The discussion will also include practical considerations for the standardized implementation of GAS in clinical development.

TORONTO (PRWEB)
June 09, 2023

Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are increasingly included in clinical development research to capture the patient experience. In April 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the patient-focused drug development draft Guidance 4, Incorporating Clinical Outcome Assessments Into Endpoints for Regulatory Decision-Making. This guidance outlines the potential value of personalized endpoints, such as Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), in capturing meaningful change.

The webinar will introduce Goal Attainment Scaling, including its use history and applications throughout the clinical development lifecycle. The discussion will also include practical considerations for the standardized implementation of GAS in clinical development. Finally, the featured speakers will address the strengths and weaknesses of Goal Attainment Scaling as articulated in the FDA draft Guidance 4.

Join this webinar to learn about the applications of Goal Attainment Scaling in patient-focused clinical drug development.

Join experts from Ardea Outcomes, Chère Chapman, CEO; and Gunes Sevinc, Research Manager, for the live webinar on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 1pm EDT (10am PDT).

For more information, or to register for this event, visit Demystifying Goal Attainment Scaling: Personalized Endpoints in FDA Patient-Focused Drug Development.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/

Contact:

Vera Kovacevic

Tel: +1 (416) 977-6555 x371

Email: vkovacevic@xtalks.com

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“Since tissue-only biomarkers can be limited by tissue acquisition, sampling heterogeneity, and inherent static assessment, use of liquid biopsy in conjunction with tissue for PD-L1 testing, can have a significant impact on patient outcome,” said Dr. Walker, Chief Medical Officer of CIRCULOGENE.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and PENSACOLA, Fla. (PRWEB)
June 09, 2023

CIRCULOGENE is an innovative diagnostic company transforming precision medicine through the rapid delivery of actionable results. CIRCULOGENE’s blood-based test for PD-L1 expression continues to be at the forefront of cancer research, challenging the preeminence of tissue biopsy in informing patient treatment plans.

Research led by Dr. Paul Walker and a team of scientists from Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University was recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology as part of the 2023 annual meeting proceedings for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This retrospective, observational study included patients with pathologically confirmed, advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) treated with first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapy and measured 3-year overall survival outcomes for patients.

Although PD-L1 protein expression is predictive of ICI-based treatment benefits in advanced aNSCLC, tissue PD-L1 has some limitations, including challenges in sample acquisition, tumor heterogeneity, and absence of dynamic monitoring. Plasma cell-free RNA (cfRNA) PD-L1 expression assessed with a liquid biopsy potentially overcomes these limitations and could identify additional patients likely to benefit from ICI therapy.

For this study, patients treated with first-line ICI-based treatment meeting the inclusion criteria and with PD-L1 results were placed in three cohorts: (1) patients testing positive for plasma cfRNA PD-L1, (2) patients testing positive for tissue PD-L1 protein, and (3) patients testing negative for PD-L1 in both plasma cfRNA and tissue protein. The cfRNA PD-L1 expression testing was performed at CIRCULOGENE’s CAP/CLIA accredited laboratory using its cfRNA PD-L1 Gene Expression assay which is a real-time exosome-free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with PD-L1 specific PCR primers.

Comparison of plasma cfRNA PD-L1 positive and tissue PD-L1 protein positive patients showed identical overall survival outcomes. For patients receiving comparable treatments, overall survival outcomes were superior for those with positive plasma PD-L1 expression versus patients negative for PD-L1 expression, regardless of tissue or liquid biopsy. Further, in patients with positive PD-L1 expression, there was no difference in overall survival outcome whether the tissue PD-L1 was positive or negative. This suggests that liquid biopsy might identify additional patients who could benefit from ICI-based therapy.

“Improving predictive immune biomarker assays is vital to better predict ICI treatment benefit and extend that benefit to more patients,” said Dr. Walker, Chief Medical Officer of CIRCULOGENE and lead researcher for this study. “Since tissue-only biomarkers can be limited by tissue acquisition, sampling heterogeneity, and inherent static assessment, use of liquid biopsy in conjunction with tissue for PD-L1 testing, can have a significant impact on patient outcome. This real-world data with prolonged follow-up provides a framework of potential clinical utility of plasma cfRNA PD-L1 guiding immunotherapy treatment.”

