Category Archives: Human Longevity

Precision medicine software comprises on-premise and web & cloud-based deployment platforms used in the personalized treatment and detection of diseases, such as cancers, genetic disorders, cardiac & infectious diseases, and others. Precision medicine software assists physicians in choosing a treatment method based on the patients genetic makeup and lifestyle habits.

In efforts to reduce the healthcare burden, manufacturers have started developing platforms that increase accuracy & decrease the time taken for entire medical treatment. Meticulous Research, in its latest publication on Precision Medicine Software Market, states that the global precision medicine software market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2% from 2021 to 2028 to reach $2.55 million by 2028.

The paradigm shift in treatment, rising pressure to decrease healthcare costs, scientific & technological advances in the genomics field, and growing focus towards providing companion diagnostics & biomarkers for various therapeutic areas are some of the major factors expected to drive the growth of this market. However, the lack of awareness about precision medicine practices and fragmented healthcare systems in developing countries hinder the growth of this market to a certain extent.

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To provide efficient analysis, Meticulous Research has segmented this market by deployment mode (on-premise and web & cloud-based), application (oncology, pharmacogenomics, and other applications), end user (healthcare providers, research & government institutes, and pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

Geographically, North America commanded the largest share of the global precision medicine software market in 2020, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to register the highest growth during the forecast period. The growing shift in treatment from one-size-fits-all medicines to precision medicine, increased spending on healthcare, rising funds for research activities, and growing focus of international players to expand their presence in this region are some of the key factors expected to propel the growth of the precision medicines software market in Asia-Pacific.

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Based on deployment mode, the global precision medicine software market is categorized into on-premise and web & cloud-based. In 2021, the on-premise segment accounted for the largest share of the global precision medicine software market. The large share of this segment is primarily attributed to the broad range of advantages associated with the use of on-premise software, such as high security of data, low risk of data breaches, and full command over software upgrades & data storage.

Based on application, the precision medicine software market is segmented into oncology, pharmacogenomics, central nervous system disorders, hereditary disorders, and cardio & metabolic disorders. In 2020, the oncology segment accounted for the largest share of the global precision medicine software market. The large share of this segment is primarily attributed to the growing prevalence of cancer, shift towards personalized treatment, rising funding in cancer research, applications of precision medicine in oncology research, and increased investments by government organizations in precision medicine and related software industry.

Based on end user, the global precision medicine software market is categorized into healthcare providers, research and government institutes, and pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies. In 2020, the healthcare providers segment accounted for the largest share of the global precision medicine software market. The large share of this segment is primarily attributed to the rising number of tertiary/specialty care hospitals, rising incidence of chronic diseases, growing healthcare infrastructure, increasing demand for quality healthcare, and shift towards personalized/precision medicine.

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The report provides competitive intelligence in terms of financials, growth strategies, product portfolios, and geographical presence on some of the key players in this market, including Syapse, Inc. (U.S.), Fabric Genomics, Inc. (U.S.), SOPHiA GENETICS SA (Switzerland), GenomOncology LLC (U.S.), Human Longevity, Inc. (U.S.), Sunquest Information Systems Inc. (U.S.), LifeOmic Health, LLC (U.S.), Translational Software Inc. (U.S.), N-of-One (U.S.), PhenoTips (Canada), PierianDx (U.S.), Foundation Medicine, Inc. (U.S.), and 2bPrecise (U.S.).

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Precision Medicine Software Market: Meticulous Research Reveals Why This Market is Growing at a CAGR of 11.2% to Reach $2.55 Billion by 2028 - Digital...

Understanding rates of suicide can be tricky, as researchers in a new study initially found there was a decline in the overall number of intentional drug overdoses. But after isolating data more finely, they found suicide rates actually went up for young people, Black women and the elderly.

In a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers analyzed drug-involved overdose deaths from 1999 to 2019. Despite a 35.2 percent decrease in overall suicide rates, a very different set of results were revealedwhen researchers isolated data based on age, gender and race.

Researchers found that intentional drug overdoses from 2015 to 2019 increased inyoung men between the ages of 15-24 from 0.5 to 0.8, per 100,000 people. A similar trend was found among young women in the same age group from 0.6 to 1 and in Black women from 0.4 to 0.7.

Elderly adults' rate of intentional drug overdose deaths also rose among men ages 75-84 from 0.7 to 1.6, per 100,000 people. For elderly women it went from 0.8 to 1.7.

The American Psychological Association cites teen suicide as the second-leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 to 24 and that mental illness is the leading risk factor for suicide.

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Similarly, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that in 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Black Americans between the ages of 15 to 24, while Blackwomen in grades 9-12 were 60 percent more likely to attempt suicide in 2019 compared to white females of the same age.

