#Clinical Trial Management Program

[sollers-college]

Build Your Career in Clinical Trial Management with Sollers College

Step into one of the most in-demand fields in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry—Clinical Trial Management. Our program at Sollers College equips students with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience to manage clinical trials efficiently, ensuring regulatory compliance, data integrity, and patient safety. Taught by industry experts, the curriculum includes protocol development, regulatory documentation, monitoring, and clinical data management. Start your journey today toward a rewarding career that makes a real-world impact.

Career Opportunities: Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Trial Manager, CRA, Clinical Data Associate

Ideal for: Life sciences graduates, pharmacy/nursing students, or healthcare professionals looking to upskill.

Call us at (732) 806 7846 Visit: www.sollers.college

[sollerscollege]

Launch Your Career in Clinical Trial Management with Sollers College

Are you looking to step into the booming field of clinical research? Clinical Trial Management is one of the most in-demand career paths in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. This infographic by Sollers College provides a clear overview of what Clinical Trial Management involves, the key responsibilities, industry demand, and how you can join this rewarding career.

Our comprehensive program is designed for students and professionals from life sciences, pharmacy, nursing, or medical backgrounds who want to advance their careers in drug development and regulatory science. Learn how to plan, monitor, and manage clinical trials while ensuring regulatory compliance and patient safety.

Ready to take the next step? Call us at (732) 806 7846 or Visit www.sollers.college to learn more and enroll today!

[ikrispharmaa]

Ikris Pharma Network founded in 2014 and is based in Noida, India. We are one of the most reliable pharmaceutical companies for generic and branded medication (AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Sun Pharma etc.) supplies globally, making it a key player in the industry.

Ikris Pharma Network has a vast and wide range of 5000+ generic and branded drugs’ distribution services globally and is one of the top notch generic medicine suppliers. As a branded and generic medicine supplier, we specifically deal in all types of medicines i.e. tablet, capsules, liquid, topical, suppositories, drops, inhalers, injections, implants or patches etc.

Ikris Pharma Network offers to its clients (hospitals, dispensaries, patients, pharmacies) up to date pricing and inventory levels, order status. With Ikris Pharma Network, clients have access to direct reach to 5,000+ branded & generic medicine & health care products, and their pricing related deets and Simplified, intuitive, branded & generic drug ordering. 

In the industry of healthcare, we acknowledge that the one size usually does not fit all. And whether we're delivering pharmaceuticals or biopharmaceuticals, such as vaccines, we're completely aware that our patients depend on prompt as well as punctual delivery of their pharmaceutical products. We understand that our patients place trust in us to deliver for them. With Ikris Pharma Network, you can count on us to deliver for you.

Our efficiently optimised transportation and logistics services, large-scale global network, absolutely strict adherence to national and international compliance, and topmost or supreme end-to-end visibility allows/enables our clients’ supply chains with agility, balance, and speed to industry. 

Our experienced team is working relentlessly around the clock to ensure your precious and often life-saving shipments get to where they need to be - securely, at the appropriate and standard temperature, and on time.

From branded to Indian generic medicines, from RLD to Named Patient Program, Ikris Pharma Network delivers reliability for each customer across the industry. Have peace of mind in order to know that we have been delivering reliable solutions for our life science customers at the global level.

With proficient professionals, sophisticated processes, and impeccable reliability, it is our aspiration and liability to keep up to ensure our clients’ supply chains and businesses both succeed and thrive. 

We have assisted more than 50,000+ patients to date. We offer Validated and Customized solutions for cold chain products including vaccines We have Exported Indian Generic drugs to over 150+ nations including Romania, Brazil, China, South Africa, Italy, UK, Russia, Poland, Mexico, Latvia, etc.

[helthcareproducts]

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[vultursvolans]

— ☆ 𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐑

𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: alhaitham wants to cheer you up by giving you a cake but, much to his dismay, he discovers he’s not very good at baking

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: alhaitham x gn!reader, modern au, established relationship, fluff, slice of life, comfort, baking, you call him baby, he might be a lil ooc 1.2k wc. | masterlist

a/n: important!! this piece is for the @pixelcafe-network’s secret santa exchange and it is my gift to @ariiadnes <3 surprise little elf, i am your santa >:) hehe that was me on anon. i welcome anybody to enjoy it but i’m just prefacing that i wrote this with my little elf in mind so this is personalised and will include some details specific to our kay ^_^ thank you to the pixel cafe for organising something so sweet <3 happy holidays!

p.s there is an extra surprise at the end 🤭

The sudden clang of the rolling pin meeting the floor made Alhaitham pause mid-motion. He regarded the rogue tool with a glare as though it had a personal vendetta against him. If baking was a dance of trial and error, it appeared Alhaitham was hopelessly out of step.

