Day: October 25, 2022

WORTH II Partnership Project launch the second call for proposals

The second online call for proposals within the WORTH II partnership project, Europe’s largest incubation programme dedicated to creatives has been launched.

ROME, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The second online call for proposals within the WORTH II partnership project, Europe’s largest incubation programme dedicated to creatives has been launched. The programme is addressed to those who want to work together to develop innovative business ideas, SMEs and freelancers working in the lifestyle sectors, including footwear, leather and fur, textiles, furniture and home decoration, architecture and interior design, jewellery and accessories, were invited to come together for the second time and express their interest in the project. During the meeting they learned about the specifics of the call, the features of the incubation programme, the application process and how WORTH supports design solutions that help address the global challenges facing Europe.

The European Union’s COSME Programme funds the project for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

As a result of the first call, 65 transnational partnerships were selected, with 149 participants from 28 EU-COSME countries. The selected projects were characterised by a broad sectoral representation: 45% textiles and clothing; 37% home decoration, interior design, furniture and architecture; 6% jewellery; 5% accessories; 5% leather and fur; 3% footwear. The projects were strongly linked to global challenges, including the priority challenges of the New European Bauhaus (beauty, sustainability, inclusion). The results obtained from the first call and the high participation rates allowed the programme to further consolidate and pave the way for future projects with promising short, medium, and long-term impacts both on the creative community around WORTH and, in particular, on the group of selected partnerships, who are the direct beneficiaries of the support programme.

It was with this proactive spirit that the second call for projects was conceived, dedicated to themes such as circular economy, a transition towards more sustainable production and consumption; advanced digitized manufacturing, digitized value chains and business models; social innovation and social inclusion; European cultural heritage preservation for social cohesion and well-being, reinvention of craftsmanship; shaping a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, professionals and citizens through innovative training and re-skilling tools; unique and disruptive design approaches; bolstering the EU single market, use of innovative materials, among other challenges that matter to communities.

Furthermore, the alignment with the following additional objectives is considered an asset and brings additional value to the project:

1. the green and digital transition
2. efficient use of energy and resources
3. reduction of the carbon footprint

In addition to the partnerships already identified in the first call, a further 137 partnerships will be selected over the next two years and will be eligible for the following:

• The majority of projects will be awarded with a lump sum of 10,000€. A certain quota of outstanding selected projects will be granted with lump sums of 15.000€ and 20.000€
• A tailor-made coaching programme.
• Participation in two international events to present the products developed.
• Networking opportunities and provision of professional connections.
• Visibility through international media relations activities, advertising and social media marketing.
• Visibility of their professional profile on the WORTH gallery. A virtual networking space and marketplace.

The call for applications expires on 15 February and is specifically aimed at designers/creatives, manufacturers/artisans, technology developers/suppliers/technology owners. The sectors involved are textile/fashion, footwear, leather/fur, furniture/home decoration/interior design/architecture, jewellery, and accessories. The countries eligible to participate are the 27 countries of the European Union, the COSME associated states and the UK.

Partnerships must be transnational, meaning that members must come from at least 2 different EU or COSME associated countries or United Kingdom.

For more information:

LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director
Barbara Sanicola – barbara.sanicola@lapresse.it

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7fcc3312-f027-4f28-aabb-3e4cec3c8d26

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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Researchers at the UCSF QBI Coronavirus Research Group (QCRG) have uncovered how the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) differ in their ability to manipulate human cells on a molecular level during infection. They have discovered variant specific differences in viral RNA and protein levels, including viral proteins N, Orf6, and Orf9b, and how specific mutations are responsible for changing viral protein levels during infection with each variant. They have also revealed how mutations in the variants change protein-protein interactions between viral and host proteins. This highly collaborative work, which also included scientists at the University of College London, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Texas Biomedical Research Institute, highlighted how holistic approaches utilizing proteomics and genomics can reveal cellular changes at the protein and RNA level during infection. “What is exciting to me is how we are integrating different kinds of molecular ‘omics’ data together using computational tools and using it to understand how SARS-CoV-2 is evolving. The methodology and insights we are developing can be applied to understanding other viruses and diseases in the future,” said Mehdi Bouhaddou, a QBI Postdoctoral Fellow in Nevan Krogan’s laboratory and co-first author on the research featured in a paper that appeared on Oct. 21, 2022, on bioRxiv.

The results paint a more complete picture of how specific variants evade our innate immune system. The mechanistic approach not only suggests better treatments for future variants but also enhances our future pandemic preparedness.

“Using these approaches, we can pinpoint what specific mechanisms we can successfully target to develop therapies against all the variants. But it also tells us as long as the virus continues to transmit in the population it will continue to evolve and adapt to humans – an example of that being Omicron and its subvariants. This is important because viruses only live in the host, so as long as it’s transmitting it will continue to adapt,” said Lorena Zuliani-Alvarez, PhD, QBI Lead Senior Scientist and co-senior author on the paper.

Convergence and Divergence

Since 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has arced an evolutionary trajectory through several different VOCs including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron but when cell response to infection is examined both conserved and divergent biological pathways are observed.

