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American Kidney Fund Brings Renal Community Together with Virtual Kidney Action Week, Sept. 13-17

American Kidney Fund

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) will host its second annual virtual Kidney Action Week from Monday, Sept. 13 to Friday, Sept. 17. The free, five-day event will bring together patients, medical experts and advocates for 14 sessions throughout the week that will focus on healthy living in the face of kidney disease, with an emphasis on confronting health disparities. Kidney Action Week is made possible by the generosity of sponsors Boehringer Ingelheim, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and US Renal Care. Kidney Action Week is open to the public, and more than 2,000 people have already registered to participate. For the full schedule of events, details and to register, visit KidneyActionWeek.org. “People with kidney disease are looking for accurate, up-to-date health information and they’re looking for support as they fight to live their healthiest lives in the face of this serious, complex disease,” said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF President and CEO. “We’re incredibly grateful to the sponsors, health experts and advocates from around the country who are joining us throughout the week to engage the kidney community in a virtual conversation about so many of the aspects of kidney disease—from prevention, to management, to dialysis and transplant.” More than 37 million Americans have kidney disease, which presents no symptoms until the late stages and is among the top 10 causes of death in the country. More than 785,000 Americans are living with kidney failure, which is treatable only by dialysis or transplant. Health disparities will be an overarching theme throughout Kidney Action Week and will be the focus of AKF’s virtual Congressional briefing on Sept. 15. People of color are disproportionately affected by kidney failure and often face barriers to early diagnosis and effective treatments that enable them to slow or stop the progression of the disease, as well as barriers to kidney transplant. Kidney Action Week will feature live sessions during which participants can ask questions of experts in nephrology, renal nutrition and more. AKF is grateful to session sponsors AstraZeneca, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, GSK, Horizon Therapeutics plc, Natera, Sanofi Genzyme, Travere and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Kidney Action Week session highlights include: Monday, Sept. 13 10 a.m. ET – Finding Answers for the Unknown Causes of Kidney Disease: A Roadmap for Change panel discussion 3 p.m. ET – The Importance of Clinical Trials: Why Participant Diversity Makes a Difference panel discussion Tuesday, Sept. 14 10 a.m. ET – Home Dialysis and the Patient Experience: Could Home Dialysis be for You? panel discussion 12:30 p.m. ET – Know Your Kidney Health Care Team: Effective Communication for the Best Health Outcome panel discussion 3 p.m. ET – Living with Stage 3 Kidney Disease panel discussion Wednesday, Sept. 15 10 a.m. ET – Ask a Nephrologist Q&A with Dr. Akhtar Ashfaq, member of AKF’s Medical Advisory Committee 1 p.m. ET – AKF’s Congressional briefing, Increasing Kidney Transplants in Communities of Color, will focus on the challenges of health disparities and what can be done to increase the number of transplants among people of color. 2:30 p.m. ET – Ask the Expert Q&A with Dr. Blake Shusterman, AKF Kidney Kitchen ® partner also known as The Cooking Doc ® Thursday, Sept. 16 10 a.m. ET – Gout & Kidney Disease panel discussion 3 p.m. ET – The Kidney Transplant Process: What You Need to Know panel discussion Friday Sept. 17 10 a.m. ET – Life After a Kidney Transplant panel discussion 12:30 p.m. ET – Kidney Disease & Mental Health panel discussion Kidney Action Week is part of AKF’s Know Your Kidneys™ kidney disease education and prevention program. In 2020, AKF transformed its signature community kidney disease prevention event, Kidney Action Day, into Kidney Action Week. Kidney Action Week 2020 was a first-of-its-kind event in the COVID-19 era, providing a virtual space to focus on kidney health and kidney disease awareness and prevention for people nationwide. About the American Kidney Fund The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation’s leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease—from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation’s top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact Details Stefanie Tuck Work: +1 202-470-1797 Mobile: +1 978-390-1394 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 AKF@jpa.com Company Website http://www.kidneyfund.org/

September 13, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Shirley Ballas marks her birthday by celebrating £2m fundraising milestone at Alder Hey

