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences at University of Houston College of Medicine. According to Dr. Cheema, "This novel biodefense indoor air protection technology -- endorsed by leading national and international scientists including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Argonne National Laboratory amongst others -- offers the first in line prevention against environmentally mediated transmission of airborne SARS-CoV-2 and will be on the forefront of the armamentarium of technologies available to combat current COVID-19 pandemic and any future airborne biothreats indoors."
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Northeast-Based Design Firm Launches New Enterprise To Redesign Companies' Workspaces Post-COVID-19
Brooklyn, New York
COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the way people work, and therefore has consequences for the ways companies need to look at workspaces and how employees work in them. Northeast-based design firm Stewart-Schäfer, a multidisciplinary architecture and interior design studio led by James Veal and Christine Stucker, announces the launch of a second enterprise to address office health and safety issues and create sustainable solutions for the future. DistanceDesigns will provide services and resources to create agile workspaces that help prevent disease spread and promote health, while also increasing creativity and productivity through data-driven design. In a recent survey, they found more than 69 percent of respondents would like to see design changes in their offices beyond health and safety measures. Pioneering the design-led concept of agile working, DistanceDesigns' goal is to create lower density hybrid workspaces that are optimized for specific tasks, empowering employees to work where, when and how they choose and enhance their performance and do their best work.

"We solve problems through design. We believe that instead of simply reacting to the crisis by adding policies and procedures and placing desks six feet apart, there is a real opportunity to redesign the space and foster long-term productivity and creativity through activity-based spaces," said Veal. "We want to bring together health and safety with the psychology of cultural change."

Veal and Stucker bring decades of high-profile commercial and retail design experience, where they designed for the customer in mind, to respond to the immediate need for workplaces in transition. Now they apply this model to the modern workspace and design around the employee, the tasks they accomplish, and how they interact with their work environment to increase their productivity and ensure health and safety measures. DistanceDesigns' proprietary model can be found in a detailed white paper on their website, DistanceDesigns.com.
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Family Physicians Write "Prescription for America" to Stop Spread of COVID-19
Leawood, Kansas
The U.S. now has the highest number of known COVID-19 cases in the world with projections showing that U.S. deaths may soon surpass other countries as well. As the rate of transmission grows exponentially, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has shared a new campaign calling on all Americans to protect themselves, their communities and health care workers by staying home.

The Prescription for America campaign demonstrates how improper social distancing quickly leads to new infections, while offering a very simple action everyone can take to stop the spread: staying home. The video released by family physicians around the country highlights how common scenarios that seem harmless, such as going to a friend's house for game night or going for a walk with a neighbor, can accelerate the spread of the deadly virus. Family physicians urge everyone to follow doctor's orders to stop the spread and save lives with a "prescription to stay home."

"Staying home saves lives," said AAFP President Gary LeRoy, M.D. "The number of deaths we've seen from COVID-19 is devastating. Our patients, our friends and family, and our fellow health care workers are dying. In times of a pandemic, we depend on the public to stay off the streets to help keep us healthy so we can keep everyone else healthy. We are doing our best to treat our patients, but we need every American to help us out and stay home."

New data out of Seattle show evidence of the effectiveness of strict containment strategies. In the absence of a national lockdown, physicians are appealing directly to their fellow citizens to do their part and stay home.
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HMA Model Provides Forecast of COVID-19 Impact on Medicaid, Marketplace, Uninsured
Lansing, Michigan
A model developed by Health Management Associates (HMA) assesses COVID-19's potential impact on health insurance coverage for each state and forecasts Medicaid enrollment could increase by 11 to 23 million across all states over the next several months.

A team of HMA Medicaid experts, health economists, and data analysts calculated the approximate change in health insurance coverage by state as a result of the economic disruptions primarily driven by COVID-19. With COVID-19 having the potential to cause unemployment rates to climb to anywhere from 10 to 25% of the population, HMA utilized three unemployment rate scenarios to estimate the impact on Medicaid, the ACA Marketplaces, employer provided insurance, and the uninsured.

