Author: trainitright

CordovaCann Announces Letter of Intent to Acquire Ontario-Based Licensed Producer Applicant

 

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2018 / CordovaCann Corp. (CSE: CDVA) (OTCQB: LVRLF) ("Cordova" or the "Company"), a cannabis-focused consumer products company, announced today that it has entered into a letter of intent (the "LOI") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of 2366607 Ontario Inc. d/b/a Alterna Medicinals Canada ("Alterna") for the total purchase price of $1,693,750 Canadian dollars and 1,204,167 shares in the common stock of Cordova, contingent upon Alterna obtaining receipt of a License to Cultivate under Health Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) for Alterna's facility in Listowel, Ontario. Furthermore, Cordova has agreed to loan up to $1 million Canadian dollars to Alterna to fund the required capital expenditures to advance the application process for such License to Cultivate.

Alterna is an applicant to become a Licensed Producer under the ACMPR program and was provided a Confirmation of Readiness by Health Canada earlier this year for its 14,000 square foot leased-facility located in Listowel, Ontario. The facility has future expansion capabilities across its seven acre site.

"Expanding our cultivation capabilities into the Canadian market is an essential step in achieving our goal of capturing greater international market share," stated Mr. Taz Turner, Chairman and CEO of Cordova. "While providing access to the Canadian market is of significant importance to us, the acquisition of Alterna is also expected to provide us with the ability to distribute our branded, formulated products to international markets, furthering our mission to establish a global cannabis manufacturing and distribution platform."

The transaction as contemplated is subject to standard terms and conditions of transactions of this nature, including but not limited to the completion of satisfactory due diligence and the approval of Cordova's board of directors.

To be added to the Company's distribution list, please email cordova@kcsa.com with "Cordova" in the subject line.

About CordovaCann Corp.

CordovaCann Corp. is a Canadian-domiciled company focused on building a leading, diversified cannabis products business across multiple U.S. jurisdictions. CordovaCann primarily provides services and investment capital to the processing and production vertical markets of the cannabis industry.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and management's views and assumptions regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. The Company cannot provide assurances that the matters described in this press release will be successfully completed or occur. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: global economic and market conditions; the war on terrorism and the potential for war or other hostilities in other parts of the world; the availability of financing and lines of credit; successful integration of acquired or merged businesses; changes in interest rates; management's ability to forecast revenues and control expenses, especially on a quarterly basis; unexpected decline in revenues without a corresponding and timely slowdown in expense growth; the Company's ability to retain key management and employees; intense competition and the Company's ability to meet demand at competitive prices and to continue to introduce new products and new versions of existing products that keep pace with technological developments, satisfy increasingly sophisticated customer requirements and achieve market acceptance; relationships with significant suppliers and customers; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the Company's public filings on EDGAR and SEDAR. The Company undertakes no obligation to update information contained in this press release. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, please refer to the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's EDGAR and SEDAR filings.

SFU addresses mental health on and off campus through additional support services for its students

 

Two-year pilot program to provide students with confidential 24-hour access to counsellors through their mobile device

VANCOUVER, Sept. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - Simon Fraser University (SFU) and Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) have launched a 24/7 multi-platform mental health and support service through Morneau Shepell called My Student Support Program (My SSP), for its students. This two-year pilot project, which began in August, will provide additional mental health resources for all SFU students, at no additional cost, to help address the growing demand for mental health services – a problem that is also impacting other young adults and post-secondary institutions across Canada.

SFU students now have immediate, confidential, 24-hour access – from anywhere in the world – to counsellors through a phone or mobile app. The app will allow students to talk or instant message counsellors for emotional support needs such as managing relationships and adjusting to living away from home, as well as crisis support. The program offers both immediate and booked counselling options; students can request to book an appointment with a counsellor who speaks a specific language or, for example, identifies as a specific gender, religion or as indigenous.

"My SSP will help provide mental health support and other resources to our students no matter where they are in the world," said Tim Rahilly, vice provost and associate vice-president, students and international, Simon Fraser University. "Students will have access to these resources should they need it even if they are living or studying abroad."

