The Global Wellness Institute is considered the leading global research and educational resource for the global wellness industry.

These provocative insights prove how crucial it is for business leaders, policymakers and the wellness industry itself to encourage ongoing, daily participation in physical activity here at home and abroad for all individuals.

NEW YORK and MIAMI (PRWEB)
January 28, 2020

Today, researchers at the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute™ (GWI), revealed new US data from its recent study: “Move To Be Well: The Global Economy of Physical Activity” at a press conference in New York.

The data shows a sharp divide between the “haves and have-nots” in the United States – which leads in spending and innovation of the physical activity market worldwide, but ranks just #20 in participation. GWI’s mission is to empower wellness worldwide by educating the public and private sectors about preventative health and wellness through research, industry initiatives and roundtables, wellnessevidence.com, and its Wellness Moonshot campaign.

GWI Chair and CEO Susie Ellis said, “These provocative insights prove how crucial it is for business leaders, policymakers and the wellness industry itself to encourage ongoing, daily participation in physical activity—not just for those who can afford it or have easy access to gym memberships and exercise classes. I was disappointed to learn that so much of the explosive success stories we see in the fitness market—from brands like Peloton, SoulCycle and CrossFit—are essentially the sales of more ‘product’ to the same individuals and not introducing more people to fitness.”

Slides highlighting where the US leads and lags can be accessed here, and the full report can be accessed here.

The “Move To Be Well: The Global Economy of Physical Activity” report provides in-depth global, national and regional data on consumer spend within all six markets of the physical activity economy (sports and active recreation, fitness, mindful movement, equipment and supplies, apparel and footwear, and technology). In addition, the report highlights participation rates for 150 nations, the big emerging trends and business opportunities across countries, and market growth projections.

Five Ways the US Leads in the Physical Activity Market

• 
  US consumers spend more on physical activity than any other country in the world—$265 billion.
• US accounts for almost one-third of the global market.
• Not only does the US rank first for overall market size, but it also ranks first among all six subsegments.
• US consumers spend $810 per capita on physical activity—ranking second globally after Monaco.
• US market will grow by 5.2 percent annually over the next five years, which is faster than projected GDP growth (3.5 percent per the IMF). The US will account for about 25 percent of global market growth during this period.

Disconnect Between Market Growth and Increases in Chronic Disease

However, while the US outspends all other nations, GWI senior researchers and report co-authors Ophelia Yeung and Katherine Johnston noted our nation has much to learn from other countries and cultures when it comes to encouraging daily physical activity (recreational or otherwise) among every demographic and socioeconomic level.

“While physical activity is a massive $264.6 billion commercial segment in the US, there is a major disconnect: Sedentary lives, obesity and chronic disease are escalating right alongside the fitness market’s explosive growth,” says Yeung. “Sadly, America’s high spend doesn’t translate into high participation rates. In fact, the US ranks 20th in physical activity participation (58 percent)—significantly behind leaders like #1 Australia, #2 Taiwan, #3 Norway and #4 New Zealand, where participation ranks in the 80 percentiles.”

Opportunities for Businesses and Policymakers

Johnston added: “When many people think ‘fitness industry’ they think gyms, boutique studios, yoga and fit-tech like wearables, but there are so many ways people can get enough exercise to stay healthy—from playing sports to dancing to biking to work. And there are huge opportunities for businesses and policymakers to get more people active, beyond affluent urbanites/suburbanites, the young and the already-healthy.”

Yeung and Johnston suggest that US policymakers, business leaders and healthcare advocates could encourage a more democratic approach to physical activity by exploring successful models from around the globe.

Physical Activity Models the US Could Consider:

1. Support and Encourage Communal Physical Activity – Community-sponsored open streets for biking; Australia’s “Live Life Get Active,” which offers free fitness classes in parks and neighborhoods; and Global Wellness Day, which encourages worldwide mass participation in getting active in communities.

2. Prescribe Exercise – Doctors in the UK and Singapore are actually prescribing exercise with public support and infrastructure to back it up.