Dr. Paul Walker is the former Director of Thoracic Oncology at East Carolina University and has been the past Program Director and Chief of Hematology/Oncology for the Brody School of Medicine as well as the Medical Director for the Clinical Trials Office. Dr. Walker has multiple medical journal publications and has been the principal investigator on multiple clinical trials, including immune therapy, immune modulating and boosting therapies.

About CIRCULOGENE

CIRCULOGENE provides comprehensive biomarker testing for a broad range of cancers allowing physicians to match patient results with specific therapies in just one week. Their sequencing and qPCR methods can provide a full genomic load analysis to help clinicians select targeted therapies, monitor efficacy, and assess recurrence for cancer patients. Applying their liquid biopsy for cfDNA and cfRNA, including PD-L1 and MSI detection, CIRCULOGENE can detect circulating germline and somatic mutations and RNA fusions.

CIRCULOGENE is a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and College of American Pathologists (CAP) certified laboratory and a Verified Vendor for the federal System for Award Management. For more information, visit our website at circulogene.com, connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, email info@circulogene.com, or call us at 855-614-7083. Clinicians interested in ordering tests may also visit our contact page at circulogene.com/contact.

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Mount Sinai Health System celebrates new Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center, Thursday, June 8, 2023 in New York.

“We believe everyone should have access to the care they need in a setting that is convenient, supportive, and purpose-built and that’s exactly what the Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center provides for New Yorkers,” said Kenneth L. Davis, MD, CEO of the Mount Sinai Health System.

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
June 09, 2023

Mount Sinai Creates Transformational New Model of Behavioral Health Care With New State-of-the-Art $140 Million Center

Largest private investment in mental health in state history to create ‘one-stop shop’ for mental health care, substance use treatment, and primary care

Mount Sinai Health System today hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly constructed Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center, located at 45 Rivington Street in Lower Manhattan. Click here to watch a video and learn more about the new Center.

The $140 million facility—believed to be the largest private investment in mental health care in New York State history—will transform behavioral health care in New York City by serving as a comprehensive “one-stop shop” for mental health care, substance use treatment, and primary care.

Mount Sinai leaders were joined at the event by Ann Marie T. Sullivan, MD, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH); Zoraida Diaz, Downstate District Director, Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS); Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine; and New York City Council Members Carlina Rivera and Christopher Marte, among others.

“We believe everyone should have access to the care they need in a setting that is convenient, supportive, and purpose-built—and that is exactly what the Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center provides for New Yorkers,” said Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System. “This Center brings our existing behavioral health offerings downtown together and expands our services, ensuring our patients have the high-quality care they deserve, directly in the communities where they live and work.”

“We are immensely proud to open the Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center, which represents a monumental step forward for both behavioral health care and health innovation in New York City,” said Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs of the Mount Sinai Health System. “This new facility will help change the lives of thousands of patients and introduce a new model of comprehensive care that will improve the entire field of behavioral health for decades to come.”

The new center features a robust, integrated continuum of behavioral health services all under one roof. In addition to inpatient care, it will provide critically needed intensive outpatient and crisis services, including a Partial Hospitalization Program, an Intensive Outpatient Program, and one of New York State’s first Intensive Crisis Residences. The Intensive Crisis Residence is a short-term therapeutic residence in a home-like setting for people experiencing acute mental health crises that are not severe enough to require hospitalization. It can also serve as a step-down from an acute hospital stay to help patients transition more safely back into the community. At the new center, general outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment services are integrated with primary care services, providing seamless access and comprehensive care for our communities’ overall health needs.

In addition, the Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center will serve as a hub for innovation, continually expanding and improving behavioral health services available in New York City. By bringing these services under one roof and adding critical new programs, this center will offer a full continuum of care, an integrated process to coordinate care, and a seamless system to access other specialized behavioral health services across the Mount Sinai Health System.

“This new facility will address some of the critical gaps in behavioral health services that New Yorkers downtown currently face, giving them access to the care they need when and where they need it,” said Grant Mitchell, MD, Chair of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. “By expanding the services offered at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, this new behavioral health center will ensure we continue to provide the excellent care our patients deserve.”

Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center’s transformation of the current system for behavioral health treatment goes hand in hand with basic and clinical research. The new center is part of Mount Sinai’s Department of Psychiatry, a national leader in basic and clinical research with $59 million in grant funding in 2022, more than 40 labs, 130 research faculty members, and 15 major research centers.

All patients of the Center will have the opportunity to participate in research and clinical trials that contribute to the advancement of psychiatric knowledge and care. These trials provide early and exclusive access to innovative therapeutic approaches that could have beneficial, life-changing outcomes.

“The facility means dedicated space and resources for the Department of Psychiatry and behavioral health across the Health System,” says René S. Kahn, MD, PhD, Esther and Joseph Klingenstein Professor of Psychiatry at Icahn Mount Sinai and Chair of Psychiatry for the Mount Sinai Health System. “That means we can focus our extensive academic, clinical, and training expertise on developing a research program, delivering quality care to our patients, and launching new programs and approaches for treatment.”

A key tenet of the Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center is a commitment to treat all patients and families with dignity, compassion, and respect. This commitment to providing an outstanding patient experience extends to the warm, healing environment created inside the building. The tall ceilings, abundant natural light, artwork, and outdoor courtyard are designed to create a sense of peace and calm. Welcome rooms, recovery areas, and therapy spaces facilitate dignity and wellness for patients.

“The new Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center is a welcome addition to New York’s behavioral healthcare system. In addition to New York City’s first Intensive Crisis Residence, the Center will also improve access to a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services and integrate primary care into mental health and substance use treatments, all in one location. Congratulations to Mount Sinai for this important addition to their health care system,” said Dr. Sullivan, the OMH Commissioner.

“This new facility removes barriers to critical services and ensures that individuals seeking treatment have one-stop access to person-centered comprehensive services in a comfortable, supportive environment,” said Chinazo Cunningham, MD, Commissioner of OASAS. “We are committed to developing and strengthening integrated models of care to help improve outcomes across the populations we serve.”

The Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center is part of Mount Sinai’s innovative effort to transform care downtown. To date, Mount Sinai has invested more than $1 billion in its downtown network that includes building a network of 20 outpatient and ambulatory care facilities below 34th Street to provide comprehensive care throughout downtown Manhattan.

Lendlease provided construction management services for the renovation of the late-1800s building into the new Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with more than 43,000 employees working across eight hospitals, over 400 outpatient practices, nearly 300 labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advanced health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time — discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.

Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 7,300 primary and specialty care physicians; 13 joint-venture outpatient surgery centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and more than 30 affiliated community health centers. We are consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals, receiving high “Honor Roll” status, and are highly ranked: No. 1 in Geriatrics and top 20 in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology/Lung Surgery, Rehabilitation, and Urology. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked No. 12 in Ophthalmology. U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” ranks Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital among the country’s best in several pediatric specialties.

For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

###

Media Contact: Elizabeth Dowling

Mount Sinai Press Office

212-241-9200

NewsMedia@mssm.edu

“In fact, our vision is more critical than before because of the challenges facing children’s hospitals and the growing health needs of kids,” said Teri Nestel, President & CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

SALT LAKE CITY (PRWEB)
June 08, 2023

Over the weekend, 100 + celebrities and influencers joined in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the national nonprofit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The five-day social media campaign highlighted the need for donations to the nonprofit’s local member hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to Marie Osmond and John Schneider, two of the nonprofit’s co-founders, some participants in the campaign include Jack Black, Wayne Brady, Andy Cohen, Misty Copeland, Mark Cuban, Adam Devine, Jennifer Garner, Toby Keith, Tori Kelley, Jimmy Kimmel, Julie Chen Moonves, Chris Pratt, Nicole Richie, Robin Roberts, Blake Shelton and Sage Steele.    

The date of the social campaign is no coincidence – it marks the anniversary of the nonprofit’s first telethon in 1983.

For 40 years, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has worked to change kids’ health to change the future. It has raised over $8.5 billion since its inception to provide funding to support purchases of life-saving equipment, charitable care, educational resources, innovative research and more. The nonprofit’s footprint has grown from 22 member hospitals in 15 U.S. states to 170 member hospitals across the U.S. and Canada that care for more than 12 million kids annually. Donations are unrestricted so that hospitals can use them to address the most urgent needs in their communities.

