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Kadimastem Awarded Patent in Japan for AstroRx® For ALS and Drug Screening

Kadimastem

Kadimastem Ltd. (TASE: KDST), a clinical stage cell therapy company developing a treatment for ALS, exploring one for multiple sclerosis and developing a potential cure for diabetes, has received a patent from the Japan Patent Office for AstroRx ® for the treatment of ALS and drug screening. The patent also protects AstroRx® for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. AstroRx® is comprised of a differentiated cell population of human astrocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells. The cells are intended to support the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), impaired by neurological diseases such as ALS and multiple sclerosis, which disrupt voluntary muscle movement. In a first of its kind Phase I/IIa clinical trial, healthy and functioning astrocyte cells (AstroRx®) were injected into the spinal cord fluid of 10 ALS patients in a standard lumbar puncture. Data showed that AstroRx® delayed the progression of ALS by three months in ALSFRS-R measurement in both tested AstroRx doses. In the next clinical trial of AstroRx®, the plan is to test if this three-month effect can be prolonged with repeated doses every three months of the off-shelf product of AstroRx®. Kadimastem remains on track to submit an IND to the FDA before the end of 2022 to begin a multicenter clinical trial of AstroRx® for ALS in 2023 in the U.S. Kadimastem CEO Asaf Shiloni said, “The Japanese patent strengthens our intellectual property and gives our cell therapy products top priority in the very important and large Southeast Asian region of the world. In addition, we are exploring the possibilities of business partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry in Japan, both for AstroRx® for ALS and IsletRx for diabetes.” Kadimastem Chief Scientist Professor Michel Revel said, "Japan is a prominent territory. This patent protects a significant and highly unique technology and provides a solid IP advantage for Kadimastem." The Japanese market is one of the most significant for stem cell-derived cell therapies. Japan has strategic importance in this field, as it is at the forefront of the international community supporting innovation and the development of products in the field of cell therapy. In November 2014, the Japanese Parliament approved a special law 1 to facilitate clinical trials in the field of cellular medicine, with the aim of expediting approvals of intracellular therapies and quickly bringing them to market. Japan has more than 12,000 ALS patients and this number continues to increase as the population ages. The treatment of these patients is currently estimated at an annual $ 1 billion 2. [1] Azuma K. Regulatory Landscape of Regenerative Medicine in Japan. Curr Stem Cell Reports. 2015; 1: 118–128. doi:10.1007/s40778-015-0012-6 [2] Doi et al., J Epidemiol. 2014; 24(6): 494–499. doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20140059. Prevalence of ~0.01 of Japanese population of 125 M (https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/japan-population) =12,500 About Kadimastem: Kadimastem is a clinical stage cell therapy company, developing and manufacturing "off-the-shelf", allogeneic, proprietary cell products based on its technology platform for the expansion and differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) into functional cells. AstroRx®, the Company's lead product, is an astrocyte cell therapy in clinical development as a treatment for ALS. IsletRx is the Company's second product in development. IsletRx is comprised of functional pancreatic islet cells intended to treat patients with insulin dependent diabetes. IsletRx demonstrated safety and efficacy in a proof-of-concept preclinical study. Kadimastem was founded by Professor Michel Revel, CSO of the Company and Professor Emeritus of Molecular Genetics at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Professor Revel received the Israel Prize for the invention and development of Rebif®, a multiple sclerosis blockbuster drug sold worldwide. Kadimastem is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: KDST). Forward Looking Statement: This document may include forward-looking information as defined in the Securities Law, 5728 – 1968. Forward-looking information is uncertain and mostly is not under the Company's control and the realization or non-realization of forward-looking information will be affected, among other things, by the risk factors characterizing the Company's activity, as well as developments in the general environment and external factors affecting the Company's activity. The Company's results and achievements in the future may differ materially from any presented herein and the Company makes no undertaking to update or revise such projection or estimate and does not undertake to update this document. This document does not constitute a proposal to purchase the Company's securities or an invitation to receive such offers. Investment in securities in general and in the Company in particular bears risks. One should consider that past performance does not necessarily indicate performance in the future. Contact Details Kadimastem Asaf Shiloni +972 73-797-1613 s.bazak@kadimastem.com Must Have Communications Marjie Hadad +1 917-790-1178 marjie@mhc-pr.com Company Website https://www.kadimastem.com/

May 30, 2022 09:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hong Kong Baptist University-led research identifies new regulatory mechanism of satiety and therapeutic target for obesity

