2020 Canada Gairdner Awards Recognize World-renowned Scientists for Transformative Contributions to Research That Impact Human Health
TORONTO, March 31, 2020 /CNW/ - The Gairdner Foundation is pleased to announce the 2020 Canada Gairdner Award laureates, recognizing some of the world's most significant biomedical research and discoveries. During these challenging times, we believe it is important to celebrate scientists and innovators from around the world and commend them for their tireless efforts to conduct research that impacts human health.
2020 Canada Gairdner International Award The five 2020 Canada Gairdner International Award laureates are recognized for seminal discoveries or contributions to biomedical science:
Dr. Masatoshi Takeichi Senior Visiting Scientist, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan; Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Dr. Rolf Kemler Emeritus Member and Director, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
Awarded "For their discovery, characterization and biology of cadherins and associated proteins in animal cell adhesion and signalling."
Dr. Takeichi
The Work: The animal body is made up of numerous cells. Dr. Takeichi was investigating how animal cells stick together to form tissues and organs, and identified a key protein which he named 'cadherin'. Cadherin is present on the surface of a cell and binds to the same cadherin protein on the surface of another cell through like-like interaction, thereby binding the cells together. Without cadherin, cell to cell adhesion becomes weakened and leads to the disorganization of tissues. Dr. Takeichi found that there are multiple kinds of cadherin within the body, each of which are made by different cell types, such as epithelial and neuronal cells. Cells with the same cadherins tend to cluster together, explaining the mechanism of how different cells are sorted out and organized to form functional organs.
Further studies by Dr. Takeichi's group showed that cadherin function is supported by a number of cytoplasmic proteins, including catenins, and their cooperation is essential for shaping of tissues. His studies also revealed that the cadherin-dependent adhesion mechanism is involved in synaptic connections between neurons, which are important for brain wiring.
Dr. Kemler
The Work: Dr. Kemler, using an immunological approach, developed antibodies directed against surface antigens of early mouse embryos. These antibodies were shown to prevent compaction of the mouse embryo and interfered with subsequent development. Both Dr. Kemler and Dr. Takeichi went on to clone and sequence the gene encoding E-cadherin and demonstrate that it was governing homophilic cell adhesion.
Dr. Kemler also discovered the other proteins that interact with the cadherins, especially the catenins, to generate the machinery involved in animal cell-to-cell adhesion. This provided the first evidence of their importance in normal development and diseases such as cancer. It has been discovered that cadherins and catenins are correlated to the formation and growth of some cancers and how tumors continue to grow. Beta catenin is linked to cell adhesion through interaction with cadherins but is also a key component of the Wnt signalling pathway that is involved in normal development and cancer. There are approximately 100 types of cadherins, known as the cadherin superfamily.
Dr. Takeichi
The Impact: The discovery of cadherins, which are found in all multicellular animal species, has allowed us to interpret how multicellular systems are generated and regulated. Loss of cadherin function has been implicated as the cause of certain cancers, as well as in invasiveness of many cancers. Mutations in special types of cadherin result in neurological disorders, such as epilepsy and hearing loss. The knowledge of cadherin function is expected to contribute to the development of effective treatments against such diseases.
Dr. Kemler
The Impact: Human tumors are often of epithelial origin. Given the role of E-cadherin for the integrity of an epithelial cell layer, the protein can be considered as a suppressor of tumor growth. The research on the cadherin superfamily has had great impact on fields as diverse as developmental biology, cell biology, oncology, immunology and neuroscience. Mutations in cadherins/catenins are frequently found in tumors. Various screens are being used to identify small molecules that might restore cell adhesion as a potential cancer therapy.
Dr. Roel Nusse Professor & Chair, Department of Developmental Biology; Member, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, School of Medicine. Virginia and Daniel K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research. Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Awarded"For pioneering work on the Wnt signaling pathway and its importance in development, cancer and stem cells"
The Work: Dr. Nusse's research has elucidated the mechanism and role of Wnt signaling, one of the most important signaling systems in development. There is now abundant evidence that Wnt signaling is active in cancer and in control of proliferation versus differentiation of adult stem cells, making the Wnt pathway one of the paradigms for the fundamental connections between normal development and cancer.
Among Dr. Nusse's contributions is the original discovery of the first Wnt gene (together with Harold Varmus) as an oncogene in mouse breast cancer. Afterwards Dr. Nusse identified the Drosophila Wnt homolog as a key developmental gene, Wingless. This led to the general realization of the remarkable links between normal development and cancer, now one of the main themes in cancer research. Using Drosophila genetics, he established the function of beta-catenin as a mediator of Wnt signaling and the Frizzleds as Wnt receptors (with Jeremy Nathans), thereby establishing core elements of what is now called the Wnt pathway. A major later accomplishment of his group was the first successful purification of active Wnt proteins, showing that they are lipid-modified and act as stem cell growth factors.
