Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Barragán and Sen. Markey Introduce Resolution to Confront Rising Public Health Threats from Climate Change

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    For Immediate Release

    July 12, 2025

    Contact: jin.choi@mail.house.gov

    Rep. Barragán and Sen. Markey Introduce Resolution to Confront Rising Public Health Threats from Climate Change

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), a member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced a resolution recognizing climate change as a growing threat to public health and calling for a coordinated federal strategy to protect communities from worsening climate-fueled harms. The resolution urges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies to lead a whole-of-government effort to protect public health and improve resiliency against climate-related threats throughout the health sector. Representatives Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Brad Schneider (IL-10) co-led the resolution in the House.

    The climate crisis is here. In 2024, the United States experienced 27 climate disasters that caused more than a billion dollars each in damage. Increasingly frequent and extreme events—like wildfires, floods, and heat waves—are driving spikes in illness, displacement, and death. More than 150 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy air, and people with disabilities are 2 to 4 times more likely to die or be injured in climate-related disasters. Frontline workers in agriculture, construction, delivery, and manufacturing face growing health risks from extreme heat and poor air quality on the job. 

    “The climate crisis affects us all, but especially economically disadvantaged communities, communities of color, and other marginalized communities,” said Representative Barragán. “Now more than ever, we see families across the country facing significant health risks as a result of climate disasters such as extreme heat, excessive flooding, and unpredictable storms. Yet the Trump Administration has dangerously chosen to ignore the threat of climate change to our public health – firing staff and canceling programs that were focused on improving our resilience to harmful environmental exposures, such as the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. That is why I am proud to lead this bicameral resolution with Senator Markey and Representatives Carbajal, Matsui, and Schneider to acknowledge the federal government’s responsibility to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the health and well-being of all Americans.”

    “With deadly extreme weather disasters, devastating heat waves, and pollution that triggers asthma and other health crises all on the rise, climate change is a full-blown public health emergency—and we need to treat it that way,” said Senator Markey. “This resolution calls on our government to protect the people most at risk from climate-related threats—those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, including Black and Indigenous communities, low-income families, and workers, especially those in construction, delivery, manufacturing, and warehouses. While Republicans pass bills that kick people off their health care, we are fighting for a resilient health system that helps everyone survive a warming and increasingly chaotic world.”

    “It doesn’t matter if you live in a red or blue state, every American will be affected by climate change,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal. “We’re calling on the Administration to reinstate the OCCHE because it’s essential to protecting the health and well-being of every community in this country.”

    “Over the past six months, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have launched a full-scale attack on the environment and public health,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “By blatantly disregarding climate change, they are driving us towards a dangerous future. Climate change is already harming human health nationwide, driving up heat-related deaths, increasing vector-borne illnesses, and disrupting medical care. This resolution demands urgent action to address the health impacts from climate change to prevent countless deaths across the country.”

    “Climate change threatens every corner of our nation and must be mitigated through swift, coordinated action by our government,” said Congressman Schneider. “The Office of Climate Change and Health Equity is a critical asset in understanding the dire health implications of climate change and mobilizing strategies that ensure no community is left behind. The decision by the Trump Administration to place all OCCHE staff on leave poses a real threat to American lives and wellbeing. I’m proud to join my colleague Rep. Barragan in urging the Trump Administration to reinstate of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) and its Office of Environmental Justice.”

    Specifically, the resolution:

    • Demands the release of funding appropriated by Congress that would help to address climate-related health threats that has been held up by Federal agencies;
    • Details the public health dimensions of the climate crisis, including increased risks of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, mental health stressors, pregnancy complications, infectious disease outbreaks, and disaster-related displacement;
    • Highlights the disproportionate health burdens on children, people with disabilities, low-income households, communities of color, Tribal nations, and workers in high-risk occupations;
    • Calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to lead cross-agency coordination to strengthen health system climate resilience, support frontline providers, close gaps in climate-health data, and help the health sector lower its own environmental impact;
    • Affirms the importance of engaging environmental justice and community-based organizations in local climate-health preparedness and response efforts;
    • Urges the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to adopt a national worker heat protection standard; and,
    • Calls for annual public reporting on federal climate-health resilience investments and progress.

    The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Representatives Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15). 

    The resolution is endorsed by Health Care Without Harm, Center for American Progress, Climate Justice Alliance, International Transformational Resilience Coalition, Climate and Community Institute, Earthjustice Action, Public Citizen, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Center for Oil and Gas Organizing, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the American College of Physicians.

    “Health Care Without Harm applauds Senator Markey for introducing this important resolution and is pleased to endorse it,” said Jenny Keroack, Director of Program Strategy & Management in the U.S. Climate Program. “Climate change is causing more severe and frequent storms, wildfires, and extreme heat events, creating safety and public health crises across our country. Our government must have a science-based, coordinated approach to prepare for and respond to these growing threats, and the Department of Health and Human Services has an indispensable role to play as the guardian of our nation’s health and well-being. Vital programs have been attacked, including a grant program that assists families with energy costs so they can afford to cool and heat their homes, funding that helps hospitals stay open and operational when the grid goes down, and research on how best to protect farmworkers from increasing heat waves. Such programs and the expert civil servants who help protect our communities from environmental health threats like climate change must be immediately reinstated and supported. Now is not the time to retreat.”

    “With climate change and extreme weather events driving illness, injury, and death across the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services must harness its resources, leverage its authorities, and coordinate its expertise and action to prepare for and respond to the health and financial impact,” said Jill Rosenthal, Director of Public Health at the Center for American Progress.

    “This resolution is crucial because climate change isn’t just an environmental problem; it’s a public health crisis hurting families right now,” said KD Chavez, Executive Director of the Climate Justice Alliance. “Low-income communities bear the brunt – suffering more asthma attacks, heatstroke, and toxic exposure. But these communities also have the answers! They’ve developed practical, replicable solutions. We need bold action: stronger environmental safeguards, smart investments in resilient infrastructure, and policies that prioritize everyone’s health and safety, no matter where they live. Let’s protect our families and build a healthier future for all.”

    “The International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC) strongly endorses this resolution,” said ITRC Founder and Coordinator Bob Doppelt. “We do so because the climate crisis is a public health crisis that requires significant leadership, support, and investments by the federal government to prevent and heal the accelerating climate-generated mental health, psychosocial, and physical health issues experienced by newborns, young children, adolescents, working age, and older adults nationwide.”

    “Our hospitals and clinics are already seeing the devastating health effects of climate change every day – from children struggling to breathe polluted air to seniors collapsing in extreme heat,” said Ranjani Prabhakar, Legislative Director of Healthy Communities, Earthjustice Action. “Over 200 medical journals have called climate change the greatest threat to human health this century, and Senator Markey’s resolution affirms this data by putting health at the center of environmental solutions. Recognizing this crisis for the public health emergency that it is, is essential to protect our families and communities.”

    “As the planet enters a period of increasing climate chaos, our collective response will either deepen disparities or address the drivers of climate breakdown and health inequity together,” said Batul Hassan, Labor Director at the Climate and Community Institute. “This resolution from Senator Markey establishes the urgent need for coordinated action across health and public health systems to ensure all people and generations to come can thrive in a warming world.”

    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Motorcyclist dies following single vehicle crash in Hobart

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Motorcyclist dies following single vehicle crash in Hobart

    Tuesday, 15 July 2025 – 12:25 am.

    Sadly, a motorcyclist has died following a single vehicle crash in Hobart’s northern suburbs.

    Police and emergency services were called to the MyState Bank Arena carpark near the Brooker Highway about 9pm last night following a report of a serious crash.

    The motorcyclist was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital in a critical condition but sadly died a short time later.

    Forensics and Crash investigators attended the scene, and police are preparing a report for the Coroner.

    Anyone with information should contact Police on 131444.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Joint statement by OCHA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP and WHO on fuel shortage in Gaza

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    New York/ Geneva/ Rome/ Gaza, July 12, 2025 – The United Nations warns that the fuel shortage in Gaza has reached critical levels.  

    Fuel is the backbone of survival in Gaza. It powers hospitals, water systems, sanitation networks, ambulances, and every aspect of humanitarian operations. Fuel supplies are needed to move the fleet used for transporting essential goods across the Strip and to operate a network of bakeries producing fresh bread for the affected population. Without fuel, these lifelines will vanish for 2.1 million people.  

    After almost two years of war, people in Gaza are facing extreme hardships, including widespread food insecurity. When fuel runs out, it places an unbearable new burden on a population teetering on the edge of starvation.  

    Without adequate fuel, UN agencies responding to this crisis will likely be forced to stop their operations entirely, directly impacting all essential services in Gaza. This means no health services, no clean water, and no capacity to deliver aid.  

    Without adequate fuel, Gaza faces a collapse of humanitarian efforts. Hospitals are already going dark, maternity, neonatal and intensive care units are failing, and ambulances can no longer move. Roads and transport will remain blocked, trapping those in need. Telecommunications will shut down, crippling lifesaving coordination and cutting families off from critical information, and from one another.  

    Without fuel, bakeries and community kitchens cannot operate. Water production and sanitation systems will shut down, leaving families without safe drinking water, while solid waste and sewage pile up in the streets. These conditions expose families to deadly disease outbreaks and push Gaza’s most vulnerable even closer to death.  

    For the first time in 130 days, a small amount of fuel entered Gaza this week. This is a welcome development, but it is a small fraction of what is needed each day to keep daily life and critical aid operations running. 

    The United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners cannot overstate the urgency of this moment: fuel must be allowed into Gaza in sufficient quantities and consistently to sustain life-saving operations. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WHO urges roll-out of first long-acting HIV prevention jab

    Source: United Nations 2

    Injectable lenacapavir – LEN, for short – is a highly effective, long-acting antiretroviral alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting options, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

    “While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

    Test kit advantage

    WHO’s support for the injectable drug is significant because HIV prevention efforts are stagnating around the world.

    To make it easier for people to receive the injection close to home, the UN agency also recommends the use of rapid testing kits for the disease, as opposed to “complex, costly procedures”.

    According to the agency, 1.3 million people contracted HIV in 2024; people most impacted were sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, people in prisons, and children and teens.

    “WHO is committed to working with countries and partners to ensure this innovation reaches communities as quickly and safely as possible,” insisted Tedros, in comments during the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science, in Kigali, Rwanda.

    The recommendation for LEN is also in line with the US health authorities which approved it in June.

    Call for implementation

    Although access to the LEN injection remains limited outside clinical trials today, WHO urged governments, donors and partners to incorporate LEN “immediately” within national combination HIV-prevention programmes.

    Other WHO-supported HIV-prevention options include daily oral tablets, injectable cabotegravir – which is injected once every two months – and the dapivirine vaginal ring, as part of a growing number of tools to end the HIV epidemic.

    Funding dilemma

    Amid massive funding cuts to the global effort to end HIV-AIDS – including the leading US Government programme launched in 2003, PEPFAR, focusing on combating the disease in Africa – WHO also issued new operational guidance on how to sustain priority HIV services.

    “We have the tools and the knowledge to end AIDS…what we need now is bold implementation of these recommendations, grounded in equity and powered by communities,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes and incoming Director of Science, Research, Evidence and Quality for Health.

    HIV remains a major global public health issue.

    By the end of 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV with an estimated 65 per cent in Africa. Approximately 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes globally, and an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV, including 120,000 children.

