San Diego State University

SAN DIEGO--( BUSINESS WIRE )-- Curebound , a philanthropic organization that invests in innovative cancer research , announces eight grants for a total of $2M in funding. The funding is made available through two new Curebound programs – Catalyst Grants , which support exciting projects within early-stage life science companies that are seeking to take innovative discoveries to commercially approved products, and Equity Grants , which focus on overcoming disparities in cancer research and treatment in underserved populations. Catalyst Grants award funds of up to $250,000 to San Diego-based pre-series A companies to conduct innovative oncology-based projects that hold promise for translation to clinic. Applications that advance transformative ideas and/or concepts to therapeutics, products, and/or services are prioritized. These grants are a new slant on the work of Curebound, which typically funds academic research, but is now looking to early-stage life sciences companies working on promising cancer solutions that have potential to become commercialized medicines and products. “These two new programs are the next evolution for Curebound’s mission to mobilize San Diego to accelerate cancer cures across populations,” says Curebound CEO Anne Marbarger . “We have a rigorous review process. Each application is reviewed by at least three peer reviewer experts and the Curebound scientific advisory board, which looks specifically for projects that have potential to make it to patients.” Catalyst Grant Recipients Include: Beken Bio “Liquid Biopsy Detection of Ovarian Cancer Targeting Novel Extracellular Vesicle Biomarkers” Investigator: Christopher Millan, PhD Pillar: Prevention and Diagnostic Tools Palm Therapeutics “Preclinical Development of NRAS Palmitoylation Inhibitors for NRAS Mutant Cancers” Investigator: Andrew Rudd, PhD Pillar: Novel Approaches and New Therapeutic Platforms Resolute Science “Targeting Macrophages to Treat Glioblastoma” Investigators: Faith Barnett, MD, PhD, Andre Basbaum Pillar: Novel Approaches and New Therapeutic Platforms Seren Bio “Development of DMGV analogs as a first-in-class, small molecule therapy for colorectal cancer” Investigators: Jongdae Lee, PhD Pillar: Novel Approaches and New Therapeutic Platforms Equity Grants address disparities in research and treatment in underserved populations , a key initiative for Curebound. These grants award up to $250,000 for high-impact research conducted by individual researchers aimed at reducing cancer-related health disparities by increasing access to high-quality care and by promoting cancer prevention, screening, and detection within medically underrepresented or underserved communities. Equity Grant Recipients Include: “Enhancing Lung Cancer Screening Engagement for Primary Care Patients in Low Income Communities” Investigators: David Strong, PhD (UC San Diego), Job Godino, PhD (Family Health Center of San Diego) Pillar: Cancer Equities, Prevention and Diagnostic Tool “Screening with Liquid Biopsies to Address Colorectal Cancer Inequities” Investigators: Samir Gupta, MD (UC San Diego), Job Godino, PhD (Family Health Center of San Diego) Pillar: Cancer Equities, Prevention and Diagnostic Tools “COMPRENDO-A: Peer-Navigation to Improve Accrual of Adolescents with cancer into Clinical Trials” Investigators: Paula Aristizabal, MD (Rady Children’s Hospital) Jesse Nodora, DrPH (UC San Diego) Pillar: Cancer Equities, Pediatric Cancers “Improving Health Equity and Cancer Care Quality through Tailored Navigation” Investigators: Matthew Banegas, PhD (UC San Diego), Corinne McDaniels-Davidson, PhD (San Diego State University), Jesse Nodora, DrPH (UC San Diego) Pillar: Cancer Equities “Curebound's scientific advisory board looks for areas of emerging research where the greatest opportunity exists including high-risk/high-reward research that can disrupt traditional approaches. These Catalyst and Equity Grant winners represent that and we are excited to see the results of their work,” says Ezra Cohen, MD, FRCPSC, FASCO, Chief Science Advisor, Curebound. More information on the Curebound Catalyst and Equity Grant recipients is available here. To apply for a 2025 Curebound Catalyst or Equity Grant, visit: https://curebound.org/what-we-do#research-program About Curebound Curebound is a philanthropic organization that invests in cancer research with the power to save lives. Through collaborative grants, corporate partnerships, and strategic investments, Curebound’s aim is to significantly accelerate better prevention, detection, and treatments for cancer. Headquartered in the major U.S. biotech hub of San Diego, amid 3,000+ life sciences companies, leading health systems, and world-class research institutions, Curebound partners with these organizations to forge interdisciplinary collaboration, foster knowledge sharing, and fund pioneering cancer research. So far, Curebound has funded $35+ million in cancer research, awarding 123 study grants for 17 types of pediatric and adult cancers with one vision: cures in our lifetime. Join us - www.curebound.org .

