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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI Global: Medicine’s over-generalization problem — and how AI might make things worse

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Benjamin Chin-Yee, Hematologist/Assistant Professor, Western University

    In medicine, there’s a well-known maxim: never say more than your data allows. It’s one of the first lessons learned by clinicians and researchers.

    Journal editors expect it. Reviewers demand it. And medical researchers mostly comply. They hedge, qualify and narrow their claims — often at the cost of clarity. Take this conclusion, written to mirror the style of a typical clinical trial report:

    “In a randomized trial of 498 European patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, the treatment increased median progression free survival by 4.6 months, with grade three to four adverse events in 60 per cent of patients and modest improvements in quality-of-life scores, though the findings may not generalize to older or less fit populations.”

    It’s medical writing at its most exacting — and exhausting. Precise, but not exactly easy to take in.

    Unsurprisingly, then, those careful conclusions often get streamlined into something cleaner and more confident. The above example might be simplified into something like: “The treatment improves survival and quality of life.” “The drug has acceptable toxicity.” “Patients with multiple myeloma benefit from the new treatment.” Clear, concise — but often beyond what the data justify.

    Philosophers call these kinds of statements generics — generalizations without explicit quantifiers. Statements like “the treatment is effective” or “the drug is safe” sound authoritative, but they don’t say: For whom? How many? Compared to what? Under what conditions?

    Generalizations in medical research

    In previous work in the ethics of health communication, we highlighted how generics in medical research tend to erase nuance, transforming narrow, population-specific findings into sweeping claims that readers might misapply to all patients.

    In a systematic review of over 500 studies from top medical journals, we found more than half made generalizations beyond the populations studied. More than 80 per cent of those were generics, and fewer than 10 per cent offered any justification for these broad claims.

    Researchers’ tendency to over-generalize may reflect a deeper cognitive bias. Faced with complexity and limited attention, humans naturally gravitate toward simpler, broader claims — even when they stretch beyond what the data support. In fact, the very drive to explain the data, to tell a coherent story, can lead even careful researchers to overgeneralize.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) now threatens to significantly exacerbate this problem. In our latest research, we tested 10 widely used large language models (LLMs) — including ChatGPT, DeepSeek, LLaMA and Claude — on their ability to summarize abstracts and articles from top medical journals.

    Even when prompted for accuracy, most models routinely removed qualifiers, oversimplified findings and repackaged researchers’ carefully contextualized claims as broader statements.

    AI-generated summaries

    Analyzing nearly 5,000 LLM-generated summaries, we found rates of such over-generalizations as high as 73 per cent for some models. Very often, they converted non-generic claims into generics, for example, shifting from “the treatment was effective in this study,” to simply “the treatment is effective,” which misrepresented the study’s true scope.

    Strikingly, when we compared LLM-generated summaries to ones written by human experts, chatbots were nearly five times more likely to produce broad generalizations. But perhaps most concerning was that newer models — including ChatGPT-4o and DeepSeek — tended to generalize more, not less.

    What explains these findings? LLMs trained on overgeneralized scientific texts may inherit human biases from the input. Through reinforcement learning from human feedback, they may also start favouring confident, broad conclusions over careful, contextualized claims, because users often prefer concise, assertive responses.

    The resulting miscommunication risks are high, because researchers, clinicians and students increasingly use LLMs to summarize scientific articles.

    In a recent global survey of nearly 5,000 researchers, almost half reported already using AI in their research — and 58 per cent believed AI currently does a better job summarizing literature than humans. Some claim that LLMs can outperform medical experts in clinical text summarization.

    Our study casts doubt on that optimism. Over-generalizations produced by these tools have the potential to distort scientific understanding on a large scale. This is especially worrisome in high-stakes fields like medicine, where nuances in population, effect size and uncertainty really matter.

    Precision matters

    So what can be done? For human authors, clearer guidelines and editorial policies that address both how data are reported and how findings are described can reduce over-generalizations in medical writing. Also, researchers using LLMs for summarization should favour models like Claude — the most accurate LLM in our study — and remain aware that even well-intentioned accuracy prompts can backfire.

    AI developers, in turn, could build prompts into their LLMs that encourage more cautious language when summarizing research. Lastly, our study’s methodology can help benchmark LLMs’ overgeneralization tendency before deploying them in real-world contexts.

    In medical research, precision matters — not only in how we collect and analyze data, but also in how we communicate it. Our research reveals a shared tendency in both humans and machines to overgeneralize — to say more than what the data allows.

    Tackling this tendency means holding both natural and artificial intelligence to higher standards: scrutinizing not only how researchers communicate results, but how we train the tools increasingly shaping that communication. In medicine, careful language is imperative to ensure the right treatments reach the right patients, backed by evidence that actually applies.

    Benjamin Chin-Yee receives funding from the Gates Cambridge Trust and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Uwe Peters receives funding from a Volkswagen research grant on meta-science (“The Cultural
    Evolution of Scientific Practice”; WBS GW.001123.2.4).

    – ref. Medicine’s over-generalization problem — and how AI might make things worse – https://theconversation.com/medicines-over-generalization-problem-and-how-ai-might-make-things-worse-252486

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: TRANSCRIPT: LEADER JEFFRIES REMARKS ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST 100 DAYS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered the following speech on what a disaster for the American people that Donald Trump’s first 100 days have been and how costs, chaos and corruption are all up, thanks to the President and his Rubber Stamp Republicans.

    Good morning. Good morning. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Good morning. Good morning. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

    Right at the top, let me make one thing clear: The Trump administration has been a disaster. 100 days in, Donald Trump and Elon Musk have failed to make your life more affordable. They failed to make you safer. They failed to make us more respected around the world. But their biggest failure is this: they have failed to appreciate the strength of the American people.

    During the dawn of the Republic, it was once observed that when people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.

    Donald Trump and Republicans thought they could shock and awe us into submission. They thought we would be too complacent to stand up for liberty and justice for all. They thought we would walk away from the principle of equal protection under the law. They thought wrong. They thought wrong. They thought wrong.

    Trump’s unconstitutional assault on the American way of life is unprecedented, but the so-called dictator on day one is learning an important lesson. Americans don’t bend the knee to bullies. In the face of tyranny, we join together. In the face of tyranny, we rise up together. In the face of tyranny, we get into some good trouble together. And we’re just getting started.

    100 days in, Donald Trump has the lowest approval rating of any president in modern American history. 100 days in, voters have elected Democrats in Republican-held districts all across the country, including in Iowa and Pennsylvania. 100 days in, Elon Musk spent $25 million to buy a state supreme court seat in Wisconsin, and lost by double digits. 100 days in, more than 200 different lawsuits have been filed against the unconstitutional and unlawful executive orders of Donald Trump, and the American people are winning in court. 100 days in, principled opposition to Republican extremism is taking shape from sea to shining sea. The American people are rising up and making it clear that the Trump administration has a lot to fear.

    When my oldest son JJ was 9 years old, he played travel baseball with a group of his friends. Many of you know that travel sports can be taxing on the schedule. It’s a labor of love for our children. During the season, it seems like almost every weekend for several months, you’re on the road. And so, this one particular Memorial Day weekend, JJ had a baseball tournament in a little town off the beaten path somewhere in the Northeast. 

    Travel sports can take you to some interesting places. I decided to make it a road trip and bring my youngest son, Joshua, with us. He was just 6 years old at the time. And so I said to him, he’s gonna come on this trip, and it’ll be like a vacation. What did I say that for, y’all? 

    When I mentioned vacation, he had visions of Atlantis. So we pulled up to the motel where we were staying, and the situation was a bit shaky. My 6 year old looked at the motel, looked at me, looked at the motel and looked at me and said: “Dad, is this where we’re staying?” I said, “Yes, Joshua, why do you ask?” He responded, “Oh my God, Dad, this is a debacle.” 6 years old. I looked at him and asked, “What does the word debacle mean?” He responded quickly. He said: “I don’t know Dad, it’s something bad.”

    This is the moment we are in right now in the United States of America, with Donald Trump and the Republicans in charge. 

    Crashing the economy is something bad. Destroying Medicaid as we know it is something bad. Taking a chainsaw to Social Security is something bad. Raising costs on hardworking American taxpayers is something bad. Firing federal workers, including thousands of veterans who served this country, is something bad. Canceling medical research for children with cancer is something bad. Destroying the retirement accounts of everyday Americans is something bad. Trying to whitewash the most painful parts of our history is something bad. Targeting law-abiding immigrant families is something bad. Undermining the rule of law is something bad. 

    The first 100 days of the Trump administration have been a debacle. Enough. Enough. America is better than this. 

    When the new Congress began in January, Democrats were prepared to get to work in a bipartisan way. The Trump administration chose a different path. Far-right Republicans are tearing America apart, targeting our democratic way of life and tarnishing our reputation as the land of the free. It is wrong, and we will continue to push back aggressively. Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress have given us 100 days of chaos, 100 days of cruelty and 100 days of corrupt behavior. That is not constructive leadership, it’s a recipe for disaster. 

    The American people deserve common sense leadership, the American people deserve compassionate leadership, the American people deserve courageous leadership that changes things for the better. Our message to the American people is simple: We hear you. We see you. We feel you. Democrats are determined to make life better for you.

    Donald Trump and his sycophants spent yesterday bragging about the speed with which they’ve moved during these first 100 days. They’re right.  Never has a president failed so spectacularly, so often, so quickly as Donald Trump. The White House referred to its strategy for the first 100 days as “shock and awe.” Well, they’re half right. It is shocking how rapidly this administration collapsed into chaos, cruelty and corruption. It is shocking how quickly MAGA Republicans turned their backs on working class Americans. It is shocking how spineless Republicans have been in the United States Congress. And it is shocking and tragic and infuriating how much damage Donald Trump and the Republican party’s policies have already done.

    Here’s the thing. They expected us to step back. But the American people are here to fight back. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to end inflation. He promised to lower costs on day one.  When he was asking for your vote, Donald Trump told you he would make life more affordable for everyday Americans. Now that he’s in office, it’s a different story.

    In March, President Trump was asked if he was worried that car prices would go up because of his tariffs. His reply? “I couldn’t care less.” The cost of living in the United States is too high. America is too expensive. And Donald Trump couldn’t care less. He couldn’t care less that housing costs are too high. He couldn’t care less that grocery costs are too high. He couldn’t care less that childcare costs are too high. He couldn’t care less that health insurance costs are too high. He couldn’t care less that utility costs are too high. Donald Trump couldn’t care less. Prices everywhere are too high, and Donald Trump couldn’t care less. 

    100 days in, Donald Trump is making life harder for you and your family. And every day his costly tariffs stay in place, life in America gets more expensive. American families will pay thousands of dollars more per year. Small businesses are shutting down. Corporations are not hiring. Businesses are unable to invest because of the uncertainty that has been created.  Inflation is on the rise, life is getting more expensive and the reckless economic policies of Donald Trump and House Republicans are driving us toward a recession.

    Republicans in Congress could put a stop to this insanity at any time. Since they won’t, next November, we will. Yes, we will. Yes, we will. Which brings me to Elon Musk. I knew he would get that reaction. 

    We all agree that government should be more efficient. But like most things in life, there’s the American way and then there’s the cruel way. 100 days in, it’s clear that DOGE is not the American way. Cancelling medical research for children with cancer is cruel. Denying relief for communities reeling from natural disasters is cruel. Firing thousands of our veterans, like Joseph Quintinella of Virginia, who served this country in the Marines, is cruel. 

    But their cruelty doesn’t stop there. Republicans actually believe that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. And they want to take a chainsaw to it. During the first 100 days of the Trump administration, Social Security has faced an unprecedented attack. Social Security offices have been closed, wait times have dramatically increased and people are being denied access to benefits that they have earned. Republicans continue to insist that Social Security is an entitlement program. They think they are entitled to destroy it. 

    When I was 15 years old, I got my working papers and secured my first job. I was a messenger dropping off packages from office building to office building in Midtown Manhattan. My salary was $3.35 per hour. That was the minimum wage back in the day. And I thought that I had made it big, particularly upon learning that as a high school student who worked part time, I wouldn’t have to pay any income tax. So I couldn’t wait to get my first check. 

    On a piece of paper, I multiplied $3.35 by the number of hours I expected to work during my first pay period. I figured out the total, and in my mind, that money was already spent. I couldn’t wait to go to Albee Square Mall in downtown Brooklyn and get some new sneakers so I could dress like Run DMC. But then the check came, and some money was missing. 

    I had two questions, y’all: Who is FICA, and why is he taking my money? 

    Here’s what I learned. All of us pay the FICA tax in connection with Social Security and Medicare. We pay the FICA tax on our first job. We pay the FICA tax on our last job. We pay the FICA tax on every single job we have throughout our lifetime. 

    Social Security and Medicare are not entitlement programs. They are earned benefits. Earned benefits. You work hard for those benefits, pay into those benefits and deserve those benefits. They are earned benefits. 

    Democrats will make sure that Donald Trump and House Republicans keep their hands off your Social Security and your Medicare. Hands off today. Hands off tomorrow. Hands off this week. Hands off next week. Hands off this month. Hands off next month. Hands off this year. Hands off next year. Hands off Social Security and Medicare Forever. Forever. Forever.

    Now, if this administration actually had some common sense, it would look at the damage that it’s done, the rejection from the people, the historic unpopularity of this president, and they would change course. But Donald Trump is doubling down. And instead of being a check and balance on this president’s abuse of power, Republicans in Congress are nothing more than a rubber stamp for his extreme agenda.

    Recently, I met a woman named Mary Beth. She lives in Canton, North Carolina, a town of 4,400 people that is still rebuilding from Hurricane Helene. She has custody of her four grandchildren, ages 10, 12, 15 and 16. Their parents can no longer care for them due to addiction, domestic violence and homelessness. The moment you talk to Mary Beth, you know that caring for those grandkids is everything. 

    And she’s doing it on a fixed income, working part time making $8 an hour at a coin laundry— and is no longer employed—to supplement the disability support that she had received. Mary Beth has had to skip refilling her prescriptions to make sure her grandkids don’t have to skip any meals. 

    Medicaid is the only reason her grandchildren are able to see a doctor, including the youngest, who is dealing with ADHD and autism. Mary Beth works hard, loves her family and is a patriotic American. And Mary Beth is here with us today. 

    But her family, just like millions of others throughout America, is now at risk of losing their healthcare. Why? Republicans are trying to slash Medicaid by up to $880 billion, the largest healthcare cut in American history.  

    And why are Republicans trying to rip healthcare away from working people, from Americans with disabilities, from children, from grandmothers like Mary Beth? So that they can give their billionaire donors like Elon Musk another tax cut. These healthcare cuts will hurt families, hurt women, hurt children, hurt veterans, hurt seniors and hurt disabled Americans. Hospitals will close, nursing homes will shut down and people will die. 

    Here’s the thing, in the United States of America—this is the wealthiest country in the history of the world—healthcare is not a privilege, healthcare is a right for every single American. For every single American. 

    If we were in the majority right now, none of this would be happening. But even in the minority, we are going to do everything we can to protect the healthcare of the American people.

    And we’ll keep reminding our Republican colleagues—especially the ones who vote like extremists but then go home and pretend to be moderates when it’s time to run for re-election— that the people are watching. It’s time for Republicans in Congress to stop being a rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda.

    You don’t work for Donald Trump. You don’t work for Elon Musk. You don’t work for the far-right extremists. You work for the American people.

    As Democrats, we will fight as hard as we can, fight as hard as we can, over the next two years to stop bad things from happening. We will protect our system of free and fair elections.

