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Lupus Research Alliance Launches the DREAM Knowledge-Exchange Platform to Accelerate Precision Medicine in Lupus

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The DREAM is the final component of the Lupus Research Alliance’s Lupus Nexus, an innovative program that provides unprecedented resources to both researchers and those living with lupus

NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) today launched the Data Repository, Exchange and Analytics platforM (DREAM), a cutting-edge knowledge-exchange platform. The DREAM consists of two distinct interfaces: a secure data-sharing and collaboration platform for researchers, and a research engagement platform for those living with lupus. The DREAM is the final component of the Lupus Nexus, a unique program that aims to accelerate precision medicine in lupus and is comprised of a Registry, a Biorepository, the DREAM, and a Quality Management System.

For researchers, the DREAM provides access to a rich source of longitudinal patient data (clinician and patient-reported), linked biospecimens, and amassed raw molecular data (from analyzed biospecimens) offering an unprecedented lupus resource for investigators.

For those living with lupus, the DREAM offers a sense of community and opportunities to connect, access educational resources, participate in research studies, and review and visualize their personal research data, including results of their biospecimen analysis, patient-reported outcomes over time, and more. It also provides a mechanism for those living with lupus to share feedback with the LRA and broader research community.  

A Key Component of LRA’s Lupus Nexus

Through the Lupus Nexus, investigators will have access to deep datasets and powerful tools to better understand the disease and will use that knowledge to help develop new treatments and improve the quality of life for those living with lupus.

“The launch of the DREAM completes our vision of the Lupus Nexus,” said Devon Kelly, Director, Lupus Nexus, Lupus Research Alliance. “The DREAM not only enables researchers to harness powerful data, but will better connect participants with research and information, creating a collaborative, data-driven path to benefit the entire lupus community.”

The Lupus Nexus is a key pillar of the newly announced LRA five-year Strategic Plan which aims to define disease heterogeneity, advance treatments from preclinical to clinical stages, increase diversity in research, and enhance clinical research capabilities. Over time, the Lupus Nexus will continue to expand its data and research capabilities, driving the development of more personalized treatments and empowering those living with lupus.

“Since lupus is such a complex and heterogeneous disease, developing new treatments hinges on access to high-quality data from diverse populations and increased collaboration among researchers and people with lupus,” said Peter Schafer, PhD, Co-Chair of the Lupus Nexus Steering Committee and Scientific Vice President at Bristol Myers Squibb. “The Lupus Nexus, with its DREAM platform, delivers unprecedented access to data and analytical tools, enabling researchers to accelerate the discovery and development of tailored treatments, at the same time enabling critical participation and feedback from the lupus community.”  

The LRA engaged research industry leaders Lifebit and Sano Genetics to build the DREAM. Lifebit, a global leader in genomics and health data software, will implement and manage the knowledge-exchange and analytics platform for researchers and clinicians, while Sano Genetics, a health tech company accelerating precision medicine research, will drive meaningful engagement by enabling those living with lupus to participate in research, access their research data and connect through an interactive online community.

The LRA will continue to develop and advance the Lupus Nexus as the preeminent program to transform lupus research and drug development through unprecedented information exchange capabilities. For more information, visit lupusnexus.org.

About Lupus
Lupus is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. In lupus, the immune system, meant to defend against infections, produces autoantibodies that mistake the body’s own cells as foreign, causing other immune cells to attack organs such as the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs and skin, as well as blood and joints. Ninety percent of people with lupus are women, most often diagnosed between the ages of 15-45. Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Islander people are disproportionately affected by lupus and more likely to experience severe lupus symptoms.

About the Lupus Research Alliance
The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) is the largest non-governmental, non-profit funder of lupus research worldwide. The organization aims to transform treatment by funding the most innovative lupus research, fostering diverse scientific talent, and driving discovery toward better diagnostics, improved treatments and ultimately a cure for lupus. Because the LRA board of directors funds all administrative and fundraising costs, 100 percent of all donations support lupus research programs. Visit LupusResearch.org to learn more, and follow us on LinkedInTwitterFacebook, and Instagram.