The Impact: Wnt signaling is implicated in the growth of human embryos and the maintenance of tissues. Consequently, elucidating the Wnt pathway is leading to deeper insights into degenerative diseases and the development of new therapeutics. The widespread role of Wnt signaling in cancer is significant for the treatment of the disease as well. Isolating active Wnt proteins has led to the use of Wnts by researchers world-wide as stem cell growth factors and the expansion of stem cells into organ-like structures (organoids).
Dr. Mina J. Bissell Distinguished Senior Scientist, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Faculty; Graduate Groups in Comparative Biochemistry, Endocrinology, Molecular Toxicology and Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
Awarded "For characterizing "Dynamic Reciprocity" and the significant role that extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling and microenvironment play in gene regulation in normal and malignant cells, revolutionizing the fields of oncology and tissue homeostasis."
The Work: Dr. Mina Bissell's career has been driven by challenging established paradigms in cellular and developmental biology. Through her research, Dr. Bissell showed that tissue architecture plays a dominant role in determining cell and tissue phenotype and proposed the model of 'dynamic reciprocity' (DR) between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and chromatin within the cell nucleus. Dynamic reciprocity refers to the ongoing, bidirectional interaction between cells and their microenvironment. She demonstrated that the ECM could regulate gene expression just as gene expression could regulate ECM, and that these two phenomena could occur concurrently in normal or diseased tissue.
She also developed 3D culture systems to study the interaction of the microenvironment and tissue organization and growth, using the mammary gland as a model.
The Impact: Dr. Bissell's model of dynamic reciprocity has been proven and thoroughly established since its proposal three decades ago and the implications have permeated every area of cell and cancer biology, with significant implications for current and future therapies. Dr. Bissell's work has generated a fundamental and translationally crucial paradigm shift in our understanding of both normal and malignant tissues.
Her findings have had profound implications for cancer therapy by demonstrating that tumor cells can be influenced by their environment and are not just the product of their genetic mutations. For example, cells from the mammary glands grown in two-dimensional tissue cultures rapidly lose their identity, but once placed in proper three-dimensional microenvironments, they regain mammary form and function. This work presages the current excitement about generation of 3D tissue organoids and demonstrates Dr. Bissell's creative and innovative approach to science.
Dr. Elaine Fuchs Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor and Head of the Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Cell Biology; The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
Awarded "For her studies elucidating the role of tissue stem cells in homeostasis, wound repair, inflammation and cancer."
The Work: Dr. Fuchs has used skin to study how the tissues of our body are able to replace dying cells and repair wounds. The skin must replenish itself constantly to protect against dehydration and harmful microbes. In her research, Fuchs showed that this is accomplished by a resident population of adult stem cells that continually generates a shell of indestructible cells that cover our body surface.
In her early research, Fuchs identified the proteins---keratins—that produce the iron framework of the skin's building blocks, and showed that mutations in keratins are responsible for a group of blistering diseases in humans. In her later work, Fuchs identified the signals that prompt skin stem cells to make tissue and when to stop. In studying these processes, Fuchs learned that cancers hijack the fundamental mechanisms that tissue stem cells use to repair wounds. Her team pursued this parallel and isolated and characterized the malignant stem cells that are responsible for propagating a type of cancer called "squamous cell carcinoma." In her most recent work, she showed that these cells can be resistant to chemotherapies and immunotherapies and lead to tumor relapse.
The Impact: All tissues of our body must be able to replace dying cells and repair local wounds. Skin is particularly adept at performing these tasks. The identification and characterization of the resident skin stem cells that make and replenish the epidermis, sweat glands and hair provide important insights into this fountain of youth process and hold promise for regenerative medicine and aging. In normal tissues, the self-renewing ability of stem cells to proliferate is held in check by local inhibitory signals coming from the stem cells' neighbours. In injury, stimulatory signals mobilize the stem cells to proliferate and repair the wound. In aging, these normal balancing cues are tipped in favour of quiescence. In inflammatory disorders, stem cells become hyperactivated. In cancers, the wound mechanisms to mobilize stem cells are hijacked, leading to uncontrolled tissue growth. Understanding the basic mechanisms controlling stem cells in their native tissue is providing new strategies for searching out refractory tumor cells in cancer and for restoring normalcy in inflammatory conditions.
2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award The 2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award laureate is recognized for outstanding achievements in global health research:
Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim Director of CAPRISA (Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa), the CAPRISA Professor in Global Health at Columbia University, New York and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim Associate Scientific Director of CAPRISA, Professor in Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York and Professor in Public Health at the Nelson Mandela Medical School and Pro Vice-Chancellor (African Health) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Awarded "For their discovery that antiretrovirals prevent sexual transmission of HIV, which laid the foundations for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the HIV prevention strategy that is contributing to the reduction of HIV infection in Africa and around the world."