    And then work hard to convince the American people to entrust us with the majority next November. At that point, we will be able to do much, much more for you.

    We will build an affordable economy that works for everyday Americans. We will confront the climate crisis with the fierce urgency of now. We will block any budget that goes after your Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. And we will hold the Trump administration accountable for its corrupt abuse of power.

    Over these next 100 days, House Democrats are going to lay out a blueprint for a better America. And you will see a vision for this country’s future that isn’t about Donald Trump. It’s all about you. All about you. How can we make your life better? How can we put more money in your pocket? How can we lower your costs? How can we help you give your kids the future they deserve? These are the questions we are thinking about each and every day.

    Now, the American Dream isn’t about getting something for nothing. You have to work for it. But if you work hard and play by the rules, here’s what you should be able to have: A good-paying job. An affordable home. High-quality healthcare. Education for your children. And the ability to retire with grace and with dignity. That’s the American Dream. That’s the American Dream. That’s the American Dream. And when we’re back in charge, that’s what we will fight hard to deliver for you. 

    In January—late January—I had the opportunity to visit the Altadena community in Los Angeles County that was devastated by the wildfires. I met someone named Jackie Jacobs, an amazing 88-year-old woman who was raised in the Jim Crow South before moving to California. Her home was tragically burned to the ground.  She and her husband, David, who have been married for more than 50 years, barely managed to escape the raging wildfires. All they had was the clothing on their backs. They lost everything else. Photos gone. Possessions gone. Property gone. But the first thing Mrs. Jacobs said to us while touring the devastation was that she gave all glory, all praise and all honor to Almighty God—just as the Scripture teaches us. She believed that things would work out. Several of us teared up. Mrs. Jacobs lost everything, but she never lost her faith. She never lost her faith.

    Republicans have shown that their recipe for governing is chaos, cruelty and corruption. These first 100 days have not been easy. Everything we care about is under assault. The economy is under assault. Healthcare is under assault. Social Security is under assault. Veterans are under assault. Farmers are under assault. The right to organize is under assault. Public schools are under assault. The American way of life is under assault. Democracy itself is under assault. Everything we care about is under assault. 

    But just like Mrs. Jacobs, we must never lose faith. We must never lose faith. Faith in our community. Faith in our country. Faith in a brighter future. Faith in Almighty God. 

    America is a resilient nation. We are a resilient people. We have a resilient Constitution. We will never give up.  We will never give in. We will always show up. We will always speak up. We will always stand up. We will continue our march toward a more perfect union. We will not rest until we end this national nightmare and deliver an America with liberty and justice for all.

    God bless you. God bless our troops. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

    Full speech can be viewed here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Wealth, wellness and wellbeing: why healthier ageing isn’t just about personal choices

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simon Evans, Lecturer in Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of Surrey

    Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock

    We’ve all heard it before: eat your five-a-day, and try to get some exercise. It’s advice that’s simple in theory, yet in practice, not everyone is able to follow it. So what’s standing in the way?

    Our research examined this question in depth. Using data from UK adults over the age of 50, we explored how socioeconomic status affects the likelihood of meeting the World Health Organization’s recommendations for physical activity and diet. These guidelines include at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity (or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity) physical activity per week and a daily intake of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables.

    What we found points to a clear and concerning disparity. Wealthier older adults are nearly twice as likely to meet both exercise and dietary recommendations compared to their less affluent peers. And perhaps even more striking, those who don’t meet these health guidelines are significantly more likely to suffer from depression.

    We analysed survey responses from more than 3,000 adults aged 50 to 90, using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. While nearly 70% of participants reported doing some form of physical activity, the data revealed a sharp wealth divide.

    Adults in the highest wealth quintile (the top 20%) were almost twice as likely to be physically active as those in the lowest quintile. A similar pattern emerged for diet. Over 70% of those in the wealthiest group reported meeting the five-a-day guideline, compared to just over 40% in the lowest income bracket.

    This matters, because not meeting government guidelines for physical activity and diet can have serious long-term health consequences. Regular exercise is known to increase HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, improve cardiovascular health, and reduce the risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

    It also benefits brain health by lowering inflammation and even promoting the growth of new brain cells. Similarly, diets rich in fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants – found in fruits and vegetables – are associated with lower the risks of disease and cognitive decline, including conditions like Alzheimer’s.

    Depression disparity

    But the impact isn’t just physical. Our research also explored links between lifestyle and mental health. Around 19% of participants met the criteria for clinical depression, with the highest risk found among women, people living alone, smokers and those with lower incomes.

    Alarmingly, rates of depression were nearly three times higher among those in the lowest wealth quintile (32.6% were depressed) compared to those in the highest (11.1%).

    Lifestyle clearly played a role in depression levels. Among inactive participants, 30% reported symptoms of depression – more than double the rate seen in those who were physically active (13.7%). Likewise, those who didn’t meet the five-a-day guideline had a depression rate of 23.4%, compared to 15.7% among those who did.

    These results suggest that staying physically active and eating well not only improves physical health but may also play a protective role in mental wellbeing. Yet not everyone has equal access to the resources, time, or environments that support healthy living. There is also the role of social isolation as a compounding factor.

    Social disconnection is strongly linked to both poor physical and mental health, including depression and even increased mortality risk. Physical activity programmes that also offer social interaction – such as walking groups or community exercise classes – may provide even greater benefits.

    Healthy ageing for everyone

    The evidence shows that health disparities in later life are deeply tied to wealth and socioeconomic status. This means that addressing them requires more than encouraging personal responsibility – it calls for policy action.

    Financial barriers to healthy food and physical activity need to be tackled through targeted programmes, subsidies and infrastructure investments. Making healthy options accessible and affordable – especially for those in lower-income groups – will benefit people and reduce strain on healthcare systems.

    As populations continue to age, promoting health in later life is a public health priority. But that effort will only succeed if it recognises – and works to reduce – the inequalities that hold people back from living healthy, fulfilling lives.

    Simon Evans does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Wealth, wellness and wellbeing: why healthier ageing isn’t just about personal choices – https://theconversation.com/wealth-wellness-and-wellbeing-why-healthier-ageing-isnt-just-about-personal-choices-250316

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Medicine’s overgeneralization problem — and how AI might make things worse

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Benjamin Chin-Yee, Hematologist/Assistant Professor, Western University

    In medicine, there’s a well-known maxim: never say more than your data allows. It’s one of the first lessons learned by clinicians and researchers.

    Journal editors expect it. Reviewers demand it. And medical researchers mostly comply. They hedge, qualify and narrow their claims — often at the cost of clarity. Take this conclusion, written to mirror the style of a typical clinical trial report:

    “In a randomized trial of 498 European patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, the treatment increased median progression free survival by 4.6 months, with grade three to four adverse events in 60 per cent of patients and modest improvements in quality-of-life scores, though the findings may not generalize to older or less fit populations.”

    It’s medical writing at its most exacting — and exhausting. Precise, but not exactly easy to take in.

    Unsurprisingly, then, those careful conclusions often get streamlined into something cleaner and more confident. The above example might be simplified into something like: “The treatment improves survival and quality of life.” “The drug has acceptable toxicity.” “Patients with multiple myeloma benefit from the new treatment.” Clear, concise — but often beyond what the data justify.

    Philosophers call these kinds of statements generics — generalizations without explicit quantifiers. Statements like “the treatment is effective” or “the drug is safe” sound authoritative, but they don’t say: For whom? How many? Compared to what? Under what conditions?

    Generalizations in medical research

    In previous work in the ethics of health communication, we highlighted how generics in medical research tend to erase nuance, transforming narrow, population-specific findings into sweeping claims that readers might misapply to all patients.

    In a systematic review of over 500 studies from top medical journals, we found more than half made generalizations beyond the populations studied. More than 80 per cent of those were generics, and fewer than 10 per cent offered any justification for these broad claims.

    Researchers’ tendency to over-generalize may reflect a deeper cognitive bias. Faced with complexity and limited attention, humans naturally gravitate toward simpler, broader claims — even when they stretch beyond what the data support. In fact, the very drive to explain the data, to tell a coherent story, can lead even careful researchers to overgeneralize.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) now threatens to significantly exacerbate this problem. In our latest research, we tested 10 widely used large language models (LLMs) — including ChatGPT, DeepSeek, LLaMA and Claude — on their ability to summarize abstracts and articles from top medical journals.

    Even when prompted for accuracy, most models routinely removed qualifiers, oversimplified findings and repackaged researchers’ carefully contextualized claims as broader statements.

    AI-generated summaries

    Analyzing nearly 5,000 LLM-generated summaries, we found rates of such over-generalizations as high as 73 per cent for some models. Very often, they converted non-generic claims into generics, for example, shifting from “the treatment was effective in this study,” to simply “the treatment is effective,” which misrepresented the study’s true scope.

    Strikingly, when we compared LLM-generated summaries to ones written by human experts, chatbots were nearly five times more likely to produce broad generalizations. But perhaps most concerning was that newer models — including ChatGPT-4o and DeepSeek — tended to generalize more, not less.

    What explains these findings? LLMs trained on overgeneralized scientific texts may inherit human biases from the input. Through reinforcement learning from human feedback, they may also start favouring confident, broad conclusions over careful, contextualized claims, because users often prefer concise, assertive responses.

    The resulting miscommunication risks are high, because researchers, clinicians and students increasingly use LLMs to summarize scientific articles.

    In a recent global survey of nearly 5,000 researchers, almost half reported already using AI in their research — and 58 per cent believed AI currently does a better job summarizing literature than humans. Some claim that LLMs can outperform medical experts in clinical text summarization.

    Our study casts doubt on that optimism. Over-generalizations produced by these tools have the potential to distort scientific understanding on a large scale. This is especially worrisome in high-stakes fields like medicine, where nuances in population, effect size and uncertainty really matter.

    Precision matters

    So what can be done? For human authors, clearer guidelines and editorial policies that address both how data are reported and how findings are described can reduce over-generalizations in medical writing. Also, researchers using LLMs for summarization should favour models like Claude — the most accurate LLM in our study — and remain aware that even well-intentioned accuracy prompts can backfire.

    AI developers, in turn, could build prompts into their LLMs that encourage more cautious language when summarizing research. Lastly, our study’s methodology can help benchmark LLMs’ overgeneralization tendency before deploying them in real-world contexts.

    In medical research, precision matters — not only in how we collect and analyze data, but also in how we communicate it. Our research reveals a shared tendency in both humans and machines to overgeneralize — to say more than what the data allows.

    Tackling this tendency means holding both natural and artificial intelligence to higher standards: scrutinizing not only how researchers communicate results, but how we train the tools increasingly shaping that communication. In medicine, careful language is imperative to ensure the right treatments reach the right patients, backed by evidence that actually applies.

    Benjamin Chin-Yee receives funding from the Gates Cambridge Trust and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Uwe Peters receives funding from a Volkswagen research grant on meta-science (“The Cultural
    Evolution of Scientific Practice”; WBS GW.001123.2.4).

    – ref. Medicine’s overgeneralization problem — and how AI might make things worse – https://theconversation.com/medicines-overgeneralization-problem-and-how-ai-might-make-things-worse-252486

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Meet Washington state’s 20 new winners of AI for Good Lab awards

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Meet Washington state’s 20 new winners of AI for Good Lab awards

    This month, Microsoft is celebrating our 50th anniversary. To help commemorate fifty years of creating technology that empowers people to achieve more, our AI for Good Lab launched an open call to support innovative AI-based projects here in Washington State.

    Our AI for Good Lab has been using AI to tackle global challenges and improve lives since 2018. We open-source our models, data, and tools so everyone can jump in, working together to make real impact. At a time when nonprofits, NGOs, and academic institutions are tasked with doing more with less, technology like AI offers a way forward.

    Through these awards, we’re investing $5 million over the next two years. This open call allows us to expand our commitments to a number of amazing projects while engaging a wide range of new organizations across the state of Washington. The 20 awardees will receive Microsoft Azure credits and the ability to collaborate with AI for Good Lab scientists.

    We’re thrilled to continue to cultivate relationships with innovative partners in this great state and the world at large. These game-changing organizations and projects are not only helping solve today’s challenges, they’re also paving the way for a brighter tomorrow. We are honored to share the following as our 2025 open call awardees.

       Sustainability

    1. Awardee: Stock-Smart.com – Washington State University Extension
      Project description: Washington State’s federal, state, tribal, and private land managers and livestock grazers are all beginning to use virtual fence systems to fine-tune ecological grazing management. Stock-Smart.com combines predicted livestock terrain use with satellite-based forage production data to inform grazing plans for livestock herds. By using AI-guided interpretation of virtual fence system geolocation data, Stock-Smart.com helps reduce wildfire risk, enhance wildlife habitats, and improve invasive species control.
    2. Awardee: Long Live the Kings
      Project description: In the Puget Sound, the impacts of rapid urbanization are compounded by climate change. Long Live the Kings employs AI and machine learning to automatically calibrate a 3D ecosystem modeling program for Puget Sound. This project will use the emulator to explore how cumulative watershed impacts affect ecosystem services and biodiversity to advance natural resource management in Puget Sound.
    3. Awardee: TealWaters
      Project description: TealWaters works to transform Washington State’s water management capacity by providing tools that inform and guide wetlands planning, protection, and restoration. TealWaters plans to support AI model testing beyond the scope of its existing tools to increase communities’ resilience to climate change and environmental stressors.
    4. Awardee: Washington State University  
      Project description: Climate change puts residents of Washington State at higher risk of dangerous wildfires. This project will develop cutting-edge AI models, fusing satellite imagery, weather data, building information, and wildfire simulation results to assess wildfire vulnerability of residential buildings in Washington State. By producing vulnerability assessments that include confidence scores, this multi-modal approach can help guide effective wildfire mitigation efforts.
    5. Awardee: Cornell University, Circular Construction Lab
      Project description: Reusing materials is the most effective circular economy strategy: it reduces waste and emissions, creates local green jobs, and supports local reuse ecosystems. AR3-Lumber aims to develop and implement AI-powered technology to reuse salvaged lumber through a local partnership with the Seattle Salvaged Lumber Warehouse. This project will enable AR3-Lumber to offer essential technical and methodological support to the circular lumber economy.
    6. Awardee: Woodland Park Zoo
      Project description: The Seattle Urban Carnivore Project aims to increase our understanding of and empathy for urban carnivores such as black bears by studying how these species live and interact with people across the greater Seattle region. This project will include a wildlife camera and bioacoustics monitoring program that collects data from green spaces across central King County and Bainbridge Island, utilizing AI to identify the diversity and density of species in urban corridors in a way that’s efficient and consumes fewer resources.
    7. Awardee: Conservation X Labs
      Project description: Conservation X Labs aims to prevent the sixth mass extinction by creating and democratizing innovative technologies to change what’s possible in conservation. The project will develop and deploy a multi-species management detection algorithm on a smart camera system to create a first –of –its –kind, real-time monitoring system for disease in wildlife that can be utilized by veterinarians, ecologists, and conservationists across Washington State.
    8. Awardee: NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service – Habitat Conservation
       Project description: Current methods of water management and salmon habitat restoration in the Columbia River Basin tend to be either hyper-localized or computationally intensive. This project aims to use remote sensing and machine learning to classify wetlands to better predict how water management decisions and climate change impact salmon populations and support more effective conservation strategies.
    9. Awardee: Information Communication and Technology for Development (ICTD) at the University of Washington
      Project description:       More plant and animal species are threatened with extinction now than at any other time in human history. The Information Communication and Technology for Development department at the University of Washington plans to monitor wildlife using audiovisual channels on tiny compute devices, fostering a better understanding of animal populations intricately linked to food safety, disease spread, and biodiversity.