This shouldn’t be so difficult, he thought, bending down to retrieve it with a sigh.

What had started as a bold plan to cheer you up was devolving into a textbook case of kitchen disaster. His countertops bore signs of his struggle: a battlefield of flour, sticky smears of frosting, and a timer that had long since been silenced, marking the hours he had spent here. A slightly concerning scent wafted from the oven, where a deflated Snoopy cake mocked his attempts, its ears drooping in defeat.

All his brilliance yet his intellect failed him in the kitchen. The art of baking required nuances he hadn’t yet mastered—the understanding of texture, temperature, and timing. These were variables that no theorem or formula could solve. He glanced at the instructional video on his phone, the cheerful baker’s voice grating against his fraying patience.

‘Step one: don’t overfill the pan,’ he recited in his head, lips thinning as he stared at the mess in the oven. “A bit late for that.”

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his brooding. It was a message from you:

“Done for the day! Heading home soon. Love you <3.”

Alhaitham paused, his thumb hovering over the keyboard. He could easily picture the exhaustion in your face as you typed the message. You’d been weathering the storm of clinical rotations, coursework, and sleepless nights to reach the summit of your master’s program. He’d witness you lose sleep over exams, spend weekends buried in textbooks, and wake before dawn to attend hospital shifts.

He’d also notice the fatigue in your voice, how you napped more often to catch up on rest, and the stress you tried to hide when things got overwhelming.

Even in your exhaustion, you still managed to grace him with a smile. There was something admirable about how your heart endured, how you found space for joy despite the weight you carried. He knew he couldn’t ease your responsibilities, but he could remind you that you weren't facing it all alone.

His gaze shifted to the Snoopy figurine he’d bought for inspiration, perched on the counter like a silent overseer of this culinary misadventure. No turning back now.

Alhaitham began to roll up his sleeves and pick up the piping bag.

For you, he was willing to stumble through every misstep.

Drawing Snoopy’s outline with frosting proved no easier than taming the batter. Alhaitham leaned in close, expression sharpening, and the tip of his tongue peeked out in concentration (a face no one but you might ever see from him). As he worked, his mind whispered doubts, yet his hands persisted.

Steadfast, if imperfect.

———

By the time you stepped through the front door, the scent of burnt sugar lingered in the air. The apartment, to your surprise, looked untouched—eerily pristine, even. Nothing seemed to have moved ever since you left the house this morning. 

No hint of chaos. Yet.

“Haitham~?” you called out, kicking off your shoes. “What’s that smell? Did you… light a candle or something?”

“In the kitchen,” came his reply, his voice betraying none of his current predicament.

You rounded the corner, and the first thing you noticed upon entering was the stillness. Alhaitham stood near the counter, as composed as always, except for the flour dusting his hair and a smear of frosting on his cheek.

The second thing you noticed was the cake. Or what you assumed was meant to be a cake. Snoopy, your beloved Snoopy, lay immortalised in wobbly frosting on an uneven base. His ears drooped, and his face was just crooked enough to be endearing.

“Haitham?” you asked, placing your bag down carefully. “What… What happened here? Did Snoopy get caught in a blizzard?”

Alhaitham’s neutral expression didn’t falter, though his ears turned a light shade of pink. “It’s a cake,” he deadpanned. “Not a sculpture. Artistic liberties were necessary.”

That was all it took. You doubled over, laughter spilling from your lips like a bubbling brook. “You made this? For me?”

“Yes,” he said simply, the word softened by his sincerity. “You’ve been overworking yourself. I thought you might enjoy this.”

Your laughter melted into something warmer, and you stepped closer with a glow in your chest, inspecting the cake with a fond smile. “I didn’t know you could bake.”

“I can’t,” he admitted flatly. “And I don’t plan to pursue it further. The kitchen may never recover.”

"But you look so handsome covered in frosting." You reached up, gently touching the mess on his cheek. “You’ve got a little something here.”

Not wasting another second, you pressed a kiss to the smudge, tasting a bit of sugar on your tongue. His breath caught, just barely, and you pulled back with a grin.

“There,” you said playfully. “All cleaned up.”