The Work: UNAIDS estimates that 37 million people were living with HIV and 1.8 million people acquired HIV in 2017. In Africa, which has over two thirds of all people with HIV, adolescent girls and young women have the highest rates of new HIV infections. ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful, and use Condoms) prevention messages have had little impact - due to gender power imbalances, young women are often unable to successfully negotiate condom use, insist on mutual monogamy, or convince their male partners to have an HIV test.
In responding to this crisis, Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim started investigating new HIV prevention technologies for women about 30 years ago. After two unsuccessful decades, their perseverance paid off when they provided proof-of-concept that antiretrovirals prevent sexually acquired HIV infection in women. Their ground-breaking CAPRISA 004 trial showed that tenofovir gel prevents both HIV infection and genital herpes. The finding was ranked in the "Top 10 Scientific Breakthroughs of 2010" by the journal, Science. The finding was heralded by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs in AIDS and provided the first evidence for what is today known as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The Abdool Karims have also elucidated the evolving nature of the HIV epidemic in Africa, characterising the key social, behavioural and biological risk factors responsible for the disproportionately high HIV burden in young women. Their identification of the "Cycle of HIV Transmission", where teenage girls acquire HIV from men about 10 years older on average, has shaped UNAIDS policies on HIV prevention in Africa.
The impact: CAPRISA 004 and several clinical trials of oral tenofovir led to the WHO recommending a daily tenofovir-containing pill for PrEP as a standard HIV prevention tool for all those at high risk a few years later. Several African countries are among the 68 countries across all continents that are currently making PrEP available for HIV prevention. The research undertaken in Africa by this South African couple has played a key role in shaping the local and global response to the HIV epidemic.
2020 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award The 2020 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award laureate is a Canadian scientist recognized for outstanding leadership in medicine and medical science throughout their career:
Dr. Guy Rouleau Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro); Professor & Chair of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; Director of the Department of Neuroscience, McGill University Health Center
Awarded "For identifying and elucidating the genetic architecture of neurological and psychiatric diseases, including ALS, autism and schizophrenia, and his leadership in the field of Open Science."
The Work: Dr. Rouleau has identified over 20 genetic risk factors predisposing to a range of brain disorders, both neurological and psychiatric, involving either neurodevelopmental processes or degenerative events. He has defined a novel disease mechanism for diseases related to repeat expansions that are at play in some of the most severe neurodegenerative conditions. He has significantly contributed to the understanding of the role of de novo variants in autism and schizophrenia. In addition, he has made important advances for various neuropathies, in particular for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) where he was involved in the identification of the most prevalent genetic risk factors -which in turn are now the core of innumerable ALS studies worldwide.
Dr. Rouleau has also played a pioneering role in the practice of Open Science (OS), transforming the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro) into the first OS institution in the world. The Neuro now uses OS principles to transform research and care and accelerate the development of new treatments for patients through Open Access, Open Data, Open Biobanking, Open Early Drug Discovery and non-restrictive intellectual property.
The Impact: The identification of genetic risk factors has a number of significant consequences. First, allowing for more accurate genetic counselling, which reduces the burden of disease to affected individuals, parents and society. A revealing case is Andermann syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative condition that was once relatively common in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec. Now this disease has almost disappeared from that population. Second, identifying the causative gene allows the development of treatments. For instance, his earlier work on a form of ALS linked to the superoxide dismutase-1 gene (SOD1) opened up studies which are now the focal point of phase 2 clinical studies showing great promise.
By acting as a living lab for the last couple of years, The Neuro is spearheading the practice of Open Science (OS). The Neuro is also engaging stakeholders across Canada with the goal of formal izing a national OS alliance for the neurosciences. Dr. Rouleau's work in OS contributes fundamentally to the transformation of the very ecosystem of science by stimulating new thinking and fostering communities of sharing. Inspired by The Neuro's vision, the global science community is reflecting on current research conventions and collaborative projects, and the momentum for OS is gaining a foothold in organizations and institutions in all corners of the earth.
About the Gairdner Foundation:
The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 by Toronto stockbroker, James Gairdner to award annual prizes to scientists whose discoveries have had major impact on scientific progress and on human health. Since 1959 when the first awards were granted, 387 scientists have received a Canada Gairdner Award and 92 to date have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize.The Canada Gairdner Awards promote a stronger culture of research and innovation across the country through our Outreach Programs including lectures and research symposia. The programs bring current and past laureates to a minimum of 15 universities across Canada to speak with faculty, trainees and high school students to inspire the next generation of researchers. Annual research symposia and public lectures are organized across Canada to provide Canadians access to leading science through Gairdner's convening power.