3. Incorporate Physical Activity into Each Day – The Active Schools initiative, a public-private partnership working with more than 23,000 schools around the US to integrate 60 minutes of movement and play into the day for every K-12 student, is a good start.

4. Provide Senior Playgrounds/Gyms – Join progressive countries already providing convenient equipment at parks and in public spaces to encourage fitness as well as regular social interactions that combat loneliness and social isolation.

5. Accessible, Grassroots Dance for All – Dance-based fitness classes/routines are a big trend is the US, but we could look to Asia’s plaza dancing movement and the silent discos popping up in the UK, Australia and Singapore to encourage more adoption.

About the Global Wellness Institute: The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3), is considered the leading global research and educational resource for the global wellness industry and is known for introducing major industry initiatives and regional events that bring together leaders to chart the future. GWI positively impacts global health and wellness by educating public institutions, businesses and individuals on how they can work to prevent disease, reduce stress, and enhance the overall quality of life. Its mission is to empower wellness worldwide.

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“From the inception of Avea Solutions, we have worked to take the operational burden away from addiction treatment facilities so they can focus on patient care. This partnership with Inbox Health brings us one step closer to doing that for our customers and the industry.”

PORTLAND, Ore. (PRWEB)
January 28, 2020

Avea Solutions, a revenue management platform built specifically for behavioral health facilities, announced its partnership with Inbox Health, a leading patient billing software platform. This partnership will aid Behavioral Health, Addiction Treatment and Eating Disorder billing departments, patients and practitioners alike by removing the stress and inefficiencies of patient billing and payments.

For facilities seeking a better way to collect patient balances or who have private pay patients, the AveaOffice and Inbox Health integration offers a simplified solution that demystifies patient balances and what is owed. The integration creates continuity in the collection process by eliminating duplicate manual entry of data and inaccuracies that commonly cause facilities to abandon collection efforts, leading to unnecessary write-offs of patient balances. The solution allows behavioral health and addiction treatment businesses to increase collections and get paid faster, improve the patient experience and streamline billing and payment processes through one consolidated system.

“From the inception of Avea Solutions, we have worked to take the operational burden away from addiction treatment facilities so they can focus on patient care,” said Avea CEO, Ben Dittman. “This partnership with Inbox Health brings us one step closer to doing that for our customers and the industry.”

With this powerful platform, Avea customers can offer a completely customized billing experience to their patients, meeting them where they are at, using modern ways to communicate and make payments. Patients will have immediate, real-time access to account status and balances and be able to engage and act on their medical bills through their preferred channel without having to go through a cumbersome portal login process.

Blake Walker, CEO of Inbox Health said, “Healthcare is about caring for people. Industry-standard billing systems are designed to not care about our unique circumstances and just send a bill. We need to be building billing systems that are thoughtful about giving patients the treatment they deserve, from a billing standpoint as well as a care standpoint. Our partnership with Avea Solutions will allow behavioral health practices to improve the way they interact with patients and we are excited to be a part of that.”

About Avea Solutions

AveaOffice is a cloud-based comprehensive revenue management platform designed specifically for the needs of the behavioral health community. By optimizing claim submissions, A/R reporting and reimbursement tracking through a transparent, analytic-driven automation engine, Avea Solutions is changing the way behavioral health facilities manage their revenue. Avea Solutions enables facilities to get paid faster and better, frees up employees with its claims-automation engine and frees up resources allowing facilities to truly grow their business.

About Inbox Health

Inbox Health is transforming the Medical Billing world one patient at a time with personalized and intelligent interactions that deliver a clear and convenient billing experience for every patient. Founded in 2014, Inbox Health is quickly becoming the industry standard for medical billers and practices that want to increase collections and shorten revenue cycles while reducing administrative costs. Inbox Health is a venture backed software company supporting billers across the United States. The Inbox Health platform automates the patient communication process using bi-directional correspondence, proprietary algorithms, machine learning and artificial intelligence so every patient understands their medical bills and has access to different payment mechanisms, and medical billers and providers achieve optimal patient receivables. Learn more at Inboxhealth.com

For more information, visit AveaSolutions.com.