"Having access to a larger, more diverse network of professionals means that students' unique circumstances can be more timely and easily matched with someone who may have lived experience with their circumstances," said Samer Rihani, vice president of  student services, Simon Fraser Student Society. "By offering this service to our students, we know that we'll be making our first step forward in destigmatizing mental health services and letting students know it's okay to not be okay."

In addition to having a counsellor at their fingertips, the downloadable My SPP app can connect students to videos and articles to help support positive well-being such as achieving balance, sleep and mindfulness resources.

"Our collaboration with SFU started in February 2017 when we observed an increased need of mental health services for students compared to what was available on campus," said Jasdeep Gill, vice president, SFSS VP external relations, Simon Fraser Student Society. "It was absolutely vital to us to recognize students' need for resources and flexibility, and we're thrilled to have come to this solution with SFU through Morneau Shepell's 24-hour, immediate support services. The Board of Directors is pleased to have finalized this agreement with SFU to support this pilot program."

"This two-year pilot project will provide increased access to mental health services and support for students at SFU and will complement our existing services and initiatives," said Martin Mroz, health and counselling director, Simon Fraser University. "I'm especially excited the role that My SSP can play in helping staff and faculty support students. We have a lot of people at the university that want to help build a Healthy Campus Community and this will empower them to do that. My SPP will be situated amidst a strategy that addresses timely, accessible, supports for those in need; settings that promote well-being and a caring community; and health education as well as addressing mental health stigma."

SFU's funding contribution for this initiative is part of the University's Student Experience Initiative, a formal, three-year process led by the VP Academic Office to fund initiatives that have potential to positively impact the student experience. These mental health resources are provided in partnership with guard.me, a leading international student insurance provider, and Moreau Shepell, a leading global organization offering counselling that supplements the growing demand of mental health and wellness on campuses across North America.

"We have developed a great relationship with guard.me over the past few years to provide exceptional service for our institutional partners and we are pleased to extend our offering to the students at SFU," said Matthew McEvoy, senior director, student support, Morneau Shepell. "We continue to see investments in mental health support across the country, so we are thrilled that SFU is echoing this commitment for its students."

"With such a diverse student population, it was imperative that SFU provide support to the entire SFU student population, including graduate students, undergraduate students, diverse international perspectives,  LGTBQ+ students, indigenous students, student athletes, students with disabilities and more," said Keith Segal, president and chief executive officer, guard.me. "We are honoured to be able to reach more students every day and to be a part of their journey toward a successful educational experience."

About Simon Fraser University

As Canada's engaged university, SFU is defined by its dynamic integration of innovative education, cutting-edge research and far-reaching community engagement. SFU was founded more than 50 years ago with a mission to be a different kind of university—to bring an interdisciplinary approach to learning, embrace bold initiatives, and engage with communities near and far. Today, SFU is Canada's leading comprehensive research university and is ranked one of the top universities in the world. With campuses in British Columbia's three largest cities – Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey – SFU has eight faculties, delivers almost 150 programs to over 35,000 students, and boasts more than 145,000 alumni in 130 countries around the world.

About Simon Fraser Student Society

The Simon Fraser Student Society exists to improve the health and well-being, social, academic, and financial conditions of our undergraduate students. We provide assistance for campus events, advocate for issues that are important to our members, provide study and social spaces, support clubs and student groups, oversee the undergraduate health and dental plan and more. The SFSS is governed by a student elected Board of Directors. The SFSS: for students, by students. The SFSS encourages you to make your time here at SFU a memorable experience.

About Morneau Shepell

Morneau Shepell is the only human resources consulting and technology company that takes an integrated approach to employee well-being, health, benefits and retirement needs. The Company is the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell is a total well-being solution that combines employee assistance, wellness, recognition and incentive programs. As a leader in strategic HR consulting and innovative pension design, the Company also helps clients solve complex workforce problems and provides integrated productivity, health and retirement solutions. Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves approximately 24,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations. With more than 4,500 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

About guard.me
guard.me International Insurance is one of the world's largest insurance providers in international education and a leader in addressing the changing needs of organizations and students around the globe.