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 30 May 2022 - A research team led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has found that a proteolytic enzyme called membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase ( MT1-MMP) plays an important role in the regulatory mechanism of fullness, or satiety, and it could serve as a promising potential drug target for the management of obesity. Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine (left), and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Chair of Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies at HKBU (right), identified a proteolytic enzyme called MT1-MMP which could serve as a promising potential drug target for the management of obesity. The research findings were published in the internationally-renowned scientific journal Nature Metabolism. The study has also been featured as a research highlight in multiple high-impact journals, including Nature Reviews Endocrinology, Nature Metabolism and Science Signaling. Half of Hong Kong’s population obese or overweight Being overweight, especially to the extent of obesity, exposes people to a higher risk of life-threatening diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. According to the Population Health Survey conducted in 2014/15 by the Department of Health, about 30% of people in Hong Kong aged 15 to 84 were obese, and another 20% were overweight. The most effective way to tackle obesity is to reduce food consumption, but obese people often encounter difficulties in regulating their dietary habits as they lose their sense of satiety. Identifying a factor that specifically controls body weight, and investigating how it regulates our sense of satiety, is crucial for the development of therapeutic approaches for obesity. Identification of new regulator of satiety signals A research team led by Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine (SCM), and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division of SCM and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Chair of Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies at HKBU, identified a proteolytic enzyme called MT1-MMP which regulates the mechanism of issuing satiety signals in the human brain. Growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a hormone that sends out satiety signals by binding with the neuron receptor in the hindbrain called GDNF-family receptor α-like (GFRAL). Mediation of GFRAL can therefore affect the ability of GDF15 to send satiety signals, and thus help regulate food intake. From this starting point, the research team conducted a series of experiments to investigate the mediation effects of MT1-MMP on GFRAL. Depletion of MT1-MMP reduces obesity The research team generated an obesity mouse model by feeding a fat-rich diet to a group of transgenic mice with a depletion of MT1-MMP in their satiety neurons, as well as a control group of ordinary mice. After 16 weeks, the mice with depleted MT1-MMP ate 10% less food, gained 50% less weight, and exhibited reduced glucose and plasma insulin levels compared to the control group. The results show that depletion of MT1-MMP protects mice from obesity induced by a high-fat diet. Following analysis with western blots, a widely used analytical technique that can detect specific proteins, the research team also found that the obese mice displayed an increased activity of MT1-MMP in the Area Postrema and Nucleus of the Solitary Tract, the brain regions involved in appetite and weight regulation. The finding suggests that increased MT1-MMP activity in the brain of obese mice could be a risk factor causing sustained weight gain. To understand the mechanism by which MT1-MMP suppresses GDF15 satiety signalling, the research team conducted a series of molecular biology experiments involving animal models and cell culture. The results show that in cells with active MT1-MMP, a significant reduction of GFRAL and thus GDF15 signalling were observed. It could be explained by MT1-MMP clipping GFRAL from the surface of the brain neurons, which blocks GDF15 from binding to GFRAL and thus reduces the number of satiety signals. This in turn keeps the neurons from transmitting the satiety signals sent by GDF15. MT1-MMP as a therapeutic target for obesity The researchers also explored the therapeutic potential of targeting MT1-MMP for obesity management, in particular through pharmacological inhibition of its activity in vivo. With the application of a specific neutralising antibody that inhibits MT1-MMP, significant improvements in metabolic parameters including food intake, glucose tolerance and body weight in obese mice were observed. The results suggest that MT1-MMP is a potential therapeutic target that could be used in the development of innovative drug treatments for obesity. Dr Wong said: “The research findings have established the role played by MT1-MMP in regulating satiety, and they have provided preliminary indications that the proteolytic enzyme is a promising target for the treatment of obesity. Pharmacological inhibition of MT1-MMP could be a viable strategy for the development of effective pharmacotherapy for the treatment of obesity.” Apart from researchers from HKBU, the research team included scientists from The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and the University of Helsinki. #HongKongBaptistUniversity #HKBU Contact Details Christina Wu from the Communication and Public Relations Office +852 3411 7828 christinawu@hkbu.edu.hk Company Website https://www.hkbu.edu.hk/

May 30, 2022 04:26 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nutritional Supplement Manufacturer Nutramax Laboratories Exceeds Industry Standards for Quality