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First Chicago is celebrating a century of service with the launch of its centennial anniversary campaign, Cheers to 100 Years!

First Chicago’s STMM plan is ideal for those in search of a temporary, affordable solution to health insurance

BEDFORD PARK, Ill. (PRWEB)
January 28, 2020

First Chicago Insurance Company (First Chicago) recently received authorization to offer its Short Term Major Medical (STMM) plan in the states of Illinois and Iowa. This year, First Chicago is celebrating a century of service with the launch of its centennial anniversary campaign, Cheers to 100 Years!

“This is a pivotal year for First Chicago. One hundred years ago, the visionaries who created First Chicago had a simple goal in mind – to offer reliable insurance at a fair price. A century later, our mission hasn’t changed. In fact, it has expanded. First Chicago continues to launch new insurance products in the states we currently do business, as well additional states throughout the Midwest,” said Mike Rosenstein, President of First Chicago.

First Chicago’s STMM plan is ideal for those in search of a temporary, affordable solution to health insurance, such as individuals and families in between group or individual major medical coverage or waiting for the next Open Enrollment Period, those who cannot afford the high cost of a COBRA plan, those priced out of the ACA individual health insurance market, and young adults no longer covered by their parent’s plan.

First Chicago – Illinois STMM Plan Highlights:

• Eligible to anyone up to 65 years old, including dependent children ages two to 26 years old.
• Lifetime maximum benefits up to $1 million with deductibles between $500 and $10,000.
• Visit any doctor or any hospital, including access to the PHCS PPO Network.
• Covers prescription drugs, home health care, laboratory services, and more.
• Coverage available up to a 6 months plan.

First Chicago Iowa STMM Plan Highlights:

• Eligible to anyone up to 65 years old, including dependent children ages two to 26 years old.
• Lifetime maximum benefits up to $1 million with deductibles between $500 and $10,000.
• Visit any doctor or any hospital, including access to the PHCS PPO Network.
• Covers prescription drugs, home health care, laboratory services, and more.
• Preventative and wellness services provided after the policy has been active for 180 days.
• Coverage available up to a 364 day plan.

First Chicago’s STMM plan and its features may not be available in all states. Certain limitations and exclusions may apply, please refer to the policy for complete details. For more information regarding First Chicago’s STMM plan, please contact your independent insurance agent. Consumers can also visit the company website http://www.FirstChicagoInsurance.com or call 1-888-262-8864. Independent insurance agents that would like more information about First Chicago should contact our marketing department at Marketing@FirstChicagoInsurance.com, 708-552-4400, option 8.

About First Chicago Insurance Company

First Chicago Insurance Company (First Chicago), whose roots trace back to 1920, is celebrating their 100th anniversary. Over the timespan, First Chicago has evolved into a multi-line insurance carrier, now offering General Liability, Workers’ Compensation and writing various classes of Commercial Auto, in response to the needs of the commercial segment. In personal lines, First Chicago has responded to the changing exposures and needs of their independent producers by adding niche insurance products such as Contents PLUS Renters and Transportation Network Coverage to enhance their personal lines auto offerings. First Chicago currently offers insurance via independent agencies and online throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Headquartered in Bedford Park, First Chicago is located at 6640 S. Cicero, Ave., Bedford Park, IL 60638. 1-888-262-8864. http://www.FirstChicagoInsurance.com

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Plastic Surgery Associates offer Cooltone Body Controuring

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (PRWEB)
January 28, 2020

Heather Furnas, MD FACS and Francisco Canales, MD are proud to announce the arrival of Allergan’s CoolTone body contouring device. This brand new offering from the makers of CoolSculpting and Botox is designed to improve definition by toning targeted muscles. Plastic Surgery Associates’ Santa Rosa office will begin CoolTone consultations in late December, with treatments set to start in January of 2020.