Conserved, or things that remained common despite mutation, included the regulation of translation, or how proteins are made in cells. This pathway with conserved regulation across the variants has made it a practical target for inhibiting the virus across all VOCs utilizing the translational inhibitor plitidepsin, a compound developed by PharmaMar and in clinical trials for COVID-19. Conversely, changes in the inflammatory response were most divergent, or different, across the VOCs. When examining specific variants, they found that Alpha and Beta, but not Omicron BA.1, could suppress the innate immune system, impeding what is often referred to as our first line of defense. This modulation in the inflammatory response is linked specifically to the decreased production of the protein interferon, which is responsible for inhibiting viral replication and aiding in clearing the infection. The researchers discovered many of these differences correlated with the expression and mutation status of the viral protein Orf6.

Orf6 and Omicron

Orf6 is an accessory protein that can suppress the interferon response. It does this by blocking the transport of transcription factors into the nucleus, inhibiting production of not only interferon but also interferon stimulated genes. While it was clear there were different levels of Orf6 expressed by different VOCs, there were also different amounts of Orf6 expressed by each Omicron subvariant. BA.1 and BA.2 infections lead to the greatest production of interferon, your innate immune system working, while BA.5 evolved to suppress it by upregulating expression of Orf6. BA.4 also upregulated Orf6, but additionally contained a mutation that reduced its ability to inhibit a key host protein complex called the nuclear pore. This demonstrates that VOCs have evolved to fine-tune both viral protein expression and their interactions with host proteins in a way that can manipulate our innate and adaptive immune responses, – highlighting a likely reason for increased transmission in humans.

QBI’s integrative approach enables the rapid evaluation of emerging viral mutations and their mechanistic consequences on viral replication. “Our goal was to understand how mutations that were naturally occurring in the SARS-CoV-2 variants affected the course of infection. We found many examples of how mutations in the virus changed the host molecular response in human cells. For example, inflammatory response is drastically different across variants, with ramifications for clinical symptoms and transmission. By understanding more about how SARS-CoV-2 is evolving, we hope to be better prepared for new variants and future pandemics of emerging viruses because we are getting a sense for the things this virus is changing over time,” explains Nevan Krogan, director of QBI at the School of Pharmacy at UCSF and senior investigator at Gladstone Institutes. With these insights the research will pave the way to discover broad antivirals that can target existing and upcoming VOCs.

Lorena Zuliani-Alvarez, PhD is the co-senior author along with Nevan Krogan, PhD. First author Mehdi Bouhaddou, PhD is a Postdoctoral fellow in the Krogan Lab. For further author information please see the study.

Academic and private sector scientists from UCSF, QBI’s Coronavirus Research Group (QCRG) Gladstone Institutes, University College London, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, University of Glasgow, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Francis Crick Institute, ETH Zurich, MIT, and Tel Aviv University, and other institutions as well as the companies PharmaMar and Synthego participated in the research.

Funding: This work was funded by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, both part of the National Institutes of Health; the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; the Center for Research for Influenza Pathogenesis; the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; F. Hoffmann-LaRoche; Vir Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies (CIBSS), European Research Council (ERC) and QCRG philanthropic donors.

About the Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI): The Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) is a University of California organized research unit reporting through the UCSF School of Pharmacy. QBI fosters collaborations across the biomedical and the physical sciences, seeking quantitative methods to address pressing problems in biology and biomedicine. Motivated by problems of human disease, QBI is committed to investigating fundamental biological mechanisms, because ultimately solutions to many diseases have been revealed by unexpected discoveries in the basic sciences. Learn more at qbi.ucsf.edu.

Follow QBI
qbi.ucsf.edu | Facebook.com/qbiucsf | Twitter.com/qbi_ucsf | YouTube.com/qbitvucsf

About UCSF: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. UCSF Health, which serves as UCSF’s primary academic medical center, includes top-ranked specialty hospitals and other clinical programs, and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area. Learn more at ucsf.edu or see our Fact Sheet.

Follow UCSF
ucsf.edu | Facebook.com/ucsf | Twitter.com/ucsf | YouTube.com/ucsf

Media Contact:
Gina Nguyen, (646)-326-8936, GinaT.Nguyen@ucsf.edu

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Youth Ages 13-24 Can Compete in World Series of Innovation to Win $1,500

Now through Dec. 11, youth ages 13 to 24 from around the globe can compete for prizes ranging from $300-$1,500 in the annual World Series of Innovation presented by Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and Citi Foundation. No previous connection to NFTE is required. Sign up for free at innovation.nfte.com.

“The next generation of diverse entrepreneurs is focused on solving problems not only in their lives, but also in their communities,” said NFTE CEO Dr. J.D. LaRock. “Our World Series of Innovation motivates young people to think big and bring forward innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Teams of competitors from around the globe will showcase their creativity, passion, and ambition to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inspiring us all to do the same.”