Nutramax Laboratories

For 30 years, Nutramax Laboratories has diligently adhered to industry-leading quality controls and manufacturing standards. This commitment to quality has been affirmed by Nutramax’s utilization of third-party, independent auditing and certification programs. Nutramax Laboratories recently completed a rigorous conformance assessment for the GMP certification program administered by Underwriters' Laboratories (UL), the global safety science leader in auditing and certification. The annual certification covers a full GMP audit criterion based on 21 CFR Part 111, Good Manufacturing Practices for dietary supplements. This marks the third year of the UL Certificate of Conformance program; the successful audits featuring three different auditors are a testament to the quality systems, facilities, equipment, processes, and the superb employees of Nutramax. Nutramax’s quality procedures include rigorous testing and inspection at every stage of the manufacturing process and go above and beyond the standards governing the industry. “ We choose to go above and beyond what is required because it is the only way to be certain that the products released for sale meet a defined set of the quality standards that our customers deserve,” says Godwin Omorogieva, Vice President of Quality at Nutramax. As the #1 veterinarian recommended supplement company, Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences has earned the trust of its valued customers by providing them with innovative products that are backed by science and held to the highest standard. “Supporting the health of pets is our priority,” says President and CEO, Todd Henderson, DVM. “In our ongoing pursuit of excellence for the next 30 years, and beyond, we pledge our loyalty to customers with a continued commitment to uphold the highest standards in quality control, manufacturing, and research.” Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences’ products are manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and a strict set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). It has long been their tradition to back each supplement with scientific studies that support their safety and efficacy, ensuring that customers can be confident that what the packaging states, can be trusted. For more information on the Nutramax Laboratories quality standard, visit nutramaxlabs.com/our-quality or speak to a dedicated Customer Service team member at (888) 886-6442. Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc. develops, and markets supplements backed by research for companion animals to help support their quality of life. Small animal products include Cosequin®, the #1 Veterinarian Recommended Retail Joint Health Supplement Brand*,**; Dasuquin®, the #1 veterinarian-recommended joint health supplement brand*; the #1 veterinarian-recommended liver support brand Denamarin®***; and products supporting urinary tract health, digestive health, and skin/coat health plus overall wellness. To learn more, call (888) 886-6442 or visit nutramaxlabs.com. *Source: Among retail brands. Survey conducted among small animal veterinarians who recommend oral joint health supplements. **Source: Among veterinary brands. Survey conducted among small animal veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements. ***Source: Survey conducted among small animal veterinarians who recommended liver support brands. Contact Details Erika Dyer +1 703-906-6368 erika@curleycompany.com Company Website https://www.nutramaxlabs.com/

May 26, 2022 09:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Legal & General Capital makes first U.S. investment, with seed capital for $4Bn platform to fund major life-science and technology assets across multiple regional U.S. markets