Health Coach Shares Essential "At-Home" Tips to Boost Your Immune System During the Coronavirus Crisis COVID-19 has forced us into the 4th week of lockdown. Many people are quarantined in search of solutions and ways to reduce risk. In addition to social distancing and proper hygiene practices (like 20-second hand-washing, tissue-covered coughing, and disinfecting) is there anything else you can do to improve your health? Although there's no magic food or pill to protect you from contracting the Coronavirus, maintaining healthy habits that keep your immune system strong is the best thing you can do."In this time of uncertainty and social distancing, the only things you can control are your hygiene, what you eat, and how you move your body..."...says health coach Nathaniel Jordan. We all know nutrition is important for health but it's easy to let this fall by the wayside in times of panic, stress, and boredom - the emotions that many are experiencing right now in quarantine. Stocking your freezer and pantry with nutritious versatile ingredients is important. So which foods are immune-boosting and quarantine-friendly? Nathaniel Jordan recommends eating and storing superfoods like greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries, and seeds (or G-BOMBS for short.) Greens and dark cruciferous veggies (like kale and broccoli) freeze well and they are nutrient-dense containing anti-inflammatory agents like vitamins A and C. Beans are an extremely quarantine-friendly food. Not only do they have a long shelf life, but they are also packed with protein and fiber, keeping you full and satisfied without overeating. Onions, garlic, and other veggies in the allium family are versatile ingredients high in beneficial sulfur compounds that not only boost flavor but also immune health. Mushrooms are rich in B vitamins, which promote skin and gut health. Of course fresh is best but low sodium canned varieties make a nutritious and shelf-stable substitute. Berries are freezer-friendly and filled with antioxidants and flavonoids which are great for brain health and memory. Seedsalso have a long shelf life and are rich in micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to eating healthy, it's also important to stay active both physically and mentally. Keep your body moving by taking walks, dancing, doing yoga, even gardening or cleaning can get your heart pumping. Having the right mindset will also support immune health. Communicate regularly with your family and friends so that social distancing doesn't lead to emotional isolation. "Making healthy lifestyle choices that support immune health is the best thing we can do as we quarantine but making this information understandable and accessible is key..." ...says Jordan who has devoted his career to bringing health information to the masses. As a certified health coach and keynote speaker, praised for his common sense, simplistic approach, he teaches practical strategies for healthy living.Nathaniel Jordan has information and advice about nutrition and immune health. He is sharing tips and actionable strategies people can use to eat healthily, stay active, and maintain healthy habits during COVID-19 quarantine. INTERVIEW / ARTICLE TALKING POINTS:Practical At-Home Tips to Boost Your Immune System During COVID-19 Food & Cooking Ideas That are Quarantine-Friendly & Immune BoostingFascinating Science Behind Nutrition & ExerciseActionable Strategies for Maintaining Healthy Habits While Under QuarantineTry-at-Home Mental Wellness Tips for People of all AgesPersonal Journey to Health & Wellness ABOUT NATHANIEL JORDAN:Nathaniel Jordan is an author, professional wellness speaker, and nationally recognized health coach. Affectionately known as The Minister of Wellness, he has earned his place as one of the world’s most powerful health speakers by delivering concentrated based strategies that have an immediate impact.After losing 100 pounds and reversing his own heart disease in 2012, he now helps others by teaching the fundamentals of health and the healing power of food. Through his keynote speaking, coaching, and national media appearances, he’s helped thousands of people achieve their health goals and eradicate disease with dozens of dramatic success stories from around the nation.For More Information Visit: https://theministerofwellness.com
Ontario Lawyer Starts Clearinghouse for Information on Coronavirus and Family Law Attorney Russell Alexander gives information for families struggling during pandemic
LINDSAY, ONTARIO—Noted Ontario family lawyer Russell Alexander of Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers has started an online clearinghouse for Ontario families struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
On the firm’s new Covid-19 and Divorce Information Centre, people can get answers to questions about how to work remotely with their attorneys, how the pandemic may affect court dates and even how to avoid sparking a divorce during the stress of quarantine.
“The coronavirus is having massive effects on every part of society right now, and family law is no different,” said Alexander. “Given how central these questions are to your daily life, we know that they remain urgent, no matter what may be going on with the pandemic. And that’s not to mention the ways in which the virus may be exacerbating existing issues.”
Alexander, the author of the new book “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Divorce,” which is scheduled to hit shelves later this year, specializes in collaborative law, in which families seek to avoid divisive and expensive courtroom battles in favor of working out their differences together. He says it can be especially helpful at a time when families are strained.
He created the new covid-19 divorce and information centre with a regular podcast, videos and links to further information, so that the website can be easily updated as the legal system responds to the ongoing pandemic.