    More positively, access to HIV drugs continues to expand, with 31.6 million people receiving treatment in 2024, up from 30.3 million a year earlier. Without anti-retroviral medication, the HIV virus attacks the body’s immune system, leading ultimately to the onset of AIDS.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy Recognizes Faculty Research Excellence

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.

    These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.

    “InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.

    The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.

    The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:

    Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research

    Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor
    of kinesiology in the College of
    Agriculture, Health, and Natural
    Resources (contributed photo)

    Sudha Srinivasan

    Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.

    Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.

    Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)

    Na Zhang

    Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.

    Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.

    Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism

    Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Debarchana Ghosh

    Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.

    Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.

    Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award

    Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Beth Russell

    Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.

    Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.

    Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award

    Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

    Golda Ginsburg

    Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.

    Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy Recognizes Faculty Research Excellence

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.

    These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.

    “InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.

    The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.

    The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:

    Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research

    Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor
    of kinesiology in the College of
    Agriculture, Health, and Natural
    Resources (contributed photo)

    Sudha Srinivasan

    Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.

    Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.

    Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)

    Na Zhang

    Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.

    Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.

    Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism

    Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Debarchana Ghosh

    Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.

    Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.

    Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award

    Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Beth Russell

    Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.

    Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.

    Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award

    Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

    Golda Ginsburg

    Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.

    Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy Recognizes Faculty Research Excellence

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.

    These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.

    “InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.

    The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.

    The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:

    Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research

    Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor
    of kinesiology in the College of
    Agriculture, Health, and Natural
    Resources (contributed photo)

    Sudha Srinivasan

    Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.

    Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.

    Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)

    Na Zhang

    Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.

    Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.

    Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism

    Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Debarchana Ghosh

    Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.

    Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.

    Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award

    Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Beth Russell

    Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.

    Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.

    Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award

    Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

    Golda Ginsburg

    Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.

    Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy Recognizes Faculty Research Excellence

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.

    These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.

    “InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.

    The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.

    The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:

    Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research

    Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor
    of kinesiology in the College of
    Agriculture, Health, and Natural
    Resources (contributed photo)

    Sudha Srinivasan

    Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.

    Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.

    Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)

    Na Zhang

    Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.

    Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.

    Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism

    Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Debarchana Ghosh

    Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.

    Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.

    Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award

    Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Beth Russell

    Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.

    Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.

    Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award

    Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

    Golda Ginsburg

    Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.

    Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Data for Climate Action: Expert Forum for Climate Change-Related Statistics

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    01 September (9:00) – 03 September (12:30) 2025

    Palais des Nations, Building E, Room XXIII, Geneva Switzerland

    Information note, programme and templates

    Session I: Setting the Scene

    Session II: Climate Change Adaptation-Related Statistics

    Session III: Biennial Transparency Reports

    Session IV: Meeting data user needs

    Session V: Climate and Health Statistics

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/HAITI – The Camillians celebrate their founder by dreaming of a clinic for the people of Pourcine

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 14 July 2025

    MM

    Pic Makaya (Agenzia Fides) – On the feast day of Saint Camillus of Lellis, founder of the Order of the Ministers of the Sick (MI), Father Massimo Miraglio, parish priest of the small community of Pourcine Pic-Makaya, shared with Fides that this will also be an important day for the entire Camillian religious family in Haiti, which always strives to help those most in need.”This year, too, we Camillians in Haiti want to live the feast of Saint Camillus with great hope and the desire to continue to witness to the merciful love for the sick that our Father and Founder left us as a legacy, not only spiritually but also in our active life, in our daily lives,” he emphasized.”On this occasion,” the missionary added, “there will be no shortage of initiatives in favor of the poor and sick, with food distributions and the hospital’s open doors, ready to welcome all those in need.””Unfortunately, the country has been in an extremely difficult situation for years, and the work is becoming more complicated every day,” Father Massimo said, referring to the catastrophic humanitarian situation the island has been experiencing for years (see Fides, 17/6/2025). My brothers and sisters in Port-au-Prince, who have been running the St. Camillus Hospital with its foyer for disabled children for years, are also feeling this. Despite a thousand difficulties, they manage to keep it open and welcome sick and poor people every day who are looking for a solution and the means to continue.”Working in Port-au-Prince and in many areas of the country has become truly difficult today, because of the gangs that control the territory and in the face of a state that no longer exists, a police force, and an army that are powerless against the strength and violence of the gangs, even in Jeremie,” he reports.”Especially in the parish of Pic Makaya, we are trying to continue our work and, following the example of Saint Camillus, we want to be especially close to the poorest and sickest people. All the projects we carry out in the parish always have the goal of preserving the population and supporting it with various activities. Our commitment to healthcare certainly remains a priority, but so too is the aqueduct, which will allow us to bring water to the center of the country and control it, and the effort to make the roads and mule tracks more accessible to avoid a whole series of accidents that systematically occur. School is another area in which we are strongly involved. It is a reference point for the education of children and young people, and for adults, where we can share information and practice prevention (see Fides, 15/4/2025). And we dream of soon being able to open a clinic for the population.” “This is truly the dream we have,” emphasizes the missionary, “to soon be able to begin construction of the St. Camillus Outpatient Clinic, where we can accommodate the sick. It won’t be a large clinic, but rather an emergency room, a place where the people in the area—currently around 4,000/5,000 people, who will be a potential catchment area—can receive the minimum of necessary, initial treatment. It would be a truly important point of contact that would fundamentally change the lives of the people in this area.””At the moment,” Father Massimo concludes, “we are unfortunately forced to continue with a very small informal clinic in my rectory, which is not even sufficient to meet the basic needs of the population.” “We hope that, through the intercession of St. Camillus, we will be able to establish this outpatient clinic next year, which will allow us to assist the sick and also bear witness to the love that St. Camillus passed on to us,” he affirms. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 14/7/2025)

    MM

    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • BIS urges use of certified helmets: A life-saving call for two-wheeler riders

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a strong push for road safety, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Department of Consumer Affairs have launched a nationwide campaign urging two-wheeler riders to use only BIS-certified helmets. The initiative, themed “Helmet – More Than Just a Shell. Choose Smart. Ride Safe,” highlights the critical importance of wearing scientifically tested and approved head protection, especially in a country where two-wheelers account for nearly 45% of road accident deaths.

    Modern helmets, though commonplace today, trace their legacy to ancient headgear used for protection in battle and harsh environments. Yet despite advances in design and technology, helmet usage in India is still driven more by fear of penalties than genuine concern for safety. Many riders don helmets only near police checkpoints, often opting for low-cost, uncertified versions that offer little to no real protection.

    According to the World Health Organisation, wearing a proper helmet can reduce the risk of death by six times and brain injury by up to 74%. However, thousands of substandard helmets -often with fake ISI marks – continue to flood roadside markets. These counterfeit products fail key safety checks and can shatter or slip off in accidents, providing a false sense of security that can prove fatal.

    Under a Quality Control Order in effect since 2021, only helmets conforming to IS 4151:2015 and certified by BIS are legally permitted for use by two-wheeler riders. As of June 2025, 176 manufacturers across India are licensed to produce BIS-certified helmets. These helmets undergo rigorous testing for impact absorption, strap strength, visibility, sound penetration, and durability in extreme conditions.

    To combat the menace of fake helmets, BIS has intensified enforcement. In 2024–25 alone, it carried out over 30 raids, seizing more than 2,500 non-compliant helmets from illegal manufacturers in Delhi and over 500 from retail points across 17 locations. Legal action against offenders is underway. Meanwhile, District Magistrates and police departments have been instructed to take action against the sale of non-certified helmets, and awareness drives are being conducted in cities like Chennai through public roadshows and free distribution campaigns.

    BIS is also stepping up consumer outreach. Tools like the BIS Care App now allow riders to verify certification details and report suspicious products. Campaigns such as “Quality Connect,” led by local volunteers called Manak Mitras, are actively engaging with communities to raise awareness about helmet safety and the risks of uncertified gear.

    As India’s roads grow busier and accidents more frequent, the message is clear: helmets are not just accessories – they are life-saving equipment. Choosing a BIS-certified helmet is not about avoiding fines, but about valuing life. In the critical moments of an accident, it’s not the look of the helmet that matters, but the science behind it. The difference between a certified and a counterfeit helmet is not just a label – it’s the difference between life and death.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Demystifying the Link Between Major Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Over 7 million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). Some risk factors for ADRD, like genetics, can’t be controlled, but others can be treated. One of the most prevalent is depression (known clinically as major depressive disorder, or MDD). Between 11.1% and 14.7% of ADRD cases – affecting roughly one million individuals in the US – are attributable to MDD.  

    Now, researchers at the UConn Center on Aging have uncovered a variety of mechanisms linking these conditions, giving at-risk individuals and health care providers a greater understanding of how the disease may be prevented and mitigated. 

    “We’ve known for a long time that depression is one of the most relevant, potentially preventable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease,” says Breno Diniz, MD, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at UConn Health and the Center on Aging, who has devoted his research career to tackling this issue. “However, we didn’t know why.”  

    Diniz’s latest publication, in the journal Nature Mental Health, has uncovered two key factors linking these diseases: proteostasis, or how the body synthesizes and metabolizes proteins; and dysregulation of inflammatory responses.  

    “Depression is a disease that is bigger than a depressed mood,” Diniz says. “It has consequences that are silent, that may appear many years later.” 

    The Power in the Proteins

    Diniz’s research team identified a series of protein markers in the body that seemed to increase the risk of ADRD for everyone – patients both with and without a history of MDD. These markers are related to general processes in the body that tend to change with age, such as inflammation, cell division, and apoptosis (the destruction and removal of damaged cells from the body). 

    But in patients with MDD, the researchers found a unique change in the process of proteostasis. This change increased inflammation in the brain, which in turn increased the risk of developing ADRD. 

    “What we have here is a causal effect,” says Diniz, explaining that these two factors – changes in proteostasis and an increase in neuroinflammation – “seem to work together, synergistically, to increase the risk of dementia.” 

    Using this insight, the team developed a Proteomic Risk Score that can be used to assess the risk for an individual patient with depression developing ADRD. This unique tool evaluates multiple proteins and offers “a more concrete way of looking at the risk of dementia in these individuals,” says Diniz. 

    To the research team’s surprise, the newly developed tool was a better predictor of ADRD risk than any previous model. It was more effective than models which evaluate the classic risk factors for ADRD, both in the general population and among those with depression – signaling hope for early detection and prevention. 

    “It’s a very robust model,” says Diniz, “and it has concrete clinical applications.” 

    The Proteomic Risk Score tool will help clinicians and patients holistically examine their ADRD risk factors, and it may also enable researchers to better select human subjects for ADRD intervention and prevention efforts. 

    Breaking it Down

    In this study, Diniz and his co-authors used a combination of proteomic and genomic approaches to analyze data available from the United Kingdom Biobank, specifically tracking ADRD outcomes among middle-aged adults with depression.  

    Proteomics is the study of the proteins that are created by cells in the body. And genomics – the study of someone’s entire set of DNA – is a natural complement to proteomics, since DNA determines which proteins are produced by cells. Combining these two analytical approaches is called proteogenomics, and it can give researchers a deeper insight into complex biological processes and how they are related to different pathologies.  