Legal & General

Legal & General Capital (LGC) today announced that it has formed a 50:50 partnership with U.S.-based real estate developer Ancora to create a real estate platform dedicated to driving life science, research and technology growth across the U.S. The deal will see Legal & General Capital investing an initial $500 million of seed capital to form a new company, Ancora L&G, LLC. Operating under the name Ancora, the business’ geographic focus will sit predominantly within emerging regional markets in the U.S. where early mover advantages are available. The new venture builds on the successful track record of Ancora’s team and the investing record of LGC in the UK, including over $5 billion currently committed to science and technology development projects at Oxford and Manchester universities. Ancora will be capitalized by LGC to deliver $4 billion (£3.2bn) of existing pipeline and planned acquisition and development activity over the next five years. To support future growth, LGC is seeking third party co-investment partners to accelerate scaling the portfolio. As with other LGC investments, LGC aims to finance longer term cashflows and use them to back Legal & General’s annuity business, providing better value for policyholders and greater options for investors. LGC has a strong track record of establishing and scaling up innovative businesses and has led the way in driving science and technology growth through its Bruntwood SciTech partnership, the UK’s leading developer of innovation districts. Bruntwood SciTech has quickly expanded over 11 UK locations, a model LGC will look to replicate across the U.S. Observed Laura Mason, CEO of Legal & General Capital, “Through our partnership with Ancora, we will be able to leverage Legal & General’s significant experience in the science and technology sector in a new international market with strong growth potential. Remaining committed to investing in the real economy to create a better society over the long term, for the first time we take this ethos to an international level beyond the UK’s town and city centers.” Legal & General Group currently manages over $1.8 trillion of assets globally and is increasing its presence in the U.S. for both equity and debt vehicles. Marking LGC’s first venture into the U.S., this partnership with Ancora forms an important part of its major growth strategy to deliver internationalization and attract third party capital. Notes Sir Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive of Legal & General Group, “While the U.S. is the world’s largest commercial real estate market, the lab real estate market in particular is one of the smallest sectors among other commercial U.S. asset classes. This lack of scale creates high barriers to entry for investors and has made it particularly challenging for tenants to grow due to scarcity of supply. LGC’s ability to access this opportunity via Ancora will set it apart from other sources of institutional capital seeking to participate in the market.” Ancora is a privately owned real estate firm based in Durham, North Carolina with team members in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, and Washington, DC. The firm acquires and develops real estate to serve high-growth science, technology, and innovation tenants in partnership with and proximate to leading U.S. anchor institutions. Core to Ancora’s program-first approach is undertaking development activity in direct partnership with anchor institutions such as universities, academic medical centers, government, and research institutes with whom they have strong and long-lasting relationships. This unique approach in the U.S. market resonates with the way LGC has looked to deploy capital through leveraging strategic partnerships to invest in socially and economically useful developments around the globe. Ancora L&G, LLC will be led by Josh Parker as Chief Executive Officer, alongside John Philipchuck as Chief Investment Officer, Jeff Kingsbury as Chief Connectivity Officer and Nicole Morrill as Chief Real Estate Officer. LGIMA’s Kristina St.Charles will move across from LGIMA as General Counsel and Legal and General’s Sujee Rajah, FCA ICAEW, will move across to Ancora L&G, LLC as its new Chief Finance Officer. Having qualified with Deloitte’s Assurance department, he has held various senior roles within the Legal & General Group, most recently as Group Investor Relations director. As part of its growth ambitions, Ancora will work closely with Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) and its global client base as LGIM continues to expand its Real Assets expertise into the US market. Josh Parker, Chairman and CEO of Ancora L&G, noted, "Ancora's ability to deliver Real Estate for What’s Next that serves the needs of our anchor institution partners will be accelerated by this new venture with Legal & General. We can meet any anchor institution requirement with an experienced team and strong capital base aligned with the timelines and aspirations of universities, academic medical centers, government, and research centers.” He added, “Our team is excited to leverage the deep capital base of Legal & General and third-party clients to offer new investment options for our university partners, and we are eager to deliver activated districts of research and innovation that will enhance local economies across the United States. " At its Capital Markets Event at the end of last year, LGC set out plans to generate up to £600 million in profit from alternative assets by 2025, growing its alternative asset portfolio to £5 billion and generating returns of around 10 to 12 percent per annum, across its key focus areas of housing, small and medium-enterprise finance, specialist commercial real estate and clean energy. It is now looking at each of these sectors as part of its U.S. expansion. Laura Mason observed, “We see a strong alignment between our business strategy and Ancora’s strategy, with a commitment to investing long term in high-growth sectors and leveraging strategic partnerships to attract third party co-investment. As we look to grow our business at scale, we have major growth plans both in the UK and internationally, and this is just the start.” Notes to editors About Legal & General Capital Legal & General Capital (LGC) is Legal & General Group’s alternative asset platform, creating assets for Legal & General Retirement and third-party clients in order to achieve improved risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders. LGC has built its market leading capabilities in a range of alternative assets, delivering depth of resource, track record and intellectual property. Investing in the real economy and creating alternative assets that deliver a tangible societal impact, its purpose is to invest society’s capital for society’s benefit. LGC’s investments have been vertically integrated and include residential property, specialist commercial real estate, clean energy, alternative credit, and venture capital. As LGC’s capability to create alternative assets continues to grow, it will not only continue to grow its balance sheet of alternative assets but also create alternative assets for third party investors. Many of these investors have the same aims, namely to create assets to back pensions with an improved yield or to create assets with strong growth prospects but with low correlation to equities. L&G has invested around £30 billion (about $37 million) in levelling-up regional UK economies, including through major regeneration projects in Cardiff, Newcastle and Salford. Legal & General recently made a commitment to enable all new homes across its portfolio to operate at net zero carbon emissions by 2030, including Legal & General Modular Homes, CALA Group, Legal & General Affordable Homes, Build to Rent and Later Living. The company has strong track record of investing in technology and life sciences with its Bruntwood SciTech venture, the UK’s leading developer of innovation districts, creating the specialist environments and innovation ecosystems for science and technology businesses to form, scale and grow. A 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General, Bruntwood SciTech provides high quality office and laboratory space and tailored business support, offering unrivaled access to finance, talent and markets, an extensive clinical, academic and public partner network, and a sector-specialist community of over 500 companies. Bruntwood SciTech has unique experience in creating and developing strategic partnerships with UK regional cities, universities, and NHS Trusts to drive economic growth through investment in science and technology infrastructure. Valued at over £600m ($750.4m), Bruntwood SciTech has now expanded over 11 UK locations with a portfolio of over 2.4m sqft including: - Alderley Park in Cheshire, the UK’s latest single-site science park and home to Cancer Research UK, Catapult and Evotec - £162.9m ($203.6m) - Melbourn Science Park in Cambridge - £52.8m ($66m) - Platform in Leeds - £44.8m ($56m) - Innovation Birmingham - £29.2m ($36.5m) - Manchester Science Park - £73.9m ($92.3m) - Citylabs 1.0 & 2.0 part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) campus - £78.5m ($98.1m) - Circle Square Manchester - £205.7m ($257.1m) It has a further development pipeline of 5m sqft, which includes $260m Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, $1.8bn ID Manchester and $37m Glasgow’s Met Tower. Ancora Founded in 2019 by Josh Parker, with co-founders John Philipchuck and Jeff Kingsbury, Ancora is a privately owned real estate firm based in Durham, North Carolina with team members in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, and Washington, DC. The firm acquires and develops real estate to serve high-growth science, technology, and innovation tenants in partnership with and proximate to leading U.S. anchor institutions. Core to Ancora’s program-first approach is to undertake development activity in direct partnership with anchor institutions such as universities, academic medical centers, government, and research institutes with whom they have strong and long-lasting relationships. About Legal & General Group Established in 1836, Legal & General is one of the UK’s leading financial services groups and a major global investor, with international businesses in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia. With over $1.4 trillion in total assets under management, Legal & General is the UK’s largest investment manager for corporate pension schemes and a UK market leader in pension risk transfer, life insurance, workplace pensions and retirement income. Contact Details Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.legalandgeneralgroup.com/

May 25, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Communication Service for the Deaf Welcomes TJay Middlebrook to Its Board of Directors

