Amid Historic Unemployment Rates, Opportunity is Knocking for Cannabis Entrepreneurs as My Green Network Opens Up Limited Membership
MyGN empowers entrepreneurs to harness the multi-billion dollar potential of a seemingly recession-proof, “essential” sector
SANTA ANA, Calif.(May 14th, 2020): In the midst of sky-high unemployment rates due to COVID-19, My Green Network (MyGN) offers a clear path to entrepreneurship in the recession-proof cannabis sector. Founded by internationally recognized attorneys Ken Hwang and James Shih, along with visionary brand strategist Maria Cordeiro, MyGN is poised to make a lasting impression on a multi-billion dollar (and growing) cannabis industry while fueling powerful innovation within the “green” community.
“After years of experience advising and assisting cannabis start-ups, we saw the enormous need for growth and innovation in the space - but also the extremely high barriers to entry,” explains company Co-Founder James Shih. “When you see a “$50M cannabis facility with the ‘latest technology making it easy’ – they forgot one thing, their customers are paying a corresponding price.”
“We are different. Our ethos is Leaders, Empowering, Community. We design each facility to be affordable and flexible so we can revolutionize this industry with our members. We seek innovative members with the passion and will to harness the incredible potential of one of the nation’s fastest-growing, “essential” industries – then we remove the industry barriers for them.”
Every cannabis business faces 3 almost impassible barriers, high capital startup costs (around $1M minimum), complex licensing, and draining overhead before releasing their first product causing many companies to fail. –With MyGN, these start-up costs are reduced by 90% in an industry where many owners are seeing little COVID-19-related business interruption. New York Times calls this “essential” consumer good “one of the country’s fastest-growing job sectors” with dispensaries reporting increases in early spring sales. Despite a pandemic, Cannabis is showing a solid foundation with the ability to withstand economic downturns while having incredible upside potential.
MyGN clears a path for entrepreneurs to create and execute solid business plans - a factor Forbes reports will be the biggest indicator of success in the coming years. With a comprehensive network of in-depth knowledge, support, connections, and compliance measures to guide members in creating a stand-out brand. “Anyone can be the next Loreal, Nestle, or Coca-Cola of cannabis,” explains Shih. “With My Green Network by your side, you get to do all the fun stuff without any of the headache.”
MyGN offers entrepreneurs a licensed cannabis facility with shared-workspaces , an extensive network of cultivators and manufacturing partners, and the essential elements of guidance and supervision from industry experts. MyGN fully empowers business owners to remain completely independent, maintaining their own cannabis license along with branding and marketing control. Plus, they eliminate nearly all of the risk and uncertainty associated with a traditional cannabis operation by offering a generous license or money-back guarantee.
MyGN opens in Q3 2020 in Santa Ana, Orange County - an epicenter of cannabis innovation, offering direct access to the most profitable cannabis markets. Due to state regulations, spaces are currently limited to 30 businesses, so now is the time to join MyGN and “go green the way you want.” Simply choose from four customizable memberships, complete an onboarding call, and start creating your cannabis line. Visit www.MyGreenNetwork.com to learn more and to get in on the “green rush” the right way.
About My Green Network:
Founded by internationally recognized attorneys Ken Hwang and James Shih, and visionary Maria Cordeiro, My Green Network (MyGN) is California’s premier membership-based space intuitively designed for cannabis entrepreneurs. Leveraging the power of community-based collaboration to revolutionize an infamously complex industry, this “cloud-kitchen meets cannabis incubator” accelerates the journey from idea to entrepreneurship. At MyGN, membership provides exclusive access to essential elements of a successful venture: a compliant cannabis facility, an extensive network of cultivators and manufacturing partners, guidance and supervision from industry experts, licenses, legal advice, and much more. Begin transforming your dream into a very real future at www.MyGreenNetwork.com. Follow @OfficialGreenNetwork on Instagram to connect with leaders that are empowering our community.