      Health

    10. Awardee: Information Communication and Technology for Development (ICTD) at the University of Washington
      Project description:       More plant and animal species are threatened with extinction now than at any other time in human history. The Information Communication and Technology for Development department at the University of Washington plans to monitor wildlife using audiovisual channels on tiny compute devices, fostering a better understanding of animal populations intricately linked to food safety, disease spread, and biodiversity.
    11. Awardee: Providence
      Project description: Current methods for identifying patients for clinical trials rely on manual screening processes that miss many patients—especially those from underserved communities—or rely on sick patients and their doctors to do the work of seeking available trials. Providence and Microsoft Health Futures are collaboratively developing Trial Connect, an AI tool that scans population-level medical data across Washington State to identify patients who qualify for clinical trials that could save their lives.
    12. Awardee: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
      Project description: Data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) are used by more than 13,000 researchers around the world. IHME plans to build a global cloud laboratory to examine health locally, using satellite imagery, AI, and spatial demography to predict risks like drought and food insecurity to specific populations. This project aims to put actionable, population-level health data into the hands of decision-makers to improve individuals’ health and wellbeing.
    13. Awardee: University of Washington Radiology
      Project description: To improve public health and support patients in their most challenging moments, the University of Washington created self-improving large language models to translate radiology report findings into patient-friendly language. Patients will receive clear, lay-language explanations of their imaging results while healthcare providers provide feedback that will be used to refine the model, ensuring continuous improvement, reducing misunderstandings, and fostering better communication between patients and medical professionals.  
    14. Awardee: Institute for Protein Design – University of Washington
       Project description: Generative AI has already had a large impact ion protein structure prediction and protein design. This project aims to develop at least three specialized, open-source models, including a next-generation biomolecule design model, a model specialized for antibody/antigen structure and antibody design, and a model specialized for protein/ligand interactions to enable the next generation of therapeutics and biomaterials.
    15. Awardee: Washington State University Department of Chemistry
       Project description: Heavy and radioactive metal contamination in Spokane and Hanford threatens community health. This project will leverage geochemistry and large language models to build a publicly accessible dataset that will aid in designing effective soil decontamination methods for Spokane and Hanford, contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment for Washington residents. 

      Education/Public Good 

    16. Awardee: Washington State University
       Project description: Rural elementary teachers in Washington often struggle to design high-quality science assessments due to limitations around resources, professional development opportunities, and access to technology. This project will develop and deploy an AI-powered multi-agent assessment system to empower rural Washington elementary teachers and enhance accessibility, engagement, and instructional effectiveness.
    17. Awardee: Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington
      Project description: Rising labor and business costs have reduced the ability for Evergreen Goodwill to advance their mission of providing quality, free job training and basic education to people experiencing significant barriers to economic opportunity. The project will use an AI-powered automated donation ingestion and cataloging system to tackle the backlogged volumes of donated goods received by Evergreen Goodwill. By doing so, the project will reduce waste, increase efficiency, and unlock new opportunities for scale and profitability.
    18. Awardee: Washington State University – Group Argumentation Coordinator
      Project description: This project provides science teachers in Washington State with an AI-powered tool called a Group Argumentation Coordinator that will reduce the burden on overwhelmed teachers and improve students’ learning experience in science classrooms across the state. The project promotes real-time support for argumentation-based science learning in diverse classrooms. The two-year plan supported by this award focuses on system development, small-scale classroom pilots, and teacher feedback integration to ensure usability, fairness, and transparency.  
    19. Awardee: Washington State University – WARNS
      Project description: The Washington Assessment of Risk and Needs of Students (WARNS) has effectively assessed the needs critical to healthy social, emotional, and educational development of middle school and high school students across the state. This project will develop an elementary-level version of this assessment, leveraging large language models to reduce absenteeism and prevent dropouts among elementary school students by initiating a dialogue with students about what they need to thrive in the classroom. 
    20. Awardee: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound 
      Project description: The Puget Sound branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters is faced with the challenge of a 100 –day-long waitlist for families looking to participate in their mentorship program. Through a partnership with KPMG and Microsoft, Big Brothers Big Sisters developed an AI tool, AIMRE, to process large datasets on their waitlist and increase both the quality and timeliness of youth/mentor matches. This award will allow Big Brothers Big Sisters to conduct further testing and deploy AIMRE locally, eventually scaling nationally to speed up the matching process for kids across the country.  

    We’re thrilled to support these 20 projects in their efforts to harness the transformative power of AI to solve challenges across Washington State and beyond.

    Tags: AI for Good Lab, Innovation, Innovation Featured, quantum, Technology

    MIL OSI Economics –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: No criminal charges over death of ice hockey player during game – what this means for sport and the law

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Victoria Silverwood, Lecturer in Criminology, Director of Swansea Centre of Research in Sport & Society (SCORSS), Swansea University

    The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that no criminal charges will be brought against Canadian ice hockey player Matt Petgrave in relation to the death of American player Adam Johnson during a British Elite League match in October 2023.

    Petgrave had been arrested in November 2023 on suspicion of manslaughter after his skate blade struck Johnson’s neck during open play in a game between Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers. Johnson was taken to hospital but later died. Thousands of fans had been watching the match at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.

    Petgrave was released and bailed seven times over the following 17 months while South Yorkshire Police continued their investigation. He had denied the allegations and called the incident a “tragic accident”.

    The decision ends a case that has gripped the ice hockey community. It has also raised difficult legal questions about violence in sport, degrees of responsibility, and how far criminal law should intervene in such incidents.

    Deaths in professional sport are rare, and criminal investigations following them are even rarer. Johnson’s death occurred in an extremely fast and physical game where players wear blades on their feet and routinely engage in full-contact play.

    Although this was a workplace incident, since both men were employees of their respective clubs, it was not handled by the Health and Safety Executive, as many fatal incidents in other professions would be. Instead, the case was investigated by Sheffield Council and South Yorkshire Police.

    The decision to arrest Petgrave surprised many in the sport. It is understood that all parties voluntarily cooperated with the investigation. What is often overlooked is that an arrest can help protect the rights of the person under investigation, ensuring legal representation and placing time limits on police questioning.

    Still, many questioned the length of the process, particularly the 17-month delay and repeated bail extensions. For the families of both Johnson and Petgrave, the uncertainty has been long and painful.

    What does the law saw about violence in sport?

    Sport enjoys a special relationship with the law, as my research has explored. Players are generally considered to have given “implied consent” to physical contact that would otherwise be unlawful – as long as that contact stays within the normal rules of the game.

    Ice hockey, with its high-speed collisions and culture of on-ice fighting, clearly tests the limits of that consent. But where is the line between a legal part of the game and criminal behaviour?

    To bring a criminal charge, the CPS must be satisfied of two things. First, that there is enough evidence to provide a realistic chance of conviction. And second, that a prosecution would be in the public interest. In this case, neither threshold was met.

    Criminal convictions in sport are extremely rare. In one of the few UK cases, a recreational ice hockey player, Macauley Stones, received a suspended jail sentence for grievous bodily harm during an on-ice brawl in 2017. In the trial, the judge criticised the “legal vacuum” that exists in contact sports such as ice hockey.

    This grey area affects the public interest test, as all criminal cases risk complication by the confused nature of consent. So, it is not surprising that investigations into Johnson’s death took such a long time, or that the decision was ultimately made not to charge Petgrave with a crime.

    Safety reforms

    Johnson’s death has already led to some promising changes to ice hockey player safety. Shortly after the incident, the coroner called for neck protection to be compulsory for players.

    Neck guards, which help prevent skate blade injuries, were immediately enforced by governing body England Ice Hockey, and later adopted by the Elite Ice Hockey League in which Petgrave and Johnson played. They have also been adopted by the International Ice Hockey Federation and the American Hockey League.

    This rapid response was perhaps surprising in a sport that has often been slow to bring in new safety measures. Helmets only became compulsory in North America’s National Hockey League in the late 1970s, and face visors even later.



    Read more:
    Hockey’s wake-up call: Neck guards should be mandatory following Adam Johnson’s death

    The tragedy has also united the ice hockey community globally in raising awareness of, and funds to support, player safety. Campaigns like Adam’s Angels have raised money for player safety initiatives, including providing bleed kits to teams across the UK.

    Although the criminal investigation is now closed, the broader legal questions are far from settled. Without charges being brought, the courts will not have the chance to examine the role of implied consent in this case. So, no new legal precedent will be set. That task will probably fall to the sport’s governing bodies.

    Some may assume that because ice hockey is a minority sport in the UK, this case has few wider effects. But legal precedent doesn’t always stay within its original context. A ruling about consent to violence in ice hockey could have had ripple effects across other high-contact and combat sports, from rugby to boxing and beyond.

    Johnson’s death shocked not only ice hockey fans but the wider sporting public. And while no criminal case will be heard, the conversation about safety in high-risk sport is far from over.

    Dr Victoria Silverwood has previously received PhD funding from The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). She is affiliated with Progressive Rugby.

    – ref. No criminal charges over death of ice hockey player during game – what this means for sport and the law – https://theconversation.com/no-criminal-charges-over-death-of-ice-hockey-player-during-game-what-this-means-for-sport-and-the-law-255552

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: SIRT Investigating Death in RCMP Custody on James Smith Cree Nation

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on April 30, 2025

    On Monday April 28, 2025 at approximately 10:18 a.m., the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) received a notification from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) regarding an in-custody death on the James Smith Cree Nation. 

    SIRT’s Civilian Executive Director accepted the notification as within SIRT’s mandate and directed an investigation by SIRT.

    On April 28 at approximately 7:55 a.m., the Melfort RCMP received the first of several calls reporting that a male on the James Smith Cree Nation had discharged bear spray within an occupied residence. Three RCMP members as well as James Smith Cree Nation community peacekeepers responded and located a 29-year-old male within the residence. The RCMP members spoke with the man and attempted de-escalation tactics while the man remained inside the residence. A short time later the man was informed that he would be taken into custody under the Mental Health Services Act and fled from the residence through the rear door. After a short foot pursuit, the man was taken into custody without the use of force and was handcuffed. A conducted energy weapon (CEW) was drawn during the pursuit but was not discharged during the encounter. 

    Shortly after being handcuffed, the male went into medical distress. RCMP members immediately contacted EMS for assistance and commenced first aid. While awaiting the arrival of EMS, RCMP and community peacekeepers from James Smith Cree Nation continued first aid, performing CPR and administering naloxone several times. At approximately 9:43 a.m., EMS arrived at the scene and assumed responsibility for the man’s care. Shortly thereafter, the man was pronounced deceased by EMS.

    Following the notification, a SIRT team consisting of the Civilian Executive Director and six SIRT investigators was deployed to Melfort and the James Smith Cree Nation to begin their investigation. A community liaison was also appointed pursuant to S.91.12 (1) (a) of The Police Act, 1990. SIRT’s investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man’s arrest and the cause of his death. The RCMP will maintain responsibility for any investigation into the original incident. No further information will be released at this time. A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.

    SIRT’s mandate is to investigate alleged cases of serious injury, death, sexual assault or interpersonal violence arising from the actions or omissions of on and off-duty police officers, or while an individual is in police custody.

    For updates on SIRT investigations, follow SIRT on X, formerly known as Twitter, at https://twitter.com/SIRT_SK. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New way of working set to strengthen families in Liverpool

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Today, Liverpool City Council officially introduced its new way of working with children, young people and their families.

    The new model of practice – Our City, Our Children, Together – has been co-produced by staff and young people and will see the council and its partners working in a holistic way that focuses on relationships and long-term wellbeing underpinned by strengths-based support.

    At the heart of Our City, Our Children, Together will be Family Safeguarding. This model of safeguarding is already used by over 20 local authorities in England and brings a whole-family approach that not only ensures the safety of vulnerable children but also works to keep families together and to support long-term safety.

    As well as social workers, Family Safeguarding brings together the right services at the right time to offer families the support they need. The council will be recruiting new colleagues with experience in substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse who will give support alongside other partner agencies.

    Family Safeguarding, also known as the Hertfordshire Model after the local authority that pioneered the approach in 2015, is widely favoured by social care professionals as it supports families to make sustainable change.

    One of the approach’s cornerstones is a technique called motivational interviewing which means that professionals work on an equal footing with families, identifying their strengths and giving them power to make positive changes.

    The model was launched in Liverpool with an event at St George’s Hall with speakers including Steph Atalla from the Centre for Family Safeguarding, Angela Frazer-Wicks, chair of the Family Rights Group, Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for England, and Alisdair Cant, a specialist in motivational interviewing.

    Local authorities using Family Safeguarding see significant reductions in the number of children taken into care as well as those needing a Child Protection Plan, sometimes seeing figures halved. In Hertfordshire, the council saved an estimated £220m over the first decade of the model’s implementation.

    Liverpool currently has over 1,400 looked-after children and young people.

    Introducing Family Safeguarding to Liverpool is an important step on the council’s improvement journey in children’s social care and follows the introduction to Liverpool of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court earlier this month.

    Bringing the model to Liverpool will support Pillar 4 of the Council Plan – Healthier lives for children and adults.

    Cllr Liz Parsons, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for Children’s Social Services, said: “The introduction of the new model of practice marks the end of a huge project for teams across the Children and Young People’s services and the start of a truly transformational way of working for Liverpool’s families

    “Our City, Our Children, Together will mean that more families are kept together so they feel empowered to thrive and overcome challenges.

    “In particular, we know from other local authorities that have introduced Family Safeguarding that it works; it works because social workers and other professionals understand its value and have seen in action the profound effect it has on children, young people and their parents. This is not only good for families but it is good for Liverpool as a whole.”

    Steph Atalla, practice lead, Centre for Family Safeguarding, said: “It’s fantastic that Family Safeguarding is coming to Liverpool. There are some fantastic practitioners and leaders in the city and I know that they really want to focus on reducing the in-care population and the number of children on a Child Protection Plan and this model is proven to do that.

    “Family Safeguarding is now in 24 local authorities and is having a significant impact so I know that it will be just as successful here in Liverpool and I’m really excited to see where it goes – good luck Liverpool!”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: DOGE’s AI surveillance risks silencing whistleblowers and weakening democracy

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Thomas Stuart, Lecturer in Communications, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria

    The United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly using artificial intelligence to surveil federal agency communications for anti-Donald Trump and anti-Elon Musk sentiment.

    AI tools now automate firings and assess U.S. federal employees’ sentiment and alignment with the administration’s “mission.” Musk, who has been appointed a “special government employee” by the U.S. president and leads DOGE, has framed these moves as an attempt to cut waste and increase efficiency.

    At least one agency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has reportedly warned staff to watch what they say, type or do online.

    The move has been largely overshadowed by tariff debates and constitutional concerns. But research on AI and governance suggests surveillance may erode the transparency that defines public institutions.

    Now, with Musk signalling he may scale back his involvement with DOGE, questions remain about how the system will operate in his absence — and whether anyone will be tasked with dismantling it.

    Disruption replaces due process

    Musk has presented DOGE as a lean, tech-driven solution to government bloat — a message he has repeated in interviews and on social media. Artificial intelligence, he argues, can cut red tape, trim costs and optimize operations.

    However, within federal agencies, AI has been used less to support public servants than to evaluate them — and in some cases, to eliminate them.

