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Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Researchers Develop New Tool with Potential to Advance Precision Medicine Treatment for Cancer

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Technology Discovers Antigen-Reactive T Cell Receptors with High Efficiency

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania  developed a new screening technology, Aptamer-based T Lymphocyte Activity Screening and SEQuencing (ATLAS-seq), to better identify antigen-reactive T cells that are more likely to offer greater immune responses against cancer cells. The findings were reported this week in the journal Nature Communications.

Researchers continuously work to develop immunotherapy treatments that help the immune system recognize and attack specific protein targets on cancer cells, also known as tumor antigens, thereby training the body to fight cancer more effectively and precisely. Discovering antigen-reactive T cell receptors (TCRs) is essential to this precision medicine approach.

TCRs are protein complexes located on the surface of T cells that recognize and bind to antigen peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, triggering a cascade of cellular responses that lead to T cell activation. However, standard methods for isolating antigen-reactive TCRs often fail to identify TCRs that effectively activate T cells.

“TCRs identified by ATLAS-seq tend to be more efficient in target cell killing than those identified by conventional technologies,” said Lan Lin, PhD, senior author of the study and Assistant Professor in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine. “Overall, ATLAS-seq improves TCR screening to more effectively identify antigen-reactive TCRs with high functional activity.”

The ATLAS-seq technology combines a single-cell approach with an aptamer-based fluorescent molecular sensor that emits a fluorescence signal when a T cell is activated. In the study, the researchers designed a microfluidic system to isolate individual T cells that react to stimulation by an antigen peptide of interest and determined their unique TCR sequences using single-cell sequencing.

“We envision that ATLAS-seq can play a pivotal role in identifying TCRs targeting tumor antigens, driving the development of novel T cell immunotherapies for a broad range of hard-to-treat cancers,” said Lin, who is also a researcher in the Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics and the Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine at CHOP.

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grant R01GM121827, W.W. Smith Charitable Trust grant C2004 and a CHOP Research Institute Cell & Gene Therapy Collaborative seed grant.

Luo et al. “ATLAS-seq: a microfluidic single-cell TCR screen for antigen-reactive TCRs.” Nat Commun. January 2, 2025. DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-54675-3.

About Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: 
A non-profit, charitable organization, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the Middleman Family Pavilion and its dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit https://www.chop.edu. 

Contact: Jennifer Lee
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
(267) 426-6084
leej41@chop.edu

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SOURCE Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

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Srini Rajamani appointed as CEO of Opus Technologies, Inc.

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Srini Rajamani to Lead the Next Phase of Innovation and Growth for Opus Technologies.

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Opus Technologies, a leading payments technology solutions provider, today announced the appointment of Srini Rajamani as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Srini will succeed Praveen TM, who will continue to be part of the leadership team at Opus. Srini has previously held leadership roles at Wipro Limited, where he successfully drove innovation and implemented growth strategies across industry segments. He was a member of the Wipro Executive Council.

Ramesh Mengawade, Chairman of Opus, said: “I am confident that Srini will lead Opus into the next phase of growth and innovation through his strategic acumen and extensive industry experience. Under Srini’s leadership, Opus will continue to leverage AI/ML to deliver transformative solutions to our payments industry clients. “I also want to express my deep gratitude to Praveen TM for laying a strong foundation for Srini to build on”, added Ramesh.

“Opus Technologies is uniquely positioned to solve the most critical business challenges facing banks and payments companies today. With our product-driven mindset and innovative solutions, we aim to set new benchmarks in the industry,” said Srini Rajamani. “Our AI-powered platform, FinGeniusAI, addresses the complex challenges of the payment industry, while Paysemble™, our payment accelerator and integration solution, empowers clients to overcome integration hurdles and achieve faster time-to-market. My focus will be on expanding this portfolio and introducing new solution offerings that resonate with the evolving needs of our clients”, added Srini.

Opus Technologies is part of the Opus Group. For nearly three decades, Opus Group has been delivering innovative payment technology solutions globally, with three of its companies being acquired by Fortune 500 organizations, including Mastercard Inc., and Western Union.

About Opus Technologies:

Opus Technologies, part of Opus Group, is a leading provider of outcome-driven payment strategies and combines its deep technology proficiency with unmatched payments domain expertise to deliver exceptional value to its clients.

Visit https://opustechglobal.com/ to learn more. Follow Opus on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Opus Technologies Inc.

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UnionPay International Partners with P.MED and StudyPENANG to Enhance Penang’s Healthcare and Education Sectors, Strengthening its Position as the Preferred Payment Solution for International Tourists and Students

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GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — UnionPay International, a global leader in payment solutions, is proud to announce a landmark partnership with the Penang Centre for Medical Tourism (P.MED) and StudyPENANG. This strategic collaboration reinforces UnionPay International’s commitment to becoming the preferred payment solution for high-value transactions, particularly within the healthcare and education sectors.