CINCINNATI, Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As America grapples with a crisis in child mental health, Cincinnati Children's is pleased to announce that a top authority in pediatric healthcare and policy will become the first leader to direct the combined activities of the nation's largest provider of pediatric inpatient mental and behavioral health services. Continue Reading Laurel K. Leslie, MD, MPH Laurel K. Leslie, MD, MPH, currently vice president of research at the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), will become the inaugural director of the new Cincinnati Children's Mental and Behavioral Health Institute (MBHI), effective Feb. 24, 2025. "Dr. Leslie's extensive pediatric leadership and proven experience in pediatric mental, behavioral and developmental health makes her the ideal choice to direct our Mental and Behavioral Health Institute," says Tina Cheng, MD, MPH, director of the Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, and chief medical officer of the health system. "Her expertise and passion for improving pediatric mental healthcare will help us advance our aspirations as the leader in improving child health." What is the Mental and Behavioral Health Institute? Cincinnati Children's has been at the forefront of pediatric mental, behavioral and developmental healthcare and research for more than two decades. The new institute was announced in October 2023 at Cincinnati Children's annual Kaleidoscope fundraising event, which benefited the health system's mental and behavioral health services. The new institute integrates the divisions of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. This innovative structure allows for deeper collaboration among experts across specialty fields and among a network of community partners that will serve as a national model system for improving outcomes for children affected by mental, developmental, and behavioral challenges. The institute was launched with a generous $15 million lead gift from The James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation and has inspired additional giving to further expand access, research, community partnerships, and school services. Cincinnati Children's has three other major institutes that combine multiple divisions and reflect world-class leadership in care and research: the Perinatal Institute, the Heart Institute and the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute. Who is Dr. Leslie? Leslie has held professorships at Tufts University School of Medicine since 2006, where she has focused on clinical, research and policy work to better integrate mental and behavioral care with clinical care for children in settings ranging from outpatient clinics and schools to child welfare and protective services. In addition to joining the American Board of Pediatrics in a leadership role in 2015, Leslie has co-chaired two National Academy of Medicine meetings focusing on healthcare workforce training and developing integrated care models for children's behavioral health. Leslie is board certified in general pediatrics and developmental-behavioral pediatrics. She holds degrees from Harvard University, UNC Chapel Hill and San Diego State University and completed residency and fellowship trainings at the University of California, San Francisco. "The mental health crisis among children, adolescents and young adults is the most critical pediatric public health emergency of our time," Leslie says. "I am honored to have the opportunity to work at Cincinnati Children's where the leadership, faculty and staff are committed to addressing this crisis in every setting from schools and primary care offices through inpatient care." ABP President and CEO Michael Barone, MD, MPH, congratulated Leslie as she takes on a new role. "While her departure will certainly be felt across our organization, this is a wonderful next step for Laurel as she follows her passion for improving the mental and behavioral health outcomes for children," Barone says. "Cincinnati Children's will greatly benefit from her leadership and vision in this important area. We wish her well in this very exciting next chapter." Moving forward With generous support from the Convalescent Hospital Fund for Children and other donors, Cincinnati Children's recently invested $108 million to renovate and expand its mental health care facilities at its College Hill campus. Experts here also have overhauled how children with mental and behavioral needs move through the health system, from emergency care to outpatient services. Under Leslie's leadership, the institute will prioritize: Reducing mental health-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations by strengthening outpatient care and early interventions. Improving mental health services in community settings such as schools and primary care clinics, embedding mental health providers in these environments to increase accessibility. Collaborating with families, educators and policymakers to ensure children's mental, behavioral and developmental health services are integrated with other healthcare needs. Investing in research and innovation to build early detection systems, digital health interventions, and collaborative models of care that empower families to take an active role in their children's mental health journey. "The creation and growth of the Mental and Behavioral Health Institute would not be possible without the support of families, healthcare professionals, community organizations, local schools and philanthropic partners, as we all work together to tackle the mental health crisis affecting youth here in our region and as a model for others," Cheng says. "Dr. Leslie and our entire MBHI team will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every child receives the support and care they need to live their best possible life." About Cincinnati Children's Cincinnati Children's is a nonprofit, comprehensive pediatric health system that is internationally recognized for improving child health and transforming delivery of care. As a leader in research, education, patient care, advocacy and innovation, Cincinnati Children's is ranked #1 in U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 list of best children's hospitals in the