“Celebrities have been a part of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since the very beginning, including our celebrity co-founders Marie Osmond and John Schneider,” said Teri Nestel, president & CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Since then, hundreds of celebrities have offered support in various ways. Their involvement has been essential in raising awareness for our mission and inspiring donations to advance care for kids.”

One celebrity who has been a supporter for many years and hosted one of the early CMN Hospitals’ telethons is Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts.

“It’s been my honor to be a part of the network over the years – I have such fond memories of being with you and I’ll continue to watch you all change kids’ health to change the future, for all of us! Congratulations!” Roberts said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

“As we celebrate our fortieth year, we remain unconditionally committed to our vision of changing kids’ health to change the future,” said Nestel, who’s been a part of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in various roles for 34 years. “In fact, our vision is more critical than before because of the challenges facing children’s hospitals and the growing health needs of kids.”

While the social media campaign has concluded, the need for donations continues. For more information on Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and how to support your local member hospital, visit cmnhospitals.org.

About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals:

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals supporting the health of 12 million kids annually across the U.S. and Canada. Donations go to local hospitals to fund critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services. When we improve the health of all children and allow them the opportunity to reach their full potential, we also improve our communities for years to come. Together, we can change kids’ health. Together, we can change the future. To learn about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and your local children’s hospital, visit cmnhospitals.org.

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“NHIT appreciates the way in which President Biden has made health equity a priority and how his public policy efforts reflect that from the way the budget is drafted to the hiring process at the agency level.” said Luis Belen, Chief Executive Officer of NHIT.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
June 08, 2023

The National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved (NHIT), the first and oldest national non-profit focused on equitable access to health technology for underserved communities and communities of color, celebrated its 15th anniversary today with an in-person Health Equity Roundtable with key White House and administration officials. The discussion revolved around “The Promise of Health IT Innovation and Broadband for All” and took place at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Today’s event continues NHIT’s long track record of bringing together public, private, and academic leaders to accelerate progress towards the elimination of health disparities for underserved communities. Since its inception in 2008, NHIT has been instrumental in convening key stakeholders from the White House to Wall Street to engage in collaboration, innovation, and advocacy to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for those who have historically been marginalized. Under the auspices of NHIT, executives from federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, have come together with leaders from community-based organizations (CBOs) and the private sector to strategize on how to best address critical goals like improving health IT infrastructure, expanding broadband access, promoting telehealth, advancing interoperability, addressing social determinants of health (SDoH), and enhancing data analytics for targeted interventions.

While marking its 15 years of community impact, NHIT is also focused on the future with the recent expansion of the NHIT Data Fusion Center in collaboration with Amazon Web Services and Tyler Technologies. The Center is a geography-based research platform that pulls together de-identified, aggregated, and publicly available data and tools that facilitate a granular understanding of SDoH the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. The Center aggregates SDoH datasets from across federal, state, and local government agencies to enable data mapping and publish research insights on the platform.

“NHIT appreciates the way in which President Biden has made health equity a priority and how his public policy efforts reflect that from the way the budget is drafted to the hiring process at the agency level.” said Luis Belen, Chief Executive Officer of NHIT. He added, “If we are going to address the health equity gap, strategic investments are of great importance, but they cannot be at the expense of underserved communities. This Administration is breaking old molds and leading the way by ensuring that diverse communities are represented at the decision-making table, that investments in infrastructure are accompanied by both multicultural community outreach and engagement in both urban and rural areas and include investment in the community-based organizations that are on the frontlines of outreach efforts, and by addressing equity in areas of data collection, competitive grants, diversity among researchers, and procurement. NHIT has advocated for this approach for 15 years, and we are immensely proud to work side by side with the Biden Administration to go from conception to execution.”

About NHIT:

NHIT is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization on a mission to provide equitable access to health technologies and to make sure that these technologies address the needs of underserved communities and communities of color. Since its founding in 2008, NHIT has worked to advance health equity and economic viability on issues such as broadband access, electronic health records, precision medicine, consumer health applications and disaster resiliency. NHIT has collaborated with Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Tyler Technologies to launch the NHIT Data Fusion Center, to tackle and translate social determinants of health (SDoH) data into actionable insights. For more information, visit https://www.nhit.org.