Re-Opening the Nation: Privacy, Surveillance, and Digital Tools for Contact Tracing A Hastings Center event with Ryan Calo, Ed Felton, and Mildred Solomon
The Hastings Center, the pioneering bioethics center, will host “Re-Opening the Nation: Privacy, Surveillance, and Digital Tools for Contact Tracing,” an online discussion of the ethical issues related to easing Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in the United States. Testing and contact tracing are the keys to re-opening the nation safely. There is growing interest in the development of digital apps to supplement human-to-human contact tracing or warn people if they are exposed. How will these apps work? Will they preserve privacy? Will they lead to surveillance, or raise other ethical issues? Join this Hastings Center conversation with Ryan Calo, Co-Director, Tech Policy Lab and Associate Professor, School of Law at the University of WashingtonEd Felten, the Robert E. Kahn Professor of Computer Science and Public Affairs at Princeton University and former Deputy United States Chief Technology OfficerMildred Z. Solomon, President of The Hastings Center The webinar will take place on May 18, at 11 a.m. Eastern time. To attend the event, please register here. For more information, please contact Susan Gilbert or Mark Cardwell at: communications@thehastingscenter.orgThe Hastings Center addresses social and ethical issues in health care, science, and technology. It is the oldest independent, nonpartisan, interdisciplinary research institute of its kind in the world.Ryan Calo is the Lane Powell and D. Wayne Gittinger Associate Professor at the University of Washington School of Law. He is a faculty co-director (with Batya Friedman and Tadayoshi Kohno) of the University of Washington Tech Policy Lab. Professor Calo’s research on law and emerging technology appears or is forthcoming in leading law reviews (California Law Review, University of Chicago Law Review, and Columbia Law Review) and technical publications (MIT Press, Nature, Artificial Intelligence) and is frequently referenced by the mainstream media (NPR, New York Times, Wall Street Journal).Edward W. Felten is the Robert E. Kahn Professor of Computer Science and Public Affairs and the founding director of Princeton’s Center for Information Technology Policy. He was previously Deputy United States Chief Technology Officer. His research interests include computer security and privacy, especially relating to media and consumer products; and technology law and policy. He has published about 80 papers in the research literature and two books. His research on topics such as web security, copyright, and copy protection, and electronic voting has been covered extensively in the popular press. His weblog, at freedom-to-tinker.com, is widely read for its commentary on technology, law, and policy.Mildred Solomon is President of The Hastings Center. Both a bioethicist and a social scientist, Dr. Solomon’s research has focused on palliative care, organ transplantation, medical professionalism, and the responsible conduct of research. She serves on policy commissions and advises international non-governmental organizations on a wide range of health and science policy topics. In addition to her leadership role at The Hastings Center, Solomon is Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, where she directs the school’s Fellowship in Bioethics.
Free New Tool from WRAP Now Available for Download
SUDBURY, Mass. — Advocates for Human Potential, Inc.’s (AHP) Human Potential Press today announced publication of an emotional wellness resource titled “Wellness Guide to Overcoming Isolation During COVID-19: Being Connected, Staying Connected, and Choosing Connection.” AHP adapted its evidence-based Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) publication series to help those who are struggling with isolation find ways to connect with themselves and others. The guide is available as a free digital download.
As rates of depression, stress, and other mental health issues rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, people are seeking ways to reduce feelings of fear, isolation and loneliness.
“Our mission focuses on helping organizations and individuals reach their full potential,” said Neal Shifman, president and CEO of AHP. “It is in the spirit of supporting full health and connection that we offer this new resource to all who might need it during this very difficult time. We encourage people to use it to overcome isolation and strengthen their connections, and we are happy to make it available to all who need it.”
The content helps readers discover ways to take action and create positive changes for themselves through self-exploration around maintaining emotional wellness and whole health. This resource also features:
Six sections, including “What Is Connection?,” “Connection Tools” and “Creating Structure.”
Ideas for first steps toward connection or reconnection.
Encouragement and personal examples that offer inspiration.
Space to write notes and ideas.
The “Wellness Guide to Overcoming Isolation During COVID-19” was developed in collaboration with the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery. It can be used individually, with friends or family members or with groups. As with all other WRAP materials, this guideis compatible with other health and wellness strategies, supports and treatment programs, including 12-step programs.
In 2016, Human Potential Press (HPP), the publishing arm of Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP), took over the publication, management, and distribution of all materials for WRAP and Recovery Books, which was founded in 1997. AHP and WRAP are committed to helping people everywhere reach their full potential. For 30 years, AHP has worked passionately to improve health systems and business operations through research and evaluation, training and technical assistance and professional consulting to help organizations and individuals reach their full potential.