With almost 20 years' experience working with language schools, high schools, universities, colleges, industry associations and agents, guard.me takes pride in keeping international students safe when it matters most. That means creating insurance plans that can be used in every country and for every occasion. Whether students are leaving to go abroad or for international students studying in Canada and the USA, guard.me has a plan for every kind of educational opportunity.

SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.

Servier Canada announces the Expansion of its Oncology Portfolio through the acquisition by Servier group of Shire's oncology branch

 

LAVAL, QC, Sept. 5, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Servier Group announced August 31st, the closing of the global acquisition of Shire's oncology branch following final clearance by the regulatory authorities. As a result of this transaction, Servier Canada strengthened its oncology portfolio with two marketed products. ONCASPARTM (pegaspargase) is an asparagine specific enzyme indicated as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and ONIVYDETM (irinotecan liposome) is a topoisomerase inhibitor indicated for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV), in adult patients who have disease progression following gemcitabine-based therapy.

"We established our Oncology Business Unit in Canada two years ago, as a result of a global strategic orientation. In this short period of time, we have consolidated our canadian portfolio in both solid tumors and hemato-malignancies and this recent acquisition is a major step forward", underlined Frederic Fasano, Chief Executive Officer of Servier Canada Inc.

Servier Canada's current portfolio comprises products soon to be marketed. ZEVALIN® is the only single-course chemo-free treatment regimen approved by Health Canada for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory low-grade or follicular, CD20 positive, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, including patients with rituximab-refractory follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. FOLOTYN® and BELEODAQ® are currently under review by Health Canada as anti-neoplastic agents in relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

"Servier Canada's commitment is to bring innovative treatment options to Canadian patients suffering from different types of cancer. We are happy to welcome Shire's Oncology team today and join forces continuing pursuing our mission" said Amelie Faubert, Commercial Head, Oncology Business Unit.

Oncology is a key therapeutic area for Servier and its research and development focuses on apoptosis and immuno-oncology. The Group currently devotes 37% of its R&D investments to fighting cancer and addressing critical unmet patient needs. It also has a goal to reach 50% within the next two years. To date, Servier has nineteen strategic research alliances in oncology, including five with American partners, to accelerate patient's access to innovative therapies. This has led to thirteen innovative anti-cancer products in clinical development.

About Servier Canada
Servier Canada was established in 1978 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary of operation in Canada. Servier Canada employs over 250 people across Canada and is currently marketing medicines in oncology, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. For additional information please visit our website at www.servier.ca

About Servier Group
Servier is an international pharmaceutical company governed by a non-profit foundation, with its headquarters in France (Suresnes). With a strong international presence in 149 countries and a turnover of 4.152 billion euros in 2017, Servier employs 21,700 people worldwide. Entirely independent, the Group reinvests 25% of its turnover (excluding generic drugs) in research and development and uses all its profits for development. Corporate growth is driven by Servier's constant search for innovation in five areas of excellence: cardiovascular, immune-inflammatory and neuropsychiatric diseases, cancer and diabetes, as well as by its activities in high-quality generic drugs. Servier also offers eHealth solutions beyond drug development.

 

SOURCE Servier Canada Inc.

59% of Europeans and 68% of Americans are overweight

ReportLinker released a new report on eating habits, overweightness and obesity:

 

Meat, Fruits and Veggies, what are the numbers?

- In the UK, veganism has become a trend. More people are favoring plant-based, low fat, and low sugar diets, and the weekly household consumption of beef has been divided by two since the 70’s (215g in 1975 vs 102g in 2015)

- In the US, red meat consumption has decreased since its peak of 198 lbs per person per year in 1971, to 141 lbs in 2015.

Also, the country saw a rise of 16% in vegetables consumption in the past 46 years.

Butter consumption has dropped too, going from 18 lbs consumed per person and per year in 1931, to an average of 4 lbs since the 80’s.