    Since DOGE assumed control over key functions within the Office of Personnel Management in January, hundreds of federal employees have been dismissed without formal explanation. DOGE also restricted access to cloud systems and sidelined career officials.

    DOGE was established by Trump through an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025 and tasked with cutting federal spending.
    (Shutterstock)

    Concerns over data security soon followed. In March, a federal judge barred DOGE from accessing Treasury systems, citing a “chaotic and haphazard” approach that posed a “realistic danger” of exposing sensitive financial information.

    Internally, DOGE operates through tools more familiar to startups than government agencies. Staff use disappearing messages via the Signal messenger app and draft documents in Google Docs rather than approved federal platforms.

    Grok, a generative AI chatbot launched by Musk in 2023, has been integrated across departments, though its tasks remain unclear.

    How Doge’s AI targets workers

    Earlier this year, thousands of federal employees received an email from the Office of Personnel Management asking them to provide five bullet points listing what they accomplished that week. “Failure to respond,” Musk warned on X, “will be taken as a resignation.”

    The message triggered uncertainty across departments. Without clear legal guidance, many workers were left guessing whether silence would mean termination. The Department of Justice and several intelligence agencies warned staff not to respond.



    Read more:
    Musk’s ruthless approach to efficiency is not translating well to the U.S. government

    Others, like the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Transportation, instructed staff to comply with DOGE’s requests. HHS later warned responses could “be read by malign foreign actors.” The EPA distributed template responses to help staff navigate the demand.

    The following week, the Office of Personnel Management clarified participation was voluntary. By then, responses had already been processed.

    DOGE reportedly planned to feed the responses into a large language model to determine whether an employee was mission-critical. Musk later denied this, describing the exercise as a test “to see if the employee had a pulse.”

    DOGE’S algorithms judge allegiance

    According to reports, DOGE’s AI tools have now been deployed across agencies to monitor political sentiment of workers. There is no indication that these systems otherwise assess employee competence or efficacy.

    Trump administration officials reportedly said some government employees have been informed that DOGE is examining staff for signs of perceived disloyalty to both the Trump administration and Musk himself.

    When AI is used in this way — without transparency or clear performance frameworks — it optimizes for compliance rather than capability.

    AI designed to detect dissent offers little support for the work of public service. Rather than recognizing expertise or ethical judgment, these tools reduce complex decision-making to surface-level signs of loyalty.

    Effective collaboration between humans and AI depends on clear boundaries. AI might complement the public service by identifying patterns in data, for example. Humans though must retain authority over context and judgment. When AI polices allegiance, those boundaries collapse, sidelining human skill and integrity.

    AI surveillance rewrites workplace behaviour

    The inherent limitations of large language models amplify these risks. These models cannot reliably read nuance, navigate ethical grey areas or understand intent. Assigning surveillance or employee evaluations to these systems invites errors.

    Worse, such blunt tools force civil servants into self-censorship to avoid misinterpretation. Public service shifts from informed expertise to performative alignment.

    For employees, the consequences extend beyond flawed assessments. AI surveillance deployed through tools like Grok and Signal creates uncertainty about how performance is measured and by whom.

    As surveillance systems degrade psychological safety, employees disengage and become discouraged. Far from enhancing productivity, covert monitoring erodes trust in both management and mission.

    This atmosphere weakens accountability. Whistle-blowing often reflects loyalty to institutional values rather than defiance. By reframing personal beliefs and integrity as disloyalty, DOGE will silence mechanisms that safeguard transparency.

    AI surveillance becomes institutional

    Musk recently announced his involvement at DOGE “will drop significantly”, likely beginning in May. The move is attributed in part to pressure from Republicans urging Trump to distance himself from Musk, as well as pressure from Tesla investors.

    Despite his expected departure, around 100 DOGE employees — and the AI frameworks they manage — will remain embedded across federal departments. Musk’s departure may shift headlines, but it will leave structural risks embedded within federal operations.

    Once governments adopt new surveillance tools, they rarely dismantle them, regardless of whether their architect stays to oversee them. With no clear formal oversight beyond presidential discretion, the surveillance system is likely to outlast Musk’s tenure.

    Employees monitored for political conformity are less likely to raise concerns, report misconduct or challenge flawed directives.

    As human resource protocols are bypassed and oversight is diminished, the balance could shift from policy grounded in principle to regulations grounded in algorithms. Governance risks giving way to control, which could weaken the political neutrality of the civil service.

    Thomas Stuart does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. DOGE’s AI surveillance risks silencing whistleblowers and weakening democracy – https://theconversation.com/doges-ai-surveillance-risks-silencing-whistleblowers-and-weakening-democracy-254358

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: The ‘entourage effect’ — what we don’t know about how cannabis works

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jonathan Simone, Adjunct Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University

    In the years since legalization, there has been a tremendous surge in the number of cannabis products available to Canadian consumers, many offering tailored experiences to enhance seemingly any mood or activity.

    Do you want something calming or uplifting? Are you looking to inspire focus, spark creativity or get a good night’s sleep? Do you prefer full-spectrum extracts or THC isolates?

    But how does one plant produce so many different experiences? Like many of its botanical relatives, cannabis is rich in active compounds. The prevailing view is that these compounds work together to shape the overall experience, a phenomenon known as the “entourage effect.”

    From a consumer standpoint, the idea of custom-tailored experiences guided by key active ingredients is appealing — and it certainly makes things easier. But in reality, it’s not so cut-and-dried.

    Making informed decisions as a cannabis consumer can seem overwhelming, and navigating a product menu can feel like it requires a chemistry degree. But how much do we really know about how cannabis works? And how well are we able to predict individual experiences based on a product’s composition?

    What’s in a high?

    Most research into cannabis’ effects has focused on two key compounds, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is non-intoxicating and thought to underlie many therapeutic effects of cannabis, whereas THC is the primary compound responsible for the classic cannabis high.

    Until recently, the most pertinent information available to cannabis consumers was the THC:CBD ratio, and from a regulatory standpoint, these are the only compounds required by Health Canada for product labels. But the cannabis plant produces over 500 potentially bioactive compounds, most notably cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, with increasing emphasis being placed on how they interact to drive different experiences.

    The idea that the different components of cannabis work in concert, modulating one another’s activity to influence the overall experience, has been termed the “entourage effect.” Simply put, it seeks to explain the effects of cannabis beyond those of any individual component, such as THC or CBD, and offers an elegant explanation for a common question: how can products with the same amount of THC and CBD produce different effects?

    Indeed, the medical cannabis community has long-favoured full- and broad-spectrum products (those containing a varied chemical profile) over single-compound isolates such as purified THC or CBD, based on claims of superior safety and efficacy.

    Ask your local budtender for a recommendation and you will likely get a crash-course on terpene nomenclature, hearing words like limonene, myrcene, pinene and linalool.

    While this modern embrace of terpene pharmacology and natural product chemistry reflects a growing appreciation for the complexities of the cannabis plant, claims of entourage effects remain largely speculative, highlighting how much we’ve yet to learn.

    Sound science or smoke and mirrors?

    Initially coined by scientists in Israel and Italy in study published in 1998, the term “entourage effect” described interactions among endogenous cannabinoids (THC-and CBD-like molecules produced by the human body). The idea was that some of these compounds, which are inactive on their own, could enhance or modulate the activity of others, resulting in combined effects greater than the sum of their parts.

    It is important to note that this study did not examine plant-derived cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, but rather structurally related compounds produced naturally in the brain and body. As such, the idea of cannabis-specific entourage effects did not emerge directly from the data itself, but from broader inferences drawn from that research that provided a rationale for the diverse effects often reported by cannabis users.

    Since then, and despite a lack of supporting evidence, the term has been widely adopted and adapted by the cannabis industry, often leveraged to differentiate products in an overly crowded market.

    The available support for entourage effects in humans is limited to a few small clinical and observational studies and meta-analyses that suggest whole-plant extracts may outperform isolates for conditions like chronic pain and pediatric epilepsy.

    However, these studies often use non-standardized extracts and are therefore unable to identify which chemical interactions are driving the effects. Further, direct comparisons of full-spectrum and isolate products are lacking, with most claims rooted in inferences made from pre-clinical (in other words, non-human) research and from studies of non-cannabis derived phytomolecules.

    That said, the entourage effect is a valid hypothesis and arguably the most promising in terms of explaining cannabis’s varied and nuanced effects. Similar effects have been described for other drug classes, though these interactions are often termed synergism and potentiation and typically involve just a few well-characterized compounds. In contrast, unlocking cannabis synergy requires untangling the interactions of hundreds of different molecules, many of which are still poorly understood.

    That complexity is what I’ve spent my career trying to understand. Researching how cannabis-derived compounds work in the brain and body, I have gained a considerable appreciation for how far our understanding of cannabis has come, how much we have still yet to uncover and how easy it is for enthusiasm to outpace evidence.

    Reading between the product lines

    As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, consumers need to approach product claims with a healthy dose of skepticism. There is no doubt the cannabis plant is a treasure trove of unexplored and underexplored bioactive molecules, and that we will continue to uncover interesting and unexpected interactions among them. But we are far from a complete picture.

    At present, the entourage effect remains a hypothesis more often co-opted for marketing than grounded in evidence. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong, but it does mean we should resist conflating convenient narratives with established science. This highlights an important question: where does the onus of responsibility for generating this new knowledge fall?

    If the cannabis industry continues invoking the entourage effect for marketing and product differentiation, then it should support and contribute to research that furthers the state of evidence.

    Relying solely on existing pre-clinical and academic studies in lieu of directly advancing the science and validating real-world product claims risks perpetuating hype at the expense of credibility. But industry is not alone in their duty. Government must also remedy the regulatory bottlenecks that impede new research.

    Establishing a credible, science-backed cannabis marketplace means moving beyond hype. It requires action, from industry and government, to generate the information consumers need to make informed decisions.

    Jonathan Simone does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The ‘entourage effect’ — what we don’t know about how cannabis works – https://theconversation.com/the-entourage-effect-what-we-dont-know-about-how-cannabis-works-251799

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: School of Nursing Hosts Second Annual Research and Scholarship Day

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On April 21st, more than 80 students, faculty, and staff gathered for the UConn School of Nursing’s second annual Research and Scholarship Day.

    The event featured a keynote speaker, podium presentations, poster displays, networking opportunities, and a luncheon.

    Keynote speaker Ann-Margaret Navarra, Ph.D., CPNP, FAAN, associate dean for research and innovation at Stony Brook University, did her presentation on “Nursing Research and Innovative Partnerships for the Promotion of Health Equity.” She offered in-person consultations for faculty and Ph.D./DNP students on research and scholarships.

    Ann-Margaret Navarra, PhD, CPNP, FAAN, associate dean for research and innovation at Stony Brook University giving her keynote address at SoN’s Research and Scholarship Day on April 21, 2025. (Ashley O’Connell / UConn Photo)

    The presentation was centered around her work involving HIV among adolescents and young adults. Promoting health equity across all populations and interprofessional collaboration were key takeaways from her presentation.

    Podium presenters included faculty and students whose work represents the depth and breadth of SoN scholarship.

    Carrie Morgan-Eaton, Ph.D., RNC-OB, C-EFM, CHSE, assistant clinical professor, presented her project, “Qualitative Analysis of Women’s Experiences of Postpartum POST-BIRTH Warning Signs Education.” Yashika Sharma, Ph.D., RN, an assistant professor, presented “Examining the Influence of Sexual Orientation-Related Nondiscrimination Laws on 30-Year CVD Risk Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Adults.”

    Students from the SoN DNP and Ph.D. programs also provided podium presentations. Their presentations included “Meta-ethnography of the Experiences of Women of Color Who Survived Severe Maternal Morbidity or Birth Complications” (Cristina Mills, Ph.D. candidate) and “Palliative Care in the Emergency Room: A QI Project” (Rachel Butler, recent DNP graduate).

    SoN Honors student, Jahmiha Lindo, presented “Sepsis Knowledge Amongst Black Parents in the United States.”

    “The opportunity to conduct research that is directly benefiting my community, the Black community, is especially rewarding to me,” she said.

    It took her almost three years of research, literature reviews, approvals, funding, and applications, to get to this point in her career.

    “I feel getting to this moment and sharing the research and the data is really full circle,” Lindo said. “I’m just glad to add to the pool of information that is currently out there.”

    In total, 45 posters were showcased at the event covering nurses’ health and high-quality care, student success, symptoms and self- and family management across the lifespan, women’s and family health, health promotion across the lifespan, and health equity.

    School of Nursing faculty and students present their research during Research and Scholarship Day on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Coral Aponte / UConn Photo)

    “It’s a showcase of our Ph.D. students, our DNP students, and our undergrad students work of what they’re doing in their courses, and they bring it to life here,” said Louise Reagan, Ph.D., APRN, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and director of the Ph.D. program.

    “It’s phenomenal to see them all, and our speakers, doing some cutting-edge research,” she said.

    Attendees voted for their top three poster presenters on overall appearance of the poster and rigor.

    Michelle Cole, DNP, MSN, RN, CPN, an associate clinical professor here at UConn, received first place for her poster “Empowering Women: Enhancing Menstrual Health Knowledge and Access in Rural Guatemala.”

    Rejoicing in her win, she couldn’t help but relate to Navarra’s presentation on the importance of collaboration. She emphasized the help she received from her team – Morgan-Eaton and two graduate students – saying she wouldn’t be here without them. Her project was funded with a seed grant from the SoN Office of Research and Scholarship.

    Being recognized for her work was a very impactful moment for her.

    “I’m honored to have clinical work being recognized in this space and representing women from Guatemala,” she said. “It’s very nice because it has a deep meaning to me.”

    Katherine Bernier Carney, Ph.D., RN, received second place for her poster “Addressing Burnout Before the Bedside: A Pilot Mindfulness Intervention for Pre-licensure Nursing Students,” and Ph.D. candidate Ashwag Alhabodal earned third place for her poster on “Experiences of Family Caregivers of Individuals with Hypertension and Diabetes: A meta-ethnography.”

    Everyone is proud to show off their research and what they have done. In turn, everyone is interested in other individuals’ work creating a community of researchers comprised of faculty and students to network and connect.

    The event is meant to highlight and celebrate the work everyone in the UConn nursing community has done, and it did just that.