Alder Hey

BBC One’s Strictly Head Judge Shirley Ballas celebrated her 61 st birthday at Alder Hey in Liverpool after helping to achieve a £2m fundraising milestone for the world-famous children’s hospital. Shirley, a long-time supporter of Alder Hey, launched the Alder Hey Children’s Charity ‘7in10’ Appeal in April 2020. The appeal, which is raising funds to help enhance mental health services offered by Alder Hey, has now successfully achieved two-thirds of its £3m target total. Shirley, alongside actor Daniel Taylor and her mum Audrey Rich, visited Alder Hey ahead of the launch of this year’s new series of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One. Shirley, Daniel and Audrey met Alder Hey’s Chief Executive Louise Shepherd CBE and Chair of Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Graham Morris OBE. They were shown progress against the development of two new facilities to house Alder Hey’s mental health services for children and young people, which the appeal is helping to fund. Sunflower House will provide inpatient mental health care for under 13s, whilst other mental health services provided by Alder Hey will be located in the adjacent Catkin Centre. Shirley said: “I’m always delighted to come into Alder Hey, and to celebrate my birthday here is truly lovely. It’s such an amazing place and holds a special place in my heart. It’s brilliant to see the work that’s been done. The impact of the new facilities will be amazing. “It’s never too early for a thank you from Shirley! So thank you to all those lovely people who have already donated to the appeal, you are making a massive difference to children’s mental health services in this country.” Louise Shepherd, CBE, Chief Executive of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said; “It was really wonderful to welcome back Shirley and Daniel and to show them the progress we have made with our new mental health units. “We would like to pass on our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Shirley for all her help and support in reaching the £2m milestone.” The new buildings will provide vital services to children and young people who have complex needs and have been designed around the needs of the children and young people being cared for. The 7in10 Appeal will help the Catkin Centre to be very sensory focussed and to create a feeling of safety, security and be very welcoming to the children and young people who visit. Sunflower House will be the new 12 bed, tier 4 mental health inpatient unit for children under the age of 13 and will replace the current Dewi Jones unit. You can still support the appeal by donate here www.alderheycharity.org/don For more information about Alder Hey please contact: media@alderhey.nhs.uk Photo caption; (l-r) Audrey (Shirley’s mum), Shirley Ballas and Daniel Taylor with birthday cake at Alder Hey ------------------------------------------------------ More information about 7in10 Appeal: https://www.alderheycharity.org/7in10-appeal-spring/ About Alder Hey Children’s Charity Alder Hey Children’s Hospital treats over 330,000 children every year – that’s more than 900 children each and every day, more than any other children’s hospital in the UK. Alder Hey Children’s Charity supports the work of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust by raising much needed funds that are spent directly on initiatives in the hospital to benefit patients. Without the support of charitable donations, many of the outstanding facilities and innovations at Alder Hey could not be achieved. Alder Hey Children’s Charity has raised over £56m since April 2013 for a range of life-saving medical equipment and facilities that are making a real difference to families every day. For more information visit www.alderhey.nhs.uk and www.alderheycharity.org Contact Details Alder Hey Phil McNamara +44 151 252 5742 media@alderhey.nhs.uk Company Website https://www.alderhey.nhs.uk/

September 06, 2021 10:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hong Kong Baptist University study finds strong association between PM2.5 and neurological disorders