- Globally, the soy products consumption has highly increased since 2000 and is expected to    grow sharply through 2026.

What’s the impact on everyone’s weight?

  • Almost 70% US adults are considered to be overweight, way up from 41% in 1974.
  • We witness the same trend in Europe with 39% of people being overweight  in 1976 to 59% thirty years later.

 

 

Alzheimer Society launches first-ever Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia

 

Charter written by and for people living with dementia

TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, the Alzheimer Society of Canada is pleased to officially launch the first-ever Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia.

The landmark Charter is the culmination of over a year's work by the Society's Advisory Group of people with dementia, whose members represent different walks of life from across the country. With the number of Canadians with dementia expected to hit nearly one million in less than 15 years, the Advisory Group set out to define a set of seven explicit rights to give a greater voice and authority to those with dementia. The Charter will help people with dementia as well as their families challenge situations where they experience stigma, are treated unfairly, discriminated against, or are denied access to appropriate care.

The Charter empowers Canadians with dementia to self-advocate while also ensuring that the people and organizations that support them know and protect their rights. These include the right:

  • to be free from discrimination of any kind.
  • to benefit from all of Canada's civic and legal rights.
  • to participate in developing and implementing policies that affect their life.
  • to access support and opportunities to live as independent and engaged citizens in their community.
  • to be informed and supported so they can fully participate in decisions affecting their care and life, from the point of diagnosis to palliative and end-of-life care.
  • to expect that professionals involved in all aspects of their care are trained in dementia and human rights and are accountable to uphold these rights.
  • to access effective complaint and appeal procedures when their rights are not protected or respected.

"People with dementia, no matter the stage of their disease, have the same rights as every other citizen," says Pauline Tardif, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. "Yet, we know all too well that Canadians with dementia continue to face cultural, social and economic barriers to claiming these rights, leaving many facing discrimination, isolation and treatment that contravenes their basic rights as human beings. We're asking all Canadians to champion this new Charter."

The Charter will not only help combat the ongoing stigma associated with dementia, but also help inform a rights-based approach to the development of services and supports for Canadians with dementia. In particular, it will serve to guide the federal government as it follows through on its commitment to develop and implement a national dementia strategy for Canada.

British Columbia resident Mario Gregorio, one of the Advisory Group members who contributed to the Charter, says, "As a person living with dementia, it gives me confidence to know that I'm not alone and reassurance that my country, my health and social services and my family, friends and community are there to lend a hand. We, as a nation, need to play a leadership role to ensure that people with dementia are not marginalized."

Throughout the month of September, the Society will feature stories written by some of the Advisory Group members on what the Charter means to them, and invite others impacted by dementia to comment. To read the stories, learn more about the Charter and download a free copy, in English or French, visit alzheimer.ca/Charter.

Notes to editors:
The Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia is guided by a human rights-based approach known as "PANEL," endorsed by the United Nations. This approach emphasizes: the rights of everyone to participate in all decision-making directing their quality of life and care; accountability, holding individuals, communities and organizations responsible for recognizing, protecting and fulfilling their rights; non-discrimination, to self-advocate and challenge stigma; empowerment, to know their rights and how to claim these; and legality, to have assurance their rights are understood and followed according to law.

SOURCE Alzheimer Society of Canada

Bold Statement from Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada Highlights the Pivotal Role of Blood Cancer Research in Advancing Breathroughs for Other Cancers and Diseases

 

Beating Cancer Is In Our Blood campaign making its debut during Blood Cancer Awareness Month and is expected to raise $200,000 for blood cancer research this September.

TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - This month, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) introduces– its Beating Cancer Is In Our Blood campaign– in a move to bring both the organization and blood cancers out of obscurity to mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

"Few people know that many of today's fundamental treatments for various cancers, like chemotherapy, began with blood cancer research," explains Alicia Talarico, LLSC president. "Fewer still know that our organization has been funding research since our inception in 1955." It is this collective history that literally substantiates "Beating Cancer Is In Our Blood".