More recently the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that nearly 90,000 people died from drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2020, which is the largest increase in a calendar year and reflects a nearly fivefold increase in the rate of overdose deaths since 1999.

NIH explained that it can be difficult to determine whether anoverdose death was intentional, and therefore the actual number of suicides is expected to be even higher. Many people who suffer from substance use disorder may also develop other mental illnesses, like mood and anxiety disorders, which independently are associated with increased suicide risk.

The distinction between accidental and intentional overdose has important clinical implications, as we must implement strategies for preventing both. To do so requires that we screen for suicidality among individuals who use opioids or other drugs, and that we provide treatment and support for those who need it, both for mental illnesses and for substance use disorders, said Nora Volkow, senior author on the study and director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Researchers also found that overdose rates varied by month, with the lowest rates noted in December and the highest rates came in spring and summer, noting both social and biological factors may play a role in those monthly fluctuations. For instance, low rates in December and could be related to a persons more positive and hopeful mood during the holiday season.

Another trend researchers investigated was when overdose deaths were most likely to occur in terms of days of the week. They found suicide rates were highest on Mondays and lowest on weekends. Social factors, like people having plans with friends and family over the weekend, could play a role in that.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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Suicides by drug overdose increased among youth, elderly and Black women in last five years: study | TheHill - The Hill

Love relationships come with their own set of rules. When two people get their hearts dependent on each other, it often creates a lot of expectations from the other partner failing to fulfill each of the expectations create problems in the relationships.

These expectations often grow from the fact that people are exposed to a lot of myths that surround relationships. Nicole LePera, Psychologist, who goes by the name The Holistic Psychologist on Instagram is known for sharing helpful tips on relationships that help people to create a safe space for their partner to flourish, both mentally and emotionally.

ALSO READ: Want a healthy, long-lasting relationship with your partner? Experts share tips

Nicole LePera shared a set of relationships myths on her Instagram profile, a day back, and spoke about the need of re-learning the ideas of relationships to create a healthy one. Take a look:

Divorce or breakups term the relationship as failed

We often think that divorce or breaking up from a relationship means that it was a failure. However, Nicole said that separating ways and hence, coming to the conclusion of ending a human relationship is a common human experience.

Meant-to-be relations are easy

Relationships need constant work, based on honest communication, vulnerability, curiosity and self-compassion. To create a safe space for the relationship to mutually evolve, we need constant work and the commitment to make it work.

Partners are always expected to know what the other person is feeling

Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. In order to let the partner know what we are feeling, it is important to communicate the same in clear words, so as to not burden the other person with expectations.

Partners should always team up together

Bringing different perspectives to a relationship is a healthy way to go. Disagreements are natural between two people in a relationship, and that is not unhealthy.

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The ultimate goal is to stay together

We often believe that people who are in long-tern relationships are in a healthy one. However, longevity has nothing to do with emotional connection.

These myths often set up false expectations in a relationship, which further leads to resentment. It is time to re-learn the process of relationships so as to create a mutual healthy space for both of the partners to evolve.

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5 myths about relationships that create resentment: Expert offers tips - Hindustan Times

Fans typically have one of two responses when a great athlete announces their career is over. Most of the time, we look back on a long and decorated career filled with memories and marvel, while acknowledging that their body had started to falter and that the time to walk away had come. But there are rare cases when an athlete retires at the top of their game, leaving us to wonder what might have been.

Tom Bradys retirement this week somehow falls into both categories. Of course it feels as if the time had come for him to move on. Brady has been the face of the NFL for almost two decades, achieving more than any other quarterback in football historyand arguably more than any other athlete in team sports history, period. He leaves the league with seven Super Bowl wins, and he owns the records for virtually every major passing statistic, many of which should hold for decades. Having accomplished so much, Brady is ready for a life without footballand fans of pretty much every NFL team are ready for a life in which Brady isnt playing football. Weve been waiting a long time for our teams to win, dammit!

But despite having the longest, most successful career of any football player in history, Brady never dropped off. In his final season, he led the NFL in passing yards (5,316) and passing touchdowns (43). He won the Super Bowl last season; this season, he led his team to a 13-4 record and a playoff win. In his final outing, Brady rallied the Buccaneers from a 27-3 second-half deficit to briefly tie the teams divisional-round matchup against the Rams, who ended up making the Super Bowl. Many quarterbacks arm strength falters as they grow olderbut Bradys final touchdown pass was a gorgeous 55-yard bomb to Mike Evans, a perfect, powerful strike reminiscient of the throws he made to Randy Moss on the Patriots 15 years earlier.

