News Hub | News Direct

Healthcare

Addiction Biotech Cannabis Genetics Healthcare Medical Devices Pharmaceutical Science Veterinary
Article thumbnail News Release

Faron Pharmaceuticals initiates second phase of BEXMAB study

Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy

Faron Pharmaceuticals Limited (AIM:FARN, OTC:FPHAF) chief executive Dr Markku Jalkanen speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive London after the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company announced it has initiated Phase 2 of its BEXMAB Study of Bexmarilimab in HMA-failed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). MDS is a group of bone marrow disorders that results in an inability to produce enough healthy blood cells. Jalkanen starts by giving a brief summary of the company's hope for the BEXMAB study, before going on to reveal more information about its second phase. He highlights the significant advantage to Faron of the relatively small size of the next phase of the study, which saves the company money at a time when many of its competitors are suffering financially - something he describes as a "a big relief for all of us." He concludes by giving an overview of the company's financial position, highlighting the €7.1 million raised in late October in a share offering. He adds that "very intense" discussions with potential partners are ongoing. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

November 06, 2023 12:36 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

Ondine Biomedical’s Steriwave platform seeing strong adoption

Ondine Biomedical Inc

Ondine Biomedical Inc president and chief technology officer Nicolas Loebel and Matt Ross, vice president of Sales and Marketing joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share exciting news regarding the expansion of Ondine's Steriwave nasal photodisinfection technology within the healthcare sector. Alberta Health Services has confirmed its decision to expand the use of Steriwave nasal photo-disinfection following promising data from its pilot introduction at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. The pilot project demonstrated significant reductions in surgical site infections following cardiac surgery. Ross provided more details about the successful pilot project and shared that the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton is set to implement Steriwave nasal photo-disinfection before performing 3,000 orthopedic surgeries over the next year. The interest from hospitals across Canada and internationally has been increasing, leading to faster adoption of the platform. Loebel also highlighted the latest data from Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital, which showed a remarkable 66.5% reduction in spine surgery infection rates with the pre-surgical use of Steriwave. These findings were presented at the IP2023 Annual conference in Liverpool in October and have been accepted for publication in the Canadian Journal of Surgery. Contact Details Proactive Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

November 06, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

Vivos Therapeutics agrees to nationwide distribution deal with in-home respiratory dealer Lincare

Vivos Therapeutics

Vivos Therapeutics CEO Kirk Huntsman joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has signed a nationwide distribution agreement in the United States with Lincare, a prominent supplier of in-home respiratory therapy products and services catering to approximately 1.8 million patients. Huntsman highlighted that this agreement comes on the heels of a successful distribution pilot with Lincare, marking a significant milestone in Vivos' strategic approach to partnering with leading durable medical equipment companies in the United States. The collaboration with Lincare is a testament to the quality and potential of Vivos' devices in improving patient well-being. As part of the agreement, Vivos has granted Lincare a six-month exclusivity period to distribute certain designated Vivos devices. This exclusivity underscores the commitment of both companies to leveraging their expertise and resources for the benefit of patients seeking effective solutions for respiratory health and overall well-being. The agreement marks a critical step in the company's mission to provide innovative and effective solutions for respiratory health, ultimately improving the lives of millions of patients across the United States. Contact Details Proactive Investors +1 347-449-0879 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

November 03, 2023 01:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

PathAI Announces New NASH/MASH Advisory Network to Guide Evidence Generation and Regulatory Strategy for AI-Powered Digital Pathology Product Development