Many lifesaving discoveries can be attributed to blood cancers. From the early development of chemotherapy and uncovering the inner workings of the immune response through to the discovery of cancer stem cells, blood cancer research has led the way to breakthroughs in other cancers and areas of medicine. Most recently, in 2017, CAR T-cell immunotherapy was developed and approved for use in blood cancer patients and is now being studied across multiple tumour types in 500 open trials.

Scientists studying blood cancers have a unique advantage to make groundbreaking discoveries. Cancer cells found in the blood are more accessible than those in solid tumours. In essence, it is easier to study cancer-causing molecules, measure the effects of new therapies and make pivotal discoveries that are applicable to other diseases.

Throughout the month of September, LLSC is letting Canadians know that when they support blood cancer research, they are doubling their impact with donations matched, up to $100,000, by iA Financial Group. Donate at llscanada.org.

There are 137 types of blood cancers and associated disorders that affect over 138,000 Canadians today. In 2018, LLSC awarded $3.7 million in grants to world-class researchers in Canada. Researchers are encouraged to apply for the 2019 Research Grants competition now until October 26, 2018. Learn more at llscanada.org.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Canada
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada is the single largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancers in Canada. LLSC funds life-saving blood cancer research across the country, and provides free information and support services to patients and caregivers. Our mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. To find out more visit llscanada.org.

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada

CGPA Statement on the Resumption of US-Canada Trade Talks

 

TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - The following is a statement by Jim Keon, President of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA), on the resumption of trade negotiations between the United States and Canada:

It is CGPA's understanding that there are many US proposals on the table that would require changes to Canadian law and delay competition from generic and biosimilar medicines, including longer periods of data protection for biologic drugs. Biologic medicines represent the fastest growing cost segment of health care spending.

If such proposals were adopted they would create billions of dollars in new costs for employers who sponsor employee drug benefit programs, governments, and patients who pay for medicines out of pocket.

Canada's intellectual property regime for pharmaceuticals was amended in September 2017 as a result of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has conservatively estimated that the two-year patent term extension included in CETA will cost Canadians more $600 million annually.1 It is our understanding that the measures pursued by the US in the negotiations go far beyond the measures included in CETA, and would be far more harmful for Canadians if adopted.

The Government of Canada says it is committed to improving access to necessary prescription medication and reducing the amounts Canadian governments pay for these drugs.2 As such, the Government of Canada must not agree to NAFTA concessions that reduce access to essential medicines and increase costs for those who pay for drugs.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Freeland have stated repeatedly that they will only sign an agreement that is in the best interests of Canadians. Canada already has a strong intellectual property regime for pharmaceuticals. There are no concessions in the area of pharmaceutical intellectual property that are in the best interests of Canadians.

About the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) represents Canada's generic pharmaceutical industry. The industry plays an important role in controlling health-care costs in Canada. Generic drugs are dispensed to fill more than 71 percent of all prescriptions but account for account for only 21 percent of the $28-billion Canadians spend annually on prescription medicines.

________________________________________
1 http://www.pbo-dpb.gc.ca/web/default/files/Documents/Reports/2018/Patent%20Restoration/Patent_Restoration_EN.pdf
2 https://pm.gc.ca/eng/minister-health-mandate-letter

SOURCE Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

The Arthritis Society and pt Health Partner to Decrease Pain and Improve the Quality of Life for Canadians Living with Arthritis

 

Partnership supports arthritis awareness, physiotherapy education, drug-free treatments, and early diagnosis for the prevention of arthritis.  

TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - The Arthritis Society and pt Health, a community clinic network with more than 230 locations across Canada, are proud to announce they have formalized a partnership focused on the benefit of physiotherapy to Canadians living with or at risk of developing arthritis. Specifically, the partnership will concentrate on increasing arthritis awareness, early detection and prevention, as well as the benefits of adding a Physiotherapist with increased arthritis knowledge to a patient's treatment team. The goal of the program is to help patients living with arthritis realize the potential benefits of a drug-free treatment plan that may offer relief from chronic pain and discomfort as well as an improved quality of life.