The past few years have brought a slew of retirements by quarterbacks who dominated the NFLs modern era. In every prior case, the retirement followed a significant decline in the quarterbacks quality of play. Drew Brees could no longer throw deep when he called it quits after 2020. Ben Roethlisberger looked like a QB from a different era this season before retiring in January; you could almost hear him emitting an exhausted grunt every time he wound up to throw a wobbly 6-yard pass on third-and-10. Peyton Manning may have gone out on top by retiring after the Broncos win in Super Bowl 50but that Denver team was carried by its all-world defense, while Manning threw just nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The 2015 Broncos often seemed better off with Brock Osweiler on the field.

With Brady, though? Hes legitimately as good as hes ever been. Hell either finish first or second in 2021 MVP voting. The Buccaneers were Super Bowl contenders for 2022 with Brady; without him, they probably wont be. Sportsbooks gave the Bucs the fourth-best odds to win next seasons Super Bowl before Bradys retirement. Now, FanDuel lists them with what are tied for the ninth-best odds. Unless another six-time Super Bowl champion decides to switch teams in the offseason, Tampa Bay may have to try to win next fall with Kyle Trask or Blaine Gabbert. Players like Andrew Luck may have retired at younger ages, but Bradys retirement in his mid-40s probably has a bigger impact on the competitive future of the league.

Brady had said repeatedly over the years that his goal was to play until age 45. That proclamation seemed impossible, considering that there are a total of 22 passing attempts in league history thrown by quarterbacks aged 45 or olderand all of them came from Hall of Famer George Blanda, who only threw those passes in the 1970s because he hung around on rosters as a kicker and occasionally came into games as a backup.

But Brady never wavered, defying the aging curve while appearing in a Facebook show called Tom vs. Time and releasing a book titled The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance. As it turned out, living a lifetime of sustained peak performance involved buying expensive products from the TB12 store, and the book was widely derided as pseudoscience. (Brady also sold a $200 cookbook.) Eventually, Brady abandoned the idea that he would play until 45and moved on to saying he could play until 50, or 55. Sometimes, he sounded like a narcissist who believed his on-field success meant that he was exempt from the concept of human mortality; other times, he simply sounded like a salesman with a warehouse full of anti-aging products.

Brady did fall short of his lofty projections, retiring at age 44. (Ha! I knew he was lying!) But in doing so he proved that all of his claims about being able to play deep into his 40s were legitimate, rather than delusional ramblings or an attempt to push product. Though he accomplished everything possible for a football player, I have to wonder: How far could Brady have gone?

Identifying Bradys greatest trait as an athlete is hard. While some legends are known for possessing one iconic skill, Brady didnt have a ridiculously strong arm or a stunning ability to power through defenders. Im not actually sure Brady even knows how to sprint. His greatness came from qualities that are more difficult to define, like presnap anticipation, processing ability, and throwing accuracy. Oh, and the fact that his teams always won games. But as Brady continued thriving, something else emerged that separated his legend from anybody elses: his ability to keep going.

Bradys late-career production is silly. He has 22,938 passing yards after turning 40; that alone would rank 92nd all time in NFL history. Brady has more passing yards after turning 40 than Roger Staubach did in his entire Hall of Fame career, and more passing touchdowns after turning 40 (168) than Troy Aikman did in his entire Hall of Fame career. Every other QB in NFL history has combined for just 38 passing touchdowns after turning 42; Brady has 107. Brady is actually second in receiving yards after 40, since he caught a pass in 2018only he and Jerry Rice have post-40 receptions.

Bradys longevity makes his records insurmountable, at least for the next couple of decades. Aaron Rodgers feels like the only long-tenured QB who could conceivably catch some of those marks, but he would need to throw for another 175 touchdowns and more than 29,000 yards to do so. The 38-year-old Rodgers would basically have to staple Lucks entire NFL career (171 touchdowns, 23,671 yards) on top of his current career. If Rodgers doesnt do it, well have to wait about 15 years for anybody else (Patrick Mahomes? Josh Allen?) to get close. And winning seven Super Bowls feels downright impossible.

But part of me wonders: How far could this have gone? Brady certainly had the ability to play for another yearcould he have played for three more? Could he have really been an effective NFL quarterback at age 50? With Brady, it feels like we had a legitimate chance to see the maximum amount of football success that a human being could have in one lifetime. What would that look like? How much could he have done?

Were left without an answer here. Some aging quarterbacks drop off astoundingly quickly. It seemed like Manning was set to play well into his 40s when he set an NFL record by passing for 55 touchdowns at age 37; just two years later, he posted career lows in virtually every category except for interception rate, which rose to a career high. Other quarterbacks aged more gracefully. Even as Brees stopped throwing the ball deep, he was still capable of sustaining high completion rates and leading efficient offenses. Well never know how long it wouldve taken for Brady to physically drop offor how he wouldve adjusted to newfound physical limitations.