Thanks go to the following companies for their sponsorship support of the Lupus Nexus development: Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, AbbVie Inc., and EMD Serono Inc.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lupus-research-alliance-launches-the-dream-knowledge-exchange-platform-to-accelerate-precision-medicine-in-lupus-302297752.html

SOURCE Lupus Research Alliance

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Soren West Joins TAIT as Executive Vice President of Middle East and North Africa

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Industry veteran tapped for leading and expanding business, bringing decades of expertise to a region undergoing rapid growth

LITITZ, Pa., Nov. 7, 2024 /CNW/ — TAIT is thrilled to announce industry veteran and executive producer Soren West has joined the company as Executive Vice President, MENA. In this role, Soren will be a key leader for TAIT focusing on growth across MENA and the Gulf Coast.

Mr. West has a long history with TAIT and the Rock Lititz Community.

“I went to TAIT for a job in 1996 and they turned me away,” says West. “I spent the next 22 years working across the street; we grew up together.”

In those two decades, Mr. West served as CEO of ATOMIC, co-founder of Beame Lighting (which was sold to 4Wall,) and one of the founding visionaries of Rock Lititz.  West left ATOMIC in 2017 to form his own creative entertainment, media, and brand communications company in Los Angeles, his namesake, SOREN WEST, LLC, which was recently acquired by the executive team who has been operating the company for the last few years.

Adam Davis, CEO of TAIT says, “Soren has been our client, our vendor, occasionally our competitor, and always our friend for nearly 30 years, and we have tremendous respect for what he’s accomplished in our business. It’s about time we joined forces. He’s a dynamo; a perfect fit – a trusted, experienced talent who can carry the TAIT name and mission into new territories.”

“It feels like my journey has come full-circle,” West added, “like coming home. I’m thrilled by the opportunity to be part of this great company and to be part of the exciting cultural and economic change going on across MENA.”

TAIT, the global leader in live experience for over 45 years, is a trusted partner to the world’s most influential artists, brands, and institutions. Working across live, brand, placemaking, and location-based experiences, TAIT creates moments that move people across the world every day. Super Bowl halftime extravaganzas, award-winning theme parks, World Expo pavilions, Olympic opening ceremonies, and much more have been brought to life through their global multi-disciplinary team.

For more information visit www.taittowers.com or contact TAIT@kwtglobal.com.

About TAIT

TAIT partners with artists, brands, IP holders and place makers to bring culture-defining, never-before-seen experiences to life. With a legacy of innovation spanning over 45 years, TAIT has grown from pioneering in rock ‘n’ roll concert staging to setting the global standard for extraordinary live events and experiences through cutting-edge technology, precision engineering, and creative design. TAIT’s 20 global offices have developed iconic productions and experiences in over 30 countries, all seven continents, and even outer space for renowned performers, theme parks, exhibits, and venues across the globe, including partnerships with Taylor Swift, Cirque Du Soleil, Royal Opera House, Nike, NASA, Bloomberg, Google, Beyoncé, and The Olympics.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soren-west-joins-tait-as-executive-vice-president-of-middle-east-and-north-africa-302298071.html

SOURCE TAIT

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Watch Duty Launches in Hawai’i to Provide Real-Time Wildfire Map and Alert System

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A year after expanding its wildfire coverage across thirteen Western States, the popular non-profit app expands its coverage to Hawai’i to deliver more timely critical information about wildfires as they develop.

HEALDSBURG, Calif., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Watch Duty, the only app that provides real-time wildfire information, announced that it is expanding coverage to Hawai’i today. A year after the devastating Lahaina Fire, many communities are still not equipped with adequate real-time information about wildfires.

Already operating across the thirteen western states, Watch Duty provides real-time alerts and continued expert reporting for local residents in areas impacted by fast-moving and unpredictable wildfires. Watch Duty delivers these critical updates, all of which are vetted by an expert team of current and former firefighters and first responders, retired dispatchers and reporters, faster than any other available channel. This allows impacted residents to make informed decisions during stressful and uncertain times, when official notices often take much longer, if they appear at all. 