His lips parted slightly as if to retort, but you didn’t give him the chance. You cupped his face, your thumbs tracing circles of flour on his skin. “Did my baby work hard on this cake?”

Alhaitham blinked, caught entirely off-guard by your tone. “I wouldn’t use the term hard,” he huffed slightly, a crack in his usual demeanor under your doting affection. 

“Oh, but you did,” you teased, brushing your nose against his. “Worked so hard, just for me. My thoughtful, talented boyfriend.”

He sighed, a long exhale that felt more like surrender than irritation. “If you keep that up, you might convince me it was worth the mess.”

You beamed, leaning up to kiss him properly this time, imprinting your gratitude on his lips. “I already know it was. You’re the sweetest, you know that?”

His ears darkened further, and he turned his attention to the counter as if it had become the most fascinating object in the room. “The cake might taste otherwise.”

“Stop being modest,” you said, grabbing the knife. “Come on. Let’s taste your masterpiece.”

His hand covered yours before you could cut into it. “Be gentle with it. It’s barely holding together.”

You chuckled, nudging him. “Sounds a bit like me during finals actually.” Alhaitham was clearly amused by your comparison, lips quirking as you looked at him.

When you cut into the cake, the sound of the knife meeting its layers fills the space. You served a piece, taking a bite before offering your verdict. “Hmm.” You hummed thoughtfully, watching his expression tighten.

“Well?” he asked, the question almost reluctant.

You grinned and reached for his hand, squeezing it. “It’s perfect. Just like you.”

He raised his brow at the sentiment but you caught the way his grip mirrored your squeezing. “I think your standards are too forgiving,” he replied.

“Not at all,” you said earnestly, setting your fork down and stepping closer. “It means everything to me, Alhaitham. Thank you.”

For once, words faltered and fell away, replaced by the gentle press of his forehead against yours. At that moment, the world seemed to pause, and the chaos of frosting, cake, and his flour-coated hands faded into nothingness. In their place was something simpler, something truer—his love for you that spoke volumes without a single syllable.

bonus gift: some silly visuals 🫶

a/n: i was a little nervous about this because kay, you already write so beautifully. i truly hope this was to your liking 🥺💖 congrats again on completing your masters program. i hope your certification exam goes/went well 💖

© 2024 grimmweepers — do not repost, copy, translate, modify my work on any platform.

divider: @/adornedwithlight

[mariacallous]

For much of living memory, the United States has been a global leader of scientific research and innovation. From the polio vaccine, to decoding the first human chromosome, to the first heart bypass surgery, American research has originated a seemingly endless list of health care advances that are taken for granted.

But when the Trump administration issued a memorandum Monday that paused all federal grants and loans—with the aim of ensuring that funding recipients are complying with the president’s raft of recent executive orders—US academia ground to a halt. Since then, the freeze has been partially rescinded for some sectors, but it largely remains in place for universities and research institutions across the country, with no certainty of what comes next.

“This has immediate impact on people’s lives,” says J9 Austin, professor of psychiatry and medical genetics at the University of British Columbia. “And it’s terrifying.”

The funding freeze requires agencies to submit reviews of their funded programs to the Office of Management and Budget by February 10. The freeze follows separate orders issued last week to US health agencies—including to the National Institutes of Health, which leads the country’s medical research—to pause all communications until February 1 and stop almost all travel indefinitely.

The confusion is consummate. If the funding freeze continues through February, and even beyond, how will graduate students be paid? Should grant applications—years long in the writing—still be submitted by the triannual grant submission deadline on February 5? What does this mean for clinical trials if participants and lab techs can’t be paid? Will all that research have to be scrapped thanks to incomplete data?

Even if Trump fully reverses the freeze on research funding, the damage, multiple sources say, has been done. Although for now the funding freeze is temporary, the administration has shown how it might wield the levers of government. The implication is that withdrawing funding could be done more permanently, and could be done to individual institutions, individual organizations, both private and public. This won’t just set a precedent for the large East Coast or West Coast universities, but those located in both red and blue states alike.

While always an imperfect arrangement, science in the US is largely funded by a complex system of grant applications, reviews by peers in the field (both of which have had to be halted as part of the communications pause), and the competitive distribution of NIH funds, says Gerald Keusch, emeritus professor of medicine at Boston University and former associate director of international research for the NIH. According to its website, the NIH disburses nearly $48 billion in grants per year.

When it comes to medical research, America truly is first, and if it abdicates that position, the void left behind has global ramifications. “In Canada, we have always looked to NIH as an exemplar of what we should be trying to do,” says Austin, speaking to me independently of any roles and affiliations. “Now, that’s collapsed.”