Medicago announces positive results in animal trials for its vaccine candidate against COVID-19
QUEBEC CITY, May 14, 2020 /CNW/ - Medicago, a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Quebec City, announced today that its vaccine candidate for COVID-19 induced a positive antibody response only 10 days after a single dose in mice.
"These positive results are pivotal to initiate a clinical study in healthy volunteers. Once results from a second 'boost' dose are available, Medicago will submit a clinical trial application to Health Canada and an investigational new drug submission with the FDA in the United States to allow for the initiation of human clinical trials this summer," said Nathalie Landry, Executive Vice-President Scientific and Medical Affairs at Medicago. "We are very encouraged about these promising early results achieved with our plant-derived vaccine candidate developed in Canada."
Though the precise dosage for the vaccine in humans is not yet determined, Medicago estimates its current facilities in Quebec and North Carolina could produce up to 20 million and 100 million annual doses, respectively, of pharmaceutical-grade COVID-19 vaccines. Millions of doses could be available by the end of the year as needed.
"We are working hard to add another 20 million doses capacity in Canada and 100 million in North Carolina for 2022, ahead of the completion of our large-scale factory in Quebec in 2023, which would be able to produce more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines per year," said Michael Schunk, Executive Vice-President Operations at Medicago.
In early March, the company produced a Virus-Like Particle (VLP) of the coronavirus just 20 days after obtaining the SARS-CoV-2 gene and quickly initiated pre-clinical testing. The company expects to initiate Phase I clinical trials this summer. Following this trial, it is anticipated that the Phase 2 study will begin prior to the end of 2020.
Medicago is a leader in plant-based technology having previously demonstrated its capability to be a first responder in a flu pandemic. In 2009, the company produced a research-grade vaccine candidate against H1N1 in just 19 days. In 2012, Medicago manufactured 10 million doses of a monovalent influenza vaccine within one month for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), part of the U.S. Department of Defense. In 2015, Medicago also demonstrated that it could rapidly produce an anti-Ebola monoclonal antibody cocktail for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The company's first product, a seasonal recombinant quadrivalent VLP vaccine for active immunization against influenza, is currently under review by Health Canada following the completion of a robust safety and efficacy clinical program involving over 25,000 subjects.
Medicago's plant-based platform
The company uses a proprietary plant-based technology to develop protein-based therapeutics. Unlike traditional vaccination development, Medicago does not use animal products or live viruses to create its products. Instead, it uses Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) that mimic the shape and dimensions of a virus, which allows the body to recognize them and create an immune response in a non-infectious way. Clinical trial data suggest that VLPs have a multi-modal mechanism of action that is different from that of inactivated vaccines, activating both arms of the immune system – antibody and cell-mediated responses.
Medicago's proprietary technology is rapid, versatile, and scalable. As soon as the genetic sequence of a virus is made available, Medicago can develop a clinical-grade vaccine candidate in only a few weeks. Its recombinant technology allows the production of a vaccine that precisely matches the circulating strains, such as in the case of seasonal influenza. The technology is easily scalable, allowing the company to increase volume of production by simply increasing the number of plants it uses.
Product portfolio and pipeline
Medicago's first product, a Recombinant Quadrivalent Virus-Like Particle (QVLP) seasonal flu vaccine is presently under review by Health Canada. Vaccine candidates for pandemic flu, rotavirus and norovirus are being tested across pre-clinical and Phase II clinical trials. Medicago is also developing antibodies against hMPV, RSV and Opioids.
Facilities
Medicago is headquartered in Quebec City, Canada, and plans to produce COVID-19 vaccines and antibodies in its Quebec pilot plant to respond to the immediate short-term demand. The company also has a manufacturing facility in Durham, North Carolina (USA), which is currently dedicated to the production of vaccines and antibodies for its clinical trials and is expected to support the launch of the quadrivalent VLP influenza vaccine once it is approved. A new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant is under construction in Quebec City, which will be fully functional by 2023 and will have the capability to deliver up to 50 million doses of recombinant quadrivalent influenza vaccine per year.
About Medicago
Medicago is a biopharmaceutical company with more than 450 employees in Canada and the United States. Medicago's mission is to improve global health outcomes by leveraging innovative plant-based technologies for rapid responses to emerging global health challenges. Medicago is committed to advancing therapeutics against life-threatening diseases worldwide.