Communication Service for the Deaf

Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) is proud to announce the addition of TJay Middlebrook to its Board of Directors. Middlebrook joins eight other board members who guide CSD’s overall strategies, promote innovative thinking about the future of CSD, and strategize ways to unleash transformational impact in the Deaf and hard of hearing community. TJay Middlebrook is an equity-focused leader who has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights and needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. His advocacy spans the globe, successfully affecting policy changes for disability communities in Uganda as well as in the United States. “We’re excited to welcome TJay to our board,” said Board Chair Rogelio Fernandez. “He brings diverse expertise and insight to our social impact efforts and goals of inspiring equitable policy changes.” “CSD has always shown such amazing support within the community. I would like to be part of that change and direction,” said Middlebrook. “I look forward to supporting Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and hard of hearing communities of color and bringing their voices to the table and inspiring changes that uplift others so they can succeed.” Middlebrook has a proven track record of advocating for disability rights throughout different sectors. In 2013, he traveled to Uganda to educate Deaf Ugandans about self-advocacy in communication access. He also supported the Uganda Association for the Deaf while and the Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development to amend the country’s Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006. In Minnesota, TJay collaborated with domestic violence shelters and organizations to develop procedures that guarantee accessible communication and other accommodations for Deaf adults and children who are survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. Later, as an accessibility coordinator for the City of Saint Paul in Minnesota, Middlebrook worked closely with public officials and agencies to enforce accessibility throughout the City’s services and programs. “Tjay’s professional background in accessibility and DEI programs, as well as his experience with municipal and state programs in Minnesota infuses important and essential depth to the work of our board,” said CSD CEO Chris Soukup. “He has previously worked with CSD as a featured speaker and consultant; his outstanding contribution is, in part, why he was invited to serve on our board.” Middlebrook currently serves at the Minnesota Department of Human Services as a Regional Service Supervisor. He oversees Regional Services for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals as well as individuals experiencing hearing loss. About Communication Service for the Deaf Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) is the largest Deaf-led social impact organization in the world. For more than four decades, CSD has been a leader in creating and providing accessible and innovative solutions for the Deaf community. Today, CSD continues its work to create opportunities for personal and economic growth within the Deaf community, specifically addressing leadership and employment. For more information, please visit CSD and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Contact Details Communication Service for the Deaf Leila Eltouny leltouny@csd.org Company Website https://www.csd.org/

May 24, 2022 11:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Slovenian Consortium and Elsevier establish transformative agreement

Elsevier

Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, has established its first transformative agreement with Slovenian ScienceDirect Consortium of universities, institutes and hospitals (Slovenian Consortium). The agreement will benefit the member institutions with access to Elsevier's extensive collection of journals on ScienceDirect, and enable their affiliated authors to publish their research open access in Elsevier journals. The cost of publishing open access is covered under the terms of the agreement which will run for three years until December 2024. Prof Gregor Majdič, Rector of the University of Ljubljana and President of the Slovenian Rectors’ Conference, stated that the new Slovenian research legislation is in line with the European Research Area trends, mandating immediate open access to scientific publications. Therefore, Slovenian research organisations are aiming for open access bibliodiversity and welcome transitional transformative agreements with academic publishers, as these would further promote openness of scientific publications. Prof Majdič said: “We look forward to expanded opportunities for open access publishing in Elsevier journals, made possible by the transformative agreement. This is in line with new important developments in scientific publishing and will help bridge the gap between scientists and the general public.” Miro Pušnik, director of Central Technical Library at the University of Ljubljana, said: “With this transformative agreement the Slovenian research organizations have ensured that needs of their researchers are met. The agreement provides a suitable infrastructure for open publications in accordance with the principles of the Horizon Europe program, the principles of cOAlition S (of which the Slovenian Research Agency is a member), and the principles of the newly adopted Slovenian research legislation. The new legislation includes strict requirements for open publication of all results from publicly funded research.”. The Slovenian ScienceDirect Consortium was founded in 2001 and represents sixteen public institutions across Slovenia. It is financially supported by the national research funder, the Slovenian Research Agency. Felix Haest, VP Sales Elsevier, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Slovenian Consortium. We are thrilled to have agreed to our first transformative agreement with them to ensure Slovenian researchers can access high-quality research and publish openly with Elsevier, enabling them to share their work globally." Elsevier aims to find the right solutions to meet the diverse needs of academic institutions, students, researchers, and funders worldwide while ensuring published research remains trusted and of high quality. Our approach with all customers is to understand their objectives and work with them to achieve these in an economically sustainable way while preserving the quality, integrity, and sustainability of the peer-review publishing system. As one of the fastest-growing open access publishers in the world, nearly all of Elsevier's 2,700 journals enable open access publishing, including 600 fully open access journals. We now support over 2,000 institutions globally to publish open access through transformative agreements. In 2021 Elsevier published 119,000 gold or pay-to-publish open access articles, an increase of more than 46% over 2020. For more on how Elsevier supports open access, please visit our website. About Slovenian ScienceDirect Consortium The Slovenian Consortium for Science Direct includes sixteen public institutions. The cooperation with Elsevier started in 2001. The transformative agreement is a result of a successful collaboration between the publisher and the consortium members. About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions, and funders. Elsevier employs 8,100 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, LCUA, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our 2,700+ digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell; our 40,000 eBook titles; and our iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com Contact Details Elsevier Communications, UK Andrew Davis +44 7393 242466 andrew.davis@elsevier.com

May 23, 2022 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

New World-Class Treatment Center Announces $34 Million Investment in Pitt County, North Carolina.