Science is, in its very nature, collaborative. Many consortiums and alliances within scientific fields cross borders and language barriers. Some labs may be able to find additional funding from alternative sources such as the European Union. But it is unlikely that a continued withdrawal of NIH funding could be plugged by overseas support. And Big Pharma, with its seemingly endless funds, is unlikely to step up either, according to sources WIRED spoke with.

“This can’t be handed off to drug companies or biotech, because they’re not interested in things that are as preclinical as a lot of the work we’re discussing here,” says a professor of genetics who agreed to speak anonymously out of fear of retribution. “Essentially, there’s a whole legion of university-based scientists who work super damn hard to try to figure out some basic stuff that eventually becomes something that a drug company can drop $100 million on.”

The millions of dollars awarded to high-achieving labs is used to fund graduate students, lab techs, and analysts. If the principal investigator on a research team is unsuccessful in obtaining a grant through the process Keusch describes, often that lab is closed, and those ancillary team members lose their jobs.

One of the potential downstream effects of an NIH funding loss, even if only temporary, is a mass domestic brain drain. “Many of those people are going to go out to find something else to do,” the professor of genetics says. “These are just like jobs for anything else—we can’t not pay people for a month. What would the food service industry be like, for example, or grocery stores, if they don’t pay somebody for a month? Their workers will leave, and pharma can only hire so many people.”

WIRED heard over and over, from scientists too fearful for their teams and their jobs to speak on the record, that it won’t take long for the impact to reach the general population. With a loss of research funding comes the closure of hospitals and universities. And gains in medical advancement will likely falter too.

Conditions being studied with NIH funding are not only rare diseases affecting 1 or 2 percent of the population. They’re problems such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s—issues that affect your grandmother, your friends, and so many people who will one day fall out of perfect health. It’s thanks to this research system, and the scientists working within it, that doctors know how to save someone from a heart attack, regulate diabetes, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of stroke. It’s how the world knows that smoking isn’t a good idea. “All of that is knowledge that scientists funded by the NIH have generated, and if you throw this big of a wrench in it, it’s going to disrupt absolutely everything,” says the genetics professor.

While some are hopeful that the funding freeze for academia could end on February 1, when the pause on communications and therefore grant reviews is slated to lift, the individuals WIRED spoke with are largely skeptical that work will simply resume as before.

“When the wheels of government stop, it’s not like they turn on a dime and they just start up again,” says Julie Scofield, a former executive director of NASTAD, a US-based health nonprofit. She adds that she has colleagues in Washington, DC, who have had funding returned to their fields, and yet remain unable to access payment through the management system.

Austin says that already the international scientific community is holding hastily arranged online support groups. Topics covered range from the banal—what the most recent communication from the White House implies—to how best to protect trainees and the many students on international visas. But mostly they’re there to provide support.

“I’ve had a lot of messages from people just expressing gratitude that we could actually get together,” Austin says. “There’s just so much unaddressable need. None of us has the answers.”

Scientists, perhaps more than any other profession, are trained to “learn and validate conclusions drawn from observation and experimentation,” says Keutsch. That applies to the current situation. And what they observe during this pause of chaos does not portend well for the future of the United States as a pinnacle of scientific excellence.

“If people want the United States to head toward being a second-class nation, this is exactly what to do. If the goal is, in fact, to make America great, this is not a way to do it,” says the genetics professor. “This is not a rational, thoughtful, effective thing to do. It will merely destroy.”

This story has been written under a pseudonym, as the reporter has specific and credible concerns about potential retaliation.

[possibilistfanfiction]

For the caitvi: dog meet cute

[if u have been here a minute u know i try to give every character a border collie bc they're my passion lol HOWEVER. vi + a big rescue pitty is an actual dream come true. i just rly love dogs & force free handling & nurturing of dogs. so here u go, they are my babies]

//

vi is practically vibrating next to you in excitement, which is endearing but a little unsettling as she drives. she'd insisted you take her bronco, because she's convinced the car will immediately be scratched and dirty inside — which isn't even true, and also she's put more work into her car than you ever will any of yours. still, you'd acquiesced without too much arguing — more for fun than anything else — and then gone through the actual items on the checklist the rescue had recommended. you spent the past day making sure there were no holes in the fence and that the gate properly latched; you'd gotten bowls and the food recommended by the vet you'd found — fear free certified, vi had said after her research, proudly showing you the results of a very nice vet clinic near your new house — and a few toys and balls, a snuffle mat, and a cute little toy you can fill with peanut butter or yogurt for him to lick. you'd gotten a ton of training treats and bully sticks, marrow bones and duck feet; you pick out two comfortable beds to put in the living room and your bedroom; vi had liked a pink harness, collar, and 6' lead, which had made you laugh and then kiss her right in the middle of the pet store; you order a long lead to go with it later that night.