    This event is a “wonderful opportunity to highlight some of the important research and clinical scholarship conducted by our faculty and students and an opportunity to facilitate collaborations. I am grateful to our planning committee and staff for their assistance in organizing and running this meeting,” said Nancy Redeker, Ph.D., RN, FAHA, FAAN, senior associate dean for research & scholarship.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Shaheen Completes Weeklong “Medicaid Impact Tour” to Highlight the Disastrous Impact of Proposed Cuts to Medicaid

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Washington, DC) – Last week, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) launched her “Medicaid Impact Tour”—a weeklong series of discussions across the Granite State to highlight the disastrous impact that Republican-led cuts to Medicaid would have on New Hampshire’s health care system and working families, including by raising the cost of health care and leaving thousands uninsured. The tour included stops in Berlin, Laconia, Claremont and Concord for meetings with health care providers, activists and Medicaid beneficiaries. You can watch Shaheen’s tour recap video here and view front page coverage of the tour here. 
    Shaheen’s tour comes as Congressional Republicans, led by President Trump and Elon Musk, work to advance legislation that will pave the way for steep cuts to Medicaid funding and would impact millions of people across the country. More than 180,000 people in New Hampshire use Medicaid for their insurance and half of those recipients are children. Under the Republican proposal, they will see significant changes to their coverage and more than 60,000 Granite Starters will be at risk of losing their coverage. This includes 7,600 patients that are currently receiving treatment for substance use disorders.  
    More Below: 
    Berlin Daily Sun: Shaheen hears from Medicaid recipients in Berlin 
    Some of those who will be most affected by possible cuts to Medicaid got to speak candidly with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) during a rural health roundtable at Northern Human Services in Berlin on Monday as Shaheen kicked off a weeklong “Medicaid Impact Tour.” 
    Getting the word out of how Medicaid and other bedrock social service programs impact people’s lives will come from the grassroots or ground up. It will be the first-hand experiences of New Hampshire residents who rely on these programs as part of meeting their daily needs that Shaheen will take back to Washington to advocate for keeping the programs fully funded. 
    Laconia Daily Sun: Shaheen hears from those who rely on Medicaid in Laconia, where a third of residents are enrolled 
    Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) listened to local leaders, health care providers and voters during a Medicaid Impact Tour roundtable discussion at Partnership for Public Health in Laconia on Tuesday afternoon. 
    A consensus of nonprofit leaders at the table said much of their funding comes from Medicaid, and any reduction is likely to mean fewer services. 
    Valley News: Proposed cuts to Medicaid worry Upper Valley health care providers, advocates 
    “Thinking about taking away health services people rely on for a tax break for the wealthiest Americans makes no sense,” U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said during a visit to Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont on Wednesday. 
    Without health insurance, residents would have to make decisions between putting food on the table and going to the doctor, Dr. Juliann Barrett, Valley Regional’s chief medical officer, pointed out during a roundtable discussion with Shaheen. “It would have a drastic impact on preventative services,” Barrett said. 
    Eagle Times: Shaheen meets with health care officials to discuss potential Medicaid funding cuts 
    Medicaid cuts of nearly $900 million could be on the horizon, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen has been meeting with health care officials this week to get first-hand accounts about what this would do to the services they provide patients. 
    She noted that statewide one in seven people, or about 180,000 people, are enrolled in Medicaid in some form. That number is even more staggering in Claremont at a third of the population. 
    “You talked about the uncertainty, and one of the challenges we have in Washington is uncertainty,” Shaheen said. “It’s been very hard to get information that was being planned, particularly around health care.” 
    Concord Monitor: Trump’s cuts to federal funding draw concern from New Hampshire health advocates 
    On Thursday, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen met with public health leaders in Concord to address the effects of recent funding cuts on services in New Hampshire, criticizing the federal government’s decision to withdraw the funding without notice. 
    Shaheen said she plans to advocate strongly to her colleagues in Washington, D.C., about the real-world impact of these cuts on health care, providers and workers across New Hampshire. She added that confusion over the scope and consequences of the cuts isn’t limited to one side of the aisle. 
    “I think that was the goal, to keep people off balance, people uncertain, and it has a huge impact on morale, on the anxiety that people are feeling, not to mention the actual results at the fallout,” said Shaheen. “The only thing that’s going to change is when we are being able to build some coalitions with our Republican colleagues.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New boxing ring for Coventry youth thanks to historic charity funds

    Source: City of Coventry

    Young boxing enthusiasts in Coventry will have the opportunity to go toe-to-toe in a brand-new ring after being awarded the first grant from a six-figure funding pot which will benefit communities.

    Bell Green ABC (Amateur Boxing Club) has been awarded £5,000 by Heart of England Community Foundation after the grant-giving organisation joined together with Coventry City Council to unlock dormant assets to benefit the voluntary and community sector in Coventry.

    The ringfenced charitable funds, which were donated to the council by philanthropists hundreds of years ago for causes not relevant to today’s society, were uncovered by the Foundation in conjunction with the Charity Commission’s revitalising trusts initiative, which highlights dormant charity assets that have been lost in the system over long periods of time.

    The money has been added to the Foundation’s own funds that target improving communities across Coventry, which in-turn create a long-term source of income for the voluntary and community sector in the city.

    Bell Green ABC, based at Bell Green Working Men’s Club, was the very first recipient of a grant from the funds and has used the £5,000 to purchase a new boxing ring as well as paint to revamp the gym, creating a more welcoming space.

    Cllr Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, added: “It’s fantastic to see the first grant awarded to Bell Green ABC, which will make a real difference to young people across Coventry.

    “This investment not only helps to grow boxing in the city but also provides a safe and positive space for young people who want to take part in a new sport.

    “We are proud to work with the Heart of England Community Foundation to unlock these valuable resources and continue to support initiatives that strengthen our communities.”

    The club was taken over by Damon Croft just last year, and it has since gone from strength to strength, welcoming an increasing number of young people through the door and being a recognised name in the boxing circuit.

    Damon hopes that the new ring will see even more local children take up the sport.

    He said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to Heart of England Community Foundation and Coventry City Council for this grant.

    “Having a brand-new facility like this will have a massive impact on the club. We’ve been on a really good journey so far, but we do lose some children because they move on to clubs with better facilities. The new ring will change that.

    “I’m extremely passionate about boxing and have worked hard to transform the classes so that they are really fun for children of all ages.

    “Boxing has so many benefits for young people – it not only helps with fitness, but also improves their focus, self-discipline and confidence, and we’ve had so many parents comment on how much their child’s behaviour and manners have improved since being with us.

    “The gym also provides young people with a safe space to come where they feel comfortable and can make new friends, rather than them hanging around on the streets or being in front of screens.

    “I have so many plans for the future – I’ve already started doing voluntary work with young people who aren’t in mainstream schooling, but I’ll also be looking to expand what we offer at the gym including launching some new fitness classes for adults, and the new ring will really support this.”

    Tina Costello OBE, Chief Executive of the Foundation, said: “It is fantastic to have worked with Coventry City Council to unlock these dormant assets for the benefit of the voluntary and community sector in Coventry.

    “It’s not unusual for councils to have incredibly historic assets such as these, and we have the expertise and local knowledge to both manage these funds and ensure they reach the communities where they are needed most.

    “We are extremely pleased to have awarded the very first grant from this funding to Bell Green ABC.

    “The club has had a significant positive impact on the Bell Green community, and it shares our values of creating happier, healthier, fairer lives for all. We wish them every success for the future.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s Statement on Trump’s First 100 Days

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, issued the following statement marking the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second occupancy of the White House.

    “Donald Trump’s first 100 days have been a damning masterclass of cruelty, callousness, chaos, and corruption. From slashing essential services and attacking reproductive freedom to terrorizing immigrants and firing thousands of dedicated federal workers—Trump has governed with a reckless disregard for the Constitution and contempt for everyone who calls America home.

    “In just 100 days, Trump has launched a full-scale assault on workers, families, and our most vulnerable communities. He is gutting Medicaid, slashing funding for Head Start, defunding life-saving scientific and medical research, and ending critical programs that put food on the table and keep our families safely housed. He has torn immigrant families apart through mass deportations and unlawful detentions—including the abduction and detention of my constituent Rümeysa Öztürk—and pushed through policies that would rip away healthcare, threaten access to abortion care, and restrict our bodily autonomy. And he has consistently sought to erase Black history, resegregate society, and roll back decades of civil rights progress—all while enacting tariffs that will raise the cost of groceries, housing, and other essentials.

    “Trump has attacked everyone and everything except the rising cost of living, and now Republicans are marking the 100-day milestone by advancing a reconciliation bill that would end Medicaid as we know it and make the largest cuts to food assistance and other essential programs in American history. The cruelty is the point.

    “As Congresswoman for the Massachusetts 7th, I will not be silent, and I refuse to be complicit. I will continue using every tool at my disposal—legislation, litigation, and mobilization—to stand in the gap and fight for the dignity, safety, and economic wellbeing of my constituents and communities across this country.”

    Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading voice in Congress speaking out against Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s unprecedented assault on our democracy, and she has been a steadfast advocate for protecting the essential services that federal workers and agencies provide.

    • On April 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Trump Administration’s abrupt reinstatement of international student visas. 
    • On April 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley, along with Senator Markey and Rep. McGovern, published an op-ed in the New York Times in which they discussed their meeting with Rümeysa Öztürk in detention and warned the American people of the dangers posed by the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process.
    • On April 24, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren and Massachusetts lawmakers sounding the alarm on the Trump Administration’s cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities staff and grants.
    • On April 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues visited the ICE detention facilities in Basile and Jena, Louisiana with her colleagues, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully detained, respectively.
    • On April 22, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Markey and Warren demanded answers about the Trump Administration’s concerning pattern of ripping individuals from their communities and shipping them to jurisdictions more favorable to the Trump administration’s deportation agenda.
    • On April 18, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Warren and Markey demanded the State Department release a memo and documents related to Rumeysa Ozturk’s arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying her arrest was false.
    • On April 14, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Ed Markey and the Massachusetts congressional delegation demanding answers on the sudden termination of the federal staff responsible for administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
    • On April 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she slammed Trump’s Executive Order attacking Smithsonian museums – namely the National Museum of African American History and Culture, or Blacksonian – and his blatant attempt to erase Black history. 
    • On April 9, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined the Massachusetts delegation in sending a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding answers after the abrupt shuttering of the entire HHS Regional Office in Boston.
    • On April 9, 2025, Rep. Pressley led lawmakers in sending a letter to Trump’s trade official demanding he resign from holding multiple positions with clear conflicts of interest that would further harm federal workers.
    • On April 3, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Warren and Markey sounded the alarm on Rumeysa Ozturk’s medical neglect in ICE custody and renewed their urgent calls for her release.
    • On March 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey led over 30 lawmakers demanding information from DHS about the arrest and detention of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk and similar incidents across the country.
    • On March 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming Trump’s executive order to end collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
    • On March 26, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and detained Rumeysa Ozturk, an international student with legal status in a graduate program at Tufts University. 
    • On March 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Boston and other municipalities in Massachusetts.
    • On March 21, 2025, Rep. Pressley led Massachusetts lawmakers in a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sharply criticizing and demanding answers about the impact of the Musk-Trump Administration’s mass firings of federal workers in Massachusetts.
    • On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley spoke out against the U.S. Department of Education’s mass layoffs of over 1,300 workers, which effectively guts the agency.
    • On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley voted against Republicans’ shameful government budget bill, which would harm vulnerable families and provide a blank check for Elon Musk and Donald Trump to continue their unprecedented assault on our democracy. She later issued a statement condemning its final passage in the Senate.
    • On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined 13 of her colleagues on a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding answers and the immediate release of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, whose illegal abduction is an attack on his constitutional right to free speech and due process.
    • On March 4, 2025, Rep. Pressley walked out of the House chamber in protest during Donald Trump’s presidential joint address to Congress.
    • On March 4, 2025, Rep. Pressley welcomed Claire Bergstresser, an Everett constituent, dedicated public servant, AFGE union member, and former HUD worker who was unjustly terminated as part of Musk and Trump’s assault on federal agencies as her guest to the presidential joint address to Congress.
    • On February 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley led 85 lawmakers in a letter urging the Office of Special Counsel to immediate reinstate and expand protections for all unfairly fired federal workers.
    • On February 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined over 200 Democrats in filing an amicus brief defending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau before a U.S. District Court.
    • On February 26, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed what true government efficiency looks like and denounced Elon Musk and Donald Trump for utilizing DOGE to gut the essential services that keep people safe, fed, and housed.
    • On February 25, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley condemned Elon Musk’s abuse of government efficiency through the fraudulent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
    • On February 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she railed against Republicans’ cruel budget resolution that would slash Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion.
    • On February 20, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
    • On February 13, 2025, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley emphasized the critical role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in safeguarding consumers and sharply criticized Donald Trump and Elon Musk for halting the critical work of the agency.
    • On February 10, 2025, Rep. Pressley rallied with Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Member Maxine Waters, and advocates to protest Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s unlawful takeover of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
    • On February 11, 2025, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley criticized the Trump-Musk administration for halting the critical work of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) with crypto scams on the rise.
    • On February 10, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming the Trump Administration’s harmful cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to support hospitals, universities, and research institutions conducting lifesaving research.
    • On February 10, 2025, as Trump and Musk threaten to dismantle the essential work of the U.S. Department of Education, Rep.  Pressley delivered a powerful floor speech to affirm the role of public education in American democracy.
    • On February 6, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley delivered a powerful rebuke of Republicans’ efforts to gut diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and eliminate essential services for vulnerable communities.
    • On February 5, 2025, Rep. Pressley rallied outside the U.S. Department of Treasury to protest Elon Musk’s unlawful assault on federal agencies and our democracy.
    • On January 30, 2025, Rep. Pressley slammed Donald Trump for blaming the tragic plane crash at Reagan National Airport, which killed over 60 people, including some families from Massachusetts, on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
    • In January 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming Trump’s illegal freeze on federal grants and loans and its harmful impact on vulnerable communities.
    • On January 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned floor speech condemning Republicans’ cruel anti-abortion bill that criminalizes providers and denies families care.
    • On January 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues to reintroduce the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, a bill to repeal an outdated law that has been used to target innocent immigrants without due process rights.
    • On January 22, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s harmful executive actions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: ODHS announces new online training on recognizing and reporting child abuse

    Source: US State of Oregon

    he Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has launched its first-ever interactive online training for the public about reporting suspected child abuse. The training rollout coincides with Child Abuse Awareness Month and the announcement of a new safety initiative underway in Child Welfare.

    Safety priorities in the initiative include improving safety for children in foster care and children who come to the attention of Child Welfare in addition to providing training to the public and professionals known as mandatory reporters. Mandatory reporters are required by law to report suspected child abuse, and include professionals in healthcare, law enforcement, social work and education fields, among others.

    The new online training helps reporters identify types of child abuse, learn how to report, and recognize when a family needs material or economic assistance. Across the country and in Oregon, efforts to better distinguish between child abuse and neglect and family needs related to poverty are driving family support programs, sometimes called family preservation or prevention.

    “We all contribute to child safety not only by being mandatory reporters, but by being mandatory supporters,” said Aprille Flint-Gerner, ODHS Child Welfare Division director. “This training provides the public with the tools needed to recognize signs of abuse that must be reported, as well as understanding when a family needs a community resource or support, rather than a report to the hotline.”

    The interactive training takes about an hour to complete and is considered the official Oregon Health Authority and ODHS state course with the most up-to-date guidance on child abuse and effective reporting. Prior to the new training, ODHS used a shorter explanatory video about reporting child abuse.

    The course, Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse in Oregon, teaches:

    • How to recognize signs of child abuse and understand the definitions.
    • The role and impact of personal biases when determining whether a report is required.
    • How to make a report and what information to provide to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline.
    • What happens after a report is made.
    • How to connect a family with resources.

    The training also aims to prevent unnecessary abuse reports. The Oregon Child Abuse Hotline (ORCAH) receives a high number of calls that are neither reports of child abuse nor require Child Welfare intervention. In 2024, ORCAH received 176,393 contacts, resulting in 96,246 documented screening reports. Of the documented reports, 46,483, or 27% resulted in Child Protective Services completing an assessment. ORCAH data shows that 80% of reports are from mandatory reporters, largely from representatives of law enforcement, education and the medical field.

    Data in Oregon and nationally show that Black and/or African American and American Indian/Alaska Native families are disproportionately reported to child welfare. The training addresses how reporters can recognize their personal biases and how they view a child or family in need.

    “We hope the training will help reduce disproportionality in reporting and get families connected to the services they need to thrive,” Flint-Gerner said. “Child safety is about early intervention in communities whenever possible, so that children who are unsafe get help quickly, and families who need resources get connected to supports. Prevention and early intervention are where the public and mandatory reporters can really make a difference.”