PathAI

PathAI, a leading provider of precision pathology solutions, today announced the formation of a new advisory network to inform the company’s vision to leverage AI-powered digital pathology to improve outcomes for individuals with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH). According to the American Liver Foundation, approximately 2-5% of adults in the U.S. have NASH/MASH, a disease with no FDA-approved treatments currently available. Disease incidence has risen from 1.51% in 2010 to 2.79% in 2020. The American Liver Foundation predicts that by 2030, NASH/MASH will be the most frequent reason for liver transplants in the U.S., underscoring the severe impact of this disease. Given the burden of NASH/MASH and lack of available treatment options for patients, attention from industry and academia alike is increasing, with numerous clinical trials in progress to develop novel, efficacious therapies for patients. PathAI has worked closely with experts in the field of NASH/MASH for years, including leading researchers, academics, patient advocacy groups, regulatory bodies and biotechnology and pharma partners, contributing to the development of solutions for this challenging disease. Previously, this close collaboration with NASH/MASH subject matter experts led to the development and validation of AIM-NASH ™, a tool that promises to reduce the impact of pathologist scoring variability on clinical trial outcomes by assisting pathologists in grading and staging key histologic features of NASH/MASH 1,2,as well as NASH Explore ™, an AI-powered panel of more than 1000 quantitative Human Interpretable Features (HIFs) that spatially characterize NASH/MASH tissue biopsy microarchitecture at the zonal and cellular level from H&E whole slide images. Now, PathAI will build on that collaboration by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders across academia, medicine, regulatory science, patient advocacy, and industry to inform the evolution of the company portfolio. The network’s first meeting was held in September and will be held quarterly moving forward. “Scoring liver biopsies by an expert pathologist is a crucial aspect of NASH/MASH clinical trials. However, this benchmark tool is limited both in the availability of liver pathologists and intra/inter-observer variability of their evaluation,” Pierre Bedossa, Professor of Pathology at Groupe Hospitalier Paris Nord and visiting professor at the Institute of Cellular Medicine at Newcastle University, and PathAI advisor, pointed out. “AIM-NASH developed by PathAI marks clearly a step forward. This tool alleviates some of the limitations by providing a trustworthy AI-based evaluation of liver biopsy functioning under pathologist supervision. Promising results of AIM-NASH in the context of NASH clinical trials strongly suggest that this tool may become essential to speed up drug evaluation and development for the benefit of patients.” Other members of the advisor network include: Stephen A. Harrison, medical director for Pinnacle Clinical Research and the president of Summit Clinical Research. Karoline Lackner, professor of pathology at the Medical University of Graz. Rohit Loomba, professor of medicine and director of hepatology at the University of California at San Diego. Romil Saxena, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology. G. Mani Subramanian, founder, OrsoBio Chris Leptak, Senior Vice President; drugs and biologics at Greenleaf Health, Inc. “As a leader in digital pathology for liver diseases, we recognize the responsibility we have to advance the science towards effective treatments for NASH/MASH with cutting-edge technology,” said Andy Beck, MD, PhD, co-founder and CEO of PathAI. “At the same time, we recognize that only by incorporating the ideas and expertise of the leading minds in MASH will we truly achieve our mutual goal of improving patient outcomes for MASH patients.” The PathAI team will be attending the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases annual meeting November 10-14 in Boston. Schedule time to talk about how PathAI’s solutions can drive liver disease clinical development at our booth (# D3100) by emailing nash@pathai.com. Read more about PathAI’s robust AI-powered products for NASH, including AIM-NASH ™ and NASH Explore ™, on PathAI’s website. 1 Harrison et al., Retrospective AI-based Measurement of NASH Histology (AIM-NASH) Analysis of Biopsies From Phase 2 Study of Resmetirom Confirms Significant Treatment-induced Changes in Histologic Features of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, EASL poster 2022. 2 Shevell et al. Comparison of manual vs machine learning approaches to liver biopsy scoring for NASH and fibrosis: a post hoc analysis of the FALCON 1 study. AASLD poster 2021 AIM-NASH & NASH Explore are authorized for research use only. Not approved for diagnostic use. About PathAI PathAI is a recognized leader in the biopharma partnering space, uniquely combining AI-powered pathology solutions with end-to-end central pathology and histology services. The company supports biopharma partners in executing clinical trials where pathology-based endpoints, biomarker classification, and/or superior histology quality are critical to successfully gauging therapeutic efficacy, accelerating drug development for complex diseases. PathAI has already supported multiple Phase 2 clinical trials in NASH, IBD, and breast cancer, as well as oncology neoadjuvant trials, and is now expanding into larger scale global Phase 3 studies, as well as additional indications. PathAI provides a fully integrated approach to clinical trials, enabling pharma partners to leverage the power of AI without the heavy lift of implementation. This helps reduce the impact of challenges associated with clinical trials, including unreliable turnaround times, variable histology, stain or scan/digitization quality, and challenging assessment of histological endpoints. The lab offers all major immunohistochemistry staining platforms, with flexible workflows across different scanners, stains, and biopsy types, which improves the quality of clinical trials. Services include access to PathAI’s extensive network of over 500 US Board Certified pathologists to perform high quality reading with rapid turnaround time in a cost-effective manner, plus seamless integration of PathAI's advanced AI-solutions to ensure high-quality, reproducible results with every scan. PathAI is headquartered in Boston, MA, and operates its CAP/CLIA-certified diagnostics clinical laboratory (formerly known as Poplar Healthcare) – one of the country’s largest anatomic pathology labs – in Memphis, TN. For more information, please visit www.pathai.com Contact Details SVM Public Relations and Marketing Communications Maggie Naples +1 401-490-9700 pathai@svmpr.com Company Website https://www.pathai.com/