Allergan’s CoolTone is far different from its similar-sounding counterpart, CoolSculpting, who uses freezing temperatures to eliminate fatty tissue. Instead, CoolTone is a unique device designed to assist men and women looking to tone muscles and improve their body core. Over a series of treatments, the device will firm and strengthen muscles by toning underlying muscle fibers. The device can help with three key body areas: the abs, buttocks and thighs.

Cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CoolTone uses magnetic muscle stimulation (MMS) to penetrate below the skin and fat layers, transferring electromagnetic energy into the muscle, causing natural contractions. Over time, these contractions will tighten the muscle fibers, ultimately improving and defining the physique. Although CoolTone is not the first muscle toning instrument to hit the aesthetic market, according to Allergan, the device offers 50% more magnetic intensity than its competitors.

CoolTone treatments are painless, taking from 30-45 minutes in the office. No downtime or recovery period is needed. The recommended number of treatments will vary according to the individual and the target area. In most cases, four treatments spread out over a two-week period can provide desired results.

Plastic Surgery Associates is excited to be one of the first aesthetic practices in the United States to offer CoolTone at the start of 2020. All treatments and procedures at Plastic Surgery Associates are overseen by two board-certified plastic surgeons, ensuring not only the safest techniques but also the very best results. Like all of Allergan’s products, CoolTone will be eligible for its Brilliant Distinction® rewards.

ABOUT PLASTIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES

Dr. Furnas and Dr. Canales are both board-certified plastic surgeons, specializing in cosmetic treatments for the face, breast and body. First meeting during their medical training at Stanford University, Dr. Furnas and Dr. Canales worked together in Boston while serving on the clinical faculty at Harvard. The duo then returned to Northern California, opening the Santa Rosa office of Plastic Surgery Associates in 1992. Here, Dr. Furnas and Dr. Canales consistently achieve exceptional aesthetic results through many of their own, innovative treatments and techniques, including rapid recovery breast augmentation and the Mommy Makeover, as well as cutting-edge surgical and noninvasive vaginal rejuvenation.

Today, Plastic Surgery Associates has two locations, in Santa Rosa and Novato, California. Additionally, to bring clients the best in nonsurgical skincare and facial rejuvenation, Dr. Furnas and Dr. Canales have established Allegro MedSpa, located adjacent to each Plastic Surgery Associates’ office.

If you would like to schedule a free CoolTone consultation with Dr. Furnas or Dr. Canales, contact Plastic Surgery Associates at 707.537.2111. If you prefer to have a patient coordinator reach out to you, simply fill out the online Contact Us form. Visit Allergan’s CoolTone website for more information about this game-changing treatment.

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“When every second counts, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) propose an ideal solution to move a human organ quickly, to where it needs to be safely, securely, and medically-sound,” said Dalton Pont, CEO of VyrtX.

HARTFORD, Conn. (PRWEB)
January 28, 2020

According to the American Transplant Foundation, there are 114,000 people in need of organ transplants in the US; and only 30% will receive their life-saving surgery this year. Unfortunately, 20 people will die each day as their time passes by, making the number of annual deaths greater than 40,000. This is not from a lack of available donated organs, but mainly from cumbersome and complex transportation systems. Supporting research has been building from the transplant world itself.

“There are plenty of donors to meet the need, but the system is so inefficient that available organs often don’t reach desperate patients,” says Dr. David Weill, former Director of the Center for Advanced Lung diseases and the Heart-Lung Transplant program at Stanford University Medical Center in a recent interview. http://www.wsj.com/articles/supply-isnt-the-problem-with-organ-transplants-11575644400

Dr. Robert Fisher, former Director of Transplant from Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center adds, “We have developed the premise that the lack of an organ donor logistical time critical transport system accounts for more than half of the deaths from organs and recipients missing one another. A logistics transport system for organs, recipients, and transplant teams, 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day, with viable response times on an hours’ notice, when minutes matter, simply does not exist.”

Now, Aquiline Drones (AD), a Connecticut-based drone enterprise that provides sophisticated solutions in drone manufacturing, autonomous operations and cloud services, is partnering with VyrtX, an advanced logistics-technology firm, to create an innovative and life-saving medical delivery service for human organs and tissues using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)/drones.