"We know that more than six million Canadians live with arthritis and that the demand for real relief is only increasing," says Heather Shantora, CEO, pt Health. "Physiotherapy has the potential to help reduce symptoms and help arthritis patients regain their quality of life. Together with the Arthritis Society, we are applying the best of what we know about arthritis to help offer patients an alternative to the pain they live with."

Today, arthritis affects over 6 million Canadians. i Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of the disease. ii By 2040, it is estimated that more than 10 million or one in four Canadians will have OA. iii Similarly, the economic burden of arthritis on our society, with estimated direct and indirect costs of over $33 billion annually, is expected to rise.iv

Access to trained physiotherapists is a key component of reducing the personal and social burden of the condition. "The Arthritis Society recognizes physiotherapists as a valuable part of an arthritis patient's treatment team," says Janet Yale, CEO, Arthritis Society. "Recognizing the life-changing impact that a physiotherapist with expertise in arthritis can have on quality of life for someone living with arthritis, the Arthritis Society is proud to work with pt Health to help ensure professional development resources are available to help physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals offer better care to people with arthritis."

This partnership is designed to help educate patients and caregivers about the condition. "It's time to change our mindset about arthritis," says Yale. "It is no longer necessary for someone to simply accept living with pain when they receive a diagnosis of arthritis."

As part of the program, pt Health physiotherapists will develop individualized programs, customized for each patient's unique needs, to help decrease inflammation, strengthen the muscles around the joint, increase range of motion, and reduce pain.

The partnership took effect on September 1, 2018.

About the Arthritis Society

The Arthritis Society is a national health charity, fueled by donors and volunteers, with a vision to live in a world where people are free from the devastating effects that arthritis has on lives. Beginning in 1948 with one very clear goal – to alleviate the suffering of people impacted by arthritis – that same volunteer-led passion carries on today in communities across Canada. Through the trust and support of our donors and sponsors, the Arthritis Society is Canada's largest charitable source of investments in cutting-edge arthritis research, proactive advocacy and innovative solutions that will deliver better health outcomes for people affected by arthritis. The Arthritis Society is accredited under Imagine Canada's Standards Program. For more information and to make a donation, visit arthritis.ca.

About pt Health

pt Health is the largest woman-lead physical rehabilitation company in Canada. With a network of over 230 clinics across Canada serving over 3,000 patients a day, each pt Health clinic offers a unique and integrated combination of physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and acupuncture, all with a 97% patient satisfaction score.

Learn more about pt Heath's commitment to excellent patient care at pthealth.ca

SOURCE pt Health

Passion and Purpose

CINCINNATI, OH – Passion and purpose are the cornerstones of the UI&U Master of Arts with a major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling Graduate Certificate program.

Students enter the profession because they have a deep desire to help individuals recover and sustain the recovery of persons with mental and substance use disorders. Antwan McKenzie-Plez entered the program for that reason. “I am prepared to make a positive impact on lives. Union has given me the best training possible.”

“Our mission is to support every student as a future professional colleague in gaining counseling concepts and skills, but also encourage reflective personal growth,” said Rosalyn Y. Brown Beatty, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, Director, Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling – Graduate Certificate Program.

Antwan agrees. “The self-knowledge I have acquired through my studies at Union allows me to be a better counselor. I just completed my internship and was hired by the company because of my excellent training.”

September is National Recovery Month and offers the opportunity to highlight the important work of the M.A. with a major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling – Graduate Certificate Program.

“The M.A. is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and led by scholar practitioners. Our accreditation ensures that students receive a curriculum based on the highest educational standards. CACREP is the accrediting body for master's and doctoral degree programs in counseling and its specialties offered by colleges and universities in the United States and the world,” said Dr. Brown Beatty.  “Our counselor educators pride themselves on being able to teach the theories, techniques, and skills required to become a counselor using decades of combined counseling experience to adequately prepare students to become practitioners in the field of counseling and building connection to the broader counseling professional network,” said Dr. Brown Beatty.