Haven at Blue Creek

Haven at Blue Creek celebrated the ground breaking of their new Holistic Recovery Campus on Thursday, May 19 th. Nestled on a 250-acre land parcel, Haven at Blue Creek is the culmination of many years of work including the NC certificate of need application process and successful approval for the behavioral health program to proceed. Haven at Blue Creek received great support for this facility from many community members, local and statewide dignitaries that wrote letters of support to accompany the certificate of need requirements. Haven at Blue Creek is also grateful to the State of North Carolina and Pitt County for a $500,000 Building Reuse grant that will support this important project. Thoughtful planning and dedication are truly a testament to the power of the Balot family’s passion for providing these services to the Pitt County community. Haven at Blue Creek’s 75,000 square-foot facility will be home to 84 beds, a result of the Balot family’s vision and eager planning over the past five years. A local understanding and commitment is evident with a dedicated building team that includes: Erin Sterling-Lewis of Open Studio Design in coordination with Sal Lore and Steve Auger from AKA Architects; Civil Engineering led by Bryan Fagundus of ARK Consulting, and White Construction services provided by Eddie White, Project Manager Ryan Corbett and the rest of their team. Haven at Blue Creek is committed to significant community support offering employment, growth, education and future community partnerships within the community. From the outset of this project, the focus has been to align the best talent and resources to provide the community with a clinically excellent and safe place where recovery from behavioral health problems is possible for individuals and their families. The campus will create at least 80 new jobs and work hand-in-hand with community partners to support education and prevention on issues related to trauma, substance use/abuse and mental health disorders. Set to open in late 2023, Haven at Blue Creek intends to be a beacon for recovery for those in need in the community. “Prevention and education brought to the community and schools will be essential in keeping a keen eye on the growing addiction concerns we face,” says Haven at Blue Creek, President, Colleen Balot. “Taking care of our community, keeping them safe and informed, is important to our family and our children’s futures, and sound rationale for providing treatment services”. “Haven at Blue Creek is a genuine blessing for eastern North Carolina. Our families will be better off because of this facility,” said NC Senator, Don Davis. In a post covid environment, and a country-wide, soaring opioid crisis, Haven at Blue Creek recognizes the importance of active relationships to deliver substance use disorder education and prevention services for the local community. “Society says it’s too hard to have vision and dreams, but the Balots have a dream and vision to make the world a better place,” said Rich Zeck, Mayor of Simpson. He added “community is where each and every one of us work to make lives better for all of us. This work will serve not only this community, but the region and state beyond.” As a family owned and operated Holistic Behavioral Health Campus, the founders are long time Greenville residents. “We are committed to our community and taking care of those in need to create a path for wellbeing for people where they live, when they need it”, says, President and CEO Colleen Balot. Haven at Blue Creek will be both a peaceful and private campus, with ponds and wooded areas along the perimeter. Patients wanting treatment will have access to all levels of care in a secure and tranquil setting. The initial phase of the campus has begun, with a Spiritual Renewal Center and athletic facilities, including an Olympic-sized pool, already completed. The dream unfolds and this ground-breaking marks the additional construction and paves the way for the facility’s completion. Allen Thomas, Former Mayor of Greenville, and current Regional Administrator, Southeast United States for the Small Business Administration has this to say about the new campus: “We are very excited about the world-class behavioral health services coming to the Pitt County area that will augment our existing tertiary healthcare system. We have a substantial need in our community for the compassionate and intentional services that will be provided by Haven at Blue Creek. I applaud the exponential efforts put forth by Colleen and Rich Balot to secure and fund these much-needed services for our community.” Downloads: Renderings and photos of the Balot’s https://havenatbluecreek.com/press-release/ About Haven at Blue Creek Family-owned and operated by Rich and Colleen Balot, Haven at Blue Creek is a substance use disorder campus. Created from experience, dedicated to building a safe, supportive, and transformative space for others to find recovery, Haven at Blue Creek is being thoughtfully developed from the ground up with both best practices, and the needs of all individuals and families in Eastern North Carolina top of mind. Contact Details Douglas Marketing Group Kay Douglas +1 248-940-8004 kdouglas@experiencedmg.com Amanda Iera +1 313-571-1858 aiera@experiencedmg.com

May 19, 2022 05:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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LiveSpo: Spobiotic Research Center opens - A breakthrough solution for an antibiotic-free future