“Currently, there is a 25% discard rate for unused human organs because they cannot physically get into the hands of the transplant surgeons in time before the window of opportunity expires,” said Dalton Pont, CEO of VyrtX. “When every second counts, UAVs propose an ideal solution to move an organ quickly, to where it needs to be safely, securely, and medically-sound. As a pioneer in optimizing organ transplant services, our goal at VyrtX is a near-zero discard rate, and we are confident that Aquiline Drones can help us achieve this objective.”

Details of the new alliance include:

• AD to prototype highly specialized vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones with superior range and payload capabilities;
• AD to provide blockchain logistics for transparency, real time tracking and monitoring of the transportation lifecycle;
• Building of ground support infrastructure (mobile command and edge datacenters) for drone support, persistent communication, mission tracking and handoff;
• Enterprise Asset Management solution for scalability – provided by Aquiline Drones Cloud (ADC);    
• Using the VyrtX technology platform, AD is custom creating an integrated virtual storage solution that offers real-time connectivity, big data storage, analytics and modeling through Aquiline’s cloud. ADC, which is purpose-designed for drone operations, will exceed the stringent audits and compliance processes required by VyrtX and by U.S. law, as well as maintaining the highest level of privacy and security required for VyrtX’s project data.
• VyrtX using its cutting-edge technology to attract healthcare clients, such as hospitals and medical centers, which could benefit from UAV transportation logistics.

“To our knowledge, no other symbiotic relationship exists in the current marketplace between a proprietary organ transport technology platform and a progressive UAV enterprise,” said Barry Alexander, Founder & CEO of Aquiline Drones. “We believe that this strategic partnership is a significant step in setting the gold standard in organ delivery services globally. This partnership also underscores AD’s promise to safely integrate drones into society and help realize true benefits to humanity. In this case, saving countless lives!” Alexander added.

“We are humbled by the deep passion of the entire VyrtX team, especially Alice Cummings – VyrtX’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) – for her heartfelt passion and being steadfast in ensuring VyrtX’s success.” Alexander added. “Aquiline Drones is committed to fully supporting VyrtX’s aspirations to save countless lives and will deliver on its promise to bring VyrtX to life.” said Alexander.

Alexander continues, “Even with the right mix of expertise, VyrtX cannot be built or will not thrive in a vacuum and as such, beckons broad public support. As we know, business is the lifeblood of our domestic economy and germane to the viability of VyrtX is the support of society and the political will of government – both at the municipal and federal levels – hence our strong appreciation and advocacy for public and private partnerships. I am also of the belief that emergency response services should be the impetus for the establishment of unmanned aerial highways.”

Pont notes that the state of Ohio is a natural starting point to pilot the new union since VyrtX is already working with Dayton’s Air Force Research Laboratory, Ohio’s UAS Center and the Springfield Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center, as well as all four of Ohio’s Organ Procurement Organizations. Together, they aim to develop an “air corridor” across the state that would facilitate the country’s quickest transportation of organs.

Gordon Bowen, CEO of Lifebanc Organ Procurement Organization in Cleveland Ohio, asks: “What can we do to look at technology and be strategic about where we can go with organ movement in order to get from point A to point B quicker and eliminate the discard rate? We don’t want to go where we’ve been; We want to go where we need to go.”

“We want to develop a highway system in the sky because that’s how people drive and how things move,” Pont adds. “Ohio will be the first state in America to do this, and with Aquiline Drones, we hope to make it happen very soon!”

As one of only four drone companies in the United States to own and operate under an FAA 135 Air Carrier Certificate, AD will offer future operational flexibility to facilitate approvals and exemptions on non-traditional, augmented and unique UAV operations such as the VyrtX collaboration. In addition, as a pilot-owned, operated and supported entity, AD works closely with the FAA for both Flight Operations and Maintenance on regulation compliance, safety and risk mitigation.