The Union certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling is a fully online graduate certificate offered as a stand-alone program or embedded in the M.A. major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

“This program trains and prepares professionals for a career in counseling individuals with substances use and abuse problems,” said Dr. Brown Beatty. “The certificate can be completed in just one year. An alcohol and drug abuse counselor specializes in providing counseling and support to individuals and families experiencing problems with substance use or dependence. This may include individual, family or group counseling about the causes and effects of addiction support for families dealing with addiction, and/or referrals to treatment.”

A benefit only available to Union students is the fully online library. Access to the library is a service few universities can match. It provides access to a growing collection of more than 125,000 electronic full-text periodicals via 150+ online licensed research databases, available to students 24/7, 365 days a year.

In addition, career services leads students to employers looking for their skill set through the job alert network. The career counselor also offers resume and interview services to successfully market students to a rewarding career.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates a high growth rate for both occupations with a salary range of $39,000 to $65,680 for the mental health counselor field and a salary range of $39,600 to $73,050 for a drug and alcohol counselor.

“Union is known for transforming lives and communities. The UI&U Master of Arts with a major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling Graduate Certificate program offers the opportunity to enter a rewarding profession that makes measurable improvement in the quality of the lives of clients, families, and society,” said Dr. Brown Beatty.

About Union Institute & University

Union Institute & University is a non-profit, regionally accredited university specializing in providing quality higher education degrees for adults nationwide. Founded in 1964, Union’s academic programs and services are the result of more than five decades of identifying and refining ways to structure and deliver education to meet the needs of adults. Distinguished as the pioneer in adult education, Union perfected the concepts now common in higher education such as the hybrid model, a blend of online and traditional classroom instruction, interdisciplinary studies, and student centered education with socially relevant and applicable learning outcomes in its undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs.

The university is guided by its core mission to educate highly motivated adults who seek academic programs to engage, enlighten, and empower them to pursue professional goals and a lifetime of learning, service, and social responsibility.

Union is a national university with academic centers located in: Ohio, Florida, and California.

Watching an Embryo’s Neural Tube Close

First-in-Class Technology to Deliver Images of Birth Defect as it Happens

HOUSTON, Sept. 4 – In those precious weeks before a woman even realizes she’s pregnant, an embryo will have already developed a neural tube, a hollow structure made of cells which will eventually become the brain and spinal cord. Now, with $3.2 million from the National Institutes of Health, UH professor of biomedical engineering Kirill Larin will tackle the evolutionary anomaly of why the neural tube closes in most embryos but remains open in others, leading to birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly.

Neural Tube Defects (NTD) are the second most common structural birth defect in humans, affecting upwards of 500,000 pregnancies worldwide and approximately 2,400 pregnancies each year in the United States.

Together with Baylor College of Medicine professor Richard H. Finnell and Giuliano Scarcelli, assistant professor of bioengineering at University of Maryland, Larin will create new technology combining Brillouin spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to deliver 3D images of the mechanical factors at play when the neural tube closes and – in so many cases - when it does not.

Most commonly used to examine the retina, high-resolution OCT is an imaging technology that uses light waves to take cross-section pictures. Brillouin spectroscopy is a light scattering technology that will sense the stiffness of the tissue, which is critical to its success in closing.  During malfunctions there are areas of low stiffness, so it is not folding together properly, Larin said.

“We will create this hybrid microscope putting these two powerful technologies together. OCT will image the development of the neural tube while at the same time, Brillouin spectroscopy will probe its mechanical properties. We will be imaging and sensing at the same time,” said Larin.

Finding out how mechanical properties controlling neural tube closure in developing embryos can be manipulated to ensure proper neural development is the first step to exploring treatment for the defect.

“If we find out what causes the tube to close, what is exactly happening, we can develop new drug treatments for at-risk embryos,” said Larin.

The work fills a significant data gap in understanding neural tube closure biomechanics.

“It’s still one of the great mysteries of life, no one on earth knows how this happens and that is really exciting to us,” said Larin, “because we will be the ones to find out.”

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution with enrollment of more than 45,000 students.