LiveSpo

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 19 May 2022 - A Lancet publication in early 2022 reported that an estimated 5 million deaths are associated with antibiotic resistance every year [1]. Despite great efforts to call for a global fight against the alarming antibiotic resistance crisis for many years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not proposed a particularly effective solution to solve the problem yet. Spore Probiotics - a breakthrough solution for an antibiotic-free future Theoretically, besides antibiotics, probiotics can be used to inhibit and kill pathogenic bacteria. The University of California, Berkeley, in 2013 showed strong evidence from intensive studies that probiotics can be helpful for the treatment of acute diarrhoea within three days [2]. Even though three-day is still long compared to using antibiotics as an alternative, this would fuel more cutting-edge researches into probiotic products for the gradual replacement of antibiotics with superior advantages in terms of safety. In the International Scientific Conference on Probiotics 2019 held in Prague, the Czech Republic, LiveSpo COLON and LiveSpo SOS Spore Probiotics in liquid form, multi-strains, and high concentration from Viet Nam have drawn full attention from scientists worldwide thanks to their super durability and outstanding effects compared with traditional probiotic products. LiveSpo SOS products mainly show their helpfulness in prompt and effective treatment of acute diarrhoea caused by bacterial infections like antibiotics, especially in many cases of children when antibiotic treatment has failed. The results made a big splash at the conference and were broadcast by Vietnam Television (VTV). Spore Probiotics marks the breakthrough in gradually reducing human’s dependence on antibiotics. Launching a pioneering Spobiotic Research Center Given such a milestone, it’s crucial to conduct further in-depth research on spore probiotics, expand their functions, and find new applications in treating not only gastrointestinal diseases but also respiratory infections, ear infections, dermatitis, and gynaecological inflammation. This will then help to enable the gradual replacement of antibiotics. Therefore, with the establishment of the world's first Spobiotic Research Center on May 18, 2022, LiveSpo Global JSC hopes to be the driving force for more scientists to be interested in and develop Spore Probiotics as a solution toward An Antibiotic-Free Future. A brief introduction to the Spobiotic Research Center and LiveSpo Global LiveSpo Global, formerly known as ANABIO R&D, was founded in 2010, by a group of 3 founders, with proprietary technology developed by Dr. Nguyen Hoa Anh. After 15 years of studying and working in molecular biology at Tohoku University, Japan, Dr. Nguyen Hoa Anh returned to Vietnam in 2010. After months working around the clock, in 2013, the first commercial spore-based probiotics in water form was launched. This technology surpassed all the disadvantages of traditional probiotics: multi-strains, high concentration, resistant to temperature up to 80oC, and resistant to acid, even at pH2, the acid level in the stomach. In 2012, LiveSpo Global began to export its products to more than 20 countries in Europe, America, and Asia. In 2021, LiveSpo Global successfully attracted investment from Mekong Capital to speed up the realisation of its vision for an antibiotic-free future. LiveSpo Global‘s Spobiotic Research Center invests in modern machinery and equipment for in-depth research on microbiology, biophysics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and cells on Spore Probiotics. The establishment of the centre has realised Dr. Nguyen Hoa Anh's dream to contribute to his homeland and prove Viet Nam's capability for being recognised as a country with a considerable contribution to the invention of cutting-edge technology. [1] The Lancet (February 12 th, 2022). “Global Burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis” https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02724-0/fulltext [2] University of California, Berkeley (2013). “Probiotics” https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/Probiotics.pdf Press conference upon the opening of the Spobiotic Research Center Time: 10:00 on May 18 th, 2022 Venue: No. 22 Lot 7.8 La Khe, Van Khe, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam Contact Details Media Contact huong.md@livespo.com Company Website https://livespo.com/en/

May 19, 2022 11:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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VinFuture Prize 2022 officially announces commencement of the pre-screening round