“A key thing to remember is that drones are not gadgetry, but aircraft, and if we want to gain the public’s trust, we must ensure safety first,” said Alexander. “With safety at the core of Aquiline Drones’ framework, and speed being the mission of VyrtX, together we are poised to usher in the ultimate and world-class UAV solution that will help save lives around the world through our safe and timely drone-delivery organ transportation system.”

About VyrtX

VyrtX is a “1-Stop-Shop Transport Hub” for life critical medical transport needs when minutes matter.” VyrtX uses advanced AI uniquely built for urgent medical transport needs to provide on-demand, rapid-response and same-day delivery through a combination of commercial, charter, private, and VyrtX operated flights drawing on both conventional and autonomous air/ground vehicles. The company also offers numerous flight and ground service options.

VyrtX partners with Transplant Coordinators of America and LifeBanc, the organ procurement organization in Northern Ohio to disseminate the message of rapid, responsive and reliable human organ transportation. Visit http://www.vyrtx.com for more information.

About Aquiline Drones

Aquiline Drones (AD) is a progressive American drone solutions company founded by highly experienced aviators, systems engineers and IT gurus. With a customer-centric model, and the broad view of building the infrastructure of the domestic drone industry, AD is rolling out large scale manufacturing and OEM services, in addition to US-based supply chain and best-in-class MRO operations. These services, as well as autonomous missions, are supported by AD’s proprietary drone cloud and real-time OS, autonomous drone operations with real-time control and dynamic in-field decision making capabilities. Aquiline Drones’ full spectrum of technology solutions provide a more expansive and deeper applicability across countless industries and environments. Aerospace-compliant processes for software, hardware manufacturing and systems integration, along with best-in-class mission capabilities are being planned and designed as the company continues to forge relationships with Federal, State and private organizations in an effort to develop and launch new drone system applications in a collaborative manner. Visit http://www.AquilineDrones.com for more information.

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Chairman, Greg Jamian

Jamian said. “In this role, I will remain committed to ensuring the agency continues to provide the safest and most efficient road system in the state and region.”

TROY, Mich. (PRWEB)
January 28, 2020

Thursday, January 9th, at the first meeting of 2020, the Board of the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) reelected Greg Jamian its new Chairman. A resident of Bloomfield Township, Jamian has served on the board since 2009. He is a former Oakland County Commissioner and previously served on the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees. The Road Commission for Oakland County is Michigan’s largest road agency.

“I am excited to, once again, lead the Road Commission as the Chairman,” Jamian said. “In this role, I will remain committed to ensuring the agency continues to provide the safest and most efficient road system in the state and region.”

Jamian, the President of AmeriCare Medical, Inc., a comprehensive Home Health Care company located in Troy, MI, is a graduate of Oakland University with a BA in economics. He has served on the board’s of the School of Business Administration and the School of Nursing at Oakland University, the Manoogian Manor Assisted Living Facility, the Traffic Improvement Association, and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). Jamian’s strong advocacy for RCOC’s advanced initiatives in transportation technology has helped recognize the agency as a national leader in terms of smart roads and connected vehicles. Jamian’s goals are not only to manage the needs of today, but to also position the Road Commission for Oakland County to meet the demands of the future.

To learn more about upcoming and current projects, visit the Road Commission for Oakland County website at http://www.rcocweb.org. For information on AmeriCare Medical visit http://www.AmeriCareMedical.com.

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“As a society, we are committed to advancing the best science and promote the best outcomes for patients, so we have a responsibility and obligation to further the careers and promote to leadership positions the best and brightest in our profession,” said SITC President Mario Sznol, MD.

MILWAUKEE (PRWEB)
January 28, 2020

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is pleased to announce the return of a successful initiative focused on women in the field. The Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute returns this summer, and will grow to two programs, in Seattle (July 13–14) and Chicago (Aug. 3–4). The one-and-a-half day programs celebrate and empower emerging women leaders in the cancer immunotherapy field.

The WIN Leadership Institute provides a forum for women scientists and clinicians to network with accomplished investigators in the field while exploring topics particularly relevant to them in the workplace, including negotiation techniques, breaking through the glass ceiling, conflict resolution strategies and public speaking. The programs, which include an application process, will be free for accepted applicants to attend. Applicants will be selected to attend one of the two locations being offered this summer.