    “Every molecular layer – from genes to epigenetics, RNA, and proteins – conveys different biological information, and they can have different roles in … creating prediction models,” explains Diniz. “Their combination makes the models more powerful, and brings them a step closer to precision geroscience.” This is a major goal of the UConn Pepper Center, led by the paper’s co-authors George Kuchel, MD, and Richard Fortinsky, Ph.D.

    To enable this multifaceted analysis, Diniz partnered with other researchers across departments at UConn and UConn Health, including Kuchel; Fortinsky; Zhiduo Chen, Ph.D.; David C. Steffens, MD; and Chia-Ling Kuo, Ph.D. The research team also included scientists from the University of Exeter (UK) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada. 

    Depression’s ‘Silent Consequences’

    This research emphasizes the profound interconnection between mind and body, especially the long-term health impacts of untreated mental illness. For those outside the scientific community, Diniz hopes this work will spur people to take their mental health just as seriously as their physical health. 

    “It’s extremely important to seek help,” Diniz urges. “Not only when you’re 50 or older – anytime in your life. Lots of studies in the past decade have shown that any depressive episode throughout the lifespan, even in your 20s, can increase the risk of dementia later on. So, it’s very important to seek help, and it’s very important to treat – and try to reach full remission of – the depressive episode.” 

    Fortunately, he notes, many of the lifestyle recommendations which have been shown to improve depressive symptoms – like exercise and not smoking – also improve other health outcomes, so treating depression does not need to occur in isolation. 

    Offering patients and health care providers tools like the Proteomic Risk Score and a more holistic understanding of health, this research joins a growing body of literature dedicated to preventing many cases of ADRD before it’s too late. 

    This work was supported by the NIA grant P30AG067988 (UConn Pepper Center, PIs: Kuchel and Fortinsky).  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Demystifying the Link Between Major Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Over 7 million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). Some risk factors for ADRD, like genetics, can’t be controlled, but others can be treated. One of the most prevalent is depression (known clinically as major depressive disorder, or MDD). Between 11.1% and 14.7% of ADRD cases – affecting roughly one million individuals in the US – are attributable to MDD.  

    Now, researchers at the UConn Center on Aging have uncovered a variety of mechanisms linking these conditions, giving at-risk individuals and health care providers a greater understanding of how the disease may be prevented and mitigated. 

    “We’ve known for a long time that depression is one of the most relevant, potentially preventable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease,” says Breno Diniz, MD, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at UConn Health and the Center on Aging, who has devoted his research career to tackling this issue. “However, we didn’t know why.”  

    Diniz’s latest publication, in the journal Nature Mental Health, has uncovered two key factors linking these diseases: proteostasis, or how the body synthesizes and metabolizes proteins; and dysregulation of inflammatory responses.  

    “Depression is a disease that is bigger than a depressed mood,” Diniz says. “It has consequences that are silent, that may appear many years later.” 

    The Power in the Proteins

    Diniz’s research team identified a series of protein markers in the body that seemed to increase the risk of ADRD for everyone – patients both with and without a history of MDD. These markers are related to general processes in the body that tend to change with age, such as inflammation, cell division, and apoptosis (the destruction and removal of damaged cells from the body). 

    But in patients with MDD, the researchers found a unique change in the process of proteostasis. This change increased inflammation in the brain, which in turn increased the risk of developing ADRD. 

    “What we have here is a causal effect,” says Diniz, explaining that these two factors – changes in proteostasis and an increase in neuroinflammation – “seem to work together, synergistically, to increase the risk of dementia.” 

    Using this insight, the team developed a Proteomic Risk Score that can be used to assess the risk for an individual patient with depression developing ADRD. This unique tool evaluates multiple proteins and offers “a more concrete way of looking at the risk of dementia in these individuals,” says Diniz. 

    To the research team’s surprise, the newly developed tool was a better predictor of ADRD risk than any previous model. It was more effective than models which evaluate the classic risk factors for ADRD, both in the general population and among those with depression – signaling hope for early detection and prevention. 

    “It’s a very robust model,” says Diniz, “and it has concrete clinical applications.” 

    The Proteomic Risk Score tool will help clinicians and patients holistically examine their ADRD risk factors, and it may also enable researchers to better select human subjects for ADRD intervention and prevention efforts. 

    Breaking it Down

    In this study, Diniz and his co-authors used a combination of proteomic and genomic approaches to analyze data available from the United Kingdom Biobank, specifically tracking ADRD outcomes among middle-aged adults with depression.  

    Proteomics is the study of the proteins that are created by cells in the body. And genomics – the study of someone’s entire set of DNA – is a natural complement to proteomics, since DNA determines which proteins are produced by cells. Combining these two analytical approaches is called proteogenomics, and it can give researchers a deeper insight into complex biological processes and how they are related to different pathologies.  

    “Every molecular layer – from genes to epigenetics, RNA, and proteins – conveys different biological information, and they can have different roles in … creating prediction models,” explains Diniz. “Their combination makes the models more powerful, and brings them a step closer to precision geroscience.” This is a major goal of the UConn Pepper Center, led by the paper’s co-authors George Kuchel, MD, and Richard Fortinsky, Ph.D.

    To enable this multifaceted analysis, Diniz partnered with other researchers across departments at UConn and UConn Health, including Kuchel; Fortinsky; Zhiduo Chen, Ph.D.; David C. Steffens, MD; and Chia-Ling Kuo, Ph.D. The research team also included scientists from the University of Exeter (UK) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada. 

    Depression’s ‘Silent Consequences’

    This research emphasizes the profound interconnection between mind and body, especially the long-term health impacts of untreated mental illness. For those outside the scientific community, Diniz hopes this work will spur people to take their mental health just as seriously as their physical health. 

    “It’s extremely important to seek help,” Diniz urges. “Not only when you’re 50 or older – anytime in your life. Lots of studies in the past decade have shown that any depressive episode throughout the lifespan, even in your 20s, can increase the risk of dementia later on. So, it’s very important to seek help, and it’s very important to treat – and try to reach full remission of – the depressive episode.” 

    Fortunately, he notes, many of the lifestyle recommendations which have been shown to improve depressive symptoms – like exercise and not smoking – also improve other health outcomes, so treating depression does not need to occur in isolation. 

    Offering patients and health care providers tools like the Proteomic Risk Score and a more holistic understanding of health, this research joins a growing body of literature dedicated to preventing many cases of ADRD before it’s too late. 

    This work was supported by the NIA grant P30AG067988 (UConn Pepper Center, PIs: Kuchel and Fortinsky).  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Strengthening Immunity, One Dose at a Time: Malawi’s Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV2) Success Story

    Source: APO


    .

    In the heart of Southern Africa, Malawi has taken a bold step in the fight against polio. After reporting its first case of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1) after 30 years in 2022, the country responded with urgency and resolve. By May 2024, thanks to multiple vaccination campaigns, vigilant surveillance and strengthened immunization systems, Malawi was declared polio-free once again. But the journey didn’t end there.

    With the looming threat of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) from neighboring countries, Malawi recognized the need to boost its population’s immunity. Backed by GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance funding and guided by the Malawi Immunization Technical Advisory Group (MAITAG), the Ministry of Health introduced the second dose of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV2) into the national immunization schedule in December 2024.

    This milestone was more than a policy shift—it was a nationwide movement:

    • Over 187,348 eligible children better protected from Polio following vaccination with 2nd Dose of IPV as of April 2025

    • 17,000 health workers were trained across all districts.

    • IPV2 was rolled out in every health facility, including outreach posts in remote areas.

    • Community engagement efforts flourished, with local leaders and health workers leading sensitization campaigns.

    • Data management tools and systems were updated to incorporate the new vaccine

    In Karonga District, which borders Tanzania and faces high cross-border transmission risk, the rollout was seamless. Health workers reported no challenges, and community members welcomed the new dose with open arms. 

    Mr. Kayuni, an area supervisor with over 20 years of experience in immunization programming within the district, discussed the introduction of IPV2, which aims to enhance protection against the type 2 poliovirus. He noted that due to the anticipated benefits of IPV2, efforts had been increased in community awareness regarding the new dose to reduce vaccine hesitancy for improved coverage.

    At the Mlongoti outreach post, a structure built by the community demonstrates their support for the health system and immunization program. Suzgika Gondwe, a local mother, expressed her understanding that this dose reduces the risk of polio for her child. Another caregiver, Gift Ngofi, mentioned that she believed in the benefits of the additional dose because the information came from their community health workers. Temwa Kaula supported her community members’ opinions, noting no expected harm beyond typical vaccine side effects from the new dose. All three caregivers discussed the overall importance of vaccines, observing fewer illness episodes for their children, decreased hospital visits, and increased time for income-generating activities.

    This success story is not just about a new vaccine—it’s about resilience, trust, and community-driven health progress. With continued support and vigilance, Malawi is not only protecting its children today but also securing a polio-free future for generations to come.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Malawi.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) recommends injectable lenacapavir for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention

    Source: APO


    .

    The World Health Organization (WHO) released today new guidelines recommending the use of injectable lenacapavir (LEN) twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention, in a landmark policy action that could help reshape the global HIV response. The guidelines are being issued at the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science, in Kigali, Rwanda.

    LEN, the first twice-yearly injectable PrEP product, offers a highly effective, long-acting alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting options. With just two doses per year, LEN is a transformative step forward in protecting people at risk of HIV – particularly those who face challenges with daily adherence, stigma, or access to health care.

    “While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The launch of WHO’s new guidelines, alongside the FDA’s recent approval, marks a critical step forward in expanding access to this powerful tool. WHO is committed to working with countries and partners to ensure this innovation reaches communities as quickly and safely as possible.”

    The new guidelines come at a critical moment as HIV prevention efforts stagnate with 1.3 million new HIV infections occurring in 2024 – with disproportionate impact among key and priority populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, people in prisons, and children and adolescents. WHO’s recommendation on LEN signals a decisive move to expand and diversify HIV prevention, giving people more options to take control over their health with choices that fit their lives.

    Simplified testing: a major barrier removed

    As part of these guidelines, WHO has recommended a public health approach to HIV testing using HIV rapid tests to support delivery of long-acting injectable PrEP, including LEN and cabotegravir (CAB-LA). The simplified testing recommendation removes a major access barrier by eliminating complex, costly procedures and enabling community-based delivery of long-acting PrEP through pharmacies, clinics, and tele-health.

    Next steps: call for implementation

    LEN joins other WHO-recommended PrEP options, including daily oral PrEP, injectable cabotegravir and the dapivirine vaginal ring, as part of a growing arsenal of tools to end the HIV epidemic. While access to LEN outside clinical trials remains limited at the moment, WHO urges governments, donors and global health partners to begin rolling out LEN immediately within national combination HIV prevention programmes – while collecting essential data on uptake, adherence and real-world impact.

    Additional WHO recommendations at IAS 2025

    For the first time, WHO’s treatment guidelines include a clear recommendation for the use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine (CAB/RPV) as an alternative switching option for antiretroviral therapy (ART) for adults and adolescents who have achieved full viral suppression on oral ART and do not have active hepatitis B infection. This approach is designed to support people living with HIV facing adherence challenges to oral regimens.

    Updated guidelines on service delivery integration include recommendations to integrate HIV services with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as mental health care for depression, anxiety and alcohol use disorders into HIV services, alongside interventions to support ART adherence. Additionally, new guidelines on management of asymptomatic STIs recommend screening of gonorrhoea and/or chlamydia in key and priority populations.