It feels probable that Brady could have continued to contend for Super Bowls for at least a few more years with these Buccaneers. Hed already passed virtually every significant quarterbacking milestone, but another three seasons couldve seen him hit 100,000 career passing yards. It feels reasonable to expect that Brady could have thrived even if his throwing capabilities did lessen in his late 40s or early 50snobody was better at taking what a defense gave him, and Brady was the second-highest-rated QB on passes marked as short by Pro Football Focus in 2021. He may be retiring with a live arm, but its conceivable that he could have dinked and dunked his way to an eighth Super Bowl or a ninth or a 10th.

For the most part, Im glad Brady is retiring. There were no more stories left to tell. He had already achieved every possible goal, and its well past time for other players to build their legacies. For the record, I am a fan of the New York Jets. Brady has haunted me enough for 10 lifetimes. If I never see him again, itll be too soon.

But if anybody was going to keep playing until he found the limit of what one football player could accomplish, it was Brady, who was compulsively driven to prove that he could just keep going. Its strange to wonder what more we could have seen from him, considering that he played longer and did more than anybody else who previously played his position. Brady made it feel like he would try to achieve everything that was conceivably possible. In the end, he settled for simply achieving more than anybody else in football history ever has.

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How Long Could Tom Brady Really Have Kept Playing? - The Ringer

4 February is World Cancer Day and 2022s World Cancer day theme is Close the care gap. Initiated by the Union for International Cancer Control, World Cancer Day aims to unite the cancer community and reduce the global cancer burden. Dr Ida Mbuthia, Medical and Scientific Affairs Lead SSA, Roche Diagnostics explains.

Approximately 8.2 million people worldwide die from cancer each year, and the numbers are consistently rising. Half of these deaths are considered premature. Disparities in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care are growing and World Cancer Day is an opportunity to raise cancer awareness in the media, public consciousness and in global health and development circles.1

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and accounted for an estimated one in six deaths, in 2018 2 . And the cancer burden exerts tremendous physical, emotional and financial strain on individuals, families, communities and health systems.

Awareness and action are key factors in managing the global cancer burden, as at least one-third of cancers are preventable. Access to care and early diagnostics are vital. Poor access to resources means that 70% of cancer deaths occur in low-to-middle income countries. But early detection, appropriate strategies for prevention and treatment could save millions of lives. 3

Cancer tumours are divided into three groups. Benign tumours are slow growing and rarely life threatening. They are usually contained within one part of the body and are made up of cells resembling the normal healthy cells. Complications arise when they become too large and put pressure on other organs such as the brain or lungs. 3

Faster growing malignant tumours, however, spread and destroy neighbouring tissue. Their cells break off from the primary tumour and metastasise through the body. They continue to divide and grow resulting in metastatic cancer. 3

There are five main types of cancer, classified according to the nature of the cell they originate from:

Most cancers are the result of exposure to several factors some external and some internal. One-third of cancer cases can be prevented by reducing behavioural and dietary risks3. Alcohol, excess weight, diets high in red meats, processed meats, salted

foods and low in fruits and vegetables impact cancer risks. 3

Tobacco smoke contains at least 80 different cancer-causing substances that pass into the bloodstream and are transported throughout the body. Manmade sources of radiation can cause cancer and are a risk for people exposed to cancer-causing substances because of the work that they do. 3

Viruses that cause changes in cells make them more likely to become cancerous. 70% of cervical cancers are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections, while liver cancer can be caused by the Hepatitis B and C virus. 3

Regular physical activity reduces excess body fat and the cancer risks associated with this and being physically active can help reduce the risks of developing cancers.3

Some risk factors are not as easy to modify. Age plays a role as a longer life means more exposure to carcinogens. Genetic mutations can also alter how a cell behaves, making it more likely to be cancerous. And certain people are born with a genetic predisposition that makes the disease more likely. Weakened immune systems also increase cancer risk. Those with HIV or AIDS, organ transplant recipients or those with medical conditions that reduce immunity are more vulnerable to cancer.3

The African continent suffers from a shortage of medical equipment, research resources and epidemiological expertise. Late diagnosis greatly reduces the possibilities of curative treatment, and in sub-Saharan Africa, those vulnerable to being diagnosed with advanced disease include many socially disadvantaged people with poor cancer awareness.Even with many patients experiencing symptoms and seeking help, it is common to long delays to diagnosis.4