“As a society, we are committed to advancing the best science and promote the best outcomes for patients, so we have a responsibility and obligation to further the careers and promote to leadership positions the best and brightest in our profession.” said SITC President Mario Sznol, MD. “In 2019, there was an overwhelming number of applicants for this program – more than three times that of the available positions, underscoring the demand for this type of training opportunity. SITC is proud to offer this program for women as part of an overall effort to continue developing future leaders in cancer immunotherapy.”

Championed by SITC Immediate Past President Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD, the Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) is a SITC initiative launched in 2017 that has included annual receptions celebrating women in cancer immunotherapy. The discussions at these receptions have identified strategies to elevate the status of women, both within the society through general leadership roles and faculty opportunities, as well as the field in general.

“During my term as our society’s first female President, one of my primary goals was giving prominence to the contributions women have made, and continue to make, in cancer immunotherapy and tumor immunology research. I remain passionate about this commitment,” said Dr. Butterfield. “The level of demand by women in the field seeking professional development opportunities is substantial, and the Leadership Institute will feature timely presentations and group discussions on topics integral to the advancement of women working in the lab and the clinic to support the next generation of female leaders.”

Women interested in applying for an opportunity to attend one of the WIN Leadership Institute programs are encouraged to submit an application by March 9 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

About SITC

Established in 1984, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is a nonprofit organization of medical professionals dedicated to improving cancer patient outcomes by advancing the development, science and application of cancer immunotherapy and tumor immunology. SITC is comprised of influential basic and translational scientists, practitioners, health care professionals, government leaders and industry professionals around the globe. Through educational initiatives that foster scientific exchange and collaboration among leaders in the field, SITC aims to one day make the word “cure” a reality for cancer patients everywhere. Learn more about SITC, our educational offerings and other resources at http://www.sitcancer.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

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We are thrilled to announce that we will once again be working with The Plantrician Project, Eat for the Planet, the Plant Based Foods Association, and others to deliver a stellar conference program for retail and foodservice professionals, healthcare professionals and the general public.

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
January 28, 2020

Plant Based World Conference & Expo (PBW) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2nd annual event, scheduled for June 5-6 at the Javits Center in New York City. Following a successful launch, attendees will visit more than 250 plant-based vendors in the exhibit hall and have access to educational sessions in three different forums focused on business, healthcare, and community as well as extensive networking opportunities.

“We have listened to our partners, attendees, and exhibitors and have streamlined our education program, expanded our exhibit floor, and added new features,” said Chris Nemchek, General Manager of Plant Based World Conference & Expo. “We are thrilled to announce that we will once again be working with The Plantrician Project, Eat for the Planet, the Plant Based Foods Association, and others to deliver a stellar conference program for retail and foodservice professionals, healthcare professionals and the general public.”

Conference highlights include:

• 
  The Business Forum programmed in partnership with Eat for the Planet – this track is designed to educate buyers of plant-based products across retail and food service on the latest consumer trends, and business opportunities.
• A Healthcare Forum programmed by The Plantrician Project – this track features experts in the medical community sharing the latest research on the link between diet and chronic disease.
• Two keynote presentations will feature prominent speakers from across the plant-based movement. Both are free and open to all attendees.
• NEW: Community Day sessions will be open to all attendees on Saturday June 6.
• NEW: PBW Connect!, a matchmaking program where exhibitors will be able to meet one-on-one with buyers in retail and foodservice.

The expo hall will have hundreds of exhibitors and sponsors from a wide variety of product categories including meat alternatives, dairy alternatives, plant-based seafood, and more whole-food plant-based and non-food products such as clothing and cleaning products. Exhibitors that have already signed up to participate in this year’s event include Follow Your Heart, Plantmade by Matthew Kenney, Good Catch Foods, Miyoko’s, No Evil Foods, Califia, Otamot Foods, Daiya Foods, Before the Butcher, Sweet Earth, Tofurky Company, The Meatless Farm, Conagra, Dr. Bronner’s, Elmhurst, Atlantic Natural Foods, Upfield and Laird Superfoods.