Dancing to the Darkest Light: Turning Tragedy Into Something Positive To Enrich The Lives Of Others
Los Angeles, CA, May 14, 2020— Arriving in New York after fleeing the terror of the Islamic revolution in Iran, Soheila Adelipour and her family believed the worst was behind them. Life was great for a while; the kids went to college, worked hard and were successful – then one tragedy after another hit and within a relatively short period of time Soheila had lost her son and two siblings. Determined to survive in spite of unspeakable loss, she established a foundation in her son’s name that provides healing and salvation for those less fortunate. Receiving accolades from broadcast journalist Barbara Walters, Soheila’s book, Dancing to the Darkest Light, tells her remarkably inspiring story of finding happiness in the face of unbearable tragedy.
Chronicling their experiences in Dancing to the Darkest Light, Adelipour recounts how her only brother became a neurosurgeon while others followed different paths. But their successful relocation and the joy they felt over each triumph was soon shattered when the Adelipour's second son, Stefan, was killed in a dorm room fire before his scheduled graduation from Boston University.
Adelipour channeled her grief into the foundation she established in his name. Soon after, her older sister had to undergo five brain surgeries that left her blind and deaf before ultimately claiming her life. The same week, their only brother who was supervising her care was diagnosed with leukemia. Adelipour gave him her bone marrow and 60 percent of her liver when his liver stopped functioning. Doctors ultimately announced he was cancer-free with a perfectly functioning liver, but the week he was to come home, he died from pneumonia.
How one perseveres under the weight of all this loss is at the core of Dancing to the Darkest Light. “When life plays different music, we have to be fluid and dance to the new tune,” Adelipour said.
Adelipour received her bachelor's degree in business and her master's degree in Art Gallery Management while her first two children were in diapers. She was involved with the World of Arts and Antiques in New York City and followed that by operating high-end gift stores.
Dancing to the Darkest Light Released: September 2019 ISBN-10: 173371264X ISBN-13: 978-1733712644
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Temporary Isolation Can Be TheOpportunity To Permanently Transform Your Weight And Health
Los Angeles, CA, May 14, 2020 ̶ Not sure how to eat and stay healthy this quarantine season without resorting to your familiar diet of spaghetti, bread, pizza, and sugar? Candice Rosen, R.N., MSW, and author of the upcoming book Forget Dieting: It’s All About Data-Driven Fueling! encourages "trophology," or "food combining," which is one of the foundations of Rosen's Data-Driven Fueling Plan. As you combine foods, Rosen adds that "monitoring blood glucose is the key to weight gain vs. weight loss; good health vs. poor health."
1. Make Wednesdays and Fridays Vegan Days. According to Rosen, avoid dairy! Try vegan yogurts, cheeses, and milks. Dairy is inflammatory and will deplete your bones of calcium (it’s true!). There are unsweetened milks of almond, hemp, cashew, etc., and all are available in grocery stores. A low blood glucose breakfast idea would be a sprouted grain English muffin, spread with a tofu or nut-based cream cheese, some sliced tomatoes, and topped off with sea salt or Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.
2. Eat fruits that are high in fiber. Apples, bananas, oranges, berries ̶ the list goes on! You will still want to avoid sugary fruit juices, as well as very sweet fruits like pineapples and mangos while trying to lose weight. Fruit is always eaten alone with two exceptions: they can be added to a vegan smoothie and they can be eaten with a nut or seed butter. These healthy fats reduce the chance of a blood glucose spike.
3. Nothing white. To lower blood glucose, do not eat or combine animal proteins with any white potatoes, bread, rice, or pasta… EVER. Sorry!
4. Eat More Sweet Potatoes. Think wholesome, nutritious, responsibly grown, pancreatic-friendly foods (food that doesn’t raise your blood glucose) like sweet potatoes and yams, which are an incredibly nutritious carbohydrate that are low in sugar levels and provide fiber. They’re best consumed baked or steamed, but can also be cooked in a variety of other ways. A great lunch or dinner option (and it is inexpensive) is a baked sweet potato, split down the middle with a large spoonful of black beans, a tablespoon of tomatillo salsa, and a side salad. To lower blood sugar, eat them with veggies and plant-based protein together… NOT MEAT!