nation and is the #2 recipient of pediatric research grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. SOURCE Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Artificial intelligence tools are helping primary care doctors diagnose skin cancer, home care providers retain employees and hospital doctors get early warnings about potential patient mental health episodes in stories we're reading this week. Solventum announced it is now using AI to flip revenue cycle processes and address denials proactively. Through a new partnership with Ava, an enterprise AI platform, WellSky enabled a large home care provider to improve employee engagement and reduce turnover using tools integrated into electronic health records. San Diego State University researchers leveraged grant funding to outfit and test AI-driven mental health robots, while the use of an accelerated medical device in general practice highlighted the importance of post-market research. Preventing denials within workflows On Monday, Solventum and Sift announced a machine learning integration that intervenes in coding and pre-bill validation within the front end of the healthcare revenue cycle. The new revenue integrity system is designed to help health systems reduce potential denials and ensure timely and accurate payer reimbursement, the companies said. While healthcare organizations have cited claim denials as the greatest revenue cycle management challenge, moving to a proactive strategy can help them prevent denials in the clinical workflow, according to Garri Garrison, president of health information systems at Solventum, formerly 3M Healthcare. "As healthcare systems continue to face increased write-offs due to the growing denials burden, the current reactionary approach of relying on claims data to reverse engineer denials isn't working," she said in a statement. Community Medical Centers of Fresno told Healthcare IT News in March that it turned to AI to reduce claims denials . "By having this tool, we could stop claims on the front end, which gave us one last chance to fix any outstanding items that could trigger a denial," said Eric Eckhart, the provider's director of patient financial services. Advancing mental health robots With a $5 million grant from the Brown Foundation, researchers at SDSU are taking their robots, Pepper and Bernard, to the next level of emotional sensitivity. Dr. Aaron Elkins, the center's director, told NBC San Diego earlier this month that researchers are working on artificial intelligence that could act as an early warning system for a mental health event. Such personalized therapeutic robots could alert a doctor of the potential for a mental health episode. "A machine might be able to see changes in your pupil, might be able to hear your voice pitch change or something happens that it senses that you're maybe in a certain state that needs a certain kind of intervention," Elkins said in the story . The center has partnered with area hospitals and is testing the technology to diagnose diseases and disorders in clinical trials. Previous studies have shown that patients like robots for care delivery . AI to detect skin cancers It was reported this past week that a new AI device is giving primary care doctors the ability to diagnose skin cancer, address access limitations in dermatology and avoid long wait times for dermatology referrals. Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration authorized Miami-based DermaSensor, the first AI-enabled medical device for skin cancer detection in primary care. Reviewed under the De Novo pathway, the approval was considered a milestone, according to the story in Dermatology Times . The device had a 96% sensitivity in detecting skin cancers in one study, Reuters said in January upon the FDA's approval. While a supplemental study showed the device could assist in deciding lesion management, potentially reducing unnecessary referrals, a third clinical utility study showed a significant decrease in specificity for referrals. The device's efficacy across patient populations – particularly those historically underrepresented in clinical trials – is unclear, according to the story, and warrants ongoing post-market research to ensure equitable performance and monitor diagnostic accuracy. Addressing staff turnover To alleviate pressure on home-based healthcare providers, Griswold, one of the country’s largest home care franchises, with more than 170 locations in 32 states, and over 9,000 caregivers, reduced its caregiver turnover rate in its eight company-owned offices using AI for employee engagement. The home care staff turnover rate is 77%, according to Ava cofounder and CEO Victor Hunt. "Ava works to remove the burden of administrative work and reconnect caregivers and home care administrators with why they chose a healthcare career in the first place,” he said in an announcement with WellSky, a home health EHR vendor, last month. But turnover isn't just about pay. Departing caregivers say they may have stayed with better engagement and communication, according to the EHR vendor. Ava's algorithms help predict caregiver turnover and proactively guide employee retention, reliability and recruitment through gamification, WellSky said. With the integration of an AI-driven employee engagement tool into its EHR, Griswold reported its caregiver turnover was reduced by 13% in seven months. "The staffing crisis facing our clients and the industry at large is a major concern, both for people seeking care in the home and for agencies trying to meet that need," Wes Little, chief analytics officer at WellSky, said in the statement. Ava's communications also helped Griswold's caregivers clock in and out on time and meet minimum weekly hour requirements. "We have seen tremendous benefit from using WellSky TeamEngage powered by Ava, both in the retainment of talented staff members and in the differentiation of our agency," Caitlin Griffith, Griswold's director of people and culture, said in a statement. Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News. Email: afox@himss.org Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication. The HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum is scheduled to take place September 5-6 in Boston. Learn more and register .