“The coronavirus raises a lot of tricky new questions for parents sharing custody,” he said. “For example, how do you handle a government order to stay at home when a child typically splits their time between two homes? We don’t yet know all the answers, but we will share them with our audience as we find out.”
Alexander said that legal firms have been designated by the government as an essential service, so his team remains available to serve new and existing clients. But to protect their health and safety and that of their clients, the firm staff is working remotely.
Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers is committed to practicing exclusively in the area of family law in Ontario dealing with all aspects, including separation and divorce, child custody and access, spousal support, child support, and division of family property. A team of lawyers provide guidance from start to finish, helping clients identify and understand the legal issues as well as the options and opportunities available through the transition. The firm has offices in Lindsay, Whitby, Oshawa, Markham, Peterborough and Toronto, Ontario.
Sun Life announces free virtual health care services to Group Benefits Clients
TORONTO, March 31, 2020 /CNW/ - As Canada and its health care system continue to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, Sun Life is taking action to help support Clients and Canadians in need of enhanced medical support while social distancing.
Starting today, Sun Life is progressively rolling out free access to virtual health care services for its Group Benefits Clients with an Extended Health Care (EHC) benefit. In partnership with Dialogue, Clients will be able to use the virtual clinic to connect directly with a health care professional.
The service - Lumino Health Virtual Care - is being offered free of charge for an initial period to support Clients through the global health crisis. Sun Life is including the service into Clients' EHC Benefit, giving employers, employees and their families convenient access to health care, when and where they need it.
Lumino Health Virtual Care brings the best of two offerings together – Lumino Health and Dialogue. Lumino Health is Sun Life's online digital platform that connects Canadians with local health care providers, offers health-related content and shares innovative health solutions to help Canadians live healthier lives. The virtual care service will be powered by Dialogue, Canada's leading telemedicine provider, dedicated exclusively to the world's leading organizations.
"Today, more than ever, our Clients need us," said Jacques Goulet, President, Sun Life Canada. "Our country is in the middle of a health crisis. Offering free virtual health care services to our Clients will hopefully relieve some of their stress, support social distancing efforts across the country and alleviate some of the load on Canada's emergency health care system. We are offering this service free of charge because it is the right thing to do," Goulet added.
Clients can easily connect to the Lumino Health Virtual Care service through a mobile app or online. Once connected, the service will triage a Client before providing direct access to a care manager, nurse or physician. The service provides Clients with acute physical and mental health care, similar to medical services provided at a primary care clinic. A multi-disciplinary team will review symptoms, provide an assessment, create a personalized care plan, write prescriptions, and make referrals to specialists or in-person care if necessary.
"Given the COVID-19 outbreak, access to health care has never been more critical. Dialogue is proud to continue playing a pivotal role, helping Canadians stay healthy and happy," says Cherif Habib, CEO of Dialogue. "Partnering with Sun Life will help millions of Canadians quickly access health care through our secure platform from the comfort of their home. This is needed now more than ever."
Connecting all Canadians to virtual paramedical support
In addition to providing free virtual medical services to Group Benefits Clients, Sun Life has also taken action to support all Canadians through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through Lumino Health, all Canadians can access health care providers digitally. The platform enables Canadians to easily find and book an appointment with a health care professional, such as a psychologist, physiotherapist and other paramedical providers.
In response to COVID-19, Lumino Health recently partnered with OnCall Health, a secure virtual care platform trusted by thousands of Canadian health care providers. This partnership enables paramedical providers on the Lumino Health platform to connect virtually with their patients.
Click here for more information about Lumino Health.
About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2019, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1,099 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
About Dialogue Technologies Inc. Dialogue is the leading Canadian telemedicine provider pioneering virtual healthcare dedicated exclusively to the world's leading organizations. We drive real health outcomes through amazing healthcare experiences, an employee engagement playbook, and a relentless focus on patient safety and security. For more information, please visit www.dialogue.co.
Change Your Mind to Change Your Life: How an App is Making the Life-Changing Benefits of Hypnotherapy Available to Everyone
Christine Deschemin uses her therapeutic expertise to create a platform for anyone and everyone to heal and grow through the simple and proven technique of hypnotherapy.
HONGKONG (March 2020)- When many people think of hypnosis they think of scenes from television shows or movies. In reality, hypnotherapy put to use by experts has little in common with the common perception of it. It has become a trusted solution for individuals and businesses alike, and it is being utilized by business leaders worldwide. Christine Deschemin, the creator of UpNow, an innovative new hypnotherapy app, wants to make hypnotherapy’s benefits available to everyone.
Hypnotherapy is something anyone who suffers from anxiety, stress, pain, or other everyday problems can put to use in their daily lives, and UpNow is looking to make this possible for anyone. UpNow’s series of self-hypnosis mp3s can be easily enjoyed in the comfort of home or anywhere that you are able to take a moment to pause, relax, and focus your mind. This makes them uniquely suited for even the most active and busy lifestyles.