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Smilyn Wellness Every Day Low Pricing

We’ve sharpened our pencil and dropped our already low pricing even further. Smilyn doesn’t want high inflation to get in the way of doing what you love this summer.

CARLSBAD, Calif. (PRWEB)
June 08, 2023

Smilyn Wellness is excited to announce that we have slashed prices on our entire product line. This is not a sale or temporary decrease but rather NEW every day low pricing.

Periods of high inflation make it nearly impossible to afford everyday essentials, let alone the Smilyn goodies fans have come to love. High inflation combined with rising cost of goods in the hemp industry, consumers wallets are stretched thin.

The Smilyn team is devoted to making sure the new prices reflect our obligation to help consumers through these tough times. Smilyn wants to thank our fans for their continued support and urgers every one to takes advantage of our major markdowns sitewide.

Check out the new low pricing on products including CBD, gummies, vape disposables, vape cartridges, chocolate, mushrooms, and more.

“With inflation impacting every part of the economy, prices are soaring across the board. We are focused on community, customer-service, overall consumer experience, and providing pricing that is accessible for all. We’ve sharpened our pencil and dropped our already low pricing even further. Smilyn doesn’t want high inflation to get in the way of doing what you love this summer. Shoppers can also take advantage of our partnership with Sezzle that allows you to break your purchase into four easy payments,” stated Howie Haber, General Manager of Smilyn Wellness.

New Pricing – New Website

Smilyn is thrilled to announce that our newly designed website is here. Offering streamlined navigation, responsive design, and a plethora of other new features, the new website provides a better online shopping experience. It also reflects our innovative and creative team energy. The new website features insightful content to help you learn more about our team, image, what we do and why we do it. The website is now faster, easier to navigate, and more user-friendly. Consumers should check back often for exciting new content, blogs, new product launches, and industry-related news.

About Smilyn Wellness

Smilyn Wellness in California is a health and wellness brand simplifying the benefits of premium hemp extract. As innovators, we exist not only to help individuals look and feel amazing — but also smile throughout the adventures of life. Combining scientific data with health-based knowledge, Smilyn offers a portfolio of hemp-derived CBD, Delta, and mushroom products that are trustworthy, tasty, and geared towards an active lifestyle.

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Calgee uses carbon-negative recyclable packaging and supports the non-profit Sea Hugger as part of the company’s commitment to people and the planet first.

Oceans make up about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. It’s home to 94 percent of all life on Earth. Oceans help regulate climate and provide more than half the oxygen we breathe. There are small things each of us can do that will have a huge impact.

PASADENA, Calif. (PRWEB)
June 08, 2023

Calgee the 100% vegan and vegan-certified Omega-3 supplement that uses carbon-negative, 100% recyclable packaging, today announced that it has partnered with Sea Hugger as part of Calgee’s 1% of Revenue for 1% for the Planet commitment. Sea Hugger is a nonprofit organization focused on protecting and healing the marine environment from plastic pollution through action and education.

Sustainability is baked into every step of Calgee’s manufacturing process, beginning with Life’s Omega, the only single-sourced and unblended DHA and EHA algae oil. Using proprietary extraction methods, algae is grown in a controlled indoor environment with no added chemicals or toxins. This results in a minimal environmental footprint.

Calgee’s packaging is made from renewable resources and has a carbon-negative production process, removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits. In addition to being Vegan.org Certified, Calgee Omega-3 supplements are non-GMO, 3rd party lab-tested, gluten-free, and made in the United States with the highest quality ingredients and no carrageenan. Each serving provides 450mg EPA and DHA in a single, sustainable, and fish-free source.

On World Oceans Day, recognized on June 8th, and every day, we need to be thinking about our Oceans and environment. Oceans make up about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. It’s home to 94 percent of all life on Earth. Oceans help regulate climate and provide more than half the oxygen we breathe. There are small things each of us can do that will have a huge impact.