To improve survival rates, sub-Saharan African countries need to boost programmes to ensure the early diagnosis of cancer, in tandem with improvements to efficient, timely access to appropriate high-quality treatment. An accelerated referral system to diagnosis needs to be strengthened and strategies to improve cancer education and awareness among patients and health professionals should be intensified.4

The old clich, Knowledge is power is most fitting here. It is of the utmost importance that patients are acutely aware of the symptoms of cancer so that early diagnosis can lead to proper care. Different people can have different symptoms. And some people do not have any signs or symptoms at all, making cancer harder to detect on the surface. 5

Here are some possible warning signs of cancer. Contact your healthcare professional if you find any of the following:

It is important to note that these symptoms can also occur with other conditions that are not cancer. 5

Even though we live in a time of incredible advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, many are denied basic care. This is the equity gap that needs to be addressed. Barriers obstructing cancer care include income, education, geographical location and discrimination. In healthcare, inequality refers to the uneven distribution of resources, whereas inequity refers to unjust, avoidable differences in care or outcomes.

Closing the care gap isnt about providing equal resources, but about giving everyone what they need to bring them up to the same level. 6

At Roche Diagnostics, we believe in collaborative solutions that can improve the lives of patients throughout the African continent. Whether its cancer, infectious diseases or other serious health threats, the quest for better solutions to healthcares greatest challenges starts with and depends on diagnostics. If we commit to tackling the burden of cancer together, I truly believe we can be instrumental in curbing the cancer burden, the non-communicable pandemic in the long-term. 7

Dr IDA MBUTHIA MBChB, MPH, GCSRT (Harvard Medical School)

Dr Mbuthia holds an MBChB from the University of Nairobi and a Masters degree in Public health specializing in Health Promotion from Moi University. She is a Harvard alumnus from the Global Clinical Scholars research-training program with over 15 years experience in Clinical medicine, Healthcare management, Medical Affairs and Clinical research expertise in the Pharmaceutical and Diagnostics industry. Dr Mbuthia is the Medical and Scientific Affairs Lead SSA for Roche Diagnostics, a position she has held for the past one year and is based in Nairobi Kenya. Global health policy, non-communicable diseases and evidence generation for Africa are among key areas of interest for her.

Original post:
Dr Ida Mbuthia Says Awareness Is Key to Reduce The Global Cancer Burden - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

Parabons technology doesnt tell you the exact number of millimeters between the eyes or the ratio between the eyes, nose, and mouth, Greytak says. Without that sort of precision, facial recognition algorithms cannot deliver accurate resultsbut deriving such precise measurements from DNA would require fundamentally new scientific discoveries, she says, and the papers that have tried to do prediction at that level have not had a lot of success. Greytak says Parabon only predicts the general shape of someones face (though the scientific feasibility of such prediction has also been questioned).

Police have been known to run forensic sketches based on witness descriptions through facial recognition systems. A 2019 study from Georgetown Laws Center on Privacy and Technology found that at least half a dozen police agencies in the US permit, if not encourage using forensic sketches, either hand drawn or computer generated, as input photos for face recognition systems. AI experts have warned that such a process likely leads to lower levels of accuracy.

Corsight also has been criticized in the past for exaggerating the capabilities and accuracy of its face recognition system, which it calls the most ethical facial recognition system for highly challenging conditions, according to a slide deck presentation available online. In a technology demo for IPVM last November, Corsight CEO Watts said that Corsights face recognition system can identify someone with a face masknot just with a face mask, but with a ski mask. IPVM reported that using Corsights AI on a masked face rendered a 65% confidence score, Corsights own measure of how likely it is that the face captured will be matched in its database, and noted that the mask is more accurately described as a balaclava or neck gaiter, as opposed to a ski mask with only mouth and eye cutouts.

Broader issues with face recognition technologys accuracy have been well-documented (including by MIT Technology Review). They are more pronounced when photographs are poorly lit or taken at extreme angles, and when the subjects have darker skin, are women, or are very old or very young. Privacy advocates and the public have also criticized facial recognition technology, particularly systems like Clearview AI that scrape social media as part of their matching engine.

Law enforcement use of the technology is particularly fraughtBoston, Minneapolis, and San Francisco are among the many cities that have banned it. Amazon and Microsoft have stopped selling facial recognition products to police groups, and IBM has taken its face recognition software off the market.

The idea that youre going to be able to create something with the level of granularity and fidelity thats necessary to run a face match searchto me, thats preposterous, says Albert Fox Cahn, a civil rights lawyer and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, who works extensively on issues related to face recognition systems. That is pseudoscience.

Dzemila Sero, a researcher in the Computational Imaging Group of Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, the national research institute for mathematics and computer science in the Netherlands, says the science to support such a system is not yet sufficiently developed, at least not publicly. Sero says the catalog of genes required to produce accurate depictions of faces from DNA samples is currently incomplete, citing Human Longevitys 2017 study.