Hypnosis, contrary to what you may think, is a natural state you have likely experienced before even if you have never tried hypnotherapy. Perhaps you have zoned out while driving your familiar route to work or become so engrossed in a movie you completely lost track of time. Each of these situations is an example of hypnosis.
If this state is so common in daily life, why not take advantage of it to become healthier and happier? What Deschemin aims to do with UpNow is to help you take control of this state of mind and use it to live a more positive lifestyle. UpNow makes this easy by offering an affordable selection of mp3s tailored for all kinds of goals such as improving sleep, career enhancement, and much, much more. All you need is your phone and a pair of headphones.
Deschemin knows you can become the best version of yourself with UpNow. Unlike other self-hypnosis apps, UpNow puts some of the most advanced and up to date hypnosis techniques into practice and has had proven success with everyone from athletes to children to C-suite executives. UpNow has even partnered with medical professionals, as doctors have become more and more aware of the many benefits of hypnotherapy.
Above all, Deschemin believes it’s possible for people from all walks of life to use UpNow to change their minds, and ultimately, their lives. Regular users’ results have demonstrated the connection between mindfulness, health, and success. Simply the most convenient and affordable option, UpNow is poised to become a staple for all who strive for a more fulfilling lifestyle.
Precision Biomonitoring Receives Letter of Intent from the Government of Canada for its Testing Capabilities in Response to COVID-19
Point-of-need COVID-19 test awaiting approval by Health Canada
GUELPH, ON and MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 31, 2020 /CNW/ - Precision Biomonitoring, an industry leader in developing environmental DNA (eDNA) tools to detect organisms at the point-of-need in 60 minutes, announces that it has been selected by the Government of Canada through a Letter of Intent with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) for its point-of-need SARS-CoV-2 Go-Strips test and battery-operated instrument in response to COVID-19. Precision Biomonitoring is one of the first ten companies to receive a Letter of Intent in the COVID-19 procurement space.
SARS-CoV-2 Go-Strips detect the RNA of severe acute respiratory syndrome, COVID-19. The COVID-19 RNA targets are multiplexed together with Biomeme's RNA positive control, which is an RNA extraction and RT-PCR control, allowing results to be obtained onsite in 60 minutes. Early identification and diagnosis of COVID-19 is crucial to ensure a rapid response, thus mitigating the possible additional negative consequences of the virus. Weighing only 1.2 kg and battery-operated, Precision Biomonitoring's mobile solution is ideal for all point-of-need locations where screening is needed for vulnerable populations such as assessment centers, long-term care homes, ships, airports, borders and more distant regions and remote areas. The test is currently awaiting Health Canada approval.
"We are immensely proud to have been selected as an early partner by our Federal Government," says Dr. Mario Thomas, CEO, Precision Biomonitoring. "Precision Biomonitoring's innovative point-of-need testing device addresses the call made by the Government of Canada's Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight COVID-19. By pivoting and building from our experience in the sensitive area of food and water safety we are now looking forward to working with the Canadian health care community during this unprecedented time."
With the ability to administer nine tests per hour at the point-of-need in 60 minutes, the SARS-CoV-2 Go-Strips will help contribute to the call from all levels of government to increase testing capacity for COVID-19.
About Precision Biomonitoring SARS-CoV-2 Go-Strips Precision Biomonitoring's easy-to-use Go-Strips are a mobile solution for health care providers in Ontario and across Canada. The device can be transported in a laptop-sized bag, ideal for on the spot tests, especially when results are needed now in emergency rooms and more rural and remote regions.
About Precision Biomonitoring Founded in 2016 by a team of scientists from the University of Guelph's Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, Precision Biomonitoring provides TripleLock™ onsite eDNA surveillance platform solutions that give customers earlier detection of organisms for a more rapid response. Customers are any organizations that need onsite surveillance and rapid identification of any organism in any environment. The Precision Biomonitoring team is at the forefront of technological innovations in the genomics industry. Our vision is a world where we can identify any organism on the spot, in an instant, anywhere on the planet.
SOURCE Precision Biomonitoring
SIMPLE ANSWERS TO COMPLEX QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19
Overwhelmed by the abundance of information about Covid-19? Not sure who to trust or how to find answers to questions truly important to you? Check out the Covid-19 Navigator, a simple to use dashboard that draws from trusted sources to deliver straight talk about what you need to manage the impact of Covid-19 on your daily life. It’s available for mobile and desktop at covid19navigator.com.
The Dashboard features five buttons that lead to a deeper dive on facts about Covid-19, getting what you need, staying inside, staying safe and what happens next. Relieve anxiety caused by too much information with the touch of a button.