    The new training is available on the Reporting Child Abuse web page in partnership with Oregon State University’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE).

    Resources

    Additional learning materials and guides about child abuse reporting.

    Find local resources financial assistance, food pantry information and other free or reduced-cost help at 211info.org, via phone at 211, or via text 898211.

    Information about how youth in foster care can file a complaint: email fco.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call 855-840-6036.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Appropriations Hearing on Biomedical Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on biomedical research—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in her opening remarks how important biomedical research is for patients and families across the country and how President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on our nation’s premier biomedical research enterprise threatens to unravel decades of progress.

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

    “I let me start by congratulating you, Senator Collins, as first hearing as Chair.

    “We’ve managed to do a lot of bipartisan work over the past few years, and I hope we can continue to build off of that record together.

    “And I really appreciate this important hearing on biomedical research—it is an issue with long-standing bipartisan support. We’ve worked together many times over the years—along with our colleagues—to invest in advancing medical breakthroughs.

    “And those investments have paid off in so many ways, not just billions in economic activity, hundreds of thousands of jobs, and a medical research enterprise that is the envy of the world. They have also paid off with genuine miracles, cures that were once impossible, treatments that were once unthinkable. These are investments that give patients hope for the future, that give them back a life derailed by a disease, that give people precious more time with loved ones.

    “Which is why I am so deeply alarmed that President Trump has taken a wrecking ball to our biomedical research enterprise. He and Elon Musk have been tossing tomorrow’s groundbreaking cures into a shredder. From day one, DOGE has been cutting critical research without rhyme, reason, or any regard for who gets hurt.

    “Trump has already axed 800 grants—over a billion dollars in research—for HIV prevention, breast cancer, pregnancy, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and more. They have also blocked $2 billion in grant funding from going out to universities and research institutions across our country. And they slapped a $1 limit on NIH researchers’ payment cards—meaning that our labs can’t get gloves, pipettes, and vials—these are the basics they need to keep research going.

    “If Trump and Musk have their way, they aren’t just going to grind medical research to a halt, they are going to send it careening backwards. Because Trump apparently wants to slash $21 billion dollars from NIH next year. That would be a 44 percent cut—the biggest cut in NIH history. He also wants to defy a bipartisan law this Committee worked to pass, so he can massively cut funding for basic costs that keeps our labs running.

    “If Trump succeeds here, a lot of world class research institutions—like the Fred Hutch Cancer Center and the University of Washington in my state—will face massive shortfalls.

    “The fact that Trump and Musk are pushing such a painful policy really underscores how they don’t know—or don’t care—whether their polices actually hurt people.

    “And if you needed any more evidence that there’s no real strategy here, just consider the Women’s Health Initiative, it was coordinated by the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in my home state of Washington. It has led to major advancements in our understanding of women’s health issues, especially in older women. It has paved the way for a generation of researchers focused on women’s health, that is something we never had before.

    “And yet, Trump was going to axe it, presumably because he thinks it’s woke to care about women’s health. Then, hardly 24 hours later he claims to have reversed course following a loud public outcry. Yet, the Fred Hutch Cancer Center has yet to hear from NIH directly on if that funding will actually be restored.

    “Trump’s three-sixty really goes to show you, these cuts and firings are not about some big strategy, just chaos and extortion.

    “We have even seen Trump freeze billions of research dollars for purely political reasons, putting his own petty grievances ahead of curing cancer and saving lives. None of us should stand for that—not for a minute.

    “And just as slashing NIH isn’t about a strategy for our country, it’s not about efficiency either. NIH has an incredibly high return on investment. While medical research accounts for less than 1 percent of the federal budget, NIH has contributed to over 99 percent of drugs approved by FDA in recent years.

    “And while we’re talking about government efficiency, let’s not forget the FDA, which families trust to keep them safe. Because the NIH breakthrough won’t do much good if FDA does not have the staff and resources they need to approve new drugs. But Trump cannot gut FDA, push out four thousand workers, and expect to maintain that gold standard that keeps food and drugs safe and gives our nation a competitive edge.

    “And NIH cuts are not just cutting off promising future research, but undermining studies we are right in the middle of right now. One NIH lab that analyzes blood samples for more than 200 trials, studying cancer treatments, organ transplants and more—lost half its staff during Trump and Elon’s lay-offs.

    “Right now, in this country patients in clinical trials are praying for a breakthrough, they are seeing their best hope cut off by the richest people in the world.

    “And worse than undermining any one study, Trump and Musk are also cutting the beating heart out of our medical research enterprise—by pushing talented researchers out the door. Trump has pushed out nearly 5,000 people at NIH and counting.

    “China is already trying to seize the moment and recruit some of the brightest talent—and the same for Europe!

    “Instead of supporting new talent, Trump is slashing grants for our early career scientists. I heard about this firsthand a few weeks ago, I was out in my state speaking with researchers and students at WSU in Vancouver. Bright young people, who want to do medical research here, are suddenly worried. Why start that PhD if their funding is going to get yanked away? Why study new vaccines if RFK Jr. is going to meddle in their work? Why come to the U.S. for promising research if Trump might just try to deport them for jaywalking?

    “Make no mistake—the United States is the world leader in medical research. But creating that was not an accident and maintaining it is not inevitable. It is a choice we make through our investments, one that has paid off on a scale that cannot be measured.

    “How do you measure the miracle of eliminating a disease? Of funding a cure? Of developing a new vaccine? How do you measure giving someone the chance to become a parent, or to see their grandkids? You can’t.

    “Which leads me to the question I hope we focus on today. Why on earth would we let Trump slash that all to ribbons? Why on earth would we give up on Alzheimer’s research? Or heart disease? Or cancer? 

    “I will tell you, I am not giving up on patients. I am not giving up on cures. And I suspect many others here feel the same. So, I hope this discussion helps us focus on that common ground. And that working together we can push back on these devastating cuts and push forward the research that is so important to folks back home.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Business Leader of the Future: What Skills and Approaches Determine Success Today

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    How can top managers adapt to rapidly changing market conditions? What is behind the effective implementation of innovative projects? Why should adult experienced specialists undergo training again? Maria Petrova, Vice President of Sales at Health, talks about all this, as well as new approaches to management, the value of partnerships, and the advantages of the HSE HSE Corporate Program “Business Leader of the Future” Higher School of Business, National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    — What can you say about the skills and competencies of the participants of the “Business Leader of the Future” program? How did the listeners improve themselves?

    — The first thing I have already mentioned is the general business outlook and perspective, the ability to look ahead and, based on this, plan the present and the near future. The second is the skills of design thinking and working with uncertainty. This was one of the most significant and, in my opinion, one of the most successful blocks of the program. The third is, of course, the skills of cross-functional interaction, working with stakeholders, communication skills, the ability to present and defend your idea or project in a very short time. This is also a key competency. There were other important blocks, for example, on financial management, as well as blocks related to leadership and taking responsibility.

    And I will separately mention risk management, if I am not mistaken – the topic of the third module of the program. Taking risks is a really important point. Over the last 2-2.5 years in the company, we have included this in our routine: we try to assess risks, anticipate them and find scenarios for an effective response.

    — Did the knowledge and skills acquired in the program find application in the professional activities of the students within the company?

    — I would divide the application into two aspects: the implementation of specific projects, which we may discuss further, and changes in the behavioral habits and patterns of the participants, which I observe as a manager. Now they have begun to prepare for presentations much better, convey their ideas more clearly, and understand the business as a whole better. This is the very same business-acumen — an expanded business outlook. In addition, employees have begun to strive for more productive cross-functional interaction, not to focus on themselves when making decisions, and to take into account the KPIs of different departments.

    — Can you say a few words about the defense of the final projects? Which of them were put into production and what did they consist of?

    — The project defense was a separate amazing story. The entire management committee really enjoyed it. Usually, you go to such events thinking, “Now I’m going to sit and listen to something for six hours.” But this time, all the participants were unanimous in the opinion that everything went by in one breath. After the defense, we, as organizers, were taken to a separate room and asked to evaluate the projects. We were given the task of choosing three winners. We sat down and began to discuss. In the third minute, the question was asked: “Are there any projects here that we are ready to say “no” to?” And everyone answered that there are no such projects. We are ready to give the green light to all initiatives for further implementation in real business. We collectively decided that there is no point in looking for one winner; it would be much more appropriate to provide the teams with high-quality feedback to improve their solutions. As a result, when we went out into the audience, we announced that we were saying “yes” to all the projects.

    — Is it possible to tell a little more about a couple of projects if they do not contain business secrets?

    — We had several initiatives related to the development of new products and the corresponding modification of production capacities. I think I will not reveal any big secrets by saying that we have a trend in the dairy category for high-protein products. There is also a trend for ready-made food and for consuming products outside the home. Of course, we focus on those areas that are interesting to consumers.

    There are also projects related to operational efficiency, optimizing various processes and reducing costs, including through partner solutions in the field of logistics and supply chains. For example, how best to develop remote territories. These solutions are mainly operational and logistical. In addition, there are initiatives to develop individual trade channels and cooperate with new partners.

    — Could you briefly describe the features and advantages of the educational program at our business school?

    — The first is the desire or even a conscious wish to understand the client. This understanding is not for show, but in order to identify the client’s real need and offer a solution that will be selected individually, or, as they say now, customized for this need. The second advantage is a high-level teaching staff with excellent knowledge and material that the teachers are ready to adapt to the students.

    It is also worth noting the overall engagement in the outcome of the program. We felt throughout the entire process – from the design to the final stage – a desire to achieve, or rather, to help participants achieve specific results. And this is how we measure the success of the program, and not just by the participants listening to lectures.

    — Which courses or topics within the program did you personally like the most?

    — Personally, I especially liked two topics — the block on strategizing and foresights and the part related to design thinking. As the leader of the organization, I am responsible for the future of the company, for its independence and ability to pilot its development as a separate large business. Now we ourselves come up with new products and business areas, we implement them ourselves and learn from our own mistakes. Design thinking is one of the key methods that helps to see the business perspective and turn ideas into real solutions.

    — Did your expectations from the program at the start match the final result?

    — As you have understood, I have the most positive impressions. And here is why: I am a result-oriented person, and when I see it, I feel good. And when I see a double result, and it is really specific, right “lying on the table”, it is generally wonderful. You know, when you go to training and understand that there will be project activity, there is always a perception that this is just an educational project for the sake of it, the main thing is to learn. Yes, of course, the main thing is to learn. If the project did not work out, then you can always say that at least different methods were tried. But this is the case when you not only learned, but also got a real business result.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Southfield Doctor Convicted of Illegally Prescribing More Than 200,000 Opioid Pills

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    DETROIT – On April 25, 2025, a federal jury convicted Dr. Charise Valentine, 69, of Southfield, of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription opioids, including Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, and 10 counts of illegal distribution of Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced.

    Beck was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvorea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office.

    Dr. Valentine was convicted for her role as one of two primary doctors at Orthopedic Medical Building who issued illegal opioid prescriptions. From November 2016 to July 2018, Dr. Valentine issued more than 3,000 prescriptions for more than 200,000 pills to supposed “patients” who did not have a legitimate medical need for the drugs. The “patients” were typically brought to the clinic by “patient recruiters/marketers.” Orthopedic Medical Building, a sham clinic that operated out of a warehouse in Oak Park, Michigan, accepted only cash, and charged patients $200-500 per prescription, but did not charge anything if the patient didn’t receive an opioid prescription. The prices were not based on the service provided, but instead based on the quantity, type, and dosage of prescription opioids that the “patient” received, usually Oxycodone 30mg or Oxymorphone 40mg, two of the most addictive prescription opioids. These prescription drugs are also among the most highly diverted prescription opioids due to their high street value. The clinic also charged cash for the creation of fraudulent medical records for the supposed “patients.”

    Dr. Valentine was paid about 50% of the clinic’s proceeds – more than $500,000 in cash over about 19 months – and was paid only if she wrote an opioid prescription to a patient, not based on any supposed “medical care.” She received an envelope of thousands in cash each day she worked.

    The other defendants charged in the case, including clinic operator Iris Winchester, Dr. Michele Ritter, clinic employee Kristina Brown, and Joyce Robinson, previously pleaded guilty.

    “Addressing the sources of the opioid epidemic – which include addictive opioid prescription pills as well as street drugs – remains a top priority of this office,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Beck. “We continue to focus on doctors who, rather than helping to address the terrible impact the opioid epidemic, use the cover of a “medical office” to write illegal prescriptions for the opioids that fuel the crisis.”

    “The conviction of Dr. Valentine, who abused her position of trust by prescribing opioids in exchange for cash, underscores the FBI’s strong commitment to holding medical professionals accountable under federal law,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Physicians and other healthcare providers are entrusted with the well-being of our communities and are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards. Those who violate that trust for personal financial gain can expect to be investigated and brought to justice by the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. I also want to thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General for their collaboration and support throughout this case.”

    “Physicians who prescribe powerful opioids and other controlled substances, without regard for medical necessity, endanger the health and safety of the very patients they have sworn an oath to protect,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  “Working in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, our agency is committed to identifying and investigating those medical providers who place profits over patient safety.”

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Lievense and Wayne F. Pratt. The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the twelve districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit, a Department of Justice initiative that uses data to target and prosecute individuals that are contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis.

    The case was investigated by special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: From COVID to cancer: Why Canada’s RNA vaccine leadership matters more than ever

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Anna Blakney, Assistant Professor, Michael Smith Laboratories and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia

    As the world marks World Immunization Week, attention turns once again to the lifesaving power of vaccines.

    Amid headlines about rising cases of measles, falling vaccination rates and growing vaccine hesitancy, a quieter revolution is underway — one that could fundamentally reshape how we respond to global health threats, including pandemics and cancer.

    This revolution is being powered by RNA technology — and Canada is uniquely positioned to lead it.

    A made-in-Canada breakthrough

    While the swift development of COVID-19 vaccines appeared to be a sudden scientific triumph, it was built on six decades of foundational work. Much of that work happened in Canada. Messenger RNA (mRNA) are large, negatively charged molecules that are easily degraded and repelled by our cells.

    To coax our cells to internalize them, scientists developed a way to encapsulate them in “fat bubbles” or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which were invented by Pieter Cullis and collaborators. Cullis, a co-author of this article, is a professor in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of British Columbia.

    Once inside a patients’ cells, the mRNA gives the cell instructions to translate a viral protein that triggers an immune response. Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines — which relied on these fat bubbles — were found to be highly efficacious (more than 94 per cent) and safe, both in initial trials and continuous monitoring over time. They were estimated to have saved nearly 10 million lives in 2021 alone.

    That’s just the beginning. Research teams across the country are now building on this homegrown innovation to expand the potential of RNA vaccines beyond infectious diseases.

    The next generation: Less means more

    At the University of British Columbia, the Blakney Lab is focused on developing vaccines and therapies using self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), a technology that offers several advantages over conventional mRNA. Because saRNA replicates itself once inside a patient’s cells, much smaller doses are needed to produce a robust immune response.

    Now, this replication process may sound like something out of a science fiction film, but similar to mRNA vaccines, this technology has been developed over decades and has been thoroughly clinically validated. The saRNA technology reduces manufacturing costs and makes vaccine production more scalable during global emergencies. Notably, the lower dose can also minimize side effects, potentially reducing the risk of getting a sore arm or having to miss a day of work after vaccination.

    Recent pre-clinical studies have shown that saRNA vaccines can offer longer-lasting immunity with smaller doses, and multiple clinical trials are now underway to evaluate their use for influenza, Zika virus and even cancer.