Consider These Ocean Facts:

• 
  Between 4-12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, enough to cover every foot of coastline on the planet. That’s the equivalent of two garbage trucks of plastic dumped into our oceans each minute. Over the next 20 years, that amount is expected to triple.
• Plastic is forever. Plastic debris breaks down into ever-smaller particles, known as microplastics. Different forms of microplastics are present in almost all water systems in the world, including streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
• Over 1 million marine organisms are killed yearly due to ocean plastic pollution. Animals who eat plastic often starve because the plastic prevents them from properly swallowing food.
• By 2050 there will be more plastic in oceans, by weight, than fish.

10 Ways to Take Action:

• Source Sustainably: Supporting local farmers, seasonal produce, and ocean-minded businesses helps strengthen a circular economy and healthy ocean.
• Recycle: Don’t be a wish-cycler, where you place an item in the recycling bin, hoping it can be recycled when it can’t. Check out your local recycling guidelines, knowing them can help save a lot of time, money, and effort at the recycling centers.
• Get Outdoors: Increase your dopamine levels by getting outside. It’s said that this will help lead to your having more joy and more appreciation for the outdoors and our environment and that it will help lead to more choices that protect our people and planet.
• Skip the Lid: To-go coffee cups are lined with a thin layer of plastic or are straight-up plastic! Bring your own, or skip the lid.
• Say No to Plastic at the Grocery Store: Plastic grocery and produce bags are not so great for our planet from the resources and production it takes to produce them, not to mention a lifetime of 400+ years. Opt for a reusable bag.
• Use Reusable Utensils: Pass on disposable plastic eating utensils. Instead, use what’s in your silverware drawer or invest in some great portable options.
• Skip the Plastic and Choose a Wood Cutting Board: Each slice with a knife creates microplastics, which can get on the food you are preparing. Bamboo cutting boards are great because they are plastic-free and incredibly sustainable (bamboo grows quickly and requires little water or pesticides).
• Opt for Sustainable Body Care and Packaging: Think plastic-free and reusable containers. Knowing what goes down the drain is key, too.
• Think about the 3 P’s Before Flushing: There are only three things you can safely flush down the toilet – pee, poo, and (toilet) paper. Flushable wipes are NOT included in this since they don’t break down. Find a good bamboo toilet paper because all drains lead to the ocean.
• Opt for Paperless Bills: From the paper, ink, and glue that goes into the printing to the carbon emissions from transportation, switching to e-bills makes great sense for our oceans and environment. It not only keeps your bills at your fingertips but saves on lots of important resources.

About Calgee: Calgee is committed to creating the world’s most sustainable and eco-friendly health products. The company is committed to people and the planet first; using only the highest quality premium ingredients; innovation; and working towards a greater good. Calgee is a 1% for the Planet member, giving 1% of its gross sales each year to approved environmental partners through various support. Join Calgee in shrinking our environmental footprints while retaining an ocean’s worth of goodness. Visit http://www.calgee.com for more information.

Get Social With Calgee:

https://www.instagram.com/calgeehealth/

https://www.facebook.com/CalgeeHealth

https://twitter.com/CalgeeHealth

Facts about Sea Hugger: Sea Hugger has mobilized 1,326 volunteers who have helped pick up over 135,068 pounds of ocean-bound litter. Sea Hugger and its volunteers have picked up more than 2,413 plastic pellets, also called nurdles, and caught 18,578 plastic pieces. Sea Hugger has sponsored or supported 12 federal and state bills. Sea Hugger is a nonprofit organization focused on protecting and healing the marine environment from plastic pollution through action and education to drive systemic change that addresses the root cause of the issue. Our mission is to educate the public to reduce plastic dependency while focusing on protecting the marine environment, ensuring the intrinsic rights of aquatic life, and helping create sustainable communities that are no longer affected by plastic pollution. For more information about Sea Hugger, visit http://www.seahugger.org

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GenCare Lifestyle

“We pride ourselves on being an industry leader in senior living, health and wellness. By partnering with Rippl Care, we continue to put residents’ emotional wellness at the center of our mission, for all our residents,” said Leon Grundstein, founder and CEO of GenCare Lifestyle.

SEATTLE (PRWEB)
June 08, 2023

GenCare Lifestyle, a premier senior living community operator, is proud to announce a powerful partnership with Rippl Care, a behavioral health company focused on caring for seniors with dementia and other neurocognitive conditions. The partnership bridges the significant gap in behavioral health services available to seniors in the United States. Under the partnership, GenCare will introduce Rippl’s innovative program to residents, offering a proactive, personalized approach for residents that prioritizes their mental and physical well-being.