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 6 September 2021 - A comprehensive, systematic meta-analysis conducted by HKBU scientists found a significant association between exposure to PM 2.5, i.e., fine particulates with equivalent diameters of less than 2.5 microns suspended in the air, and neurological disorders. These include stroke, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide, posing serious challenges to global health. The paper with the study’s finding was published in the academic journal Science of the Total Environment, and has become the top 1% highly-cited paper worldwide by citation in the field of Environment and Ecology, according to Essential Science Indicators (ESI). Comprehensive study covers 26 countries or regions As systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the association between PM 2.5 exposure and neurological disorders have been limited so far, the HKBU research team, led by Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam, Professor of the Department of Biology of the University, analysed a total of 1,645 articles published by June 2018, and identiﬁed 80 eligible studies that covered a population of more than 6.33 million from 26 countries or regions in all continents except Antarctica. Previous meta-analyses of a similar nature covered at most seven countries, and nearly all of them were lightly polluted. In contrast, HKBU’s study covered countries and regions known to have more serious air pollution problems, such as Chile, China and India. PM 2.5 exposure increases stroke risks After a series of statistical analyses of the data published in the selected studies, the research team used odds ratio (OR) to represent the association between PM 2.5 exposure and the risk of different neurological disorders. Odds ratio, commonly used in public health analysis, is a measure of association between an exposure and an outcome. An odds ratio value of 1 indicates that an exposure does not affect odds of an outcome; a value of over 1 means an exposure is associated with higher odds of an outcome. Analysis results of the association between PM 2.5 exposure and stroke risks are tabulated as below: The results revealed that exposure to PM 2.5 in general increases the risks of stroke and stroke mortality, with the risk associated with long-term exposure more significant than with short-term exposure. It also showed that the risk of stroke in heavily polluted areas is higher than that in lightly polluted areas. Neurological disorders strongly associated with PM 2.5 exposure Analysis results of the association between PM 2.5 exposure and the risks of developing other neurological disorders are presented as below: The results revealed that PM 2.5 exposure is strongly associated with increased risks of Alzheimer’s disease, ASD, Parkinson’s disease and dementia. PM 2.5 is typically made up of heavy metals, organic carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons suspended in the air. According to studies, some of the tiny particles and soluble components can enter the bloodstream by many pathways, such as crossing the blood-brain barrier and gaining access to the central nervous system. These particles can induce inﬂammation, death of cells and DNA damage. Call to improve air quality for public health’s sake “While various hypotheses were suggested on the underlying mechanisms of how PM 2.5 causes different types of neurological disorders, it remains an area with many unknowns for biomedical scientists to explore. More vigorous research endeavours are required before we can fully understand the mechanisms, based on which we can formulate effective environmental and public health strategies in response,” said Professor Yung. Tomorrow (7 September) will be the 2nd International Day of Clean Air for blue skies designated by the United Nations General Assembly, with the theme “Healthy Air, Healthy Planet”, which emphasises the health effects of air pollution. “The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies reminds us of the urgency for national governments and the international community to collaborate and take swift, effective actions to improve air quality, given its extensive health implications. Our study made it clear that PM 2.5 exposure, a typical indicator of air pollution, is closely associated with many neurological disorders, and thus improving air quality will be a direct response to this public health challenge,” said Professor Yung. Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office, Hong Kong Baptist University Wong Suk-ling hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk Company Website https://www.hkbu.edu.hk/

September 06, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Corporate and Individual Donors Step Up to Support American Kidney Fund Hurricane Ida Disaster Relief Program

American Kidney Fund

When Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana on August 29, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) mobilized its longstanding Disaster Relief Program to help kidney patients in crisis, providing $22,000 to more than 110 dialysis and post-transplant patients facing critical needs. This support has been made possible by generous donations from the public, Chinook Therapeutics, Inc. and other corporate supporters. Power outages, evacuations and temporary dialysis clinic closures put kidney patients in extremely challenging circumstances, on top of the immediate threat of the storm. Contributions to AKF’s Disaster Relief Program are making it possible for AKF to support patients with emergency grants of $200 each to help them replace lost medications and special renal diet foods, pay for temporary housing and transportation to treatments, and replace clothing and personal essentials lost due to the disaster or the need to evacuate with short notice. Louisiana dialysis and recent kidney transplant patients who need emergency financial help should contact a social worker at their dialysis clinic for information on applying for aid or apply directly at gms.KidneyFund.org. “We are very grateful to Chinook Therapeutics and our many other supporters for their generosity that has made emergency relief possible for so many Louisianans struggling to remain safe, while continuing their life-sustaining treatments,” said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF President and CEO. “Disasters like Hurricane Ida are particularly challenging for people with kidney failure, especially when they hit in the middle of a pandemic that has put these patients at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 for the past year and a half. We thank the supporters who are enabling us to provide this much-needed assistance.” AKF is covering 100% of the cost of emergency grant processing and check distribution to ensure that the maximum number of patients can receive desperately needed support. AKF expects the number of grant requests to increase in the coming weeks as Louisianans regain power, cell service and access to basic everyday needs, and can begin to return home and to their regular dialysis clinics. Charity Navigator has listed AKF as one of the highly rated nonprofits providing Hurricane Ida relief. AKF is one of only three nonprofits in the nation to have received the top 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator for 19 consecutive years—every year the organization has been rating nonprofits—giving donors the confidence that their contributions will be used to maximum efficiency. To make a contribution to AKF’s Disaster Relief Program to assist kidney patients affected by Hurricane Ida, visit AKF’s online donation page. ### About the American Kidney Fund The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation’s leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease—from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation’s top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact Details Stefanie Tuck Work: +1 202-470-1797 Mobile: +1 978-390-1394 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 AKF@jpa.com Company Website http://www.kidneyfund.org/