Each fall leading up to Global Entrepreneurship Week, NFTE announces new online challenges addressing SDGs. Winners will be announced in April 2023. This year’s challenges include:

• SDG 3, Healthy Lives: MetLife Foundation Good Health and Well-Being Challenge
• SDG 4, Quality Education: Mastercard Financial Education Challenge
• SDG 6, Water and Sanitation: Bank of the West Fresh Water Action Challenge
• SDG 7, Energy: ServiceNow Carbon Killer Challenge
• SDG 8, Economic Growth: Citi Foundation Future of Work Challenge
• SDG 11, Cities/Settlements: Link Logistics Green Buildings Challenge
• SDG 13, Climate Change: Maxar Climate Mapping Challenge
• SDG 13, Climate Change: Zuora Subscription Economy Challenge
• SDG 14, Oceans and Seas: Mary Kay Global Oceans Conservation Challenge
• SDG 15, Terrestrial Ecosystems: EY Accelerating Environmental Sustainability Challenge

NFTE will also observe Global Entrepreneurship Week on Nov. 16 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. EST with a Global Goals Conversation on “Climate Change: A Human Issue.” Register at nfte.com/events for the free livestream featuring Dr. Matthew Bell, EY’s Global Climate Change and Sustainability Service Leader; Emer Clarke, ServiceNow’s Senior Manager of Environmental Sustainability; Omar Hernández of United Nations Academic Impact; Candace Hewitt, Vice President of Citi Impact Fund; and NFTE alum Jason Lin, founder of MVMNT.

A global nonprofit founded in 1987, NFTE provides high-quality entrepreneurship education to middle school, high school, and postsecondary students from under-resourced communities. Learn more at nfte.com. Learn more about Citi Foundation at citifoundation.com. 

Media Contacts

Denise Berkhalter, APR / NFTE
(212) 232-3333

Joanne Lessner/Lambert & Co.
(212) 222-7436

mediainquiries@nfte.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b900a94b-9586-42af-aec2-870194c4d253

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8681954

OVERLAND PARK, Ks., Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — George Clinical, in close collaboration with The George Institute for Global Health, has recently announced the recruitment of more than 5,000 patients in its ground-breaking, first of its kind, Global Kidney Patient Trials Network (GKPTN) which will accelerate treatments for kidney disease. The concept for the GKPTN is a logical extension of George Clinical’s scientific and clinical operations leadership in the kidney space. In early 2020, the GKPTN enrolled its first patient with the purpose of developing a network of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) willing to participate in clinical research projects accessible through a single global chronic kidney disease platform. The GKPTN now has more than 140 sites in nine countries globally recruiting patients including Australia, China, Japan, USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Italy with the full intention of continuing to expand the number of countries in the coming years.

The GKPTN aims to accelerate the development of new treatments and provide equitable benefits for the millions of people globally who suffer from chronic kidney disease and the many rarer kidney diseases associated with glomerular nephropathies. It is the rarer diseases that have seen increased focus of late from drug developers in the race to find treatments for these underserved patients. Responding to the needs of the researchers in the kidney space, George Clinical has made a commitment to prioritize the recruitment of patients into the network with these more rare glomerulonephropathies while still remaining focussed on the development of a master protocol under which future CKD trials can be run in a more efficient manner.

George Clinical Chief Medical Officer, Maria Ali noted “Our ultimate goal is to grow the GKPTN to a total of 10,000 patients by the end of 2027 which will give us the bandwidth to support dozens of clinical trials in the kidney space. We are well on our way to achieving our goals as we seek to provide the infrastructure necessary to make recruitment timelines shorter and reduce the time to get needed treatments to patients.”

There are a number of trials currently being supported by the GKPTN which are targeting treatments for CKD and glomerulonephropathy and the network has the capacity to support many more simultaneous trials.  George Clinical, as the leading CRO in the kidney space will have an expanded presence to engage those in the industry interested in leveraging the network at the upcoming 2022 ASN Kidney Week in Orlando and briefings with scientific leaders and operations leads will be available.

The development of the GKPTN was made possible through a generous grant from AstraZeneca and serves as a clear example of a true research partnership.

About the Global Kidney Patient Trials Network

With recruitment underway across nine countries and more than 140 sites with more than 5,000 patients already enrolled, the GKPTN allows for the ongoing and long term collection of critical data from patients suffering from kidney disease that will be analyzed for future treatment pathways and important interventions.  The network establishes global infrastructure in a collaborative fashion to facilitate rapid and improved access to trials for patients with kidney disease.

About George Clinical

George Clinical is a leading global clinical research organization founded in Asia-Pacific driven by scientific expertise and operational excellence. With over 20 years of experience and more than 400 people managing 39 geographical locations throughout the Asia-Pacific region, USA, and Europe, George Clinical provides the full range of clinical trial services to biopharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic customers, for all trial phases, registration and post-marketing trials.

Website:          https://www.georgeclinical.com

LinkedIn:         https://www.linkedin.com/company/george-clinical-pty-ltd

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/george_clinical

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/georgeclinical

WeChat:            https://mp.weixin.qq.com/.

Matthew Reabold
George Clinical
760-645-0496
mreabold@georgeclinical.com

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