Vingroup

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach – 19 May 2022 - On May 18 th, 2022 – The commencement of VinFuture Pre-Screening Round has been officially announced. Honoring the theme of “Reshaping and Reviving”, the VinFuture Prize has received a total of 970 nominations, submited by prestigious scientists and institutions from more than 70 countries in six continents for its second award season. Under this year’s theme, nominations are centered around important research works and inventions that can help revive the post-pandemic world by solving humanity’s most pressing challenges related to health and the food supply, the environment and sustainable energy, as well as the application of technology in all aspects of life. Currently leading in number of nominators is Asia with 34.6% of the total accepted nominators, followed by the Americas with 29.8%, Europe with 16.2%, and Oceania with 7%. Notably this year, Africa has 12.4% of the nominators, six times higher than its share in 2021. In terms of quality, 584 out of 2618 nominators of the VinFuture Prize’s second season are individual nominators from the top 2% of most-cited researchers in the world, and 37.1% are from the world’s top 500 universities and research institutions, such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University (U.S.A), University of Oxford (U.K.), Karolinska Institute (Sweden), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University (China), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa), Cairo University (Egypt), and many other leading universities and institutions globally. The VinFuture Pre-Screening round consists of a rigorous evaluation process based on the highest international standards in order to ensure scientific integrity, fairness, and transparency. The VinFuture Pre-Screening Committee will assess the nominations according to a set of core criteria, which includes the degree of scientific or technological advancement, the level of impact on people’s lives, as well as the project’s scale and sustainability. Dr. Lê Thái Hà, Managing Director of the VinFuture Prize, shared, “ Witnessing the consequences of two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, VinFuture recognizes its role in contributing to, and promoting, the global process of post-pandemic revival, aiming ultimately for sustainable development. With the theme of “Reshaping & Reviving”, the VinFuture Prize 2022 has gathered leading scientists from a variety of science and technology fields from across the world to increase the number of multi-dimensional perspectives in the nomination evaluation process. From this, we hope to find scientific solutions to the world’s pressing problems, and to simultaneously inspire and disseminate the great values that science and technology can bring in different sectors to new countries and territories, particularly in vulnerable areas. ” With the official commencement of the Pre-Screening round, the 2022 VinFuture Prize has announced three additional scientists to join its Scientific Councils this season. Professor Dan Kammen from the University of California, Berkeley (U.S.A), the former Science Envoy for the U.S. State Department, one of the world’s leading experts in the field of energy, will be officially joining the VinFuture Prize Council from 2022. The two other new professors joining the VinFuture Pre-Screening Council for the second season include Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim – The 2016 L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Laureate, one of the Inaugural VinFuture Prize Laureates, and Professor Ermias Kebreab - the Director of the University of California, Davis World Food Center. Sharing his thoughts about his new role, Professor Dan Kammen said, “ I was especially impressed by VinFuture’s realistic message, as well as the mission of science and technology that has been disseminated through VinFuture’s humanitarian angle. I have high expectations for not only the quality, but also the applicability of the scientific nominations to real life. As a scientist who is dedicated to science for humanity, being able to participate in evaluating the nominations and choosing the scientific inventions and innovations to be the next Prize winners is a meaningful and enjoyable mission. ” The 2022 VinFuture Pre-Screening round takes place from May 18 th to late September, 2022 and aims to enable the Council to meticulously evaluate the most impactful and award-worthy works to proceed to the final round. VinFuture Prize Council: - Professor Sir Richard Henry Friend, FRS – University of Cambridge, UK, Millennium Technology Laureate in Physics 2010. - Professor Gérard Albert Mourou – École Polytechnique Palaiseau, France, Nobel Laureate in Physics 2018. - Professor Sir Konstantin (Kostya) S. Novoselov, FRS – University of Manchester, UK and National University of Singapore, Nobel Laureate in Physics 2010. - Professor Michael Eugene Porter – Harvard Business School, USA, creator of the theory "Competitive Advantage of Nations". - Professor Leslie Gabriel Valiant, FRS – Harvard University, USA, A.M. Turing Laureate 2010. - Dr. Padmanabhan Anandan – AI Matters Advisors LLC, USA. - Professor Jennifer Tour Chayes – University of California, Berkeley, USA. - Professor Pascale Cossart – Pasteur Institute of Paris, France. - Professor Van-Chi Dang – Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, USA. - Dr. Xuedong David Huang – Microsoft, USA. - Professor Dan Kammen – University of California, Berkeley, USA. - Professor Ha-Van Vu – Yale University, USA and VinBigdata Institute, Vingroup, Vietnam. VinFuture Pre-Screening Committee: - Professor Thuc-Quyen Nguyen - University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. - Professor Albert P. Pisano - University of California, San Diego, USA. - Professor Mônica Alonso Cotta – Institute of Physics “Gleb Wataghin”, University of Campinas, Brazil. - Professor Ngoc-Minh Do - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA and VinUniversity, Vietnam. - Mr. Akihisa Kakimoto - Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Japan. - Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim - CAPRISA Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa - Professor Ermias Kebreab - University of California, Davis, USA. - Professor Duc-Thu Nguyen - Rutgers University, USA. - Professor Alta Schutte - University of New South Wales and The George Institute for Global Health, Australia. - Professor Molly Shoichet - University of Toronto, Canada. - Professor Vivian Yam – The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. About the VinFuture Foundation: The VinFuture Foundation, established on December 20th, 2020 on the occasion of International Human Solidarity Day, is an independent, not-for-profit foundation initiated by Mr. Phạm Nhật Vượng, and his wife, Madam Phạm Thu Hương. The mission and vision of the Foundation is to create meaningful changes in the everyday lives of millions of people in the world. The core activity of the Foundation is awarding the annual VinFuture Prize to technological innovations that have already contributed or have the potential to contribute to the betterment of life for millions of human beings globally. The VinFuture Prize consists of four prize categories, of which the Grand Prize – with a value of US$3 million – is one of the largest annual global prizes, and three additional Special Prizes, worth US$500,000 each, are dedicated to Female Innovator(s), Innovator(s) from Developing Country(ies), and Innovator(s) with Outstanding Achievements in Emerging Fields. In addition, the Foundation also conducts many activities to realize its mission, such as funding research, collaborating in academic development, and promoting STEM education. Contact Details Vingroup Media Contact v.nammh@vingroup.net

May 19, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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LiveSpo: Spobiotic Research Center opens - A breakthrough solution for an antibiotic-free future

VinFuture Prize 2022 officially announces commencement of the pre-screening round