November 02, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Poolbeg Pharma "continuing its campaign to find a partner" for POLB001

Poolbeg Pharma PLC

Proactive Research Analyst Daniel Appiah speaks to Thomas Warner at the London Studio after publishing a new research note on clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Poolbeg Pharma. Appiah starts by explaining the scale of the opportunity that Poolbeg is pursuing with its lead compound POLB001 in acute influenza, noting the estimated 3-5 million severe influenza cases globally per annum. The company is broadening its reach by expanding the compound into the oncology sector. Additionally, Appiah highlights Poolbeg's recent developments in the oral vaccine sector. The company's oral delivery platform is in the limelight following an announcement about their collaboration with an undisclosed NASDAQ-listed biopharma enterprise. The partnership aims to utilise Poolbeg's oral drug delivery technology to optimise drug formulations targeting metabolic conditions. Significantly, this venture could pave the way for Poolbeg to tap into the burgeoning market for GLP-1 injectable treatments for obesity and diabetes, which is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. For a comprehensive insight into Poolbeg Pharma PLC, Daniel Appiah's full research report is accessible via the link in the video. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

November 02, 2023 06:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

CK Life Sciences Presenting Preclinical Data for Its Investigational Dual-Antigen Cancer Vaccines, Co-targeting PRAME and PD-L1, at the 2023 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting

CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc.