    For people living with HIV who have mpox and are either ART naive or have experienced prolonged ART interruption, rapid initiation of ART is strongly recommended. Additionally, early HIV testing is advised for individuals presenting with suspected or confirmed mpox infection. WHO’s standard operating procedures further emphasize HIV and syphilis testing for all individuals with suspected or confirmed mpox.

    In response to the broader challenges facing HIV programmes, WHO has also issued new operational guidance on sustaining priority HIV services in a changing funding landscape. The guidance aims to provide a stepwise framework to help countries prioritize services, assess risks, monitor disruptions, and adapt systems to protect health outcomes and preserve progress.

    “We have the tools and the knowledge to end AIDS as a public health problem,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes and incoming Director of Science, Research, Evidence and Quality for Health. “What we need now is bold implementation of these recommendations, grounded in equity and powered by communities.”

    HIV remains a major global public health issue. By the end of 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV with an estimated 65% in the WHO African Region. Approximately 630 000 people died from HIV-related causes globally, and an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV, including 120 000 children. Access to ART continues to expand, with 31.6 million people receiving treatment in 2024, up from 30.3 million in 2023.

    At a time of reduced funding for HIV and health, WHO’s new and updated guidelines offer practical, evidence-based strategies to sustain momentum. By expanding prevention and treatment options, simplifying service delivery and promoting integration with broader health services, they support more efficient, equitable, and resilient HIV responses. Now is the moment for bold implementation to ensure these gains translate into real-world impact.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI: Dime Adds Lender Finance Vertical

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM) (the “Company” or “Dime”), the parent company of Dime Community Bank (the “Bank”), announced today that Jason Brenner and Zack Schwartz were named Co-Heads of a newly established Lender Finance vertical.

    Brenner was most recently Managing Director and Head of Originations for Non-Real Estate Lender Finance at AXOS Bank. Schwartz was most recently Director and Underwriting Team Lead at First Citizens Bank. Both will be based in Manhattan and report to Shawn Gines, Executive Vice President, Corporate and Specialty Finance.

    Stuart H. Lubow, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dime, said, “We are excited to announce the hiring of Jason and Zack. They will each play an integral role in the continued diversification of Dime’s commercial lending businesses. Adding their expertise allows us to deepen our focus on lender finance, with a dedicated vertical to support our private equity and private credit clients.”

    Tom Geisel, Dime’s Senior Executive Vice President of Commercial Lending, said, “We continue to diversify our client offerings and with the addition of Lender Finance, we now have five distinct verticals (Healthcare, Lender Finance, Mid-Corporate, Fund Finance and Not-For-Profit Lending) that will contribute to our future growth. Jason and Zack’s background and experience will continue to accelerate our platform buildout.”

    ABOUT DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

    Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Dime Community Bank, a New York State-chartered trust company with over $14 billion in assets and the number one deposit market share among community banks on Greater Long Island (1).

    Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
    Investor Relations Contact:
    Avinash Reddy
    Senior Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer
    Phone: 718-782-6200; Ext. 5909
    Email: avinash.reddy@dime.com

    ¹ Aggregate deposit market share for Kings, Queens, Nassau & Suffolk counties for community banks with less than $20 billion in assets.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
    Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Employees seek leadership development—but access gaps may hold them back, new report finds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — InStride’s newly released 2025 Talent Priorities Report reveals that employees are ready to grow into leadership roles, but employers may be overlooking what’s required to support that growth. In the national survey, 90% of employees expressed interest in leadership development. Among those who expressed strong interest, mid-career professionals (29–44) made up the largest group.

    Two out of three HR leaders surveyed also indicated that leadership development is a top focus—suggesting alignment in principle, if not yet in practice.

    A disconnect between talent gaps and access gaps

    Despite this widespread enthusiasm for growth, the report uncovers a disconnect between HR priorities and employee needs. HR leaders are focused on solving talent gaps through retention, attraction, and upskilling, while employees point to access gaps, especially education, as the key to unlocking their growth. In fact, 78% of employees say they’d be more likely to pursue learning if tuition were paid upfront.

    Lauren King, Vice President of Talent Strategy and Workforce Development at Novant Health, remarked on the report’s findings: “You can’t use the word gap unless you’re willing to build a bridge.”

    Additional findings from the 2025 Talent Priorities Report

    Beyond demand for leadership development and disconnect between access and talent priorities, the report surfaced three other key findings shaping talent strategy in 2025:

    1. Education drives loyalty
      61% of employees say education benefits make them more likely to stay, and 65% say they influence where they apply. HR leaders, meanwhile, rank retention, attraction, and upskilling as their biggest talent challenges.
    2. Appetite for AI is widespread
      71% of employees are focused on growing AI skills through education, and 54% of HR leaders are looking for AI-powered education solutions.
    3. Skills-first approaches matter
      Both groups value job-aligned skills, whether gained through degrees or short-term credentials. Certification interest jumped from 28% to 34% year-over-year.

    Report insights spark discussion on next steps for employers

    The 2025 Talent Priorities Report draws from two national surveys conducted in early 2025: one of 1,000+ employees and another of 100+ HR and L&D leaders across industries.

    InStride, a leading provider of strategic education and skilling solutions, gave an early look at the findings at the company’s annual IMPACT summit in a panel featuring speakers from Novant Health and the Aspen Institute’s UpSkill America initiative, moderated by Nick Greif, InStride Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and External Affairs.

    “Talent gaps and access gaps are often two sides of the same coin,” said Greif. “When 78% of employees say they’d be more likely to pursue education if their employer paid tuition upfront, that’s a signal of interest and a call to action. However, most employers put up barriers like reimbursement schemes, clawbacks, and grade requirements that reduce the exact employee outcomes they are seeking. The good news is, solving for access is one of the clearest steps employers can take to unlock talent.”

    About InStride
    InStride solves corporate talent challenges with strategic education and skilling solutions. By breaking down barriers to learning, fostering career growth aligned with organizational goals, and simplifying program management, InStride delivers lasting impact. Named to TIME’s list of the World’s Top EdTech Companies of 2025, InStride partners with forward-thinking companies to drive meaningful social and business outcomes by providing access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

    Contact:
    Sophia Puglisi, Communications Manager at InStride, sophia.puglisi@instride.com, 805-889-6273

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ef7f12c-afbe-4c43-8813-96a4a290194a

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chief Training Officer Teresa Sindelar Touches the Future of Human Spaceflight

    Source: NASA

    Teresa Sindelar always knew she wanted to be a part of human spaceflight, but she was unsure how to make that dream a reality until a chance encounter with former NASA astronaut Tom Stafford when she was 11 years old.
    The pair met in a local jewelry shop near Sindelar’s Nebraska home, where Gen. Stafford was signing autographs. In addition to his photo, Gen. Stafford gave Sindelar a valuable tip – she should check out the Kansas Cosmosphere, a space museum in Hutchinson, Kansas. “I proceeded to attend every camp the Cosmosphere offered as a student, interned during college, and worked there full time while earning my graduate degree,” Sindelar said.

    She discovered a passion for teaching and mentoring young students through her work in the museum’s education department and a stint as a high school science teacher. When she began looking for opportunities at NASA, she sought a position that melded instruction with technical work. “I like pouring into others and watching them grow,” she said.
    Today, Sindelar is a chief training officer (CTO) within the Flight Operations Directorate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Along with her fellow CTOs, Sindelar oversees the correct and complete training of NASA astronauts, crew members representing international partners, and all flight controllers. “I put the pieces together,” she said. “It is my job to make sure instructors, schedulers, outside partners, facility managers, and others are all in sync.” She added that CTOs have a unique position because they see the big picture of a training flow and understand the long-term training goals and objectives.

    “I get to do a lot of cool things and go to a lot of cool places,” she said, noting that the training facilities at Johnson and other NASA centers, as well as facilities managed by international partners, are top-notch. While she does enjoy watching astronauts work through problems and learn new systems, she has a special fondness for flight controller training and mentoring young professionals. “What fills my cup the most is seeing a brand-new employee right out of college blossom into a confident flight controller, do their job well, and make our missions better,” she said. “I like knowing that I had something to do with that.”
    Sindelar has been part of the Johnson team since 2010 and worked as an educator in what was then called the center’s Office of Education and as a crew training instructor in the Space Medicine Operations Directorate before becoming a CTO. In March 2025, Sindelar received a Space Flight Awareness Program Honoree Award for her outstanding leadership in the Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) program, which is an important component of NASA’s strategy for enabling a robust and competitive commercial economy in low Earth orbit. As the lead CTO for the third PAM, Axiom Mission 3, Sindelar managed training while identifying critical inefficiencies, enhancing mission safety and performance. She spearheaded a key stakeholder retreat to streamline operations, reorganized training resources for improved accessibility, and implemented efficiency improvements that optimized mission support. Sindelar’s work was recognized during an award ceremony at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and she got to attend the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission as a special guest.
    In her 15 years with the agency, she has learned the importance of leading by example. “My team needs to see that I meet the bar I set,” she said. “Leading is about motivating your people so they are committed, not just compliant.”

    Keeping a team motivated and on track is particularly important to training success and safety. “We only get a matter of months to train astronauts to do the most hazardous activities that humans have done, or to train flight controllers who literally have the mission and the lives of astronauts in their hands,” Sindelar said, adding that they cannot afford to have an unfocused or indifferent team.
    Sindelar observed that Johnson’s training team is acutely aware of their responsibilities. “We live and work in the same communities as the crew members,” she said. “We see them at school functions, at the grocery store, at the park. We know their families are counting on us to bring their loved ones home safely.”
    She has also learned that her voice matters. “When I was a young professional, I just never felt I could be influential, but the only person holding me back was me,” she said. “I had to learn to trust in my own instincts. That was definitely outside of my comfort zone.” She credits her mentors with helping her build confidence and knowing when and how to speak up. “I have had many giants of the spaceflight community mold and shape me in my career, from my counselors at the Cosmosphere all the way to flight directors and astronauts,” she said. “It is my privilege to learn from them, and I am grateful to each of them.”
    Outside of work, Sindelar uses her voice in a different way – as part of her church choir. She also plays piano, stating that she is as passionate about music and volunteerism as she is about human spaceflight. She is a member of the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department, as well, serving on its rehab team and as the department’s chaplain

    As NASA prepares to return humans to the Moon and journey on to Mars, Sindelar hopes she has taught the next generation of explorers enough so they can show the world the wonders of the universe. “This next generation will see and do things my generation never even thought of,” she said, adding that it is time for them to start leading. “Use your voice. Take care of each other along the way. Reach out and help the next one in line.”
    Sindelar keeps a reminder of that important message on her desk: the picture Gen. Stafford signed all those years ago.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • PM Modi distributes over 51,000 appointment letters at 16th Rozgar Mela

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 51,000 appointment letters to newly appointed youth during the 16th Rozgar Mela held on Saturday. The event was conducted at 47 locations across the country, marking yet another milestone in the government’s commitment to generate employment opportunities for the nation’s youth.

    Addressing the new recruits, Prime Minister Modi congratulated them and highlighted the importance of their role in shaping a stronger, more self-reliant India. The newly inducted employees have joined various Central Government Ministries and Departments, including the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Posts, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Financial Services, and Ministry of Labour and Employment, among others. The Rozgar Mela continues to reflect the government’s vision of equitable and inclusive development by bringing employment closer to the youth across the nation.