September 03, 2021 01:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time

UNOS Fills Key Positions

United Network for Organ Sharing

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is pleased to announce the promotion of Roger Brown to director of Policy and Community Relations and Melissa Lane to director of the Organ Center. Brown and Lane bring almost 45 years of combined experience at UNOS to these key leadership roles. In his new position Brown leads the team that facilitates transplant policy development by engaging the community, with a focus on including the expertise and voices of all stakeholders – the public, patients, donor families, and donation and transplant professionals. “Roger has been a leader at UNOS for many years providing unique insight into operationalizing policy changes,” said UNOS CEO Brian Shepard. “His unparalleled depth of knowledge and practical experience around organ allocation make him the perfect person to lead the policy team and the community as we apply a transformational policy framework to organ allocation in the United States.” Brown joined UNOS in 1995 as an organ placement specialist and served in a series of increasingly senior managerial roles, most recently Organ Center director. A member of NATCO – The Organization for Donation and Transplant Professionals, Brown has served as faculty for their course for new transplant coordinators. Additionally, he has co-authored of a number of journal articles on various issues in transplantation. As Director of the Organ Center, Melissa Lane is responsible for the leadership and direction of all areas of the Organ Center, from overseeing daily operations to maintaining the Organ Center’s performance metrics and quality improvement initiatives. The Organ Center is open around the clock, 365 days a year, to assist member organizations with organ allocation, transportation, and maintenance of the national transplant waiting list. "Over the past year Melissa and her team have helped members successfully navigate changes in allocating kidneys while collaborating with other departments to bring innovative solutions to the organ donation and transplantation community, said UNOS CEO Brian Shepard. "They were instrumental in the development of a screening tool to accelerate organ offers, UNOS' organ tracking system and an organ travel app that is now being piloted with organ procurement organizations. Lane worked in the Organ Center in positions of increasing responsibility since join UNOS in 2003 as an organ placement specialist. Most recently she served as the acting director of the Organ Center and before that had been an Organ Center manager for six years. Both Brown and Lane hold bachelor’s degrees in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Lane is currently in an MBA program at Longwood University. About United Network for Organ Sharing United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit, charitable organization that serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. The OPTN helps create and define organ allocation and distribution policies that make the best use of donated organs. This process involves continuously evaluating new advances and discoveries so policies can be adapted to best serve patients waiting for transplants. All transplant programs and organ procurement organizations throughout the country are OPTN members and are obligated to follow the policies the OPTN creates for allocating organs. ### Contact Details Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 anne.paschke@unos.org Company Website https://unos.org

September 03, 2021 10:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NextFerm Technologies Obtains US Regulatory Marketing Approval for Astaferm® Astaxanthin Antioxidant, in Oil for Soft-Gels

NextFerm Technologies Ltd.