    Vaccine equity, health security, economic growth

    Expanding Canada’s domestic RNA vaccine capacity is more than just a scientific priority; it’s a public health imperative and economic opportunity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain breakdowns exposed the risks of relying on international sources for essential vaccine ingredients and production. Investing in local infrastructure allows for faster and more flexible responses to future outbreaks.



    Read more:
    From PPE shortages to COVID-19 vaccine distribution, the supply chain has emerged as a determinant of health

    But it’s not just about pandemic readiness. One of the most exciting frontiers for RNA technology is the development of personalized cancer vaccines. These vaccines train the immune system to recognize and attack mutations specific to an individual’s tumour.

    In early clinical trials, mRNA-based cancer vaccines — such as those developed by Moderna and BioNTech — have shown promising results, dramatically reducing recurrence rates in melanoma and pancreatic cancer patients.

    Canada’s scientific ecosystem is primed to contribute meaningfully to this next generation of therapies. Strengthening our biotech infrastructure could create high-quality jobs, stimulate economic growth and reinforce Canada’s place as a leader in the global bioeconomy.

    From crisis to capacity

    The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how rapidly science can enable positive public health outcomes — and how easily inequities can widen if infrastructure and access aren’t prioritized.

    Despite being home to world-class researchers, Canada lacked the manufacturing capacity to produce its own mRNA vaccines. That gap is now being addressed through substantial recent investments from the government of Canada, but sustaining momentum will require long-term commitment from policymakers and funders.

    Equity must also remain at the forefront. Communities in rural, remote and Indigenous regions often face barriers to accessing vaccines — not because of hesitancy, but due to logistical challenges and under-resourced health systems. The Public Health Agency of Canada has emphasized the importance of building trust and tailoring solutions in partnership with these communities.

    Vaccine confidence remains another challenge. Post-pandemic surveys reveal that misinformation continues to shape public perceptions, even about long-established vaccines like MMR. Addressing this requires proactive science communication, sustained public education and rebuilding trusted relationships between communities and health systems.

    Looking ahead

    World Immunization Week offered a chance to celebrate how far we’ve come — but also to ask what comes next. With decades of research leadership, a strong innovation ecosystem and new investments in RNA infrastructure, Canada has the tools to lead the next chapter of mRNA technology development.

    Whether it’s fighting the next virus or personalizing cancer therapies for individual patients, RNA technologies hold transformative promise. Seizing this opportunity will require sustained support, policy alignment and a focus on equitable access.

    By investing in RNA innovation today, Canada can deliver not just vaccines, but a healthier, more resilient future for all.

    Immunity and Society is a new series from The Conversation Canada that presents new vaccine discoveries and immune-based innovations that are changing how we understand and protect human health. Through a partnership with the Bridge Research Consortium, these articles — written by academics in Canada at the forefront of immunology and biomanufacturing — explore the latest developments and their social impacts.

    Anna Blakney sits on the scientific advisory board and/or consults for Genvax Technologies, Replicate Biosciences and Pasture Biosciences. She receives funding from CIHR, CBRF, NSERC and CFI.

    Pieter Cullis a co-founder and have shares in Acuitas Therapeutics, the company that provided the LNP enabling the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. He receives funding from CIHR.

    – ref. From COVID to cancer: Why Canada’s RNA vaccine leadership matters more than ever – https://theconversation.com/from-covid-to-cancer-why-canadas-rna-vaccine-leadership-matters-more-than-ever-254692

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Drug Shows Promise for Treating Bronchiectasis

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Results of a large, global clinical trial spanning five continents with over 1,700 patients with bronchiectasis, published this April in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated benefits of an investigational, once-a-day pill called brenso­catib as a therapy for the chronic lung condition.

    The clinical trial findings are important, as there are currently no FDA-approved medications for bronchiectasis, a chronic condition with persistent lung airway inflammation and infection. Bronchiectasis can often stem from various injuries to the airways causing the ‘bronchial’ tubes leading to the lungs to become permanently enlarged, and more prone to infection and chronic inflammation.

    Symptoms of bronchiectasis include chronic cough with sputum (mucous) production, shortness of breath and fatigue. Acute exacerbations of the debilitating condition experienced by patients are characterized by worsening of the cough and sputum production, often with fever, shortness of breath or chest pain and further impair patient quality of life.  Severe exacerbations may result in hospitalization and permanent loss of lung function.

    Bronchiectasis impacts up to 500,000 Americans, but there is often misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis as the condition can present similarly to other pulmonary conditions such as COPD or asthma.

    Senior NEJM study author Dr. Mark Metersky is chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and Director of the Center for Bronchiectasis Care at UConn Health (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

    Senior study author Dr. Mark Metersky of UConn School of Medicine served on the Steering Committee for the global, multi-center, randomized clinical trial and was principal investigator for UConn School of Medicine’s clinical trial site. Metersky specializes in bronchiectasis care and is the longtime director of UConn’s dedicated Center for Bronchiectasis Care at UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut.

    Most bronchiectasis patients experience loss of lung function over time due to the irreversible damage caused by the progressive disease. But in this large, international, randomized ASPEN trial which included 1,721 patients, the new DPP-1 inhibitor medication targeting inflammation in either a 10 mg or 25 mg pill dose versus placebo over a 52-week period was shown to significantly lower the annualized rate of exacerbations in patients taking either drug dose while also slowing their loss of lung function.  Also, the authors report that in each brensocatib group nearly half (48.5%) of patients remained exacerbation-free one year later at week 52.

    “Patients with bronchiectasis have impaired quality of life,” shared Metersky who personally cares for well over 100 patients with the condition at UConn Health. “The study results suggests that brensocatib will help many patients living with bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis patients’ quality of life was measured throughout the study and improved in patients who received the drug.”

    “Pulmonary exacerbations of bronchiectasis can last days or weeks and preventing them is important,” stresses Metersky. “However, this drug resulted in improved quality of life even when patients were not suffering from an exacerbation, providing hope for so many patients suffering with daily symptoms.”

    Metersky concludes, “This is a very promising new treatment and likely will be the first-ever FDA-approved treatment for bronchiectasis.”

    Insmed, Inc. is the drug’s manufacturer and sponsored the clinical trial.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Cato T. Laurencin’s Mentees Honored at American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Awards Event

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Two mentees of UConn’s Dr. Cato T. Laurencin — Carol Morris, MD, MS and Erica D. Taylor, MD, MBA — were recognized at the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society’s (JRGOS) Annual Awards Luncheon at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2025 Annual Meeting.

    The meeting was held on March 13 in San Diego, CA. Laurencin is active in mentoring, especially those underrepresented in science, engineering, and medicine.

    Carol Morris, MD, MS was honored with the JRGOS Claudia L. Thomas, MD Award in recognition of her exemplification of Dr. Claudia Thomas’ resilience, tenacity, and leadership in Orthopaedic Surgery. Morris was Laurencin’s first graduate student at his MIT lab when it was first established.

    “Dr. Laurencin’s mentorship and influence have been tremendous in my career. His impact on my professional trajectory has been significant and sustaining for decades,” said Morris.

    Morris is an internationally recognized leader in orthopedic oncology with clinical expertise in primary bone cancer, metastatic cancer to bone, soft tissue sarcoma, and neurofibromatosis. She is the chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

    Taylor was the recipient of the 2025 Alvin H. Crawford, MD, Mentorship Award in recognition of her remarkable contributions to orthopaedic surgery. Taylor is a leader in orthopaedic surgery and an ardent advocate for health equity and inclusion. She completed her residency under Laurencin and is the vice president of Health Equity for Duke Health, and vice chair of Equity & Inclusion for Duke University’s Department of Orthopaedics.

    “I met Dr. Laurencin as a medical student, and he has been a constant source of inspiration and a role model for excellence ever since. His sincere investment in my growth and his encouragement across every phase of my professional journey have made an enduring impact,” said Taylor.

    Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin is the University Professor and Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, professor of Chemical Engineering, professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticut. He is the Chief Executive Officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, a cross-university institute named in his honor at UConn. He is the first individual to receive the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mentor Award, the Beckman Award for Mentoring, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math, and Engineering Mentoring bestowed by President Obama. At UConn alone, he created and established the UConn Young Innovative Investigator Program, the UConn ASPIRE Program, (A Scientific Program in Regenerative Engineering) funded by the Department of Education, the UConn M-1 Mentorship Program, the UConn Pre-K K Award Application Training Program, the UConn Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation REM and REU Programs funded by NSF, and the UConn Graduate Training Program in Regenerative Engineering funded by an NIH T32 Institutional Training Grant.  Nationally, the Society for Biomaterials established the Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. Travelling Fellow Award Program for undergraduates in his honor.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Highlights Pain Trump’s First 100 Days Have Caused Nevada Working Families and Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
     ***VIDEO AVAILABLE***
    FTPs for TV stations is available here.
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) spoke on the Senate floor on the 100th day of President Donald Trump’s second term to highlight the disastrous impacts President Trump’s agenda have had on hardworking Nevadans and their businesses.
    Throughout the start of Trump’s term, the Senator Cortez Masto has pushed multiple Departments under the Trump Administration for detailed, public information regarding the impacts of President Trump’s federal funding freeze, hiring freeze, and terminations on Nevada – including to the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, General Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, and Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.
    Senator Cortez Masto has also repeatedly called out President Trump and Congressional Republican’s attempts to slash Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. And she has continued to push the Trump Administration to address the impacts of Trump’s tariffs on working families, small businesses, and Nevada’s travel and tourism economy.
    Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery:
    While campaigning last year in Bozeman, Montana, Donald Trump said, “Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again, to bring down the prices of all goods.”
    Well, it’s been 100 days since he entered the White House, and here’s what he’s given us so far:
    His tariffs are increasing costs for the average family by more than $4,000 a year.
    He has slashed billions from programs that everyday Americans rely on, including $1 Billion for mental health care services.
    He has directed Elon Musk and his unqualified loyalists to fire more than 121,000 federal employees delivering essential services – everyone from to Park Rangers tasked with keeping Americans safe to scientists researching cures to deadly diseases.
    He’s pushing House and Senate Republicans to rubber stamp a plan to cut nearly $1 trillion dollars from Medicaid in order to give tax cuts to billionaires.
    And he’s created endless chaos and uncertainty.
    I could go on and on – that’s just how much damage President Trump has caused to our country in 100 days – but I want to take some time to focus on the impact his economic agenda is having on our small businesses.
    I’m from Nevada, where there are almost 300,000 small businesses.
    These mom-and-pop shops are the lifeblood of our economy and are a part of the fabric of every community.
    And it’s these small businesses that are bearing the brunt of President Trump’s destructive tariffs.
    Now, I believe targeted tariffs on our adversaries can be a useful tool to protect American jobs and support our national security.
    But these blanket tariffs are the opposite of that.
    These last two weeks – while back home in Nevada – I got a first-hand account of what small businesses are having to deal with.
    I heard these concerns from three small business owners in Las Vegas: Juanny, Santy, and Kristen. All three of these women own shops that serve specialty drinks and incredible food to Nevadans – from coffee and boba to tacos.
    In Vegas – as you may know – travel and tourism are the backbone of our economy.
    When people come to Las Vegas they don’t just visit the Strip. They go to Chinatown, and the arts district, and all over the valley to patronize our small businesses.
    For many business owners – like Juanny, like Santy, like Kristen – their margins are already razor-thin, and tourism is key to meeting their bottom line.
    But because of President Trump’s tariffs, we’re already seeing a decline in visitors coming to Las Vegas. 
    Whether people are staying home because they don’t have any room in their budgets for a vacation, or international tourists are choosing other destinations – Trump’s economic agenda is threatening to crater our $2 trillion tourism economy. 
    That hurts our small businesses!
    And when they can’t keep up because costs are rising, because they have fewer patrons, or because of the higher cost of importing their supplies – they’re forced to raise their prices and pass the burden onto customers.
    It’s unsustainable.
    And this same sentiment is echoed in the Northern part of our state.
    In Reno, I spoke to Mark, a small coffee shop owner who is already asking himself how he can continue to navigate everyday operations amid the uncertainty.
    He doesn’t want to pass higher costs onto customers, but if Trump’s erratic tariff agenda continues, he may have no choice.
    Trump says Americans must accept short-term pain for long-term gain, but what is there to be gained if hardworking Nevadans have to close the doors of their businesses?
    I think to myself, if it’s only been 100 days, how much damage is he going to potentially cause in the next 100?
    In the 1361 days left in his term?
    It’s been 100 days, and small businesses across the United States may soon be faced with having to close up shop.
    What’s going to happen to Juanny, to Mark, to Santy, to Kristen?
    Will they make it through the rest of Trump’s term?
    I don’t know the answer.
    But I hope my Republican colleagues stop rubber stamping Trump’s harmful agenda and actually stand up for working families and small businesses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MHRA authorises cancer treatment variation with an administration time of 3–5 minutes

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    MHRA authorises cancer treatment variation with an administration time of 3–5 minutes

    As with all products, the MHRA will keep its safety under close review.

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today (30 April 2025) approved a new under-the-skin injection version of the cancer therapy, nivolumab (Opdivo), offering a quicker administration option for eligible patients. 

    The subcutaneous formulation of nivolumab can be given as a 3–5-minute injection instead of the 30- or 60-minute intravenous (IV) infusion. Several common cancers can be treated by nivolumab, including lung, bowel, kidney, bladder, oesophageal, skin, and head and neck cancers. 

    Nivolumab is a monoclonal antibody that works by binding to a protein called PD-1 (programmed death-1) on a type of immune cell called T-cells. This blocks cancer cells from switching off T-cells, allowing the immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells.

    Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:  

    “Patient safety is our top priority, which is why I am pleased to confirm the national approval of the new under-the-skin injection version of nivolumab.   

    “This approval marks an important step forward in improving treatment access and reducing the time patients spend in clinics. It has the potential to ease pressures on NHS services, while also giving patients flexibility in their care. 

    “We’re assured that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality, and efficacy for the approval of this new formulation have been met. As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review.”   

    Today’s national approval is based on evidence from a randomised, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial, involving patients with advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Participants received either the new injection version of nivolumab or the established IV version.

    Results showed that the injection produced comparable levels of drug in the body (pharmacokinetics) and a similar safety and tumour response profile to the IV formulation.  

    A full list of side effects can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) or the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), available on the MHRA website within 7 days of approval.  

    As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of nivolumab under close review. 

    Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine is encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.   

    Notes to editors     

    • The approval was granted on 30 April 2025 to Bristol Myers Squibb. 

    • This product was submitted and approved via national procedure.   

    • Subcutaneous administration delivers treatment under the skin and is an alternative to intravenous infusion.  

    • A randomised, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial is a large, late-stage study where participants are randomly assigned to different treatment groups, both doctors and patients know which treatment is being given (open-label), and the goal is to confirm the treatment’s effectiveness and safety before potential regulatory approval. 

    • The approval covers a broad range of cancers, including kidney, skin (melanoma), lung, head and neck, bladder, bowel (colorectal), liver, stomach, and cancers of the oesophagus. 

    • More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.   

    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.   

    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.   

    • For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 30 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Continues Expansion of Behavioral Health Network with New Virtual Options for Children and Families

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EAGAN, Minn., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) today announced a new collaboration with two virtual care providers – Charlie Health and Little Otter – to further address the need for more access to behavioral care for children and adolescents. Charlie Health and Little Otter are now in-network providers and available to Blue Cross members requiring personalized and comprehensive behavioral health services for children, adolescents and their families.