In addition, factors like the environment and aging have substantial effects on faces that cant be captured through DNA phenotyping, and research has shown that individual genes dont affect the appearance of someones face as much as their gender and ancestry does. Premature attempts to implement this technique would likely undermine trust and support for genomic research and garner no societal benefit, she told MIT Technology Review in an email.

Read more:
This company says its developing a system that can recognize your face from just your DNA - MIT Technology Review

Financing led by Formic Ventures, an early-stage high-tech biotech investment firm

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., Jan. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Loki Therapeutics, a company developing next- generation therapeutics that leverage vaccination recall antigens to enhance longevity and treat immune-system related diseases, including cancer, today announced that it has secured seed financing led by Formic Ventures. With this additional funding, Loki has been able to raise a total of $2 million to date. Loki plans to utilize proceeds from the funding for the manufacturing of clinical grade materials and regulatory work to enable the company's first-in-human clinical trial.

Formic Ventures is an early-stage, high-tech and biotech investment firm focused on prolonging human health span and empowering human creativity. Formic was founded by Michael Antonov.

Loki Co-founder and CEO Chris Bradley said, "This financing allows us to advance the development of Loki's potentially groundbreaking AWAKE platform, which activates and redirects pre-existing memory T cells created during vaccination to treat cancer and other immune-mediated diseases. Garnering the support of Formic Ventures and Michael Antonov, who has helped advanced numerous next-generation technologies including Oculus, provides important validation for our company and technology as we aim to bring our first programs into the clinic. Michael also founded The Michael Antonov Foundation, a charitable organization that supports innovative biotechnology companies that seek to advance cutting-edge medicines to treat diseases for which no effective therapeutics currently exist."

"We are delighted to lead this financing for Loki, a company with a platform that shows significant promise for extending the longevity and quality of life of patients with numerous immune-system related diseases," added Antonov. "Loki's unique approach of awakening immune memory has the potential to become a completely new category of cancer treatment, unlocking a wide variety of benefits for treating difficult solid tumors more effectively and affordably than current alternatives, while providing similar benefits for other diseases associated with weakened immune systems."

Story continues

Loki's AWAKE platform offers a completely new approach to treating cancer and other diseases caused by immune-system breakdown by activating and redirecting pre-existing memory T cells created during vaccination to target and eliminate cancer cells, as well as target other immune-related diseases. Loki's lead program AWAKE-LM-TT capitalizes on the childhood vaccination for tetanus to generate a powerful and immediate immune response to solid tumors and metastases presenting the tetanus antigens. Loki is currently advancing AWAKE-LM-TT as a potential treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer, as well as metastatic ovarian cancer. Loki is also pursuing additional development programs based on other childhood vaccines, including polio (AWAKE-LM-PV) and mumps.

Developed by Loki Co-Founder and Principal Scientist Claudia Gravekamp, Ph.D., who also serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and member of the Albert Einstein Cancer Center, AWAKE utilizes non-pathogenic microbes (attenuated Listeria monocytogenes) for the precise delivery of vaccine recall antigens to tumor microenvironments and into tumor cells.

About Formic VenturesFormic Ventures is a diversified venture capital firm that makes early-stage investments in biotechnology startups focused on human longevity as well as technology startups and companies that make human lives more meaningful.

About Loki Therapeutics Loki Therapeutics is developing next-generation therapeutics that leverage vaccination recall antigens to enhance longevity and treat immune-system related diseases, including cancer, by delivering vaccine recall antigens to tumor cells with genetically attenuated bacterial vectors.

Loki's AWAKE platform offers a completely new approach to treating cancer and other diseases caused by immune-system breakdown by activating and redirecting pre-existing memory T cells created during vaccination to target and eliminate cancer cells, as well as target other immune-related diseases. Key to AWAKE is its utilization of attenuated Listeria Monocytogenes for the precise delivery of recall antigens to tumor environments and into the tumor cell. Loki's lead development program AWAKE-LM-TT capitalizes on the childhood vaccination for tetanus toxoid (TT) to generate an immune response to solid tumors and metastases presenting the tetanus antigens. Loki is currently advancing AWAKE-LM-TT as a potential treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer, as well as metastatic ovarian cancer. Loki is also pursuing additional development programs based on other childhood vaccines, including polio (AWAKE-LM-PV) and mumps. For more information on Loki Therapeutics please visit http://www.lokitx.com.

ContactsTiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.Lisa Sher (Investors)lsher@tiberend.com

David Schemelia (Media)dschemelia@tiberend.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/loki-therapeutics-announces-seed-financing-to-develop-therapeutics-that-enhance-longevity-and-treat-immune-system-related-diseases-301466949.html

SOURCE Loki Therapeutics

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Loki Therapeutics Announces Seed Financing to Develop Therapeutics that Enhance Longevity and Treat Immune-system Related Diseases - Yahoo Finance

For those of you I havent met yet, Im Dr. Stacy Carrington-Lawrence, the new deputy director of NIAs Division of Aging Biology (DAB). Im excited to be here! Part of my job is to connect with the extramural community to discuss and build upon our research priorities, including understanding the mechanisms, hallmarks, and biomarkers of aging; exploring assessments of the rates of aging (including lifespan and healthspan); and developing methods to alter them to improve health as we age.

Joining DAB was a natural fit for me. In my previous career as an HIV/AIDS researcher, part of my focus was on HIV and aging as well as health disparities. And of course, addressing health disparities of aging is a long-standing interest and priority for DAB and the broader NIA. Therefore, another component of my new role is working with the scientific community to expand the fields growing interest in defining the biological basis of aging-related health disparities. Understanding the role of molecular and cellular processes in health disparities can lead to novel and improved treatments that work for everyone regardless of background.

Many of you may have read the NIA Health Disparities Framework, including the category that lists several biological factors thought to play a role in health disparities. Although DAB supports and promotes research on each of these factors, our current health disparities portfolio examining these variables is modest. Our goal in 2022 and moving forward is to expand and diversify this portfolio, with collaborative input from my colleagues across NIA including the Office of Special Populations.

We are renewing our efforts now and will continue to do so in the coming years to address the gaps in our health disparities portfolio. We aim to achieve that by increasing our support for research on common biological pathways and processes of aging, and studies to expand understanding of physiological aging within and across different health disparities populations.

DAB support for animal models remains instrumental in aging research and has led to critical advances that have enabled us to understand the cellular and molecular basis of longevity, differential rates of aging, and the role of our environment in how we age. We are now directing our attention to translating some of these discoveries from animal models to humans as we move our health disparities portfolio and human subjects research forward. These efforts to better understand health and health disparities in humans require basic research with data and samples from human study participants.

Specifically, over the next few years, DAB will implement a strategy advancing research to identify the biological mechanisms and biologic risk factors that accelerate or slow down human aging. This will involve an integrated and collaborative approach that includes examining the hallmarks of aging; understanding how organ systems and processes interact with one another as we age; and exploring how to best utilize and develop animal models and emerging technologies to inform research advances in diverse populations. If you want to be part of this effort, please contact us for more information.

I look forward to working more closely with you this year and beyond. If you are interested in learning more about DABs efforts to strengthen and grow basic research on health disparities, please email me or leave a comment below. And if your research team is exploring these important issues, we urge you to keep an eye on the Inside NIA blog and the DAB webpage for future related funding opportunities in the biology of health disparities.

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Next steps for the biology of health disparities - National Institute on Aging

Peopletypicallyassociate junk food with weight gain and obesity, but new research suggestsmany ofthe plastic products used in everyday life, fromshampoo bottlesto dishsponges,mayplay a role inpackingon the pounds.

Researchers studied 34 different plastic productssuch asyogurt containers, drink bottles and kitchen spongesin a laboratory to see what types of chemicals theycontained.They foundmore than55,000 different chemical componentsandmanagedto identify629 ofthem.

Within that subset, they found 11 chemicals known to interfere with metabolism, called metabolism-disrupting chemicals.

Our experiments show that ordinary plastic products contain a mix of substances that can be a relevant and underestimated factor behind overweight and obesity, saidMartin Wagner, an associate professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology,in a statement.

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Historically, scientists believed that most plastic chemicals stay within the materialtheyreused in, but Wagners team found that plastic products leachmanychemicals under real-world conditions, whichmeanstheyreable to enter the human body.

Wagners team also noted previous research has suggested that some plastics contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that could affect a persons development and fertility, and Wagners new research is adding weight gain to that list.

About one-third of the plastic products investigated by Wagner and his research team were found to contribute to fat cell development in laboratory experiments, and these substances can reprogram precursor cells to become fat cells that then proliferate and accumulate even more fat.

However, while some plastic products did contain metabolism-disrupting substances, not all did. Some carried chemicals that could induce the development of fat cells,but theyrecurrently unidentified. At this point, scientists only know theycarry the potential to interfere with how the human body stores fat.

Its very likely that it is not the usual suspects, such as Bisphenol A, causing these metabolic disturbances. This means that other plastic chemicals than the ones we already know could be contributing to overweight and obesity, saidJohannes Vlker, the first author of the studywho isaffiliated withNorwegian University of Science and Technology.