5. Try Fish. Give your body a break from animal protein. Red meats increase inflammation and provide poor sources of fat. However, if you crave protein, try fish! For those who aren’t allergic, fish is a fantastic source of protein that’s low in carbohydrates and contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, one of the few consumable healthy fats! If consuming fish raw, remember only sashimi-style – no white rice! To lower blood sugar, combine fish with veggies, not starches or fruit.
About the author:
Candice P. Rosen, RN, MSW, CHC, is a registered nurse based in Los Angeles, CA. As the founding member of Gilda’s Club Chicago and its first executive director and program director, she created and coordinated a diverse array of wellness-related programs. She was appointed by Mayor Richard Daley to serve as Chair of Healthcare Initiatives for Chicago’s Sister Cities International Program (CSCIP). CSCIP provided an opportunity to advocate for preventive medicine, improve maternal and infant healthcare, stress disability access, promote nourishing diets, and bring awareness to the obesity and diabetes epidemics that now affect populations on a global level. She is married and the mother of four adult children and grandmother to a precious granddaughter. For more information on Candice, please visit https://candicerosenrn.com.
EQ Care, CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal form strategic alliance to provide digital mental health services to patients in collaboration with MAISHA Labs
MONTREAL, May 14, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - (EQ Care): The CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CCOMTL) has chosen EQ Care to collaborate on an innovative Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (dCBT) pilot project for patients on the waiting list for psychotherapy treatment, immediately improving access to mental health services for residents of central Montreal.
Supported by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), the pilot is a strategic alliance between EQ Care, a Montreal-based virtual healthcare provider, in collaboration with MAISHA Labs, a technology firm specializing in the digitization of healthcare systems, and the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, to test delivery of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (dCBT) as an approach to increasing access to mental health care and treatment. This will enable CCOMTL patients to complete sessions on their own time, anytime, anywhere while being supported by a licensed therapist.
"For several years, our population has expressed a need to obtain free access to psychotherapy. Recently, the MSSS created the Program for Mental Disorders: from Self-Care to Psychotherapy as part of a new mental health access and support program in the province," said Tung Tran, Director of Mental Health and Addiction for the CIUSSS. "It aims to improve access to mental health services, including psychotherapy. The demand for this support program was already glaring; but in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, health officials are noticing a significant increase in mental health needs. People are isolated, they have decreased income, and many have lost their businesses. This will bring tremendous consequences as far as mental health is concerned. Even if the MSSS finances psychotherapy, we still face challenges when it comes to recruiting psychotherapists. We are recruiting new professionals and finding innovative ways to diversify the means to improve access, and this dCBT program meets exactly this requirement."
Unlike an in-person visit or a virtual consultation with a mental health professional, dCBT provides a remote therapist-guided digital platform-enabled option, which has been shown to deliver results that are comparable or better.
A Healthy Partnership
EQ Care's current integrated and comprehensive online virtual health care service includes 24/7 access to physicians, mental health specialists and other medical and paramedical professionals, in all provinces and territories, through EQ Care's proprietary virtual care platform.
EQ Care will be rolling out trials of this service in the coming weeks, becoming the first ISO 9001:2015 health services company in Canada to launch this type of a pilot project.
"We have developed a unique online therapist-assisted mental health platform for patients to easily access treatment grounded in best practices. Each patient is paired with a dedicated, licensed therapist whose role is to guide and support the patient through a 12-week course of online therapy and weekly scheduled touch points", said Daniel Martz, CEO, EQ Care. "We are working with MAISHA Labs to help fine-tune this platform to treat patients with mild to moderate depression and certain anxiety disorders. Providing advanced technology-enabled solutions to help solve complex healthcare challenges is in our DNA, and we will leverage our expertise and best practices, coupled with our learnings from this trial, to further reinforce our leading clinical delivery models."
Therapy with a Human Touch
This digital healthcare trial centres on patient wellbeing, and is being put in place to assist presently overextended mental health professionals in the treatment of patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is not meant as a replacement for in-person care by clinicians. Patients will still be able to receive face-to-face Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) after the pilot if needed, and remain on the waitlist, keeping their spot if they choose to participate in the dCBT program. This initiative will provide immediate resources for patients who currently do not have access to mental health support.