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 1 November 2023 - CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. is presenting preclinical data for its investigational dual-antigen cancer vaccines, co-targeting PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma) and PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1), on November 4 at the 2023 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, USA. The investigational cancer vaccines evaluated in the preclinical study contain antigenic sequences of PRAME and PD-L1 intended to induce anti-cancer immune responses. PRAME is a cancer antigen highly expressed in many different types of cancers and has been associated with different oncogenic processes. PD-L1 represents one of the most important immune checkpoint antigens highly expressed on cancer cells to limit T-cell activation in the tumour microenvironment. "CK Life Sciences has a growing pipeline of cancer vaccines in various stages of development. The preclinical efficacy results of our dual-targeting PRAME/ PD-L1 cancer vaccines in liver cancer are promising and we hope to start clinical trials in the coming years," said Melvin Toh, Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer at CK Life Sciences. "Liver cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Asia and remains a major unmet medical need. We plan to investigate the PRAME/ PD-L1 dual-targeting cancer vaccines further in liver cancer and other cancer types known to over-express PRAME and PD-L1." DETAILS ON POSTER PRESENTATION: Abstract 1336: Authors: Session Date and Time In this preclinical study, we investigated whether dual-antigen cancer vaccines co-targeting PRAME and PD-L1 could suppress tumour growth in both prophylactic and therapeutic syngeneic mouse hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) models. Two recombinant fusion protein vaccines comprised of PD-L1 and PRAME with or without GM-CSF were synthesised and formulated with a Toll-like receptor 9 agonist CpG oligodeoxynucleotide and aluminum hydroxide for vaccination. In the prophylactic tumour model study, the vaccines were administrated subcutaneously twice at a two-week interval before implantation of mouse HCC cells expressing PRAME, followed by weekly vaccination. In the therapeutic model study, the vaccines were administrated weekly into the animals after tumour cell implantation. Body weight and tumour volume were measured three times a week. All mice experienced a recoverable body weight loss without any abnormal behavior or reduction of activity after vaccination. In the prophylactic model (n=10 mice), both fusion protein vaccines significantly inhibited tumour growth, with 76.4% ( P<0.01 ) and 59.5% ( P<0.05 ) tumour growth inhibition (TGI) compared to control group, respectively. Importantly, there were some vaccinated mice without palpable tumour mass at the end of the study. These results were consistent with that found in the therapeutic model study (n = 10 mice), in which both vaccines significantly inhibited tumour growth, with 43.4% ( P<0.01 ) and 40.7% ( P<0.05 ) TGI, respectively, and prolonged animal survival compared to the control group (P<0.01). The results of this preclinical study clearly highlight the potential of simultaneously targeting PRAME and PD-L1 by fusion protein vaccination in cancer immunotherapy. DISCLAIMER This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding the Group's research and development projects which may involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. All information in this press release is for general reference only and is not intended as investment advice or medical advice. CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. does not warrant or represent, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated status of such information. No liability will be accepted for any loss or damage howsoever arising from or in reliance upon such information. REFERENCES [1] Gradecki S, Slingluff C, Gru A. J Cutan Pathol. PRAME expression in 155 cases of metastatic melanoma. Accessed at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cup.13876. [2] Oyama K, Kanki K, Shimizu H, Kono Y, Azumi J, Toriguchi K, Hatano E, Shiota G. Gastrointest Tumors. Impact of preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Accessed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5465675/. [3] Thongprasert S, Yang PC, Lee J, Soo R, Gruselle O, Myo A, Louahed J, Lehmann F, Brichard V, Coche T. Lung Cancer. The prevalence of expression of MAGE-A3 and PRAME tumor antigens in East and South East Asian non-small cell lung cancer patients. Accessed at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27794402/. [4] Epping M, Hart A, Glas A, Krijgsman O, Bernards R. Br J Cancer. PRAME expression and clinical outcome of breast cancer. Accessed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2527791/. [5] Ahmad S, Borch T, Hansen M, Andersen M. Cancer Immunol Immunother. PD-L1-specific T cells. Accessed at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26724936/. CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. (stock code: 0775) is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Bearing the mission of improving the quality of life, CK Life Sciences is engaged in the business of research and development, manufacturing, commercialisation, marketing, sale of, and investment in, products and assets which fall into three core categories - nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and agriculture-related. CK Life Sciences is a member of the CK Hutchison Group. For additional information, please visit www.ck-lifesciences.com. About PRAME PRAME is a protein commonly expressed by cancer cells, including melanoma (1), liver cancer (2), lung cancer (3) and breast cancer (4). PRAME contributes to the development and spread of cancer cells, and studies have shown that high levels of PRAME are associated with poor outcomes in cancer patients (2,4). In recent years, researchers have been exploring ways to target PRAME using immunotherapy, such as T-cell therapy and cancer vaccines, as a potential treatment for cancer. About PD-L1 PD-L1 is a protein expressed by certain immune cells and cancer cells. It plays a role in suppressing anti-cancer immune responses by binding to a receptor called programmed death-1 (PD-1) on T-cells, limiting the activation of T-cells, thereby helping cancer cells evade the immune system. Antibodies that can block the interaction of PD-L1 and PD-1 have been approved for the treatment of certain types of cancer. Recent studies have shown the presence of PD-L1-specific T-cells in both healthy individuals and cancer patients, which suggests that targeting PD-L1 with T-cell therapy or cancer vaccines could be a promising approach for cancer treatment (5). Contact Details CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. Wendy Tong Barnes +852 2122 2150 wendytb@ckah.com