    Organised under the aegis of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), an initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the Rozgar Mela aims to bridge the gap between job seekers and employers, particularly in the private sector. NSDC works in close coordination with Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs) to source reputable private companies for participation in the Melas, ensuring a wide array of employment opportunities for youth.

    A Rozgar Mela typically functions as a half-day employment fair, where employers and job seekers interact directly. Targeting youth aged between 18 and 35 years, the initiative accommodates a wide spectrum of educational qualifications—ranging from candidates with 8th, 10th, and 12th-grade certifications to those holding ITI, diploma, and graduate degrees. It also includes trained and certified individuals who meet the standards of the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).

    To ensure the broadest possible outreach, job seekers are informed about the events through print advertisements, SMS campaigns, social media, and workshops at educational institutions. Besides job interviews and recruitments, the Rozgar Melas also offer career counseling sessions for youth and their families, Kaushal Melas to register for new skill development programs under PMKVY and PMKK, Mudra Loan Facilitation Counters, and skill exhibitions showcasing training modules and job roles.

    Rozgar Melas are not limited to NSDC-led events alone. Affiliated organisations like SSCs, PMKKs, and training partners under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) also organise these events on various scales throughout the year, extending the benefits of job matchmaking and skill awareness across multiple districts.

    The Rozgar Mela initiative, launched nationally on 22nd October 2022, has seen consistent expansion. The inaugural edition saw over 75,000 appointment letters distributed. Subsequent editions have continued to strengthen the momentum, with appointment letters ranging from 51,000 to over 1 lakh being distributed in each event. Notably, the 12th edition in February 2024 marked a record, with the Prime Minister distributing over one lakh appointment letters and laying the foundation stone for Phase I of the Integrated Complex “Karmayogi Bhavan” in New Delhi.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Díaz-Balart: President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Will Boost Economic Growth and Reduce Taxes for American Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Appropriations Vice Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the historic H.R. 1, President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”:

     “I am proud to have voted with my House Republican colleagues to send President Trump’s America First bill, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” to his desk to be signed into law. This signature domestic policy legislation will deliver on President Trump’s Peace Through Strength agenda and restore American deterrence, secure historic savings, lead to higher economic growth, unleash domestic energy, secure the border, and avoid the largest tax hikes to American families and small businesses in U.S. history.”

    This legislation directly benefits taxpayers in Florida’s 26thCongressional District by making President Trump’s successful 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent. Without the TCJA, the average taxpayer in Florida’s 26thDistrict would have seen a 24% tax hike by the end of 2025. It protects 21,000 manufacturing jobs and 75,220 small businesses from these tax hikes, while supporting job creation, higher wages, and innovation. This bill will continue further investments into Opportunity Zones created under the TCJA that bolster our communities, bringing new and increased economic investment into traditionally underserved areas through the OBBB. In Miami-Dade County alone, 67 Opportunity Zones have flourished under this direct investment and across FL-26 in Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, and Miami Springs. 

    Additionally, this legislation will stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and other illegal narcotics from entering our communities by making direct investments to secure our border. It will also reverse the Biden Administration’s burdensome energy policies, unleashing American energy dominance and independence. This bill supports pro-family initiatives by increasing the Child Tax Credit by $500 up to $2200. It provides greater support for paid leave and childcare by quadrupling the maximum Employer-Provided Childcare Credit and adds additional relief for small businesses providing childcare, all while simultaneously strengthening the Paid Family and Medical Leave Credit from the 2017 TCJA. The bill enhances the adoption tax credit, taking into consideration the toll Bidenflation placed on families wishing to adopt and making it more usable for American families. Our seniors will receive historic relief, with a $6,000 deduction, a deduction that will exceed the taxable Social Security income of any senior who receives the current average retirement benefit. 

    This historic tax relief not only guarantees deductions but ensures that taxpayers, especially working families, can keep more of their hard-earned money. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” 

    ###

     

     

    For additional information on how the One Big Beautiful Bill will benefit American families, see below:

     

    • Delivers on President Trump’s promises for No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, Additional Tax Relief for Seniors, and No Tax on Car Loan Interest.
    • Carries out President Trump’s visionary Peace Through Strength mission.
      • $150B investment in our national security will restore American deterrence and build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force President Trump promised.
      • Jump-starts the Golden Dome initiative by investing $25 billion
      • Grows the U.S. Navy for the first time in years, investing $29 billion to revitalize shipbuilding in our nation.
      • Improves quality of life for our troops with $9 billion in funding to increase allowances and special pays, and to upgrade aging, moldy barracks.
    • Makes President Trump’s 2017 pro-family tax cuts PERMANENT.
      • The lower tax rates stop a $1,700 tax increase on American families.
      • Prevents a scheduled $15,000 cut in the Standard Deduction for families.
      • The doubled Child Tax Credit (CTC) stops a $1,000 per child reduction in the CTC.
      •  In fact, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act supports American families recovering from Bidenflation by increasing the CTC by $500 and indexes the CTC amount for inflation moving forward.
    • Increases access to the Adoption Tax Credit.
      • Makes the credit more usable for all families, opening up more homes to the joys of adoption and championing the sanctity of life.
    • Builds on the Trump Tax Cuts’ incentives for Paid Leave and Childcare.
      • Strengthens the Paid Family and Medical Leave Credit from the Trump Tax Cuts.
      • Quadruples the maximum Employer-Provided Childcare Credit and adds additional relief for small businesses providing childcare.
    • Lowers the cost of health care.
      • Expands Health Savings Accounts for Americans to take control of their health care.
      • Codifies Trump Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, increasing coverage options for 350,000 individuals.
    • Tax relief for seniors.
      • Middle- and low-income seniors will be able to deduct an additional $6,000.
    • Secures Our Border with $175 billion to:
      • Hire and train 3,000 new Border Patrol agents
      • Hire and train 5,000 new Customs Officers
      • Allow for the completion of 701 miles of primary wall and the construction of 900 miles of river barriers.
      • $6B to help CBP interdict more fentanyl, deploy more border surveillance technology, and more.
    • Securing Our Skies with $12.5 billion for Air Traffic Control modernization.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Future of the EU biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector: leveraging research, boosting innovation and enhancing competitiveness – P10_TA(2025)0165 – Thursday, 10 July 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in particular Articles 9, 151, 152, 153(1) and (2) thereof, as well as Articles 173 and 179 thereof, which concern EU industrial policy and research and refer to, among other things, the competitiveness of the Union’s industry and the strengthening of the Union’s scientific and technological bases,

    –  having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Article 5(3) thereof and Protocol No 2 thereto on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality,

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 20 March 2024 entitled ‘Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU’ (COM(2024)0137),

    –  having regard to the report by Mario Draghi of 9 September 2024 entitled ‘The future of European competitiveness’,

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 29 January 2025 entitled ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’ (COM(2025)0030),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’ (COM(2019)0640),

    –  having regard to the report by Enrico Letta of 10 April 2024 entitled ‘Much more than a market’,

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 19 February 2025 entitled ‘A Vision for Agriculture and Food – Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations’ (COM(2025)0075),

    –  having regard to Rule 55 and Rule 148(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    –  having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A10-0123/2025),

    A.  whereas the EU biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector has been recognised as one of 10 strategic technology sectors for Europe’s competitiveness, economic security and sustainability; whereas the sector is characterised by very high productivity, growth and employment, and delivers globally competitive, cutting-edge solutions in healthcare, life sciences, industrial production and transformation, sustainable biomanufacturing, energy and food security; whereas biotechnology and biomanufacturing are important enablers of the bioeconomy at large; whereas biotechnology and biomanufacturing can help enhance the EU’s strategic autonomy, resilience and circularity by reducing industry’s dependency on fossil-based input and other external dependencies in various sectors; whereas the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector still faces regulatory and financial obstacles and an incomplete internal market; whereas the Commission is expected to present an EU biotech act, an updated EU bioeconomy strategy, an EU life sciences strategy, an EU innovation act and an EU circular economy act;

    B.  whereas according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), biotechnology is defined as the application of science and technology to living organisms, as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services; whereas biomanufacturing is not clearly defined and the Commission should therefore propose such a definition; whereas a definition of biomanufacturing should be future-proof, open to scientific and technological developments, and technology neutral, so as to broadly encompass the use of biotechnology or other technologies for the production of bio-based material products and solutions including, but not limited to, chemical, mechanical or thermal processes;

    C.  whereas the biotech and biomanufacturing industries have led the development and deployment of breakthrough innovations in healthcare, such as mRNA-based vaccines; whereas biotechnology processes can be used to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients and key manufacturing inputs for medicines;

    D.  whereas the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of having robust raw material value chains and manufacturing capabilities within Europe, to ensure security of supply of critical products and to mitigate shortages, for example of essential medicines;

    E.  whereas artificial intelligence (AI) can help drive biotechnology innovation – e.g. in personalised medicine and drug discovery – resulting in health and environmental benefits; whereas the use of AI in biotechnology can also present ethical challenges and risks, related to the protection of private data, which need to be addressed in order to maintain public trust and acceptance;

    F.  whereas biotechnology is applied in various aspects of animal and plant-based agriculture and also indirectly, through its use in activities such as waste management;

    G.  whereas biotechnology can strengthen the resilience of forests and, in the case of biomanufacturing, the forest sector can offer sustainably produced, renewable and recyclable raw materials that can be used in high-value innovative products, materials and applications;

    H.  whereas the EU is a global leader in research and biomanufacturing capacity, yet its potential remains unexploited due to the lack of a sufficiently coordinated policy framework that enables the efficient scaling up of innovation, the attraction of investment and the commercialisation of new technologies; whereas the ‘one in, one out’ approach ensures that all burdens introduced by Commission initiatives are considered, and administrative burdens are offset by removing burdens of equivalent value in the same policy area at EU or Member State level; whereas Parliament has called for the EU’s research budget to be doubled; whereas EU private investment in research, development and innovation is lagging behind other major economies; whereas promoting investment in pioneering demo and commercial production plants can accelerate the commercialisation of EU innovation in the bio-based industries;

    I.  whereas urgent, coherent and consistent action needs to be taken during the next few years to make the EU a world leader in biotechnology, biomanufacturing and life sciences effecting a bold level of change, in accordance with due process and supported by competitiveness checks and adequate funding;

    J.  whereas lengthy and complex authorisation procedures, particularly concerning approval times, represent a competitive disadvantage for EU operators and drive project developers out of the EU, and hinder industrial deployment and growth;

    K.  whereas current EU regulatory frameworks do not cater precisely to the specificities of bio-based products; whereas the existing regulatory authorisation processes for biotech products needs to be urgently addressed to ensure that the EU remains globally competitive; whereas an effective regulatory framework for conducting clinical research is essential for the competitiveness of the most innovation-intensive aspects of the EU’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors; whereas the Commission should take account of the regulatory frameworks of non-EU countries leading in the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector, in the context of existing and future EU legislation covering the industry, to ensure compatibility without lowering existing EU safety and environmental standards;

    L.  whereas the EU’s biotechnology and biomanufacturing investment and venture capital ecosystem remains fragmented; whereas high energy prices, regulatory burdens, barriers, and a lack of available key feedstock, raw materials and components are limiting the ability of start-ups and other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to scale up, and limit large-scale deployment; whereas EU biomanufacturing capacity and supply chain resilience, including the availability of feedstock, are essential to reduce dependence on non-EU actors; whereas effective global supply chains – including strategic partnerships with reliable global actors – are also important to secure stable access to critical resources, avoid supply disruptions and foster continuous innovation in essential technologies;