For example, the “Getting What I Need” button covers advice on grocery shopping, ordering from restaurants, home deliveries, prescriptions and seeing the doctor for non-urgent needs. Answers are short and to the point. No need to wade through lots of information to find what you’re looking for.Hit the grocery shopping button and it will let you know that while there is no evidence that Covid-19 can be transmitted by food, if someone else has touched the item before you, that could be an issue. So wherever you buy your groceries, be sure to wash food containers and produce.
The ordering from restaurants button says that ordering cooked meals from local restaurants is relatively safe and provides practical advice like checking to see if the restaurant is open and whether the delivery service has waived fees.The Navigator will be regularly updated to keep up with new questions presented by Covid-19 in the weeks ahead. So stay tuned and check the navigator regularly.
The Covid-19 Navigator is from the folks at Wondros, a creative solutions company founded by Jesse Dylan to solve complex problems. As Jesse puts it, “We did it because Wondros is about serving people. Creating a simple user interface to ease access to information people can truly use and trust is a natural for us.” Among the sources curated to answer Navigator questions are the CDC, WHO, NIH, CNN, Consumer Reports, Los Angeles Times and USA Today among others.
Meditation App Offers Special Session for Those Under Quarantine
With most of the world under quarantine, people are looking for ways to relax and accept their situation. Meditation app Namatata offers a special session that will remain free throughout the entire confinement period.
Created in partnership with psychiatrist François Bourgognon, the French leader of mobile meditation applications, Namatata, offers a fun and simple way to meditate, with pre-recorded sessions, to all its users. As most people are currently confined at home, the application is ideal for starting up new practices, relaxing, and better accepting the situation. As part of the launch of its English version, Namatata offers seven days free, including a “special confinement” meditation of ten minutes to help everyone best undertake their confinement. This special meditation will remain available for free throughout the entire confinement period.
Better undertake the confinement through meditation
Scientists and doctors have shown that meditation is effective in dealing with stress, anxiety and improving sleep. In confinement, alone or with others, these problems can arise more easily. Anxiety during a health crisis is very important, as it brings up legitimate questions of one’s own health, as well as the health of their loved ones.
When all these thoughts and emotions come to attack us in a way, meditation can often be the best way to deal with them. By focusing on yourself for a few minutes a day, meditation greatly reduces stress and boosts the immune system.
Namatata offers seven days of free access and a special confinement meditation
The application, which is available on iOS and Android, promises to make the current period easier by offering seven days of free access to its 400 sessions to all new users through the confinement period. A special confinement meditation launched today on the application and will remain free for the duration of the crisis. All people in a situation of confinement can find help through it.
For people alone, a 10-minute meditation has been specially developed to deal with the feeling of loneliness.
For children, meditation audios are also available. These meditations in the form of stories imagined by psychologist Cécile Neuville, can serve to initiate them into this beneficial learning experience. For parents, this is also an opportunity to help their children find time to refocus and to keep them busy intelligently in these difficult days.
For everyone, each mindful meditation makes it easier to accept confinement. Meditation allows you to let go and deal with a situation that you cannot change. Breathing and concentration exercises where you focus on the present moment help you let go of difficult emotions and stray thoughts. A daily practice of ten minutes will, undoubtedly, improve everyone's physical and mental balance.
To find this special confinement meditation, please click here:
A word by founder Antoine Gerlier:
"In this current period, the concept of acceptance seems very important to me. It is by accepting that things are the way they are that we learn to live with them and to let go. When a big wave comes crashing down on us, it is better to deal with it by surfing on it. Meditation is a real "art of living" that I teach on a daily basis and that I wanted to share with the world by launching Namatata. Today, the confinement is ideal to refocus your thoughts and discover your virtues. "
Namatata in numbers:
1,000,000 users in the world
30,000 new users every month
400 meditations created by psychology professionals
25 programs of 7 days spread out into 5 themes
About Namatata: Namatata is a meditation application available on iOS and Android for everyone. It aims to democratize the daily practice of mental gymnastics in everyone's life. Founded by Antoine Gerlier, who got the help of psychiatrist François Bourgognon, the application allows you to meditate 10 or 20 minutes a day. Based on scientific research, particularly in neuroscience, the application gathers one million users who can access more than 400 meditation sessions.
Single Dose Hydroxychloroquine Monthly May Reduce the Necessity for Mechanical Ventilation in COVID-19 Patients
By Eddie Fatakhov, M.D.
With an appropriate primary focus being on the treatment options for currently infected COVID-19 patients, the question still lingers as to if there are any additional potential preventative treatments, outside of social distancing and quarantine, that may be used by healthcare professionals on the frontlines and people considered in the high-risk category that have yet to contract the virus.