so, by all accounts and purposes, you are very ready.

still, vi is acting more nervous than she had when she'd taken her lieutenant's exam a few months ago, more nervous than when you were waiting to hear back about jinx's acceptance to her graduate program, more nervous than the first night you'd really moved into your house and fell asleep on the couch, sated and spent, in front of the fireplace. you'd loved this house for many reasons, but one of the big ones was its beautiful yard: vi has been looking at rescue dogs on her phone for the entire time you've known her.

'i can't believe it's really happening,' she says, again, as she takes the turn onto the street the rescue is located on.

'we're going to have so much fun, and give him such a good home.'

she breathes a sigh out and takes her hand off the gear shift to squeeze yours. you'd brought it up a few weeks ago, maybe looking into a dog, since you had the space, and you lived together now, and you owned the house, rather than having pet restrictions in an apartment. there had been a million excuses she'd offered, all of them poor and all of them because she was just nervous. you know how well you can manage things, how that's a way you're good at showing your love, and you know how gentle and nurturing v's nature is when given the chance.

she parks and you kiss her gently. 'hey, any dog would be lucky to be raised by rich lesbians with no kids.'

it gets her to laugh, finally, her nerves dissipating. 'speak for yourself. i'm not rich.'

you roll your eyes — it's not a secret that you want to get married one day, that you like making sure that vi — and her family — has everything they need, especially since you make enough money through your own work to not need any of your trust fund. 'rich in love.'

she groans but takes your hand anyway, laces your fingers together before you open the door.

the rescue coordinator and trainer meet you in the lobby, smiling, and compliment vi on her treat bag and the collar, harness, and leash set you'd brought. you had applied for the dog the week before, having seen his picture for one second and then showing it to vi, and you'd watched a soft smile grow on her face. you'd gone through a video call interview, and now all that's left is an in-person meet-up to see if a trial adoption period feels good for both of you and the dog.

he's already alone in the little play yard with one of the other volunteers, and you hear vi sniffle next to you, and then laugh, when you look her way, before getting down on her knees.

'hi, atlas,' she says, as you crouch down too, and it doesn't take even a second before the dog — muscular and goofy, with a blocky head, mostly black fur with a few white spots — bounds over to both of you and bowls vi over with how excited he is.

you laugh, and you get out your phone to take a few pictures; vi kisses his head and you rub behind his ears. you understand that it's important, and good, that the rescue does a trial adoption period, but his eyes are a grey-blue and he has a scar above one of them, and after vi throws the ball and you play tug with him a little, he just lies down half in her lap while she scratches his offered tummy — you know that there's no way this dog is ever going back.

'it's a good thing you're, uh, you know... fit,' the trainer says, a little flustered at the obvious muscles and veins of vi's arms in one of her t-shirts, you think, which, okay, you do understand. 'we're working on his leash skills, still, and he's getting so much better! but he's a strong guy.'

you'd, of course, read atlas' bio: he was rescued off the side of the road, alone, starving and sick, and he's spent almost the last two years at the rescue, cared for, of course, but overstimulated. he's loved his field trips, and he's friendly to kids, other dogs, even cats. he's active, park plays and hikes, but he really just wants to cuddle and sleep. mostly, he's been overlooked because he's a strong pit bull with a big bark. vi had immediately wanted him, even if she hadn't quite said so: you'd understood.

the trainer talks you through helping him feel safe as you put his new harness on, but he really doesn't seem to care at all when you offer him some chicken as a reward after. he licks your face and, admittedly, you are kind of in love already. the trainer plays with him while you and vi go inside and fill out the final paperwork, and he seems more subdued when you come back. but, 'you're so smart, huh?' vi says to him, the second he starts getting excited when she takes his leash and walks toward the exit. he starts whining and pulling, but when you get through the door, your hand in vi's, atlas turns around and jumps on both of you a few times. it doesn't bother you, and it makes vi cry, so you don't even try to coax him away with treats: you just let him feel freedom, safe and sound, for the first time.