MAISHA Labs managed this project as part of a larger digital transformation project within the CIUSSS.
"Similar to other healthcare organizations, the CIUSSS has more demand for mental health services than there are mental health providers, and sometimes patients wait a long time to receive care," explained Amanda Babbitt, Digital Transformation Program Manager, MAISHA Labs, who works on-site at the Jewish General Hospital. "dCBT offers patients mental healthcare wherever they happen to be and at whatever time of day they choose. As integrators, MAISHA Labs provides the digital transformation program and project management, as well as AI tools. It was a pleasure to collaborate with EQ Care and the CIUSSS to launch this important program."
About the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CCOMTL)
The Integrated Health and Social Services University Network for West-Central Montreal (CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal) is committed to providing healthcare recipients with timely access to a seamless continuum of care that focuses on individuals' particular needs. The area covered by this network is home to approximately 362,000 people, who are served by a partnership of more than 30 complementary healthcare facilities. Included are one of Montreal's leading hospitals (the Jewish General Hospital) and an interlocking array of three specialized hospitals, five CLSCs, two rehabilitation centres, four residential centres, two long-term geriatric residences, and two-day centres. Treatment and care are provided by a staff of more than 10,000, including approximately 700 doctors.
About EQ Care
EQ Care offers patients 24/7 national and bilingual online access to a specialized medical and mental health team providing personalized, comprehensive treatment options from any mobile or internet connected device. On the cutting edge of patient care, our mission is to ensure that our patients receive the highest quality service through our leading proprietary virtual health technology platform.
As the market leader in Canadian virtual care with over 30 years of health care experience, an ISO 9001:2015 certification, and over 500,000 virtual medical consultations managed, we are continually innovating to bring cutting edge mobile tools and approaches to our Plan Sponsors and Members.
About MAISHA Labs
MAISHA Labs specializes in digital transformation and disruptions for the healthcare sector. Digitalization fosters tremendous opportunities for better health care continuum, but equally brings challenges in cybersecurity and data protection as well as growing needs of big-data and predictive analytics. MAISHA Labs focuses on bridging the gap between technology and security to enhance organizational excellence, foster optimal decision making and make the transformation process smoother.
MAISHA Labs delivers artificial intelligence-powered analytics platforms to streamline health and care delivery operations. Recently, in record time, MAISHA Labs established a COVID-19 pandemic stratification toolkit with proactive pandemic spread measures, as well as practical clinical census, statistics and predictive dashboards providing highly accurate forecasts for pandemic operational impact (visits, occupancy and equipment utilization).
SOURCE EQ Care
Lux Research Predicts Digital Therapeutics are the Future of Medicine
Rising Healthcare Costs, Physician Burnout, and Chronic Conditions Can All Be Better Addressed Through Digital Therapeutics
BOSTON, MA, MAY 14, 2020 – Digital therapeutics are poised to change healthcare by enabling diagnosis, management, and treatment in a low-cost and scalable way. In its new report “Digital Therapeutics,” Lux Research shows that partnerships are imperative to success when evaluating what digital therapeutics to employ. According to Lux, all healthcare providers will be impacted by the adoption of these new technologies, which also offer opportunities to solve major challenges in healthcare, including rising costs, chronic diseases and aging, and physician burnout.
“A digital therapeutic can be defined as a piece of software that provides medical care. They can be used to address a nearly unlimited range of medical conditions and can directly benefit healthcare providers, payers, solutions providers, and patients,” says Danielle Bradnan, lead author of the report. “Healthcare providers who adopt digital therapeutics can help reduce physician burnout by enabling doctors to spend more time with their patients that need one-on-one care. This could not be more critical than during the current COVID-19 pandemic, where efforts need to be focused on caring for the truly ill. Digital therapeutics allow for the same quality of care as from a provider – but accessed remotely.”
“Some of the biggest opportunities are for solution providers. Consumer electronics companies and software developers can engage directly in healthcare, which was previously mostly confined to large pharmaceutical and medical device companies,” states Bradnan. “Payers also benefit tremendously because they save money through digital therapeutic solutions. Patients benefit by having more autonomy over their provision of care by being able to access quality healthcare remotely.”