    M.  whereas bio-based feedstocks, such as sustainably sourced biomass, recycled waste and CO2 captured from biogenic sources, could be used as alternative feedstocks for the manufacturing of, for example, polymers, plastics, solvents, paints, detergents, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, thereby contributing to EU emission reduction, resource efficiency and strategic autonomy; whereas the EU could further incentivise market demand and market uptake for sustainable bio-based products and materials;

    N.  whereas it is vital to increase the use of sustainable bio-based raw materials as part of the means of reaching the EU’s 2050 climate targets; whereas biotechnology has the potential to transform the refinery and chemical industry towards biomanufacturing, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the EU’s climate objectives;

    O.  whereas biotechnology and biomanufacturing are regulated across many different regulatory frameworks; whereas current EU regulatory frameworks for biotechnology and biomanufacturing are inconsistent across sectors, creating legal uncertainty and slowing market access for innovative solutions; whereas the lengthy authorisation processes, particularly concerning approval times, need to be urgently addressed and improved, while maintaining a risk- and science-based approach, to compete with corresponding time frames outside the EU; whereas the use of regulatory sandboxes should be expanded to ensure that emerging technologies have a clear development pathway; whereas new EU-wide regulation in the form of an EU biotech act should be duly justified based on examples of concrete gaps and shortcomings in current legislation and implementation, focusing on the specificities of the industry;

    P.  whereas a coherent, robust and future-proof intellectual property (IP) framework is essential, ideally resulting in economic, environmental and societal benefits;

    Q.  whereas public awareness in the EU of biotechnology and biomanufactured products should be further strengthened, in order to boost public acceptance; whereas the ethical aspects of biotechnology should be considered; whereas stakeholder consultation plays a crucial role in shaping responsible and ethical biotechnology policies; whereas civil society can play an essential role in ensuring public trust;

    R.  whereas the engineering of DNA and organisms is increasingly carried out in automated biofoundries, which produce a wealth of data and improved designs and knowledge of biological functions;

    S.  whereas the EU’s regulatory framework needs to adequately address evolving risks, opportunities and responsibilities associated with the handling, trade and synthesis of biological material, particularly in the context of synthetic biology; whereas existing biosecurity gaps need to be addressed by the EU and through international cooperation;

    Criteria for a comprehensive EU biotech act

    1.  Emphasises the growth potential of the European biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector and the need for the EU to remain world-leading in this field; underlines the commitment to the principles of better regulation and lawmaking, simplification and administrative burden reduction; underlines that the simplification of EU legislation must not endanger any of the fundamental rights of citizens, workers and businesses or risk regulatory uncertainty; believes that any simplification proposal should not be rushed and proposed without proper consideration, consultation and impact assessments; therefore asks the Commission, if it proposes a new EU-wide regulation in the form of an EU biotech act, to address concrete gaps and shortcomings in current legislation and implementation, and to present legislation that can be revised, simplified, streamlined, repealed and which reduces bureaucratic burdens, focusing on the specificities of the industry and maintaining relevant safety and security standards; asks that an EU biotech act adopt a comprehensive cross-sectoral scope and that it be accompanied by an impact and cost assessment, competitiveness checks as well as a comprehensive assessment by the Regulatory Scrutiny Board, taking due consideration of the impact on SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, as well as the interaction with other relevant legislative and non-legislative initiatives, including proposals currently undergoing the co-legislative procedure;

    2.  Recalls that according to the OECD, biotechnology is defined as the application of science and technology to living organisms, as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services; notes, however, that biomanufacturing is not clearly defined and calls on the Commission to propose such a definition;

    3.  Recommends streamlining and harmonising existing and upcoming initiatives relating to biotechnology and biomanufacturing, with the objective of strengthening the biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry through clear industrial and research and development (R & D) competences;

    4.  Urges the Commission to ensure coherence and consistency across all initiatives and legislative measures that may affect biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovations and companies, especially start-ups and scale-ups;

    5.  Calls on the Commission to ensure that any future relevant legislative initiatives have a broad enough scope to capture the width of the biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry and its full range of applications; recommends facilitating a fast and efficient uptake of biotechnology and biomanufacturing through clear regulatory frameworks;

    6.  Calls on the Commission to implement measures within its structures in order to ensure coordination, coherence and complementarity across its relevant directorates-general, and to enable more efficient scale-up and commercialisation of research, development and innovation results; highlights the importance of efforts to improve policy coherence and coordination at national level;

    7.  Calls on the Commission to take account of regulatory frameworks of non-EU countries leading in the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector, in the context of existing and future EU legislation covering the industry, to ensure compatibility, where possible and without compromising consumer safety, and a level playing field for EU biotech companies competing internationally, and to learn from best practices from outside the EU without lowering existing EU standards;

    8.  Calls on the Commission to present a report on the implementation of current legislation in the field of biotechnology and biomanufacturing, including identifying potential gaps and regulatory barriers hampering the growth of the industries applying these technologies and manufacturing processes, including barriers to improving the EU’s self-sufficiency in key feedstocks, raw materials and components; recalls the precautionary principle laid down in Article 191 TFEU; urges the Commission to share with Parliament the preliminary findings of its study on regulatory burden, in this regard, and the potential need to review legislation related to biotechnology and biomanufacturing; calls for a simplification of current requirements for the sector across regulatory frameworks to enable faster approval procedures and market access, while maintaining a risk- and science-based approach and avoiding regulatory uncertainty;

    9.  Welcomes the recently launched Biotech and Biomanufacturing Hub; requests that the Commission provide further guidance to EU biotechnology and biomanufacturing companies and the Member States with regard to the Net-Zero Industry Act(1) and the new Clean Industrial Deal in terms of permitting and financing, and to consider the creation of supporting hubs, in order to improve guidance and advice to companies navigating through the regulatory framework;

    10.  Calls on the Commission to urgently streamline, simplify and shorten the time required for authorisation procedures, particularly approval time frames, for biotechnology materials and products throughout their manufacturing- and life-cycles, and to facilitate the market uptake of bio-based solutions, including the provision of pre-authorisation guidance, while maintaining a risk- and science-based approach, particularly in the context of its regular review of EU agencies such as the European Food Safety Authority, the European Medicines Agency and the European Chemicals Agency; calls on the Commission to ensure that the relevant EU agencies are adequately resourced, to enhance their capacity for conducting authorisation procedures in a timely manner;

    11.  Calls on the Commission to consider the possibility of a simplified approvals procedure for biotechnology products that have already been approved by trusted regulatory bodies in like-minded countries with EU-equivalent standards;

    12.  Calls on the Commission to consider simplifying labelling practices, such as the use of QR codes, and ensure fair market conditions between biotechnology and other products, such as marketing and advertising, without compromising consumer safety or access to relevant consumer information;

    13.  Recalls that harmonised, predictable, future-proof and internationally competitive IP and data protection rules for biotechnology and biomanufacturing patents are essential for the development of the industry, resilient supply chains and sustainable economic growth; underlines the importance of improving IP protection rules by longer terms for patented technologies to strengthen the EU’s competitiveness, foster innovation and the EU’s strategic autonomy, protect cutting-edge technologies, reward long-term investments, and support high-risk research; considers that a coherent, robust and future-proof IP framework is essential; welcomes, in this regard, the EU’s recently established unitary patent system;

    14.  Calls for a common clinical trials framework with streamlined approval procedures across the Member States to minimise administrative burdens and delays, and which allows for the use of real-world evidence for biotechnology therapies; asks the Commission to present the current situation in this regard, as well as potential improvements; calls for the swift implementation of the Clinical Trials Regulation(2) and the use of the EU’s Clinical Trials Information System;

    15.  Underlines the strategic importance for the EU of a strong biotechnology ecosystem to support R & D, manufacturing, and patient access to innovative medicines; points out that biotechnology processes can be used to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients and key manufacturing inputs for both off-patent and innovative medicines;

    16.  Recommends using the next generation of regulatory sandboxes to assess the specific impacts and possibilities of emerging biotechnology and biomanufacturing applications, ensuring that new technologies can be trialled in a controlled but flexible and future-proof regulatory environment; stresses the importance of ensuring that EU policy takes account of technological and scientific developments to safeguard the EU’s global competitiveness;

    17.  Recommends developing a strategy to support biotechnology and biomanufacturing companies transitioning from the regulatory sandbox regime to full market access; requests that the strategy include, but not be limited to, support mechanisms, regulatory assistance and guidance on compliance with EU legislation;

    The need to promote the advantages and specificities of the biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry

    18.  Underlines that effectively scaling up biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU hinges on a robust, competitive and circular bioeconomy; calls on the Commission to present an updated bioeconomy strategy, which takes account of current challenges and reinforces the bioeconomy’s industrial dimension and its links to biotechnology and biomanufacturing, incentivising the development and production of sustainable, innovative, high-value added bio-based materials, products and solutions, to contribute to EU competitiveness and strategic autonomy;

    19.  Acknowledges the important role biomass plays in biomanufacturing; recalls, in this regard, the importance of adopting an approach open to different sustainable biomass technologies grounded in robust analysis, and with the aim of enhancing feedstock access and use, as well as harnessing international supply chains, while aiming to avoid unintended environmental externalities;

    20.  Underlines the need to account for the specificities of biogenic carbon, bio-based products and processes, and to differentiate them from petrochemical and fossil-based products, in the context of EU and national chemical, materials and environmental legislation;

    21.  Points out that essential components, such as enzymes, lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms, run the risk of being prohibited or unduly disincentivised by EU regulations primarily designed for petrochemical and synthetic substances, such as the REACH Regulation(3);

    22.  Is concerned that the European Investment Bank (EIB)’s interpretation of sustainability criteria under the EIB Group Paris alignment framework may result in access to funding for bio-based materials and projects being denied; asks the Commission to examine relevant definitions accordingly and encourage biotechnology- and biomanufacturing-friendly interpretations; calls on the EIB to propose de-risking instruments for biotechnology and biomanufacturing, in order to raise capital; calls, moreover, on the EIB to improve outreach, advisory support and information on financing instruments and opportunities for eligible biotechnology and biomanufacturing projects, in particular SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups;

    23.  Underlines the benefit and contribution of bio-based products and processes to the EU’s CO2 reduction objectives, which, given the potential of these products to increase sustainability and lower the EU’s environmental footprint, need to be reflected in respective life cycle assessments, information for consumers and public procurement;

    24.  Considers that, in order to accelerate the substitution of fossil-based feedstocks, the market demand and market uptake of sustainable bio-based products could be further incentivised in the EU; considers that bio-based feedstocks, such as sustainably sourced biomass, recycled waste and CO2 captured from biogenic sources, could be used as alternative feedstocks for the manufacturing of various products, contributing to the EU’s emissions reduction, resource efficiency and strategic autonomy; in this context, recalls the commitment in the EU’s Competitiveness Compass to develop policies to reward early movers; considers that coherent and adequate sustainability criteria should be ensured for biomass;