NextFerm Technologies (TASE:NXFR), a food-tech company developing ProteVin™, a vegan, yeast-based, non-GMO protein alternative and other innovative yeast-based nutrients, today announced receipt of regulatory marketing approval (Self-GRAS) for Astaferm®, its innovative fermented astaxanthin antioxidant in the form of Oil for Soft-Gels, in the US. Astaferm® is already sold in the US and Canada in the form of Gummies and powder by well-established Brands in North America. NextFerm expects initial Purchase orders for the oil during 2021. NextFerm currently prepares to expand the marketing of Astaferm® for additional indications such as immune system support, as well as expanding into additional serving forms, such as water-dispersible powder for food and beverages. Boaz Noy, Chief Executive Officer of NextFerm, said, “ Soft-Gels is the most popular form of consumption of Astaxanthin. This marketing approval allows NextFerm to expand its value proposition in the market, while increasing market awareness and offer fermented Astaxanthin in the form of oil with a competitive price, in addition to Astaxanthin in Gummies. we believe it will contribute to revenues growth in the coming quarters.” About NextFerm Technologies NextFerm Technologies, traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE:NXFR) is a food-tech company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative, functional and vegan yeast-derived, non-GMO protein alternatives for various applications in the food and food supplement markets and the growing market for animal-derived protein alternatives. NextFerm's flagship product is ProteVin™, a vegan, yeast-derived protein alternative with nutritional value that is similar to animal-derived protein and a neutral flavor, with no aftertastes that are typical of plant-based protein. ProteVin™ is designed for a variety of categories in the alternative protein market, which is estimated at $13 billion, with an annual growth rate of 10%, including milk and dairy substitutes, meat substitutes and additional categories such as infant nutrition, adult nutrition, and sports nutrition. NextFerm is gearing up for commercialization of the product in the US in 2022. Another product currently being sold is Astaferm®, an innovative astaxanthin-based antioxidant derived from yeast that has been sold in the US since the end of 2020 through well-established and leading brands in the food supplement market in the US. In July 2021, the Company received Regulatory Marketing Approval for Astaferm® in Canada. The company has additional products which have been licensed to Lallemand, a global giant focused on yeast. For more information, visit the NextFerm website at: www.nextferm.com Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This announcement also includes forecasts, projections, assessments, estimates and other information which refer to future events and matters, the realization of which is uncertain and not exclusively under the Company’s control (forward-looking information). The main facts and data used to support this information are facts and data regarding the current position of the Company and its businesses (including the scope of sales and levels of profitability, manpower, commercial engagements and more), facts and data regarding the current global position of the Company’s operating segments (including industry-specific financial developments, environmental regulatory developments, the competitive environment, technological developments, the reinsurance market and more), and macro-economic facts and data (including the economic situation both in Israel and around the world, yields in the capital markets, social and state developments and more), all as known by the Company when publishing this announcement. The forward-looking information included above in this announcement is significantly based upon, in addition to the existing information held by the Company, on the Company’s current assessments and expectations of future developments vis-a-vis each one of the aforementioned parameters, and the interconnectedness of each one of these developments. The Company has no certainty that its forecasts and assessments will indeed eventuate, and the Company’s operating results may be materially different than the results assessed or implicit based on that set forth above, inter alia, as a result of a change in any of the aforementioned factors. Contact Details Nextferm Technologies Ltd. Yossi Ohana - Chief Financial Officer +972 54-771-5893 yossio@nextferm.com Investor and Media contact Meirav Gomeh-Bauer +972 54-476-4979 meirav@bauerg.com Company Website https://www.nextferm.com/

September 02, 2021 02:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time

The Meningitis Vaccines: What Parents of Adolescents Should Know

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/OpbXUBrzUA4 According to the CDC, COVID-19 disrupted routine well-child visits for many children over the last year. As a result, too many children have fallen behind on receiving recommended vaccines – and that includes adolescents and young adults. If young adults are not receiving these recommended vaccinations, they are now vulnerable to infectious, potentially deadly diseases. So are the campuses and communities they live in. One vaccine that often gets left behind is Meningitis B, which is recommended for adolescents 16-23 years old. There are two types of meningitis vaccines – MenACWY and MenB. Few have received the MenB vaccine, yet it’s responsible for 100% of meningococcal meningitis outbreaks on college campuses since 2011. One issue? A lack of communication from pediatricians and family physicians. A recent study found that 49% of pediatricians and 69% of family physicians did not discuss the MenB vaccine during routine visits for 16-18-year-olds. That’s one reason why research shows that nearly 80% of parents did not know about the MenB vaccine, and why more than 78.2% of 17-year-olds have not received at least one dose of the Meningitis B vaccine. As kids head back to school, it’s important that parents take the time to check what vaccinations their teens and young adults have received and proactively talk to their healthcare provider about what other vaccines they need – including both the MenACWY and MenB meningitis vaccines. For more information visit: https://meningitisbactionproject.org/ About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 02, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Broadcom MASTERS Announces the Top 300 Middle School Innovators in National STEM Competition