Together with Rippl Care, GenCare Lifestyle is leading the way to provide a more comprehensive and proactive approach to senior living. The signature Whole Life living program offered by GenCare Lifestyle is designed to help residents eat better, move better, think better, live better and longer in a community that prioritizes holistic healthy living and happiness. The partnership with Rippl Care further amplifies these efforts.

Rippl Care’s highly trained clinicians will provide personalized care and support to GenCare Lifestyle residents living with dementia and other behavioral health challenges. Services include proactive care plans, crisis-level support, diagnosis, medication management, and therapy for patients and their families. The best part – there are no additional costs beyond standard copays, and they’re in-network with Medicare and Medicaid.

“We are excited and proud to partner with GenCare Lifestyle to dramatically expand access to high-quality, integrated behavioral healthcare for seniors,” said Kris Engskov, co-Founder & CEO of Rippl Care. “Our healthcare system isn’t designed to get seniors the care they need for behavioral health challenges like Alzheimer’s and other dementias, anxiety, and depression. This unique partnership with GenCare is a model for making highly specialized behavioral and mental health care easier to find and much more convenient.”    

GenCare Lifestyle recognizes the significance of transitioning from one’s private home to a retirement community. That’s why the company is committed to partnering with current and future residents and their family members to ensure they are successfully thriving during this transition and have all the necessary support in place to ensure a smooth transition.

Rippl’s program is rolling out in two GenCare Lifestyle communities in Seattle and Renton with plans to continue implementation in four more communities, GenCare Lifestyle Point Ruston, GenCare Lifestyle The Village at Granite Falls, GenCare Lifestyle Scriber Gardens, and GenCare Lifestyle Federal Way.

“At GenCare, we pride ourselves on being an industry leader in senior living, health and wellness. By partnering with Rippl Care, we continue to put residents’ emotional wellness at the center of our mission, providing a Whole Life Living experience for all who choose to live better in our communities,” said Leon Grundstein, founder and CEO of GenCare Lifestyle. “We are beyond pleased with the support services Rippl has provided and their commitment to recruiting and hiring only the best clinicians, strengthening this trusted partnership.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, and the number is expected to double by 2050. However, access to specialized care and support for these individuals remains limited. The partnership between GenCare Lifestyle and Rippl Care demonstrates the commitment of both companies to changing this and to provide seniors with the highest quality of care, support, and community living. Together, they are taking a proactive approach to senior health, ensuring residents can enjoy their golden years in a safe, caring, and stimulating environment.

“Residents and their loved ones can rest assured knowing that when they are faced with a life challenge or change, GenCare and Rippl will work together with the common goal of promoting emotional well-being and helping them find the good in each day,” adds Leon.

About GenCare Lifestyle

GenCare Lifestyle has served active and aging adults for 25 years, operating six wellness-focused, retirement communities for residents in the Puget Sound region of Washington state – including Tacoma, Federal Way, Renton, Ballard, Granite Falls and Lynnwood. A specialized PEAK Memory Care is offered at select communities that is tailored toward an individual’s unique ability, motivation, and interest. GenCare Lifestyle’s signature Whole Life Living program provides personalized opportunities for residents to eat better, move better, think better, and live better longer. Join the healthier, happier lifestyle with GenCare.

About Rippl Care

Rippl is a new kind of behavioral health company focused on seniors and obsessed with its clinicians. Seniors with behavioral health challenges, especially neurocognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, are overlooked and under cared for, often without access to high quality, real-time, practical care. Leveraging a value-based approach, disruptive technology, and a relentless focus on empowering and enabling its clinicians, Rippl is pioneering a new care model to dramatically expand access to high quality, wraparound behavioral health care for seniors, their families, and caregivers. Rippl provides 24/7 support and personalized care when and where they need it – on the phone, online or in their living rooms. Founded by a group of impatient optimists and doers from the country’s most iconic health care and consumer brands (who have all been caregivers themselves), and backed by visionary venture investors ARCH Venture Partners, General Catalyst, GV, F-Prime Capital and Mass General Brigham, Rippl is ready to take this urgent challenge head on. Our seniors deserve so much better. Join our movement at ripplcare.com.