November 01, 2023 09:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

MGC Pharmaceuticals secures funding through to the end of 2024

MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd

MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd (LSE:MXC, OTC:MGCLF, ASX:MXC) CEO and Managing Director Roby Zomer speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive London about the recent securing of the single largest injection of funding in the company's history. Following a difficult period of restructuring for the business, the investment provides the company with financial stability through to the end of 2024. MGC aims to progress its leading drugs, CannEpil and CimetrA, toward FDA approval and expand its medicinal footprint via early patient access schemes in the UK, Ireland, and other regions. Crucially, the recent funding influx originated primarily from Israel and the United States, indicating a shift in MGC's financial grounding. While historically reliant on Australian and UK capital, the company now sees American investors recognizing its potential, especially in FDA registrations in the lucrative US pharmaceutical market. Furthermore, MGC's European operations continue to strengthen, with production facilities in Slovenia and Malta and headquarters in Slovenia and the UK. For existing shareholders, Zomer assures that the restructuring and new investment ensure that the company remains on track to meet its goals. Reflecting on the company's challenging journey, Zomer emphasises the importance of persistence and belief in the company's mission. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

November 01, 2023 11:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

Brain Injury Association of America honors Centre for Neuro Skills’ Dr. Mark Ashley with Sheldon Berrol MD Clinical Service Award

Centre for Neuro Skills

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) recognized Dr. Mark J. Ashley, CEO and founder of Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS), at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine’s (ACRM) Centennial Conference as the recipient of the 2023 Sheldon Berrol MD Clinical Service Award on October 31, 2023. The award honors the person who has made “outstanding contributions to improving the quality of care, professional training, and/or education in the field of brain injury” in their career. “As someone who knew and worked with Dr. Sheldon Berrol, “Shelly,” witnessing his unwavering commitment to improving patient care and independence first-hand, I’m truly honored to receive this award,” says Dr. Mark Ashley. Dr. Ashley founded CNS in 1980 after his brother, Steve, experienced a life-changing event, leaving him cognitively intact, but dependent on a ventilator. Conventional medicine and available rehabilitative therapies gave his brother little hope for significant recovery or regaining an independent life, but Dr. Ashley believed that Steve could overcome the odds and that rehabilitation was possible through an intense therapy program. His brother became one of CNS’ first patients, and his recovery became the model for the brain injury rehabilitation provider’s philosophy. Steve’s recovery galvanized a belief that people with brain injuries should have a place to heal, and Dr. Ashley and his family could provide this essential service. Dr. Ashley’s dedication to understanding brain injury through personal experience, treating patients and research has helped countless patients over his 40 years of developing clinical therapies. He established the Clinical Research and Education Foundation, a nonprofit research organization that advances public and clinical understanding of brain injury causes and treatment in 2011. He has served on numerous committees and boards for organizations focused on brain injury treatment, research and outcomes. A published author on brain injury rehabilitation, Dr. Ashley has not only written books but also had his work and research published in peer-reviewed journals and research publications. Dr. Ashley received a Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology and holds a Doctor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. He received a Doctor of Science degree from State University of New York at Geneseo. He is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist in California and Texas and is both a Certified Case Manager and Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer. *** About Centre for Neuro Skills Centre for Neuro Skills is an experienced and respected world leader in providing intensive rehabilitation and medical programs for those recovering from all types of brain injury. CNS covers a full spectrum of advanced care from residential and assisted living to outpatient/day treatment. Founded by Dr. Mark Ashley in 1980, CNS has seven locations in California and Texas. For more information about Centre for Neuro Skills, visit: www.neuroskills.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube. Media, please note: Visual assets, including photos, are available. To request an interview with CNS leadership or clinical staff, please contact Robin Carr at 415.766.0927 or CNS@landispr.com. # # # Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 cns@landispr.com Company Website https://www.neuroskills.com/

November 01, 2023 08:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

RHIZOME AND PAUL G. ALLEN FAMILY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE CIVIC EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON SCHOOLS