TheU.S Department of Health and Human Servicesestimates that from 2017 to 2018,nearly1 in3 adults were overweightin the U.S.and more than2 in 5adults were considered obese.

Wagners research team estimated that2 billion people in the world are overweight, while 650millionfallunderthe obese category.

Thatcarriesseriousrisk, as the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionsays obesity is associated with poorer mental health outcomes and a reduced quality of life. Obesity is also associated with the leading causes of death in the U.S. and worldwide, like diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer.

Researchers' solution to plastic chemicalscontributing to weight gain is to scale back the use of plastics, writing, a shift toward chemically less-complex plastics represents a way forward to a nontoxic environment.

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Everyday plastic products could be contributing to weight gain | TheHill - The Hill

ESG Efforts Recognized by Several Leading Independent Organizations

HARVEY, Ill., January 31, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atkore Inc. (the "Company" or "Atkore") (NYSE: ATKR) today released its 2021 Sustainability Report, detailing the Companys environment, social and governance (ESG) practices in key areas that include management of natural resources, health & safety, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), and employee engagement. In addition, the Companys efforts related to ESG have been recognized recently by several leading independent organizations.

"Sustainability is central to the strength, safety, and longevity of Atkore, and we have continued to implement and execute a range of initiatives during 2021 to improve the sustainability and performance of our business," said Atkores President and CEO Bill Waltz. "In addition, we are committed to executing key initiatives that drive progress in these areas over the next several years as well with the announcement of our 2025 Sustainability Targets. As we continue our journey of Building Better Together, we remain focused on sustainable business practices for the benefit of our employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and communities."

Highlights of Atkores 2021 Sustainability Report:

"Lets Make it Home": Atkores new safety brand, which represents the Companys dedication to creating a place where every one of its employees feels respected, appreciated, and safe, every day.

Electrification Transition: Atkores products are critical in the global transition to a lower-carbon economy and contribute to customers ability to generate clean energy. Atkore is committed to increasing investment in sustainable product development and adoption.

Water Transmission: Atkore offers a comprehensive line of PVC plumbing and water piping products, which are durable, effective, and provide our customers with peace of mind thanks to maintenance-free performance.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: In 2021, Atkore launched unconscious bias training for all salaried employees and introduced DEI topics into its onboarding and immersion programreflecting its ambition to embed equity and inclusion across all parts of its operations.

2025 Sustainability Targets: Atkore is committed to driving positive ESG impacts, and the Company has set four goals in the following areas:

Reduce Scope 1 & Scope 2 GHG intensity by 10% from 58.2 metric tons of CO2e per million USD to 52.4 metric tons of CO2e per million USD1

Increase percentage of sites meeting annual team-based safety observations (TBSO) targets to 80%

Achieve 30% diversity across the Senior Leadership Team

Increase participation in employee engagement and alignment survey to 80%

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Additionally, Atkore is pleased to announce that its ESG and sustainability efforts have been recently recognized by several leading independent organizations as follows:

Ranked 48th in Newsweeks list of Americas Most Responsible Companies for 2022.

Designated as a Great Place to Work Certified company for the second year in a row. Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture and employee experience and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue and increased innovation.

Earned the 2022 Top Workplaces USA award, issued by Energage, a purpose-driven organization that develops solutions to build and brand Top Workplaces.

Achieved a score of 85 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2022 Corporate Equality Index based on the Companys inaugural submission. The Corporate Equality Index is the leading benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

Received a Bronze Rating from EcoVadis related to the Companys sustainability. EcoVadis is a trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence and collaborative performance improvement tools for global supply chains.

"We are excited and pleased to receive these external recognitions, as each is a testament to our strong culture and reaffirms our commitment to our mission and our values," added Mr. Waltz.

The 2021 Atkore Sustainability Report was prepared in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standard for Electrical & Electronic Equipment (RT-EE version 201810) but is not fully in accordance with either standard. The report is now available on the companys website.

About Atkore Inc.

Atkore is forging a future where our employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and communities are building better together a future focused on serving the customer and powering and protecting the world. With a network of manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide, Atkore is a leading provider of electrical, safety and infrastructure solutions. To learn more, please visit http://www.atkore.com.

1 Revenue used to calculate future GHG emissions intensity will be adjusted to remove the impact of changes in average selling prices.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220131005172/en/

Contacts

Media Contact: Lisa WinterVice President Communications708-225-2453LWinter@atkore.com

Investor Contact: John DeitzerVice President Treasury & Investor Relations708-225-2124JDeitzer@atkore.com

Link:
Atkore Releases 2021 Sustainability Report and Announces Sustainability Commitments for 2025 - Yahoo Finance