All three scenarios result in a significant shift from the number of Americans covered by employer provided insurance to some form of Medicaid or a Marketplace plan. The number of people uninsured is estimated to reach 30 million in the lowest unemployment rate scenario and could climb to 40 million if the country experiences a 25% unemployment rate.
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SPARK, the largest study of autism families in the U.S., announces findings on effects of COVID-19
New York, New York
When COVID-19 arrived in New York, Dr. Wendy Chung, principal investigator of the SPARK study and a physician in New York City, knew that this was a singular moment in time. She wanted to understand how the pandemic was affecting families with autism across the country -- in real time -- and then share what she found with the community. She sent SPARK study participants a quick but important survey. SPARK, the largest study of autism families in the United States, was designed to allow for this kind of rapid data collection and sharing of information.

"SPARK provides the infrastructure for the autism community to learn from each other and immediately share those lessons learned, even at times as challenging as this coronavirus crisis," says Chung. "We are learning at the community level, and scientists are partnering with us to understand the fundamental differences in the mind, brain, and behavior of individuals with autism. Even though we are apart in space, we are together in spirit."

Before SPARK, many families had never participated in autism research, and scientists struggled to find participants for their studies. SPARK fills this gap with over 230,000 participants currently enrolled, and counting. To date, SPARK has matched over 65,000 families with 60 outside studies on topics like services and treatment patterns, anxiety, and social skills. Importantly, SPARK also maintains, and is still recruiting for, the largest genetic data set of autism families to date. The purpose of this data set is to identify genes that are linked to autism. SPARK is currently analyzing DNA data from approximately 30,000 people who have autism and will share the findings sometime this year.

To learn how COVID-19 is affecting the autism community, on March 20, SPARK launched a massive online survey to almost 70,000 families, and within two weeks, received responses from over 8,000. The results show that many families are coming up with innovative and successful strategies to navigate therapies, education, and daily life, whereas others are struggling to handle the new challenges.
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Hemp-based Products to Grow in Popularity in 2020
New Delhi, India
Hemp is a variety of Cannabis plant whose stalk and seeds can be utilized to make paper, garments, sugars, bundling material, and a lot of other things but opposite to the popular misconception, it can't get an individual 'high'.

Recently, Indian government has legalized the production of industrial hemp in Uttrakhand, due to which the hemp business have soared and hemp-based products have gained popularity. Looking at the current consumption rates, it is only logical to say that hemp industry is likely to rise in the year 2020. This will be easier as hemp industry start-ups like that of the Health Horizons have started to educate people about the facts and misconceptions. The company's main aim is to enlighten people about the differences between hemp and marijuana, and introduce them to the benefits of this non-psychedelic variety.

Rohit Shah, one of the directors at the Health Horizons explained that marijuana (a.k.a pot/ganja/weed) and hemp are cousins. These are two types of Cannabis Sativa and not the same thing. The part of cannabis that causes uncanny happiness or a drifting inclination/ euphoria is THC, Tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is heavily present in marijuana. But, hemp does not have any critical measure of THC, just approximately 0.3 percent, which is insufficient to cause a high. Rather, it comprises of various other parts that are valuable economically and health-wise.

The hemp business is undoubtedly on the ascent. Its reputation in the market has improved as the advantages of the plant have become better known. An ever increasing number of organizations and individuals are becoming aware of how hemp is different from marijuana. Further, with the legalization of producing industrial hemp, a number of business-oriented individuals are looking at it as viable business. Rohit also shed light on their expansion plans to add hemp-based clothing into their product line. He told us that the Health Horizons witnessed a significant increase in the sales of hemp seeds by the end of the year and this has given them hope that their efforts to shatter the stigmas around hemp consumption have been fruitful.
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Persistent organic pollutants in maternal blood linked to smaller fetal size, NIH study suggests
Bethseda, Maryland
Pregnant women exposed to persistent organic pollutants, or POPs, had slightly smaller fetuses than women who haven't been exposed to these chemicals, according to an analysis of ultrasound scans by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions. The researchers also found that the women in their study had lower levels of POPs than women in the 2003-2004 U.S. Health and Nutrition Survey, the most recent comprehensive study of these compounds in U.S. pregnant women. The latest findings suggest that the chemicals, which are no longer produced in the United States but persist in the environment, may have lasting health effects even at low levels.

The study appears in JAMA Pediatrics and was conducted by Pauline Mendola, Ph.D., an investigator in the Epidemiology Branch at NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and colleagues.