Society for Science

WASHINGTON, DC – Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science today announced the Top 300 MASTERS in the 10th annual Broadcom MASTERS ® — the nation’s premier Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competition for middle school students. The Broadcom MASTERS, a program of the Society for Science, seeks to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators to solve the grand challenges of the 21 st century. Each of the Top 300 MASTERS will receive a $125 award from DoD STEM. With this prize, now in its second year, the Department of Defense continues its support of youth in STEM, working towards a more diverse pipeline of highly qualified STEM professionals in the future. The Top 300 MASTERS were selected from 1,841 students from 48 states, Washington, DC and three US territories (Puerto Rico, Guam and Virgin Islands) applying to be a Broadcom MASTER. Only students who are named in the top 10% of their science fair are eligible to enter the Broadcom MASTERS, which is the only middle school STEM competition that leverages Society-affiliated science fairs as a critical component of the STEM talent pipeline. The Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS include: 58.7% of the Top 300 MASTERS identify as girls while 40.3% identify as boys. The MASTERS come from 41 states and Guam, a US territory. The state with the most MASTERS is California, with 23% or 69 students. Florida follows with 31 students (10.3%), then Texas at 22 (7.3%), Pennsylvania 20 (6.67%) and Oregon 18 (6%) The top two project categories are Earth and Environmental Sciences (42) and Behavioral and Social Sciences (38) More than 2/3 of the MASTERS (206) go to public school, with 59 (19.7%) in private school and 15 (5%) in charter schools. The remaining students are in home, magnet or online schools. The students’ names and a state-by-state breakdown of the Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS can be found at https://www.societyforscience.org/broadcom-masters/2021-top-300-masters/. Thirty of the top 300 Broadcom MASTERS will be selected as finalists by a panel of scientists, engineers and educators from around the nation. The 30 finalists, who will be announced September 14, will be competing for over $100,000, including the coveted $25,000 Samueli Prize, $10,000 DoD STEM Talent Award, the $10,000 Lemelson Award for Invention, the $10,000 Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation and the $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement. “Congratulations to the 300 Broadcom MASTERS,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science and Publisher of Science News. “These students have shown tremendous grit and perseverance by conducting scientific or engineering research during a worldwide pandemic. Their curiosity and determination is inspiring for all.” The Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS’ independent STEM research projects tackle a broad range of challenges such as: The efficiency of solar panels Early detection of algal blooms Circumventing ventilator shortages Using machine learning to detect heart arrhythmias Data security Face mask effectiveness “Those of you in the Top 300 are exemplars of all young people who aspire to become scientists, engineers and innovators in Society-affiliated science fairs,” said Paula Golden, President of the Broadcom Foundation. “The Broadcom MASTERS serves as an important milestone in your STEM journey. Middle school is a time when many students gain confidence needed to follow their passions; and the accomplishment of being selected as one of the Top 300 is something for which each and every one of you should be enormously proud.” In addition to the $125 cash prize, the Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS will receive a prize package containing an award ribbon; semifinalist certificate of accomplishment; Broadcom MASTERS backpack; a Broadcom MASTERS decal; a specialized Invention Journal, courtesy of The Lemelson Foundation; a one-year subscription to Wolfram|Alpha Notebook Edition, courtesy of Wolfram Research; a special prize from Jeff Glassman, CEO of Covington Capital Management; and a one-year family digital subscription to Science News magazine. In recognition of the role that teachers play in the success of their students, each designated teacher also will receive a Broadcom MASTERS tote bag; a special edition booklet of Science News for Students’ Invention & Innovation articles from The Lemelson Foundation; and a one-year digital subscription to Science News magazine. Resources: For more information on the Broadcom MASTERS, visit the Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science. To keep up with the Broadcom MASTERS, use hashtag #brcmMASTERS or follow Broadcom Foundation and the Society on Twitter or the Society on Instagram. And to stay connected, visit the Broadcom MASTERS and Society Facebook pages. You can also follow the Society on Snapchat (Society4Science). About Broadcom Foundation Founded in April 2009, the Broadcom Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with its main mission to advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education by funding research, recognizing scholarship and increasing opportunity. The foundation inspires young people to pursue careers in STEM through its signature programs, the Broadcom MASTERS® and the Broadcom MASTERS® International, premier science and engineering competitions for middle school students around the United States and the world. Learn more at www.broadcomfoundation.org/masters. About Society for Science Society for Science is dedicated to the achievement of young scientists in independent research and to public engagement in science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the International Science and Engineering Fair and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning magazines, Science News and Science News for Students, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science). Contact Details Gayle Kansagor +1 703-489-1131 gkansagor@societyforscience.org Company Website https://www.societyforscience.org/