    25.  Underlines the importance of upholding the EU’s high standards of food and consumer safety and the potential of biotechnology applications when assessing biotechnology applications in food and feed to protect consumer health, assess impact on circularity and sustainability, and to consider social, ethical, economic, environmental and cultural aspects of food innovation; calls on the Commission to identify smooth routes to market for safe applications of biotechnology in food products, while reiterating that such biotechnology applications need to be properly examined, prior to any future authorisation and subsequent placing on the EU market, including gathering toxicological information and clinical and pre-clinical studies where relevant, and ensuring traceability;

    26.  Underlines that biosecurity risks, including bioethical considerations, must be addressed in conjunction with biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation, ensuring responsible access to and use of synthetic biology tools, genetic editing technologies and biological materials; calls for the establishment of an EU biosecurity registry for synthetic DNA, benchtop synthesis equipment and genetic engineering tools, improving transparency and risk-assessment mechanisms, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, such as industry and civil society, and while ensuring sensitive data is adequately protected; stresses the importance of EU strategic autonomy in biotechnology supply chains, ensuring that critical biomanufacturing inputs and expertise remain within Europe; calls for stronger international cooperation on biosecurity standards, including mandatory international screening standards, ensuring that EU-based biotechnology and biomanufacturing companies benefit from global best practice while maintaining competitiveness;

    27.  Urges the Commission to conduct a study on biological materials and to present an updated communication and an action plan on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks, in particular regarding bioterrorism and bio-risks;

    Horizontal issues

    28.  Underlines the importance for supply chain security of ensuring a sufficient, stable and competitive supply of feedstock, raw materials and essential components, such as sustainable biomass and enzymes for biotechnology and biomanufacturing companies; calls for potential risks, gaps and dependencies to be closely monitored while safeguarding company-sensitive data and the functioning of the internal market;

    29.  Stresses the importance of developing EU raw material value chains and manufacturing, and enhancing self-sufficiency where possible, while also fostering strategic partnerships and cooperation with like-minded non-EU countries to secure resilient and diversified access to critical inputs of biotechnology and biomanufacturing industries in the EU;

    30.  Stresses that, in an increasingly tense geopolitical context, biotechnology and biomanufacturing should be fully leveraged to strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy, enhance food security and reduce dependence on non-EU countries; highlights the need to stimulate market demand and uptake of bio-based products to boost the growth, competitiveness and sustainability of the EU biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector;

    31.  Notes that the scale-up and commercialisation of research results remains a major challenge in the EU, and stresses the need to improve knowledge and technology transfer between academia and industry to ensure that EU-funded biotechnology and biomanufacturing research leads to commercial applications and industrial deployment; highlights the importance of strengthening public-private collaboration and supporting universities and research institutions with high levels of technology transfer, spin-offs, and start-up creation, for example by applying the CERN model of building start-up studios within research institutions; calls for strategic investments in shared EU infrastructure – such as pilot facilities, biobanks or innovation accelerators – to support the scale-up of prototypes and the market uptake of innovative biotechnology and biomanufacturing solutions; underlines that innovation cannot solely take place for short-term economic benefit, and that biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation should be driven through a bottom-up approach under a standalone and long-term framework programme; calls on the Commission to facilitate the creation of world-leading research hubs for biotechnology and biomanufacturing to drive innovation and collaboration between academia, industry and venture capital; emphasises the need for robust physical testing facilities in the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector to drive innovation and facilitate the production and market access for SMEs and start-ups;

    32.  Stresses the need to ensure access to affordable energy for biotechnology and biomanufacturing operators, given the high energy intensity of large-scale biological production processes; underlines the importance of facilitating the authorisation and validation of large industrial plants, such as bioreactors, which are essential for scale-up but also face significant construction and operating risks; welcomes the latest revision of the Renewable Energy Directive(4) and its provisions to simplify permitting procedures, and calls on the Member States to swiftly implement relevant measures to support the deployment of biotechnology and biomanufacturing infrastructure;

    33.  Underlines the need for a skilled and diverse European workforce in the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector and for the promotion of entrepreneurial skills, in close collaboration with industry and research institutions; calls for increased investment in biotechnology and biomanufacturing education and targeted professional training, including in but not limited to areas such as regulatory compliance, quality assurance and process engineering; supports the development of competence centres and public-private training initiatives across all Member States to enable upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning to safeguard the attractiveness of the biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry; highlights the importance of adapting educational curricula to the evolving needs of the sector, and of promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, with a particular focus on attracting more girls and women into biotechnology and biomanufacturing careers; encourages more public awareness about career opportunities in the field to attract talent from non-EU countries and suggests exploring the potential for transatlantic cooperation; welcomes the recently launched Choose Europe for Science pilot scheme to attract top non-EU researchers, scientists and academics to Europe;

    34.  Calls for the urgent completion of the capital markets union to attract institutional investors to the biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry, including venture capital, pension funds and private equity; underlines that the sector is characterised by high levels of risk and that reducing the cost of failure in the EU is necessary for attracting large-scale capital investment; calls for dedicated support to ensure that biotechnology and biomanufacturing SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups can access sufficient funding and compete globally; stresses that cross-border investment barriers must be reduced to facilitate investment in biotechnology and biomanufacturing scale-ups;

    35.  Notes that public-private partnerships and mission-driven EU investment strategies, such as the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking, are essential for de-risking biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation and for increasing the likelihood that IP and industrial capacity remain in Europe; urges EU investment instruments, such as the InvestEU programme, to be strengthened to support biotechnology and biomanufacturing projects considered as high-risk from an investment perspective; underlines that the sector is characterised by a high concentration of SMEs, which face disproportionate barriers in accessing capital despite being critical drivers of innovation; supports the exploration of a biotechnology Important Project of Common European Interest to facilitate industrial deployment and first-mover investments in bio-based chemicals, materials, and products and solutions;

    36.  Notes that public awareness of biotechnology and biomanufactured products in the EU should be further strengthened to boost public acceptance; recommends engaging with citizens and civil society organisations to communicate the characteristics, benefits and implications of the growing presence of biotechnology-based products and services in the European market;

    Future-proof research and innovation

    37.  Regrets that European private investment in research, development and innovation is lagging behind other major economies and that the scale-up and commercialisation of research results remain a major challenge in Europe; highlights the fact that European and national public systems for R & D funding remain complex and insufficiently coordinated, resulting in duplications and inefficiencies; calls for an EU-wide approach to coordinating public investment in R & D for biotechnology and biomanufacturing, with the dual objective of closing excellence and innovation gaps and accelerating commercialisation; underlines the importance of strengthening European collaboration, pooling knowledge and resources, and leveraging public funding with private investment; recalls the key role of framework programmes such as Horizon Europe in fostering scientific excellence, innovation and technical development and calls for targeted investment in strategic biotechnology and biomanufacturing subfields, such as industrial, environmental, marine, health and agri-food biotechnology;

    38.  Reiterates the call to double the EU’s research budget and to reach the target of 3 % of EU gross domestic product being devoted to R & D by 2030;

    39.  Notes the growing role of synthetic biology, bioinformatics, data and game-changing AI-driven biotechnology and biomanufacturing research; calls on the Commission to integrate biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation into the EU digital and AI strategies, ensuring interoperability between biotechnology and biomanufacturing data infrastructure and AI-driven discovery platforms; notes that AI capabilities are dependent on the efficient use of data; considers that the creation of industrial data spaces for biotechnology and biomanufacturing is important for efficient data sharing;

    40.  Acknowledges that, while AI systems and quantum computing can significantly speed up research and lead to new innovations, enabling better computational designs of biological systems, they can also increase the risk of biological threats; underlines, therefore, the need to apply a risk-based approach to the use of AI in scientific research and manufacturing;

    41.  Considers that the ethical use of AI, bioinformatics and synthetic biology is crucial for building trust and for society at large to benefit from these technologies; underlines the need to safeguard data privacy, data security, transparency and human oversight of the use of AI systems in the health biotechnology sector;

    o
    o   o

    42.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

    (1) Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 (OJ L, 2024/1735, 28.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1735/oj).
    (2) Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use, and repealing Directive 2001/20/EC (OJ L 158, 27.5.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/536/oj).
    (3) Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/oj).
    (4) Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and Directive 98/70/EC as regards the promotion of energy from renewable sources, and repealing Council Directive (EU) 2015/652 (OJ L, 2023/2413, 31.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2023/2413/oj).

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: State-of-the-art laboratory enhances Madagascar’s polio response

    Source: APO


    .

    A new state-of-the-art laboratory has bolstered Madagascar’s efforts to survey and detect polioviruses and effectively respond to the threat of the disease and protect children from its devastating impacts. 

    The laboratory, which is fully accredited by World Health Organization (WHO), was handed over today to the national authorities. Hosted at the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar in the capital, Antananarivo, the laboratory reinforces the country’s position as a regional pillar in rapid poliovirus detection and outbreak response.

    “This commissioning symbolizes our collective commitment. It brings us closer to a future where no child in Madagascar—or anywhere—is at risk of polio,” said Dr Nely Alphonse José, head of plague, emerging and neglected tropical disease control department at the Ministry of Public Health. 

    Established in 2023, the laboratory has significantly enhanced Madagascar’s ability to rapidly detect poliovirus through both acute flaccid paralysis and environmental surveillance. Between 2022 and 2024, the laboratory detected more than 40 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 1, enabling immediate and targeted immunization responses. The efforts played a key role in halting an outbreak of circulating variant poliovirus type 1. In May 2025, Madagascar marked two full years without any new detections of the virus, which meant the outbreak was declared closed after a thorough assessment. 

    “This laboratory is not only a national asset—it’s a regional resource,” said Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Madagascar. “With strengthened capacity and cutting-edge technology, Madagascar is now even better positioned to lead the charge against poliovirus transmission in Eastern and Southern Africa.”

    The handing over of the laboratory to the government marks a major step towards sustainable, country-led polio surveillance and self-sufficiency in managing future outbreaks and ensures strong measures are in place to sustain the country’s polio-free status and contribute to the global goal of ending polio once and for all.

    Thanks to ongoing collaboration between national health authorities, WHO, and with support from the Gates Foundation, the laboratory has also joined pilot projects to deploy innovative tools such as direct detection through Nanopore sequencing – a new technology that boosts the speed and accuracy of viral identification, eliminating previous delays when samples had to be shipped abroad for genomic sequencing.

    WHO and its partners provided technical support, training, IT upgrades and environmental site optimization to strengthen the laboratory’s operations—reinforcing national efforts to meet the objectives of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

    Accredited for viral isolation, intratypic differentiation and environmental surveillance, the laboratory is now a cornerstone in Madagascar’s integrated disease surveillance system. It ensures timely data to guide vaccination campaigns and outbreak responses across the country.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Madagascar.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Policies Driving South Africa’s Extractive Sector Growth

    Source: APO


    .

    South Africa’s Ministry of Mineral and Petroleum resources has introduced four key policy changes aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the country’s mining and petroleum industries. The policies, aligned with broader economic growth objectives, seek to attract new investment across the extractives sector while enhancing value addition and industrialization. As the world’s top producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), policy reforms stand to support accelerated growth across the PGM industry.

    The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference – Africa’s premier gathering for mining stakeholders, scheduled for October 1–3, 2025 in Cape Town – will feature a dedicated panel on South Africa’s PGM sector. The discussion will showcase how recent policies are creating opportunities within the country’s PGM market, exploring investment opportunities, challenges and anticipated policy-led growth.