    According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in seven American children between the ages of three and 17 have a current, diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition. And according to a study by the University of Michigan’s Health Lab, another one in seven are currently suffering from an undiagnosed, treatable mental health disorder.

    “Too many children and teens with mental health needs struggle to access specialized care,” said Brett Hart, vice president of behavioral health and mental health parity at Blue Cross. “Local providers do an amazing job, but the system is under immense strain to keep up with increasing demand. Charlie Health and Little Otter offer additional options to access mental health professionals licensed to practice in Minnesota and other states. From traditional therapy to high-acuity, intensive outpatient treatment, services provided by these innovative providers help to ensure Blue Cross is there for our youngest members.”

    Little Otter is the only virtual healthcare company offering psychiatric evaluation and care for all children up to age 18 and their families, treating mild to high-acuity symptoms. In addition to therapy and psychiatry with medication management for children and caregivers, all families have access to the Little Otter Family Mental Health Checkup, which takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Patients are connected to a licensed clinician within 48 hours. Little Otter also offers seamless referrals to specialty providers like Charlie Health when intensive outpatient care is needed.

    In turn, Charlie Health focuses on high-acuity, intensive outpatient treatment for both adolescents and adults, offering intensive treatment programs for patients experiencing behavioral health crises. Compared to more traditional talk therapy for mild symptoms, Charlie Health focuses treatment around a high-touch curriculum that lasts between nine to 12 weeks. As symptoms improve, Charlie Health can refer patients to lower levels of care, like Little Otter.

    Together, Little Otter and Charlie Health help fill critical gaps in access to behavioral healthcare by providing solutions for all ages across various levels of acuity, while also having the ability to refer up or down, based on the level of care needed.

    Services provided by Little Otter and Charlie Health are available to most Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota members residing in Minnesota. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota members may confirm eligibility for behavioral health services in their respective Blue Cross online portal or by contacting their Blue Cross representative. More information about Blue Cross’ virtual behavioral health providers and services can be found at bluecrossmn.com/bhvirtualcare.

    About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

    For more than 90 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Bluecrossmn.com) has supported our members by ensuring access to high quality care at an affordable price. Our nearly 3 million members can be found in every Minnesota county, all 50 states and on four continents. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

    About Charlie Health

    Charlie Health is a virtual behavioral health provider delivering high-acuity, evidence-based care that drives life-saving outcomes. The company’s programs provide personalized, intensive treatment for adolescents and adults facing serious mental health conditions and substance use disorders, helping people get the right support at the right time for their unique needs. Their innovative treatment model combines clinical expertise, human connection, and a focus on measurement-based care to support long-term healing. Charlie Health is in-network with most major health plans, including commercial and Medicaid, in 37 states and counting.

    About Little Otter

    Founded in 2020 by Dr. Helen Egger, a leading child psychiatrist, and Rebecca Egger, an expert in technology and product development, Little Otter is a digital mental health company that offers holistic, evidence-backed care for children 0-18 and their families. Through its virtual care platform and offerings, Little Otter provides a comprehensive suite of mental health services that go beyond just treating children to address the needs of the entire family. Available in 15 states and expanding, Little Otter is on a mission to make mental health care accessible, effective, and personalized for families everywhere. To learn more about Little Otter, visit www.littleotterhealth.com.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION:
    Bryce Butzer | 651.662.9183
    Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
    bryce.butzer@bluecrossmn.com

    The MIL Network –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Webinar: Greenspace Health and CARF Present Expert Panel on the Role of Measurement-Based Care in Accreditation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Toronto, ON and Washington, DC , April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greenspace Health, North America’s leading provider of Measurement-Based Care technology, education and implementation support, is proud to announce a new educational partnership with CARF International, a globally respected behavioral health accrediting body, to present a live educational panel discussion:

    Learn how MBC drives enhanced clinical outcomes, accreditation readiness, and system-wide improvements. “Measurement-Based Care & CARF Accreditation: Driving Quality Through Measurable Outcomes”, taking place on Thursday, May 15 2025 at 1 PM EDT.

    “Measurement-Based Care & CARF Accreditation: Driving Quality Through Measurable Outcomes”, taking place on Thursday, May 15 2025 at 1 PM EDT. Register at greenspacehealth.com.

    Measurement-Based Care (MBC) is now a foundational element of high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health services, empowering organizations to enhance outcomes, demonstrate impact, and drive continuous quality improvement. With CARF’s 2025 standards requiring ongoing progress measurement, MBC has become essential for accreditation readiness. This expert panel will explore the real-world impact of MBC, share lessons from successful implementations, and offer actionable guidance for aligning clinical practices with evolving quality expectations.

    Panelists Include:

    • Michael Johnson, Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health at CARF
    • Dr. Kimberly Gordon-Achebe, Medical Director of Mobile Response and Stabilization Services at iMind Behavioral Health, a CARF accredited organization
    • Dr. James Boswell, Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training at the University at Albany
    • Host: Jeremy Weisz, CEO and Co-Founder at Greenspace Health

    Event Details:

    • Thursday, May 15, 2025
    • 1pm – 2pm EDT / 10am – 11am PDT
    • Link to Registration – Virtual Event via Zoom

    Key Takeaways for Attendees:

    • Why accrediting bodies like CARF are prioritizing Measurement-Based Care
    • How to prepare your organization for CARF accreditation with MBC
    • Lessons learned from successful MBC implementations
    • Actionable strategies to launch and sustain MBC at your organization

    This session is essential for clinical leaders, administrators, and providers looking to advance care quality, meet evolving accreditation standards, and harness MBC to improve clinical outcomes and inform continuous quality improvement of behavioral health services. Register at greenspacehealth.com. 

    For more information, please contact:

    Jo-Anne Stayner

    joanne@getfreshpr.com

    604.603.0657

    ABOUT GREENSPACE HEALTH

    Greenspace transforms mental health services by improving the way that behavioral healthcare is accessed, measured and delivered. Their Measurement-Based Care Platforms enable mental health providers and organizations to implement consistent, evidence-based measurement (often referred to as routine patient-reported outcome measures or PROMs) into their practice. This model is proven to significantly improve patient results while generating valuable data for organizations to enhance their quality of care. Greenspace’s MBC solutions have been implemented across over 500 community and private clinics, hospitals, payors, insurers and healthcare systems, improving the patient experience and driving better-coordinated care and outcomes. To learn more about MBC, please visit greenspacehealth.com.

    ABOUT CARF INTERNATIONAL

    CARF is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. Its mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process focused on enhancing the lives of persons served. Learn more at www.carf.org.

    The MIL Network –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Brownstown programme brings fun, support and connection to local mums

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    A heartwarming initiative created to support new mums and their little ones through the early months of parenthood recently took place in Brownstown Jubilee Community Centre.

    Organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, the ‘Brownstown Mum and Baby Programme’ offered a warm, welcoming space where mums could choose from a variety of activities designed to encourage bonding, relaxation, and confidence-building.

    From the calming stretches of baby yoga, to the sensory fun of messy play as well as the gentle techniques of baby massage, each session gave families a chance to connect with their babies and other mums.

    A key highlight of the programme was the Save a Baby session, delivered in partnership with the council’s Health Improvement Team, providing vital first aid skills in a supportive environment.

    The baby massage sessions were delivered in collaboration with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) Promoting Wellbeing Division, bringing expert guidance directly to local mums.

    This programme was funded through The Executive Office District Council Good Relations Action Plan, which supports initiatives that strengthen community ties and promote wellbeing across all generations.

    Previous articlePupils and Sunnymead residents celebrate Global Intergenerational Week

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Free Parking at Hospitals, Healthcare Facilities

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Patients, healthcare workers and other visitors to Nova Scotia hospitals and healthcare facilities no longer have to pay for on-site parking, effective Thursday, May 1.

    “We committed to eliminating fees for everyone parking at a Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health facility, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Premier Tim Houston. “I know people have been eager to see this change. Nova Scotians shouldn’t have to worry about parking fees when they’re sick and seeking healthcare or caring for our loved ones.”

    A ticket validation system will be implemented at some sites to ensure parking is used by patients, visitors, healthcare workers and staff; other parking facility users will have to pay to park. Specific details surrounding the free-parking initiative could vary or be adjusted across the province as each facility’s unique infrastructure and capacity limitations are more fully assessed.

    The total cost of free parking at healthcare facilities is approximately $19 million annually, included in Budget 2025-26.

    Quick Facts:

    • hospital foundations and other organizations that depend on parking fees for revenue will have any resulting shortfall covered by the provincial government
    • Nova Scotia Health has 97 parking lots across the province, of which 39 currently charge for parking
    • IWK Health has three parking garages, all at its main site on University Avenue in Halifax

    Additional Resources:

    A full list of investments is included in the Budget 2025-26 highlights documents available at: https://novascotia.ca/budget

    Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Inellas Restoration Center Receives the SBB Research Group Foundation Grant

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Inellas Restoration Center received a $5,000 grant from the SBB Research Group Foundation, which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations. 

    Inellas Restoration Center (IRC), based in River Forest, IL, is dedicated to empowering women and children who have survived domestic violence by providing safety, healing, and long-term support. Through specialized programs and advocacy, the nonprofit works to break the cycle of abuse and help survivors rebuild their lives with stability and independence.

    IRC Founder and Executive Director Remona Sanders shares, “This organization was created to fill a critical gap in support for those impacted by domestic violence. Too often, individuals facing these challenges struggle to find the resources they need. Our mission is to ensure that help is accessible, compassionate, and empowering for anyone affected.”

    With a survivor-centered approach, IRC offers comprehensive services to address the urgent and long-term needs of those impacted by domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention program provides crisis intervention, legal advocacy, counseling, and support groups to help survivors regain control and achieve self-sufficiency. Recognizing the importance of education and early prevention, the Teen Healthy Relationship Program teaches young people about consent, conflict resolution, and the foundations of healthy relationships. Additionally, the Partner Abuse Intervention Program works with individuals who have perpetrated domestic violence, fostering accountability and behavioral change.

    To further support survivors on their path to independence, IRC is launching the Transitional Housing Program, which will provide safe, stable housing along with financial literacy training, legal advocacy, tutoring, and case management. Survivors who do not require emergency shelter will still have access to specialized domestic violence services, including housing referrals, trauma-informed counseling, and community resources.
    By addressing the immediate and long-term needs of survivors, IRC continues to provide a pathway to safety, empowerment, and lasting change.

    “We are honored to support Inellas Restoration Center as they provide life-changing resources and compassionate care to survivors of domestic violence,” said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation.

    About the SBB Research Group Foundation 

    The SBB Research Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that furthers the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), a Chicago-based investment management firm led by Sam Barnett, Ph.D., and Matt Aven. The Foundation provides grants to support ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies. In addition, the Foundation sponsors the SBBRG STEM Scholarship, which supports students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees. 

    Contact: Erin Noonan 
    Organization: SBB Research Group Foundation 
    Email: grants@sbbrg.org 
    Address: 450 Skokie Blvd, Building 600, Northbrook, IL 60062, United States 
    Phone: 1-847-656-1111 
    Website: https://www.sbbrg.org 

    The MIL Network –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Robert Garcia and Congresswoman Lisa McClain Introduce Bipartisan “Common Cents Act” to Eliminate the Penny

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Garcia California (42nd District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) and Congresswoman Lisa McClain (MI-09) introduced the Common Cents Act to end the minting of the penny and require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents. Full text of the bill can be found here. 

    “It doesn’t make sense to continue producing the penny, which costs three times more than it’s worth to create and distribute,” said Congressman Garcia. “As the cost of living continues to rise and with more folks tapping their phones or cards for payment, we shouldn’t be pouring millions of taxpayer dollars into a coin that is rarely used. By halting production, we would actually cut waste and boost efficiency in a common-sense way.”

    “Pennies are a waste of taxpayer dollars. It doesn’t make sense to spend millions each year minting coins that so few people actually use. President Trump’s common-sense idea should become law. We are taking a decisive step toward fiscal responsibility and updating our currency for the 21st century,” said Congresswoman McClain.

    The bill would take effect one year after its enactment and follows the successful elimination of one-cent coins in several other countries, including Australia and Canada. Additionally, a final decision on whether the U.S. Mint will cease production of the penny is currently pending. Non-cash transactions, such as credit card, debit card, mobile phone payments, and checks, would not be affected. The cost of producing a penny is roughly 3.7 times its face value, driven by rising metal prices. By eliminating the penny, this bill aims to reduce unnecessary costs, save taxpayer money, and streamline the U.S. currency system, eliminating waste and making it more efficient for both consumers and businesses.

    Congressman Garcia is dedicated to eliminating waste, improving government efficiency, and saving taxpayer dollars. On the Oversight Committee, Congressman Garcia works to ensure all government operations are effective and streamlined. Last Congress, two of Congressman Garcia’s bipartisan bills, the Eliminate Useless Reports Act and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Inspector General Parity Act aimed at improving government efficiency were signed into law, which will save taxpayer dollars and promote more accountable government operations. Congressman Garcia previously introduced the FLASH Act (Fast-Track Logistics for Acquiring Supplies in a Hurry Act) to streamline procurement processes within the Department of Health and Human Services during emergencies. This legislation would eliminate waste, reduce delays, and ultimately save taxpayer dollars while streamlining access to essential resources.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 1, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: MissionSquare Retirement names Tom McAndrews as Chief Legal Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Washington, D.C., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MissionSquare Retirement is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom McAndrews as Chief Legal Officer (CLO), reporting to the firm’s chief executive officer and president, Andre Robinson. In his expanded role, McAndrews will oversee MissionSquare’s Corporate Affairs Department, including Legal, Compliance, Government Affairs, Research, and Risk Management.

    “I am thrilled that Tom will take on this expanded role as CLO for our organization,” said Robinson. “Tom’s leadership and dedication to our vision as a company have been instrumental to our growth over the years and will undoubtedly contribute to our continued success as we move forward. This is an exciting next chapter for Tom and our entire team, and I look forward to being on this journey together.”

    McAndrews has been an integral part of the MissionSquare team for over 16 years. He first joined the firm’s legal department in 2008, where he served as vice president, securities counsel. Since joining MissionSquare, McAndrews has worked on various issues related to broker-dealer, investment adviser, and investment company regulation, and his leadership has been instrumental in strengthening MissionSquare’s compliance framework and navigating complex legal matters.

    Before joining MissionSquare, McAndrews held the position of counsel with O’Melveny & Myers, LLP, where he represented clients in securities-related enforcement proceedings before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. He also provided regulatory counseling to his clients regarding compliance with federal securities laws and self-regulatory organization rules. In addition, he has previously held roles with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

    McAndrews earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a doctorate of law from The George Washington University Law School. He served as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy and is based in Washington, D.C.

    MissionSquare remains focused on its mission to help all plan participants retire well, which continues to drive and define the company today. The firm continues to introduce new tools and resources to help individuals and their families build retirement security.

    About MissionSquare Retirement

    Since its founding in 1972, MissionSquare Retirement has been dedicated to simplifying the path to retirement security for public service employees. As a mission-based financial services company, we manage and administer over $72.0 billion in assets.* Our commitment to delivering results-oriented retirement plans, education, investments, and personalized advice sets us apart. Explore how we enable public service workers to build a secure financial future. For more information, visit www.missionsq.org or follow the company on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.

    *As of Dec. 31, 2024. Includes 457(b) plans, 401(a) plans, 403(b) plans, Retirement Health Savings plans, Employer Investment Program plans, affiliated IRAs, and investment-only assets.

    The MIL Network –

    May 1, 2025
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