Persistent organic pollutants are chemicals once used in agriculture, disease control, manufacturing, and industrial processes. They include the pesticide DDT and dioxin, a byproduct of herbicide production and paper bleaching. POPs are slow to break down, may persist in water and air, and may be passed through the food chain. Their health effects vary, but some compounds have been linked to reproductive disorders and a higher risk of birth defects.
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Cities: a 'cause of and solution to' climate change
New York, New York
World leaders convened at United Nations headquarters in New York for the Climate Action Summit on September 23rd. UN-Habitat is supporting one of the nine action tracks designated by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, "Infrastructure, Cities and Local Action" under the leadership of the Governments of Kenya and Turkey. UN News asked the UN-Habitat Executive Director, Ms. Sharif, what role cities should play in slowing down climate change, and why are cities an important part of tackling climate change?

Over half of the world's population lives in cities, and this is likely to increase to over two thirds by 2030. Cities use a large proportion of the world's energy supply and are responsible for around 70 per cent of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions which trap heat and result in the warming of Earth.

Levels of carbon dioxide, the most prevalent greenhouse gas, are at the highest levels ever, mostly due to the burning of fossil fuels for energy.

The huge carbon footprint created by our cities results from poor planning and layout. Low-density suburban sprawl with little public transport and homes far from work and shops means more cars on the roads emitting carbon dioxide. In addition, most of the ever-increasing number of buildings still use fossil fuels for their energy needs.

Cities, while being the main cause of climate change, are also the most affected. Most cities are situated near water putting them at risk from rising sea levels and storms. However, given their role as hubs of innovation and creativity, we also look to cities to provide us with answers. Energy, building, mobility and planning solutions and innovations in cities have the potential to deliver major emission cuts.
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Field Trip Ventures Inc. Partners with the University of the West Indies to Create the World's First Legal Research and Cultivation Facility for Psilocybin
Toronto, Canada
Field Trip Ventures Inc. ("Field Trip" or the "Company"), the world's first integrated company in legal psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, has announced entry into a strategic partnership with the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica ("UWI") to create the world's first legal research and cultivation facility dedicated to psilocybin-producing mushrooms (the "Facility").

Under the terms of the strategic partnership, Field Trip Natural Products Limited (Field Trip's Jamaican subsidiary) will construct, fund and operate a state-of-the-art research and cultivation facility on UWI's Mona campus. In consideration, UWI will lease to Field Trip the land to build the Facility as well as make available leading biology, mycology and chemistry researchers to assist Field Trip's research and cultivation efforts.

The focus of the Facility will be broad-ranging, from genetics, breeding and cultivation work on the 180+ plus species of psilocybin-producing mushrooms, to developing methods and analysis for extractions and formulations, to identification of novel molecules for drug development purposes.

"Field Trip's mission is to advance the science and understanding of psychedelic compounds, and to develop their therapeutic and wellness applications, through an integrated business model," said Mujeeb Jafferi, Field Trip's President. "Although psilocybin, as a molecule, has been well-studied, there is great opportunity to create impact by developing a better understanding of the fungi that produce psilocybin and other tryptamines. This is why we are so pleased to be partnering with UWI, a leading global academic institution, in building this facility in Jamaica."

Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Professor Michael Taylor, welcomed the opportunity for expansion of capacity and skills that this partnership will provide for both faculty and students, "We look forward to working with the team at Field Trip. Their experience and accomplishments in building plant-based therapeutics industries, such as medical cannabis, along with their thoughtful vision for advancing mental health treatments, make Field Trip a great partner for UWI. Moreover, we are confident that this partnership will further advance our mission to create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean and the wider world."
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Centene Corporation And Feeding America Partner To Launch 'Food For Today And Food For Tomorrow' Initiative
St Louis, Missouri
Centene Corporation and Feeding America have announced the launch of the 'Food for Today and Food for Tomorrow' resource development initiative, a program that will equip network food banks and Centene health plans with best practice guidelines for meeting the needs of individuals experiencing food insecurity.

The initiative leverages the screen and intervene model that screens individuals for food insecurity and connects them with access to healthy food to improve nutrition and health outcomes. In the first phase, Centene and Feeding America will create guidelines for medically tailored food boxes and for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) application assistance in health care settings. The cross-sector partnership will enable impactful collaboration on food security initiatives within communities across the country.

"Centene is proud to partner with Feeding America to establish best practice guidelines for meeting the needs of residents identified as food insecure," said Marcela Manjarrez-Hawn, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Centene. "Food insecurity is one of the most critical social determinants of health, and has a direct impact on health outcomes. These efforts support our commitment to ensuring our communities and our members have access to nutritious, healthy food."
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