September 01, 2021 12:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Finalists Announced for 21st Annual March of Dimes Heroines of Washington Awards

March of Dimes

March of Dimes has announced the finalists for its 21 st Annual Heroines of Washington Awards. The Heroines of Washington Awards, presented by Peraton, recognize and honor professional women in the D.C. Metro area for their dedication to community service. The March of Dimes Heroines of Washington Awards gala will take place in person on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, from 6:00–9:00 pm at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. This year’s finalists represent a diverse group of women who continued their commitments to volunteerism in addition to their successful careers during a year with tremendous challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The women nominated and awarded come from a variety of industries including healthcare, real estate, the public sector, and more. 2021 Heroines of Washington Finalists: Hilah Zia, Children’s National Hospital Lydia Russo, Lydia Real Estate Daniela Fiore, Carahsoft Stephanie Kinsey, Cognosante Sarah Kinling, The MITRE Corporation Sandy L. Chung, Health Connect IPA Beth Robertson, NFP Julia Fantacone, Altarum Carly Mitchell, Guidehouse Kerry-Ann Hamilton, KAH Consulting Group Shaza Andersen, Trustar Bank Debbi Jarvis, Howard University Nicole Monteforte, Booz Allen Hamilton Meredith Mark, PwC Liz Jones, Northampton School District Irma Becerra, Marymount University Selvi Clark, Booz Allen Hamilton Nancy Bossard, Long and Foster Lisa Benjamin, Newmark Knight Frank Chaise Schmidt, Cushman & Wakefield Kymber Lovett-Menkiti, Keller Williams Capital Properties Dr. May Kinnard-Brown, The MITRE Corporation Ashley Irwin, SolarWinds Judy Douglas, Peraton Michele Bolos, NT Concepts, Inc. “Every year I continue to be amazed by the professional women in the DMV who continue to go above and beyond to support our community,” said Jennifer Felix, ASRC Federal president and CEO. “In a year fraught with extremely difficult circumstances, volunteers were truly a shining light, and the March of Dimes Heroines of Washington Awards is one of the few opportunities for us to celebrate their incredible work.” This year’s awards mark a return to the Heroines of Washington's in-person gala. All finalists will be honored, and winners will be announced during the gala event on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. Along with the awards presentation at the gala, there will be a dinner and silent auction. Guests will include directors, CEOS and other high-level individuals and leaders from local organizations, businesses and government. Event sponsors include Peraton, ASRC Federal, M&T Bank, PwC, ManTech, KPMG, and Carahsoft. All funds raised by the Heroines of Washington Awards help support March of Dimes programs, research, community services, education and advocacy to advance research that supports the health of all moms and babies. Since 2001, March of Dimes has honored over 126 “Heroines” and raised more than $3.6 million to support the March of Dimes mission. For tickets or to learn more about the awards gala, please visit: marchofdimes.org/heroines. About March of Dimes March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we empower every mom and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. To participate in our annual signature fundraising event, visit marchforbabies.org. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Contact Details Emily Ergas (Sage Communications) +1 972-261-4306 eergas@aboutsage.com Bevan Bello (March of Dimes) +1 571-257-2300 bbello@marchofdimes.org Company Website http://www.marchofdimes.org/marylandmetrodc

September 01, 2021 09:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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