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

Seattle, WA — Today, Rhizome and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced a $620,000 initiative aimed at creating a new Civic Service Fellowship program in Washington high schools. This three-year initiative will establish over 100 teams of Fellows in hyperlocal Chapters across the state of Washington. Rhizome’s Civic Service Fellowship prioritizes rural communities, under-resourced areas, and communities of color. The Civic Service Fellowship will empower high school students to lead year-round initiatives designed to boost civic engagement within their schools and communities. This will include organizing community events, educating younger students about democracy, and assisting their eligible peers with voter registration or pre-registration. Students have the opportunity to mend divisions, combat disengagement, and address the mental health crisis by creating civic communities. By inviting students to gain leadership experience and build healthy habits based on who they want to become, Rhizome inspires responsibility and produces pathways for lifelong leadership and public engagement. Civic participation can be an important factor for young people’s social and mental well-being. Recent research from Gallup has found that less than half of Gen Z members feel as though they are “thriving” and only 44% feel prepared for their future. While 76% of young people across the country believe their age group has the power to enact change, only 40% of all youth—and only 34% of youth of color—report feeling well-qualified to participate in politics. In an era marked by diminishing public trust and worsening mental health outcomes among young people, this initiative will equip students with the tools to engage their communities in building a healthier world for all. “After 90 of us came together as Co-Founders of Rhizome just two years ago, we are thrilled to announce this multi-year partnership with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, addressing the need for sustainable systems that empower emerging leaders to shape change,” said Jacob Merkle, Rhizome’s CEO. “In an era of unmet challenges to our civic and mental health, this collaboration allows Rhizome to scale our grassroots system, deepen our impact, and build collective power for young people. We’re grateful for the Foundation's recognition that young people are the future. We hope this early commitment will spur philanthropy to provide more scale-enabling, no-strings-attached funding for young people to create the safer, happier, and healthier world they deserve.” “Witnessing the growth of Rhizome from day one has been one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. Not simply the growth of the organization, but the tangible difference that has been made in the confidence of countless students. As an organizer in Washington, my proudest moment is seeing the transformation in students as they gain their voice to fearlessly advocate for their own beliefs,” said Hiba Siddiqui, a Rhizome Regional Organizer who works in Eastern Washington. “Having the support of partners like the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation reaffirms our mission and gives us the resources to expand our reach. I am excited to see the indelible impact that will be made as Rhizome brings our community of trust, friendship, and belonging to other areas in Washington.” “Civic education is necessary now more than ever. Our civic landscape has shifted and testifies to the urgency to actively involve youth in bettering their communities and solving societal issues. As a committed civic educator for over two decades, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have partners in this mission,” said Jen Reidel, a Social Studies and English teacher at Bellingham High School. “I can provide classroom experiences, but I need like - minded civic organizations like Rhizome to help students find their civic identities and mission outside the classroom.” According to Ms. Reidel, Rhizome removes the responsibility of supporting a student club outside of class from the teacher and places it on the students and their Rhizome mentor. It honors student agency and diversity by equipping students to promote civic engagement within their school and identify issues they would like to address at a local level and authentically work toward their solution. Funds from the partnership will directly support student-led efforts by paying a dedicated team of Rhizome’s student organizers in Washington, who will work to implement the Civic Service Fellowship in local schools in their communities. By funding this important work, Rhizome and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation are investing deeply in the next generation of lifelong civic leaders. About Rhizome Founded in 2021, Rhizome is a national network of student leaders organizing to empower young people to build stronger communities. Rhizome was co-founded by 90 young people to help students become more civically active while training the next generation of organizers and emerging leaders. Learn more at www.werhize.org. About the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Founded in 1988 by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, the foundation invests in communities across the Pacific Northwest to enhance the human experience of arts & culture, center under-served populations, and mobilize young people to make impact. In addition, the foundation supports a global portfolio of nonprofit partners working across science and technology solutions to protect wildlife, preserve ocean health, and create lasting change. The foundation also funds the Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, which works to advance cutting-edge research in all areas of bioscience. Contact Details Rhizome Maya Rodriguez, Communications Director +1 415-488-7692 mayar@werhize.org Company Website https://www.werhize.org

November 01, 2023 08:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Image
1 ... 5556575859 ... 280