The public has been made aware of the anti-malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, being used in hospitalized patients as a potential treatment. While those trials are unfolding and a vaccine actively in the works, prevention is still a major concern for those who are healthy but in contact with confirmed cases and for the population that is high-risk but has remained virus-free for now.
As this pandemic rapidly evolves throughout the world, researchers and physicians are aggressively looking into the reasons why certain COVID-19 infected patients are rapidly declining and how this could possibly be prevented. Recent research has suggested that COVID-19 is starting as a viral infection in the upper respiratory system. As it progresses, it is migrating to the lower respiratory system - resulting in mechanical ventilation of a vast number of patients. Hospitals are flooded and being forced to allocate ventilators to the sickest of the sick. The mechanisms of action by hydroxychloroquine could possibly hinder the virus from moving from the upper to lower respiratory tract - in turn making mechanical ventilation less likely to be a necessity.
Hydroxychloroquine has shown to accumulate in highest concentrations in the liver, adrenal and lung tissue in rodent trials. Determination of a drug’s potency needed to induce the desired response, also known as the EC50 value, is key to the potential effectiveness of a drug. Physiological-based pharmacokinetic models (PBPK) have been implemented to simulate the concentrations of hydroxychloroquine in the body. The results suggest that a single dose of 800mg of hydroxychloroquine may provide a lung tissue concentration that is greater than twenty times the required EC50 values necessary to inhibit COVID-19 in the lungs. A single dose of 200mg of hydroxychloroquine has a half-life of 22 days, meaning that half of the administered dose remains in the system at day 22. This evidence would lead to the potential of greatly reducing COVID-19 induced lung damage. This lung damage leads to increased necessity of mechanical ventilation.
If proven to be effective, this would not stop one from contracting the virus itself. It would potentially stop the virus from progressing to such deadly states with possibly as little as one dose taken every three weeks. Further research is needed to continue to validate these findings but provides hope for those who are battling this virus on the frontline that there may be a protective option available in coming days.
Yao, X., Ye, F., Zhang, M., Cui, C., Huang, B., Niu, P., Liu, X., Zhao, L., Dong, E., Song, C., Zhan, S., Lu, R., Li, H., Tan, W., & Liu, D. (2020). In vitro antiviral activity and projection of optimized dosing design of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Clinical infectious diseases: an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, ciaa237. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa237
Yimin, W., Nygard, G. A., Ellertson, S. L., & Khalil, S. K. W. (1995). Stereoselective disposition of hydroxychloroquine and its metabolites in rats. Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://doi.org/10.1002/chir.530070807
Eddie Fatakhov, M.D, is a Board-Certified Physician, Nutritionist and Best-Selling Author who has been a featured expert interview guest on national television programs including CNN, with commentaries featured regularly in U.S. News & World Report and other publications.
SpiderTech Develops Product to Protect Healthcare Workers from their Protective Masks
TORONTO, March 31, 2020 /CNW/ - Face masks have become the first line of defense for health care professionals around the globe battling COVID-19. Yet through prolonged use, that same protective equipment may be putting them at further risk. In response, an unlikely company has come to the rescue. Its name is SpiderTech. Their medical team has developed a new kinesiology tape to prevent the skin abrasions that can become gateways to any number of health problems.
SpiderTech is the pioneer behind precut kinesiology tape, which is used by athletes worldwide to take pressure off overused muscles and reduce pain. This new version, a 100% cotton breathable tape, was developed specifically to protect the faces of medical professionals and first responders forced to wear masks for long periods. Users apply one to three strips of the pre-cut tape, called Gentle Mini iSTRIPs, over the bridge of their nose or in a triangle pattern around the nose and mouth to relieve the pressure of surgical masks' elastic bands. The gel-like acrylic adhesive on the strip maintains a seal on the skin without irritation and can be removed painlessly. https://youtu.be/PdjDqxuzG8c
"We saw images of nurses and doctors on news and social media bearing cuts, bruises and friction marks from their masks and knew we had to do something for these brave caregivers," said Dr. Nick Martichenko, SpiderTech. "Our kinesiology tape acts as a barrier between the user's face and their mask or eye wear. Besides discomfort, broken skin caused by masks can open the door to very serious health complications."
In fact, according to wound-care experts, open wounds under a medical face mask can become a portal for coronavirus to penetrate the body and allow other hospital-acquired infections access to the circulatory system.
Gentle Mini iSTRIPs are applied directly to the face under the worker's PPE. It can be left on for multiple days and the user's PPE can be worn or removed without affecting the protective base.
SpiderTech has also devised wide-roll kinesiology tape that can be applied on top of face strips to create a do-it-yourself mask. The user can place any piece of filter material behind the tape for added protection.
Founded in 2009, SpiderTech is a division of NUCAP Industries with a 25 year successful track record in development of safety-related products. Visit www.SpiderTech.com
SOURCE SpiderTech
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