    Mineral Resources Development Bill

    South Africa published its draft Mineral Resources Development Bill on May 20, 2025, for public comment. Set to replace the 2002 Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, the new law addresses key industry challenges, empowers small-scale mining and promotes local beneficiation of minerals. The law seeks to ensure revenue generated from the industry is channeled into the formal sector and contributes to GDP growth. In 2024, the mining sector generated R674 billion in export earnings and R451 billion to GDP. The public has until August 8, 2025, to comment on the bill.

    Petroleum Products Bill

    The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources is expected to submit the Petroleum Products Act Amendment Bill (PPB) of 2024 to Cabinet for approval before the end of 2025. The bill aims to streamline licensing and appeals processes, increasing the oil and gas sector’s contribution to economic transformation, job creation and security of petroleum product supply. The new law was submitted for public comments on October 21, 2024 and aims to replace the 1977 act.

    Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act

    South Africa is set to complete the implementation of the new Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act by September 2025. The law creates an investor-friendly regime for oil and gas investors, promotes economic growth and expands opportunities for local companies and entrepreneurs across the petroleum value chain. The act was signed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024 and is expected to come into effect following the introduction of new Petroleum Regulations.

    According to South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe, the law has not only created legislation that is investor-friendly for the oil and gas sector, but has also ensured that there is a dedicated regulatory regime for the sector given its potential for economic contribution and job creation.

    The Mine Health and Safety Amendment Bill

    The Mine Health and Safety Amendment Bill was tabled to parliament in late 2024 and seeks to amend the act of 1996. The bill aims to advance stakeholder adoption of modern health and safety practices, driving the country’s agenda of zero harm across the mineral industry. Key provisions include measures to streamline administrative processes, strengthen managerial responsibility and accountability while enhancing mine safety training and adoption.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Call to sign up for Ex-Mine Workers Social Security Benefits Programme 

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Monday, July 14, 2025

    The Gauteng Department of Health is urging ex-mine workers to sign up for phase two of the Ex-Mine Workers Social Security Benefits Programme.

    This as the department in partnership with the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases (MBOD) and other stakeholders, are rolling out Phase Two of the Ex-Mine Workers Social Security Benefits Programme in the Ekurhuleni district.

    “This initiative aims to trace, register and screen ex-mine workers with occupational diseases, ensuring that those who qualify can access their unclaimed benefits and medical surveillance. Many ex-mine workers left the industry due to occupational lung diseases such as silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) without receiving the compensation due to them,” said the department in a statement on Sunday.

    The department is calling on ex-mine workers in the Ekurhuleni district to come forward and register at the following designated venues: 
    •    Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital – Training Centre Hall (Nurses Home Area), 
    •    Vosloorus Bertha Gxowa Hospital – Dr. Clarence Mini Hall (formerly Kobie Muller Hall), Germiston
    •    Tambo Memorial Hospital – Villa Nerina Hall, next to NHLS Lab, Boksburg 
    •    Pholosong Hospital – Auditorium and Lapa, Tsakane 
    Ex-mine workers can register from Monday, 21 July -Friday, 22 August 2025. The sites will be open from 8am-4pm on weekdays.

    “To streamline the process, communities are urged to bring their Makhuluskop (Mineworker’s Identity card), ID documents and any paperwork received from their mining companies.”

    For more information on eligibility and the registration process, ex-mine workers and their families can contact the MBOD Call Centre at 080 1000 240.

    Families of deceased mineworkers may also be eligible to claim benefits. 

    “Phase one of the project was successfully implemented in the West Rand district, where over 9000 individuals were reached with about 539 people completing the Benefit Medical Examination tests. 

    “It is crucial for ex-mine workers and their families to understand that addressing eligibility issues is essential to ensure that deserving individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to,” the department explained. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI: Himax and Rabboni Join Forces to Launch World’s First Scalable Multi-Scenario Endpoint AI Sensing System – bboni Ai Enabling Real-Time AI Inference on Wearable Devices

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAINAN, Taiwan and HSINCHU, Taiwan, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Himax Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIMX) (“Himax” or “Company”), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, and Rabboni Co., Ltd. (“Rabboni”), a Taiwan-based company integrating next-generation semiconductor sensing and edge computing to enable smart living, smart sensing and wearable devices, today jointly announced the unveiling of bboni Ai, the world’s first multi-scenario endpoint AI sensing system. bboni Ai integrates Rabboni’s high-precision IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) motion sensors with Himax’s ultralow power WiseEye2 AI processor, opening a new chapter for real-time endpoint AI inference for wearable devices and accelerating the transition of AI from concept to real-world implementation.

    WiseEye2 AI processor features a high-performance architecture built on Cortex-M55 cores and is equipped with the Ethos-U55 AI inference engine. It supports always-on sensing, dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), and a multi-level power management structure. The design empowers dynamic adjustments in core voltage and frequency based on the scenarios of wearable devices, enabling data collection, event triggering, and endpoint AI inference at ultralow power consumption of just a few milliwatts. This architecture significantly reduces reliance on cloud transmission, effectively lowering latency and power consumption. It also enhances real-time responsiveness and data privacy, delivering a commercially viable endpoint AI solution for devices requiring long-hour operation. Notably, WiseEye™ AI can also collaborate with cloud-based large language models (LLMs), further enhancing the device’s ability to perceive, understand, and interact with complex real -world scenarios.

    bboni Ai Brings AI to the Endpoint: On-Device AI Processing. No Cloud Needed

    Featuring integrated motion sensing capability and ultralow power AI powered by Himax’s WiseEye2 AI processor, the bboni Ai system enables real-time motion analysis, posture recognition, and behavior interpretation directly on the endpoint device, eliminating the need for cloud computing. With low-latency, high-efficiency, and privacy-preserving on-device AI, bboni Ai delivers a truly scalable and deployable endpoint AI solution. bboni Ai not only enhances system stability but also meets the stringent requirements for data immediacy and security in applications such as healthcare and education.

    bboni Ai Transforms Everyday Life Across Diverse Wearable Applications: Demonstrates broad real-world readiness across multiple use cases

    • Smart Healthcare: Supports WHO’s ICOPE (Integrated Care for Older People) framework, facilitating seniors to monitor physical function and rehabilitation progress at home, reducing the cost of care
    • Sports Technology: Real-time detection of user movements and behavior, providing instant motion feedback, optimizing training postures through AI analysis, improving training efficiency and reducing the risk of injury
    • Education and Interaction: Enables hands-on STEM and AI education by leveraging motion sensing and behavior analysis to foster interdisciplinary learning and innovation, cultivating the next generation of talent

    Powered by TaiwanBased Team with bboni Ai Developer Program to Launch in July 2025

    To accelerate the development of innovative AI applications, Himax will officially launch the bboni Ai Developer Program in late-July 2025. This initiative will provide a complete set of APIs and SDKs, inviting developers, academic institutions, and corporate partners jointly to create a robust and commercial-ready endpoint AI ecosystem, advancing Taiwan’s AI technology around the globe.

    “The bboni Ai system was entirely developed by a Taiwanese team, integrating key technologies such as semiconductor design, sensor technology, AI algorithms, and software-hardware integration, showcasing Taiwan’s technical strength in smart sensing and endpoint AI,” said Richard Chiang, Chairman of Rabboni.

    “WiseEye’s ultralow power and always-on sensing capabilities make it a perfect fit for power-constrained endpoint devices, especially wearable applications in smart care, interactive education, and health monitoring that require long-hour operation,” said Mark Chen, Vice President of Smart Sensing Business at Himax. “Himax is excited to collaborate with Rabboni to integrate our respective technological strengths and bring AI out of the conceptual stage and into everyday life, enabling truly meaningful smart applications.”

    About Rabboni Co., Ltd.

    Rabboni Co., Ltd., originating from Silicon Instruments Co., Ltd. founded in 2009, is dedicated to integrating next-generation semiconductor sensing and edge computing to build the foundation of smart living. The company empowers professionals across various service domains to achieve digital and AI transformation, thereby enhancing their value-added services. For years, Rabboni has supported National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in university social responsibility (USR) programs and MIT-collaborated science outreach projects, as well as medical research initiatives. Through these efforts, Rabboni has developed interdisciplinary platform technologies and established a comprehensive industry chain for smart sensing and wearable technologies.

    Rabboni also introduced the TEA Innovation Service Platform, inspired by the concept: “Technology x Experts x Aids = Brew better futures.” In collaboration with Himax’s engineering team, Rabboni successfully completed the development of the bboni Ai platform. An Endpoint AI Startup Competition will soon be co-hosted by Himax, Rabboni, and NYCU, featuring the world’s tiniest and ultralow power bboni Ai system.

    About Himax Technologies, Inc.

    Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) is a leading global fabless semiconductor solution provider dedicated to display imaging processing technologies. The Company’s display driver ICs and timing controllers have been adopted at scale across multiple industries worldwide including TVs, PC monitors, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, automotive, ePaper devices, industrial displays, among others. As the global market share leader in automotive display technology, the Company offers innovative and comprehensive automotive IC solutions, including traditional driver ICs, advanced in-cell Touch and Display Driver Integration (TDDI), local dimming timing controllers (Local Dimming Tcon), Large Touch and Display Driver Integration (LTDI) and OLED display technologies. Himax is also a pioneer in tinyML visual-AI and optical technology related fields. The Company’s industry-leading WiseEyeTM Ultralow Power AI Sensing technology which incorporates Himax proprietary ultralow power AI processor, always-on CMOS image sensor, and CNN-based AI algorithm has been widely deployed in consumer electronics and AIoT related applications. Himax optics technologies, such as diffractive wafer level optics, LCoS microdisplays and 3D sensing solutions, are critical for facilitating emerging AR/VR/metaverse technologies. Additionally, Himax designs and provides touch controllers, OLED ICs, LED ICs, EPD ICs, power management ICs, and CMOS image sensors for diverse display application coverage. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, Himax currently employs around 2,200 people from three Taiwan-based offices in Tainan, Hsinchu and Taipei and country offices in China, Korea, Japan, Germany, and the US. Himax has 2,609 patents granted and 370 patents pending approval worldwide as of June 30, 2025.

    http://www.himax.com.tw

    Forward Looking Statements

    Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in this conference call include, but are not limited to, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company’s business; general business and economic conditions and the state of the semiconductor industry; market acceptance and competitiveness of the driver and non-driver products developed by the Company; demand for end-use applications products; reliance on a small group of principal customers; the uncertainty of continued success in technological innovations; our ability to develop and protect our intellectual property; pricing pressures including declines in average selling prices; changes in customer order patterns; changes in estimated full-year effective tax rate; shortage in supply of key components; changes in environmental laws and regulations; changes in export license regulated by Export Administration Regulations (EAR); exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory approvals for further investments in our subsidiaries; our ability to collect accounts receivable and manage inventory and other risks described from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including those risks identified in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC, as may be amended.

    Company Contacts:

    Karen Tiao, Head of IR/PR
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-2-2370-3999
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    www.himax.com.tw

    Mark Schwalenberg, Director
    Investor Relations – US Representative
    MZ North America
    Tel: +1-312-261-6430
    Email: HIMX@mzgroup.us
    www.mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network