//

atlas rides calmly in the car on the way home, watching everything out the window in his little dog car hammock, easily tolerating when you'd secured him with the seat belt extension that attached to his harness. jinx, unsurprisingly, has already come over when you get home, and she laughs and falls back on the ground, letting him lick all over her face, when he rams into her in hello. she slips a custom, thank you very much bandana — a lot of neon pink — onto him and kisses his forehead, but she has class, she pouts, so she promises to be over again tomorrow to play with him.

you and vi show atlas around the house, direct him to some toys; vi gives him a few chew options to see which one he'll pick — a beef marrow bone, no surprised there — and then he settles on the bed in the living room and works on his bone for an hour, both of you just smiling and watching from the couch, before he finishes and lumbers over to you, hopping up and burrowing in between you with a sigh.

vi starts to cry again, which makes you start to cry, and you both just sit there, laughing too, while you pet him.

'you have to know that this is, like, you in dog form, right?' you ask eventually.

'a brilliant and sensitive heart behind a strong, rugged exterior? of course.'

she's using humor to deflect — you both know at this point — but you let her get away with it this time.

//

atlas settles in easily, like he was always meant to be yours, and maybe he was. one morning, when vi is on shift, you take him on his long line to your favorite trail just outside the city and just let him walk and sniff for an hour or so, and then sit with you on the patio of your favorite cafe while you have a coffee. he sleeps and says hello when people ask, and, while he still gets so excited he often knocks jinx and vi over still when they get home, he's so gentle greeting strangers that you have to fight back tears. when you take him to the crag a month in, he makes friends with every person there and then gnaws on a bully stick before sleeping the afternoon away in a patch of sun.

for years, since you'd met vi, she'd had a hard time sleeping: you knew why, and you understood it. you'd tried all kinds of things to help with her insomnia and nightmares: therapy, and medication, and different techniques to ground and calm. it's always been a losing battle, though, things getting worse after long, hard shifts where calls had gone bad; oftentimes you'd get home from a full day at work and she hadn't slept at all since she got home from a 24 hour shift that morning: it hasn't been uncommon for her to go thirty hours without any good sleep for as long as you'd known her.

today, you'd been expecting the same thing: dark circles beneath her eyes, exhausted muscles that still can't rest, a painstakingly cooked dinner she'd prepared to, somehow, in her mind, make up for all of it. you'd talked to her on her drive home this morning, her short responses about the call she'd gone on dealing with an apartment fire in her childhood neighborhood last night telling you more than a robust description ever could.

when you walk in, though, the living room is dark, the fireplace mostly embers. it's cold outside, windy and probably going to snow tonight, so usually she would stoke it for you before you get home. there's no smell of dinner, and you don't hear atlas' paws scrambling to come jump on you in hello. for a split second, you're kind of terrified, before you notice the sound of snoring, and then your eyes find them: atlas is almost completely on top of vi on the couch, one of her hands still on his shoulders and the other stretched behind her head. they're both breathing deeply, soft snuffles and sighs, and you almost sink to your knees right then and there. you have your own demons, your own discussions in therapy and fights with your mom and aches in the middle of the night, but vi spent years of her life in the dark, alone, kept from any love or care, being treated like a dangerous animal. you want to marry her; you want jinx to annoy the hell out of you for years; you want a life with her, forever.

so you wipe your tears and put your coat away quietly, put your bag away and set your computer to charge in the office. you'd tentatively made plans to climb with vi after you'd gotten off work, mostly because it helps regulate her nervous system, even if you're both exhausted. but instead, you ease yourself gently onto the coffee table across from the couch and touch her face, then scratch behind atlas' soft ears.

'hello, my darlings.'

vi startles awake, disoriented, but then takes stock of atlas — who seems excited you're home, from the happy thump of his tail, but unwilling to move, far too warm and comfortable — and her eyes meet yours, a little smile sneaking its way onto her face. 'hey, cupcake.'

'it's nearly six.'

'oh. wow.'

'yeah?'

'i've been asleep for, like, five hours, i guess.'

you both almost burst into tears, but you kiss her forehead instead and say, 'shall we order in? movie night? it looks like mr. atlas here doesn't want to give up his prime spot.'

vi rubs her thumb along your cheek, always adoring, always gentle. 'ramen?'

