SAN DIEGO, August 30, 2023 (Newswire.com) - This year's Annual Meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society (OTS) will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from October 22-25. At the annual meeting, leaders and students from around the world present and discuss their discoveries over four days, and attendees engage in a cross-disciplinary exchange, fostering the development of ground-breaking new ideas.

OTS is an open, nonprofit forum to foster academic and industry-based research and development of oligonucleotide therapeutics, bringing together expertise from different angles to create synergies and bring the field to its full therapeutic potential. 

The 2023 Oligo Meeting will provide in-depth information, covering a broad range of current topics in the field, and the keynote speaker, David Liu, Ph.D., of The Broad Institute, will speak about base editing and prime editing. 

Engaging session topics include chemistry and delivery, DNA/RNA editing, information on current early and late-stage pre-clinical work, and the highly anticipated Clinical Session. A short talk session, which is new this year, consists of talks selected from submitted abstracts. 

Two dynamic pre-conference sessions are being hosted this year. The Next Gen early career scientist session features up-and-comers who submitted abstracts for consideration for short talks. An educational session that includes a panel discussion will explore innovating and commercializing the next generation of oligonucleotide therapeutics.

The highly anticipated Clinical Session includes presentations by Jane Larkindale, PhD, of PepGen, on a Phase 1 healthy volunteer study of an enhanced delivery oligonucleotide to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and Mike Flanagan, PhD, of Avidity Biosciences on developing antibody oligonucleotide conjugates for muscle disease. Mark O'Carroll of Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals will discuss clinical trial experience of inhaled administration of siRNA therapeutics, and Kenneth Newman, MD, of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, will speak about long-term safety and efficacy of ASO therapy to prekallikrein in patients with Hereditary Angioedema. Experts from Moderna Therapeutics and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals will also be speaking.  

The final session features talks on late-breaking information. Abstracts can still be submitted for consideration by individuals or organizations by sending an email with the subject line: Late Breaking Talk - 2023 Barcelona. The committee is looking for talks showing exciting new clinical data in the field of oligo therapeutics, new pre-clinical data using oligo-based therapeutics, and new advances in delivery technologies or in CRISPR/mRNA/RNA editing.

The Society is honored to present society awards, including Lifetime Achievement Awards, to deserving individuals during the Annual Meeting. This year, attendees will hear from the 2022 and 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award winners: Sudhir Agrawal, MSc, Phil, and Cy Stein, MD, PhD. 

OTS would also like to thank the sponsors and exhibitors for their support and participation. Over 30 companies, a record-breaking number, are scheduled to exhibit at this year's annual meeting.

Anyone interested or involved in oligonucleotide therapeutics is welcome to attend the OTS Annual Meeting, virtually or in person. Learn more and register at 2023oligomeeting.com.

WASHINGTON, August 30, 2023 (Newswire.com) - The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) today announced it will host the second annual 2023 Health Innovation Summit in Orlando, FL, October 23-25, 2023. NCQA is convening more than 1,600 healthcare leaders, industry innovators and policymakers for three days of inspirational keynotes, panel discussions and peer learning to improve healthcare quality and health equity.

"The Health Innovation Summit is an opportunity for people committed to healthcare quality to connect with others to explore innovative solutions that improve healthcare," said NCQA President Margaret E. O'Kane. "We're proud to convene policymakers and leaders from large health systems, health plans and health information technology firms to learn from each other and tackle some of today's greatest challenges."

The NCQA Health Innovation Summit will address diverse aspects of quality, including digital quality solutions, health equity, value-based care and next-generation technologies. It will feature more than 150 keynote presentations, interview-style fireside chats, plenary panels, breakout sessions and demonstrations of novel products and services.

The 2023 Summit will focus on six themes that address data solutions and next-generation approaches to improve health and healthcare:

• Making Data Useful - Explore ways organizations have made data more accessible, accurate and available to measure what matters, drive clinical decisions and improve quality.
• Driving Digital Quality - The transition to digital quality needs the support of the entire organization. Discover how organizations are successfully managing this transition through FHIR data strategy, implementing operational workflows and ensuring data availability.
• Quality Innovation - As healthcare evolves, more organizations are developing innovative ways to engage patients, deliver care and improve quality. Learn about solutions that are succeeding.
• Results Through Relationships - Care delivery organizations, health plans, technology companies, government and others must work together to drive results. Hear from organizations that developed strong and innovative partnerships that improve the health and healthcare of people they serve.
• In Pursuit of Equity - Hear from organizations that are working to improve health equity. Learn from their successes and challenges and explore ways to apply what they know. 
• NCQA in Action - With thousands of organizations accredited or recognized by NCQA, there are diverse stories of how NCQA has helped drive real-world results. Hear from NCQA customers about how they implemented NCQA programs to improve patient care, improve operations, and succeed in value-based contracting.

The 2023 Health Innovation Summit will take place at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Please visit www.ncqasummit.com to register.

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality. NCQA Accredits and Certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations. It also Recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in healthcare. NCQA's website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed healthcare choices. 

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Shedding Light on the Burden Faced by Caregivers of Craniopharyngioma Survivors
Thoughtful caregiver gazes out of a window, contemplating the challenges and unmet needs faced by noncancerous brain tumor survivors. Her dedication and resilience shine through as she provides essential care and support.