“Attendees can choose from a variety of passes to attend PBW. There will be an All-Access Conference Pass for the education sessions in the Health Forum and Business Forum and a new single day conference pass,” added Nemchek. “We will once again offer a Free Expo Pass for Qualified Trade Professionals, and a Community Day Pass on June 6, which gives access to everything in the expo hall including exhibitors, the Learning Garden, Culinary Theater, Keynotes, and Community Sessions.”

The Culinary Theater will offer cooking demonstrations from plant-based chefs and the Learning Garden, sponsored by SIDDHI, will offer education presented by industry experts covering everything from nutrition to plant-based product trends. Early Bird pricing is available until April 10, 2020.

Plant Based World Conference & Expo is produced by JD Events, dedicated to the creation of targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content and high-level networking opportunities — all geared toward increasing collaboration in the markets it serves. Visit http://www.jdevents.com for more information.

For information on exhibiting contact Jake Caveny at 203-371-6322 x 208 or jake@jdevents.com or Donna Brown at 203-416-1924 or donna@jdevents.com.

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With G-CON’s PODs, Rubius accelerated the buildout of their Red Cell Therapeutic™ manufacturing facility by nine months to support their upcoming cancer clinical trials.

G-CON’s sense of urgency, flexibility, collaborative approach and creativity made it possible for us to install multiple cleanrooms in record time to meet our timelines.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (PRWEB)
January 28, 2020

G-CON Manufacturing, the leader in prefabricated, flexible cleanroom solutions, announced today that it has successfully delivered to Rubius Therapeutics multiple PODs with included corridors totaling 6,500 sq. ft. of cleanroom space. The PODs will provide the clean environment for Rubius’ allogeneic red cell therapy clinical manufacturing facility in Smithfield, RI. The PODular facility includes areas for cell expansion, cell culture and filling areas. All PODs were built to BSL 2 requirements.

The manufacturing facility boasts flexibility with the cleanroom suites being able to serve different campaigns in parallel. The facility was designed with the cleanrooms and corridor subPODs connecting them. Speed was a critical element for Rubius and achieving an 8-month turnaround (POD order to IQ/OQ) was only possible due to the dedicated and urgent work of all parties involved in the project. Prior to delivery and installation, the PODs were Factory Acceptance Tested (FAT) at G-CON’s manufacturing facility in College Station, Texas, further reducing the time and complexity of installation at the Rubius site.

“From day one, the project team’s mission was to execute this project faster than what many considered possible so that Rubius could accelerate key milestones to support manufacturing for its cancer clinical trials. Strong leadership, concise decision-making and a fully integrated team were key elements in making this project a success,” said Peter Makowenskyj, Director of Sales Engineering for G-CON Manufacturing. “Rubius has been a fantastic partner to work with and their technology is amazing. By harnessing red blood cells and engineering them to tackle diseases in a variety of different ways, these potential drugs could have a profound impact on patients’ lives for years to come.”

“G-CON Manufacturing was an exemplary partner and instrumental in helping Rubius Therapeutics accelerate our plans to have a manufacturing facility capable of producing GMP material for our pipeline of Red Cell Therapeutic™ product candidates for the potential treatment of cancer,” said Spencer Fisk, Senior Vice President of Technical Operations for Rubius Therapeutics. “G-CON’s sense of urgency, flexibility, collaborative approach and creativity made it possible for us to install multiple cleanrooms in record time to meet our timelines.”

About G-CON Manufacturing

G-CON Manufacturing designs, builds and installs prefabricated G-CON POD® cleanrooms. G-CON’s POD portfolio provides cleanrooms in several dimensions for a variety of uses, from laboratory environments to personalized medicine and production process platforms. G-CON POD® cleanroom units surpass traditional cleanroom structures in scalability, mobility and the possibility of repurposing the PODs once the production process reaches its lifecycle end. For more information, please visit G-CON’s website at http://www.gconbio.com

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