'you drive a hard bargain.'

you don't talk about it further then: you go change into a pair of shorts and one of vi's sweaters, and atlas pouts but makes room for you on the couch too, eventually resting his head in your lap, and you put in your typical ramen order on your phone before vi picks a movie you'd both wanted to watch and had missed in theaters. she gets up, eventually, to open a bottle of wine for you and grab a beer for herself, and to put a new log on and then stoke the fire, before curling back up into your side.

'you know, i've thought about his name.'

'yeah?'

'jinx has come up with, like, seven thousand nicknames, some of which he responds to because she feeds him cheese all the time.'

vi rolls her eyes, but you laugh.

'but, you know. the weight of the world, and all that.'

'like i said, you in dog form.'

vi shakes her head but it becomes common occurrence, as the weeks and months and years go on, to come home to her after a shift, held down by altas, happily resting with her: a peace that's hard-found and even harder-earned, a companion for it all.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

By Samantha Fields

When Charlie McCone got COVID in March 2020 in San Francisco, he was 30, otherwise healthy and fit, not considered high-risk. His doctors told him he’d get better in a couple of weeks. He didn’t.

Eventually, weeks into being sick and with no real answers from his doctors, he turned to that place many of us turn to for medical information: the internet.

“I found a Facebook group with thousands of other people asking what’s going on, and I was like, ‘Oh my God,’” he said, “‘This is happening to so many other people.’”

It was already becoming clear then, in spring of 2020, that COVID could cause serious, lasting issues, including debilitating fatigue and brain fog, among many other symptoms. Because there was so much attention on COVID at the time, McCone said, “there was a lot of hope about the response to long COVID, I think, the first two years.”

Then in late 2020, Congress allocated over $1 billion to the National Institutes of Health for long COVID research. “There was this feeling that we’re going to have answers here in a few years,” he said.

But now it is a few years later, and that feeling has changed.

McCone is still sick. He’s not working anymore and can’t walk much more than a block. Roughly 20 million people in the U.S. are now estimated to have long COVID, maybe more. And that initial $1.15 billion NIH got for the RECOVER program — which stands for Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery — has yielded few answers and zero approved treatments so far.

“There’s been a lot of disappointment in terms of the program moving slowly and also focusing a lot on the kind of observational side of things,” said Betsy Ladyzhets, co-founder and managing editor of the Sick Times, a nonprofit news site focused on long COVID.

Most of the research money has gone into trying to learn more about what long COVID is — into clinical research, data collection and analysis and studies of electronic health records.

“Rather than what many people in the patient community and also the research community really want, which is focus on treatments, clinical trials,” Ladyzhets said.

There’s good reason for the focus on observational research, according to Dr. Serena Spudich, a neurologist and researcher at Yale who’s working with the RECOVER program.

“There has to be a very, very strong urgency for finding treatments,” she said. “And at the same time, we will only find treatments if we understand the condition properly.”

And understand what’s causing the many different kinds of symptoms people are having.

“Because long COVID is not one condition, it’s a very heterogeneous condition,” Spudich said. “And it’s very, very possible, I would even say likely, that different forms of long COVID — for example, the more neurologic forms versus something like severe shortness of breath or problems with the heart rate — those may actually be due to different types of biologic mechanisms that need different treatments.”

Outside researchers agree that these kinds of observational studies and data collection are critical, but some feel the NIH didn’t need to spend nearly $1 billion on them.

Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, director of the Clinical Epidemiology Center and chief of the Research and Education Service at the VA St. Louis Health Care System, said his team and others did similar research earlier in the pandemic, “for peanuts, a few hundred thousand dollars that generated evidence much more robustly, faster, years ahead of RECOVER, for a small, small, small, small fraction of the funds.”

At this point, more than four years in, “NIH should be laser-focused, laser-focused on finding treatment for long COVID,” he said.

That will be a bigger focus going forward. NIH got another $515 million this year for RECOVER and plans to put much of it toward clinical trials.

This fall, it held a kickoff meeting for the next phase of the RECOVER program, called RECOVER-TLC, which stands for Treating Long COVID. Now, Joseph Breen at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH said it’s in the process of soliciting ideas for drugs and other treatments to trial.

“We have every intention of getting started as soon as possible,” he said. “In reality, we’re probably into next year.”

David Putrino, director of rehabilitation innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, has been doing long COVID research since 2020. He said how the clinical trials are designed will be critical.

“What we need to be doing is rapidly testing as many drug targets as possible, rather than taking big swings,” he said. Meaning that instead of putting all the funding into a few big, expensive trials of a couple of drugs, RECOVER could do a bunch of smaller trials.