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“We’re excited to promote our MAP program and stay ahead of the competition, including Mark Cuban, who is advocating a similar approach in the retail space,” said Chuck Benain, CEO of UnitedXCel-Rx.

HILLSIDE, Ill. (PRWEB)
June 08, 2023

UnitedXCel-Rx, the Midwest’s largest full-service, independent care pharmacy, introduces the Medication Access Program (MAP), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at helping self-insured employers optimize their employee health benefits. The program offers a cost-effective solution that reduces business expenses while expanding the reach of pharmacy benefits within organizations.

“We’re excited to promote our MAP program and stay ahead of the competition, including Mark Cuban, who is advocating a similar approach in the retail space,” said Chuck Benain, CEO of UnitedXCel-Rx. “Our cost-plus model, which is aligned with Cuban’s cost-plus concept, has been our primary focus for years.”

Self-insured employers often take additional risks to potentially save money on employee health benefits. The presence of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in the market, however, adds to the overall cost of healthcare. By employing an average wholesale price (AWP) spread pricing strategy, PBMs artificially inflate prices by over 400% or more, negatively impacting employer costs.

UnitedXCel-Rx addresses this issue through its acquisition cost plus model, effectively eliminating the spread and evening out the risk and expense. The company differentiates itself by offering cost-plus pricing and ensuring that customers receive the full manufacturer rebate, leveraging manufacturer financial assistance programs, drug formulary programs, and copay assistance programs to reduce plan and employee costs. Additionally, UnitedXCel-Rx emphasizes the importance of hometown pharmacy customer service, a key aspect often overshadowed by large PBMs.

“We have already saved several companies millions of dollars in their healthcare costs while fostering strong bonds with their employees and addressing their medication needs,” added Benain.

Through the MAP program, UnitedXCel-Rx aims to provide self-insured companies with substantial savings, reduced copay costs for employees, and enhanced customer service. By partnering with UnitedXCel-Rx, businesses can offer a more personalized and efficient pharmacy experience to their employees, avoiding long waits and ensuring they are treated as individuals, not just numbers.

For more information about the Medication Access Program (MAP) and UnitedXCel-Rx’s pharmacy services, please visit https://www.unitedxcelrx.com/map-program.

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The use of cell-based assays has the potential to revolutionize growing therapeutic areas, allowing for the development of more targeted and effective drugs.

TORONTO (PRWEB)
June 08, 2023

Cell-based assays in developing cutting-edge therapeutics have become increasingly important in recent years. With advancements in technology and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s removal of animal testing requirements, cell-based assays for QC testing have become a crucial component in the drug development process to demonstrate efficacy and potency.

In this webinar, attendees will gain knowledge on the latest cell-based technology as well as some important aspects of GMP requirements for bioassays and how these cell-based assays have been used to support drug development efforts for treating complement-mediated diseases., including insights into the challenges and solutions.

The relevance of cell-based assays is that they are customizable and can be tailored to specific needs. They are also readily available and have a high-throughput capacity, making them ideal for large-scale drug screening. In addition, cell-based assays provide a more accurate representation of how a drug will interact with human receptors, reduce variability, and cost than animal testing.

The use of cell-based assays has the potential to revolutionize growing therapeutic areas, allowing for the development of more targeted and effective drugs. It can also aid better understanding of complex diseases’ mechanisms, such as autoimmune disorders and inflammatory diseases.

Register for this webinar to learn how the use of GMP compliant cell-based assay can lead to the development of more effective and targeted drugs

Join experts from Svar Life Science, Therese Segerstein, MSc, Portfolio Director; Jordi Rodó Morera, PhD, Global Innovation & Scientific Lead; Azra Alajbegovic, PhD, Scientist; and Camilla Melin Fürst, PhD, Senior Scientist and Project Manager, for the live webinar on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 11am EDT (4pm BST/UK).

For more information, or to register for this event, visit Advancements in GMP QC Testing: A Comprehensive Guide to Cell-Based Assays.

ABOUT XTALKS

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To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

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Contact:

Vera Kovacevic

Tel: +1 (416) 977-6555 x371

Email: vkovacevic@xtalks.com

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