In 2023, Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry generated RM2.23 billion in revenue, with Penang attracting 50% of Indonesia’s medical tourists. As part of this partnership, UnionPay International will enable medical tourists and healthcare service providers in Penang to benefit from their payment solutions, ensuring smooth, secure transactions for high-ticket size medical services.

UnionPay International’s collaboration with local hospitals will also provide exclusive privileges for its cardholders, such as a dedicated customer helpline for personalized service, ensuring that tourists receive the highest level of care and convenience. Beyond hospital visits, UnionPay International recognizes that medical tourists often require additional services, such as hotel stays, meals, and leisure activities. To meet these needs, UnionPay International is working with various providers in Penang to offer a holistic experience, giving tourists access to a wide range of privileges and discounts on accommodations, food, and tourism services, ensuring a comfortable and memorable stay in Penang.

Penang has become a thriving hub for international students, attracting students from around the world due to its high-quality education institutions and diverse, multicultural environment. The largest groups of international students in Penang currently come from China’s Mainland, Bangladesh, and Indonesia—markets where UnionPay International already has a strong presence.

Through this partnership, UnionPay International will leverage its extensive cardholder base to further enhance Penang’s appeal as a preferred educational destination. By offering secure, efficient payment solutions, UnionPay International aims to simplify financial transactions for international students, whether they are paying tuition fees, managing daily living expenses, or engaging in cross-border transfers.

With UnionPay International’s trusted payment network and strong market presence, the partnership will further position Penang as a top educational destination for international students, offering not only financial convenience but also exclusive privileges that enhance the overall student experience. This collaboration will empower Penang to attract even more international students, contributing to Malaysia’s goal of hosting 250,000 international students by 2025.

UnionPay International’s entry into Penang’s healthcare and education markets aligns with its broader goal to become the preferred payment channel for tourists—especially for large-ticket expenditures such as medical and educational services. UnionPay International’s secure, multi-channel payment solutions will provide both tourists and students with peace of mind when making high-value payments, offering enhanced security and convenience across the entire transaction journey.

By collaborating with key local service providers and institutions, UnionPay International aims to create an integrated experience for medical tourists and students, making Penang an even more attractive destination for those seeking high-quality healthcare and world-class education. As Malaysia continues to grow as a key player in both industries, UnionPay International’s seamless payment solutions will be crucial in driving forward the state’s global competitiveness.

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SOURCE UnionPay International

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Pollo AI Launches Consistent Character Video to Maintain Consistency of Characters, Objects, or Scenes in Generated Videos

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SINGAPORE, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pollo AI  continues to raise the bar in AI video generation with the addition of its latest feature: Consistent Character Video, which can transform still images into high quality AI videos, while maintaining consistency of characters, objects, or scenes throughout every frame.

Users can upload one or up to three images of a subject to the tool – it could be a person’s face, for example, or image(s) of an inanimate object, like an appliance or piece of clothing, or image(s) of specific scenes. The AI video generator will then use the image(s) as the reference point(s) when generating its video content, ensuring that the original visuals are accurately and consistently portrayed.

This way, users can make multiple videos while keeping the same consistent subjects. They can make themselves the star of numerous clips, for example, or incorporate real-life items into their video creations. While other elements of the videos may change, the core subjects you choose will always remain consistent.

The uses for this are numerous. Brands, for example, could upload images of their latest products and then make various AI-generated videos featuring those products in a range of settings and scenarios. Or creators could make entire feature-length films by generating multiple short-form AI videos with the same consistent subjects in different scenes.

You could even upload an image of a famous landmark or monument, and instruct the tool to use that throughout your video creations. This makes it so much easier to create sequences or series of videos with the same consistent background, environment, or setting – a feat that many AI video generators have historically struggled with.

It’s a huge leap forward for AI video technology. Before the Consistent Character Video Generator, many users had expressed frustration when it came to trying to keep the same characters and subjects in multiple AI-generated videos. But with this new tool, that challenge has been solved.

What’s more, the Consistent Character Video Generator is backed up by Pollo AI’s advanced algorithms and powerful technology. Thanks to that, it’s able to make some of the most visually impressive AI videos, with cinematic levels of quality, fluid motion, realistic physics, and other desirable characteristics.

Plus, just like other AI videos generated with Pollo AI, the user has total control over various aspects, such as the aspect ratio, the length of the video, the resolution, and the camera movement. With this bold new addition, Pollo AI continues to assert itself as one of the leading and most innovative names in the AI video sphere.

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SOURCE cocosign

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