When assessing the partnership, acquisition, or investment value of a digital therapeutic, Lux Research emphasizes strategically evaluating four key factors – its capabilities, distribution, mode of action, and partnerships – with partnerships being the most important success factor. “In terms of capabilities, digital therapeutics can either replace existing services or augment them,” explains Bradnan. “Replacement works when geographical barriers pose problems to healthcare access, when there is a shortage of providers, and when traditional modes of therapy don’t work for a patient. This is particularly important now during the COVID-19 pandemic, when there are significant challenges in reaching specialty care services that are still important but not considered “critical.” Addiction and mental health services, as well as time-sensitive conditions like autism and dementia, all benefit from access as well as early intervention and treatment.”
Lux Research is a leading provider of tech-enabled research and advisory services, helping clients drive growth through technology innovation. A pioneer in the research industry, Lux uniquely combines technical expertise and business insights with a proprietary intelligence platform, using advanced analytics and data science to surface true leading indicators. With quality data derived from primary research, fact-based analysis, and opinions that challenge traditional thinking, Lux empowers clients to make more informed decisions today to ensure future success.
Artist Releases Coming-of-age Memoir Detailing Her Journey With Mental Illness And Disability
Long Island, NY, May 14, 2020 – It started as a college prank; a friend offered Ruth Poniarski a brownie that, unbeknownst to her, was laced with angel dust. What resulted was a debilitating accident, and the first of many mental breakdowns that spiraled into diagnoses of psychosis, schizophrenia, severe anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
Long Island native Ruth Poniarski has released her first book, Journey of the Self: Memoir of an Artist, published by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Warren Publishing. Poniarski’s unflinchingly honest memoir shares her coming-of-age story through the lenses of mental illness, disability, and steadfast determination.
For years, Poniarski struggled to cope with her new reality as she undertook a rigorous architectural program, sought out new friends (and the perfect mate), and battled through the depths of mental illness. Her journey led her in all directions as she sought comfort, solace, stability and love.
Now an accomplished artist, Poniarski considers her memoir to be a portrait of sorts. “This book, like many of my paintings, is about introspection,” she says. “So many of us, particularly when we’re young, seek definition through labels or through what others think of us. It’s so easy to say, ‘I have bipolar disorder, therefore, X’ or ‘So and so doesn’t love me the way I love him, therefore, Y.’ But none of that is who we truly are.”
The release of Poniarski’s memoir is particularly timely in light of the Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing orders. “A lot of people are stuck at home right now. This kind of isolation forces a person to examine themselves; what makes them unique beyond who they are to society,” says Poniarski. “That kind of self-reflection allows us to become more available to others. You have to know yourself first.”
“So, who am I?” Poniarski laughs. “Well … you’ll just have to read the book!”
For more information about Ruth Poniarski or her book, please visit: ruthponiarski.com.
Can COVID-19 spread through fecal matter? Studies indicate genetic material of virus showing up in stool
HOUSTON – (May 14, 2020) – Early studies show evidence of COVID-19 genetic material in fecal matter, but more work is needed to determine if the virus can be spread through stool, according to a new review paper from a Rice University epidemiologist.
"Most of the studies that have been done so far are picking up viral RNA in the feces rather than infectious virus," said E. Susan Amirian, an epidemiologist with Rice's Texas Policy Lab and the study's lead author. "However, a few studies have showed that infectious virus may be present in stool samples."
Amirian said the mere presence of genetic material is less worrisome than if infectious amounts of viable virus are found in stool in future studies, as that would imply it is possible for it to be transmitted to others through feces. She said if future research continues finding viable virus in stool, this could have important implications, especially for those working in the restaurant industry, nursing homes, day cares, etc.
"Ultimately, more research is needed to determine whether exposure to stool is spreading this virus and making the pandemic worse," Amirian said. "But given this possibility, it behooves us to be more careful, especially in settings where people have an increased risk of morbidity and death due to COVID-19."
Amirian said there's no downside to exercising an abundance of caution in following good personal hygiene practices until we know more.
"There are plenty of other diseases out there that are transmitted through fecal contamination, including hepatitis A and norovirus," she said. "Following a high level of precaution will help just in case COVID-19 can be spread this way."
For more information or to set up an email interview with Amirian, contact Amy McCaig, senior media relations specialist at Rice, at 217-417-2901 or amym@rice.edu.
Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
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