“The majority of fatalities occur within the first hours of a fire, meaning every second counts,” said John Mills, co-founder and CEO at Watch Duty. “We built Watch Duty to give people like us who live in wildfire-prone areas a more timely and trustworthy option for receiving critical updates as quickly as possible. When there’s a wildfire in or near your area, you’ll receive an update directly to your phone, within minutes, and without having to mine through various community groups on Facebook, Twitter or other mass forums, which often contain dated or dubious information.”

“When a wildfire occurs, panic and confusion are often the first emotions to set in – an especially dangerous reality when you factor in just how unpredictable and fast-moving many fires are,” said Jeff Lemelin, Volunteer Battalion Chief for Sonoma County (CA) Fire District. “Watch Duty is providing a vital public service by providing a simple and highly trustworthy option for receiving the key information around wildfire movements, containment status and, especially, evacuation notices, that people need, delivered when they most need it.” 

Watch Duty is already trusted by over three million users in the American West and is actively being utilized by fire chiefs, first responders, tanker pilots, and other fire fighting personnel. 

Any interested individual can download the app for free on the App Store, Google Play or at watchduty.org.

ABOUT WATCH DUTY
Watch Duty, 501(c)3 nonprofit, provides real-time wildfire information for making informed decisions when seconds count.  Our service is powered by real people – firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders – who diligently monitor radio scanners and collaborate 24/7 to send up-to-the-minute information to your phone. It’s free to download on the App Store and Google Play. Learn more at watchduty.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/watch-duty-launches-in-hawaii-to-provide-real-time-wildfire-map-and-alert-system-302297902.html

SOURCE Watch Duty

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Boston Materials Announces $13.5M in New Funding for Manufacturing Expansion and Establishing Supply Chain Partnerships

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Boston Materials Builds on Established Manufacturing Footprint in USA and Expands Global Product Deployment of Advanced Materials for Semiconductors and Aerospace Markets

BILLERICA, Mass., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — BOSTON MATERIALS, INC., a manufacturer of advanced materials key to the next generation of semiconductors and aircraft platforms, today announced $13.5 million in new funding. The investment was led by AccelR8 and Diamond Edge Ventures, the US-based corporate venturing arm of Mitsubishi Chemical Group, a leading global carbon fiber manufacturer. With this funding, Boston Materials is accelerating its expansion into the semiconductor market, building from its existing footprint in the aerospace market.

“The world is experiencing an unprecedented increase in energy consumption from computing and transportation,” said Dwight Poler, CEO of AccelR8. “BOSTON MATERIALS is spearheading a new class of materials designed to maximize both the performance and efficiency of energy-intensive systems.”

Founded in 2016, Boston Materials produces a new class of materials that are conductive and durable like metal, yet light as plastic. The underlying patented technology, Z-axis Fiber™, uses vertically aligned carbon fibers to create materials with enhanced energy transfer properties. Highly differentiated advanced materials, commercialized under the ZRT® tradename, solve critical challenges relating to thermal management and vehicle weight reduction across trillion-dollar industries– including Semiconductors, Aerospace, and Electrified Vehicles. Backed by scaled manufacturing technologies, facilities primed for high-volume production, and validation in performance-critical applications across high-growth sectors, industry leaders turn to Boston Materials to go beyond today’s known limitations.

“Carbon fiber is a strategic product pillar for Mitsubishi Chemical Group. The BOSTON MATERIALS Z-axis Fiber technology is a fundamentally new approach to expand the importance and applications of carbon fiber into industries that are building the future,” said Curtis Schickner, President of Diamond Edge Ventures.

“There is an urgent and quickly ramping need for advanced energy transfer materials. This new class of materials maximize performance and efficiency across data centers, airplanes, electrified vehicles, and beyond,” said Anvesh Gurijala, CEO of Boston Materials. “BOSTON MATERIALS is aggressively expanding its existing manufacturing capabilities and accelerating global product deployment to meet this demand.”

The $13.5 million equity investment round also saw participation from returning and new investors, including Valo Ventures, Gatemore Venture Partners, Collab Fund, and Woori Venture Partners.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: https://www.bomaterials.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boston-materials-announces-13-5m-in-new-funding-for-manufacturing-expansion-and-establishing-supply-chain-partnerships-302299000.html

SOURCE Boston Materials

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