OCEAN CITY, Md., August 30, 2023 (Newswire.com) - The Raymond A. Wood Foundation (RAWF), dedicated to advancing research and support for craniopharyngioma survivors and their families, proudly announces the release of its inaugural research study, entitled "Caregiver Burden and its Relationship to Health-Related Quality of Life in Craniopharyngioma Survivors," published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. This groundbreaking study was spearheaded by esteemed RAWF members, including Nathalie Kayadjanian, PhD (Scientific Advisor), Eugenie Hsu, PhD (Board Member and Caregiver), Amy Wood (Co-founder, Executive Director, and Caregiver), and Dean Carson, PhD (Board Member, Research Chair).

Craniopharyngioma (CP), a rare noncancerous brain tumor typically located in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, presents complex and chronic medical conditions necessitating lifelong care and management. While the negative impact of CP on survivor quality of life is well-documented, its effects on caregivers have remained in the shadows. By unveiling the burden of disease borne by CP caregivers, this study not only sheds light on their challenges but also highlights the socio-economic toll on CP families and society as a whole.

As a research-driven patient advocacy organization, RAWF stands as a beacon of understanding and support for craniopharyngioma survivors and their caregivers. RAWF was founded and is predominantly powered by caregivers themselves who possess firsthand experiences unique to those immersed in the daily care of survivors. These caregiver insights reveal unmet needs often overlooked in clinical and research contexts. For instance, a comprehensive list of health issues affecting survivors post-treatment was compiled, extending beyond known medical literature.

Analysis of responses from 82 caregivers of CP survivors who participated in an online survey revealed that caregivers reported an average of 13 out of 29 health issues in survivors following tumor treatment. Hyperphagia—an excessive and insatiable hunger, poor satiety, food-seeking—emerged as a significant factor impacting survivor health-related quality of life and incurring significant caregiver burden. Caregiver burden, though moderate, surpassed levels seen in caregivers for conditions like Alzheimer's disease, dementia or chronic pain. Strikingly, caregiver burden was independent of factors such as caregiver education and income but strongly correlated with the number and type of health issues in survivors, especially those exhibiting symptoms of hypothalamic dysfunction. The study also unveiled the starkly poor health-related quality of life in survivors, with this factor playing a predictive role in caregiver burden. These findings underscore the multifaceted challenges faced by caregivers and survivors of craniopharyngioma, emphasizing the critical need for holistic support.

"I am thrilled to see the first study ever conducted by the Raymond A. Wood Foundation being published in the world's leading peer-reviewed journal for endocrine clinical research and clinical practice," stated Dr. Kadyadjanian, author of the report. "The findings of this study are important as they not only reveal the critical unmet need for support of caregivers of individuals with craniopharyngioma but also highlight critical determinants of caregiver burden, mainly the survivor's multiple health issues including hyperphagia and other hypothalamic dysfunction symptoms. This study is a great example of a patient and caregiver-driven research study that will guide future lines of research to improve the lives of those affected by craniopharyngioma." 

In recognition of the prevalence and profound impact of hyperphagia on CP survivors and caregivers, RAWF is committed to advancing research in this critical area. Given the dearth of research on this topic, we are embarking on a rigorous study to comprehensively characterize and measure hyperphagia in this unique population. Additionally, recognizing the importance of capturing both patient and caregiver perspectives regarding the disease's impact, treatment, and unmet needs, we are developing a patient registry that will serve as a valuable resource, providing evidence-based data to inform and guide future research and clinical studies aimed at addressing the needs of patients and caregivers alike.

To read the full study, visit this link: https://academic.oup.com/jcem/advance-article/doi/10.1210/clinem/dgad488/7246360

About Raymond A. Wood Foundation (RAWF):

Incorporated in December 2016, RAWF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research-driven patient advocacy organization with a mission to advance research and provide education and support for hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumor survivors. Initially founded in honor of Alex Wood, a childhood craniopharyngioma brain tumor survivor, the foundation seeks solutions for survivors of these tumor types—both children and adults. RAWF is a grantee of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Rare As One Project. For more information, please visit rawoodfoundation.org.

ROCKVILLE, Md., August 30, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Theralogix, a national leader in the supplement industry, announces the addition of Serena H. Chen, MD, to its esteemed Medical Advisory Board. Dr. Chen's numerous credentials and extensive experience in the field of reproductive medicine make her a valuable asset to the board. 

Serena H. Chen, MD, graduated from Brown University and earned her MD at Duke University School of Medicine. She trained in Gynecology, Obstetrics, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and now holds multiple distinguished titles including Director for the Division of Reproductive Medicine at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Chief Advocacy Officer at CCRM NJ, and a Founder and Vice President of Doctors for Fertility NFP.

Dr. Chen strongly supports her patients' right to be informed and involved in their own care, and she is passionate about access to fertility treatment for all. In 2020, Dr. Chen was the recipient of Resolve's prestigious Hope Award, recognizing her advocacy for legislation that ensures access to care for those diagnosed with infertility. 

Theralogix was founded on science and the commitment that every product has extensive research to back it up. Theralogix's Medical Advisory Board (MAB) plays a vital role in solidifying this dedication to science-backed products. Made up of a carefully selected group of physicians, top research scientists, and faculty members at leading U.S. medical schools, the MAB evaluates and approves new product formulations, while offering guidance to improve existing ones.  

Theralogix sets the standard for premium, research-backed nutritional supplements. Each product in their full line of supplements is independently certified by NSF® International for content accuracy and freedom from contaminants. Theralogix has been a top physician-recommended brand for over two decades. For more information about Theralogix and its range of evidence-based products, please visit the Theralogix website.