“For a couple million dollars apiece, they could be testing 100 drugs. And they could be logging the responses of those 100 drugs, and they could be moving into more sophisticated clinical trial strategies,” Putrino said. “That is where I think we should be applying the money.”

Many long COVID patients and advocates are cautiously optimistic about this next phase of research. Charlie McCone, who has become something of an expert in his own illness and now volunteers with the Patient-Led Research Collaborative, was at the kickoff meeting and left feeling a little more hopeful.

“The NIH can do this right, they have to do this right,” he said. “And they need to do it fast, which we know is possible.”

But no matter what comes of this current slate of funding, he said more is going to be needed. “No disease is solved with a one-time investment. And so, just because this first billion dollars didn’t produce much does not mean the next billion and the next billion won’t.”

Some legislators are already pushing for additional funding. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent, along with several Democratic senators, introduced the Long COVID Research Moonshot Act in the Senate, and a companion bill has been introduced in the House. The Moonshot Act would provide $1 billion a year for 10 years for long COVID research. It has yet to be brought to the floor for a vote.

[tenderjock]

"They're giving them souls, Giles."

She's not sure how the Initiative has figured out how to do it, with military machines and experimental scientific equipment in place of a dusty Romani curse. She thinks they're not entirely sure how they've done it either, that it's a lot of trial and error - Dr. Walsh basically admitted to that, when she told Buffy about their vampiric "re-consciencing" program.

"Dr. Walsh says it only worked for vampires," Buffy tells her Watcher. "She says other demons, they got zilch. Just nothing happens at all."

He finishes polishing his glasses, turns them over and starts polishing them again. "That makes some amount of sense, I suppose," Giles says. "Most demons have souls or - something that functions closely enough as a soul as to be called one, anyway. Vampires are the only demonic entity that are known for lacking a soul - or rather, that their evil comes from their lack of a soul rather than simply innate bloodlust or longstanding cultural practices or something of the sort."

"Whatever." Buffy resumes her pacing. "I'm supposed to do this tour of the Initiative tonight, so maybe I'll learn more about their re-consciencing department. It's giving me the wiggins, Giles."

"I know."

In preparation for going into potential enemy territory, Buffy puts on her cutest, most favorite halter top that doesn't come untied even when she does cartwheels and back flips, and a pair of sensible square-heeled boots. She puts her hair in a pair of neat French braids. She stows away two stakes, a small knife, and a scarf that could double as a garrote or a sling. Finally, she laces a cord choker around her neck, with a big cross pendant hanging on her collarbone, and surveys herself in the mirror. As ready as she's gonna get.

Buffy had been kind of worried that she'd have to hint and lead towards the whole soul-giving deal, but Dr. Walsh is more than happy to show off the program. She's bragging about it as soon as they're in the facility, which is giving off major evil-mad-scientist vibes.

"It took several trial runs to get the process stable for successful result," Walsh is saying. Buffy peers around, marking the exits in her mind, trying not to notice the way she's being deliberately flanked by Riley and Graham. "And then, after we succeeded in stabilizing the procedure, we had two subjects terminate."

Buffy looks at her, blinking. "Terminate?" she asks.

"Killed themselves," Riley says. "The subject we're studying currently, we've had to restrain so it doesn't do the same."

"You have one vampire right now?" Buffy asks. She'd thought that this soul-giving process was, like, a larger scale than one vamp. She'd assumed they'd be shoving souls up in dozens of the undead, as distasteful as she finds the idea. "How many - uh - 'subjects' have you done this with?"

Dr. Walsh gestures the three of them over to a cordoned-off lab set up, where Buffy sees a bunch of stuff, clothing and boots and stuff, laid out. It gives her an uncomfortable feeling - like that vamp girl that killed freshmen and stole their shit. How is this any different?

There's a familiar coat, a big black leather coat. Buffy stares at it for a second. She misses the first part of what Dr. Walsh says.

"- successfully managed to keep it restrained. Hostile 17 has proven very useful to our studies since it was re-conscienced."

"Hostile 17?" Buffy says, mouth dry.

Walsh pushes aside the sliding screen to show the rest of the room. There, naked, gagged, and tied to the operating table, is Spike.

He looks like shit. He's thin and kind of gray, the way a lot of vampires get when they're underfed, and he's got about a quarter inch of mousey brown roots. There are red marks around his wrists and ankles where it looks like he's pulled at the restraints until he's broken the skin, and he's got fresh, clinical-looking bruises on his left forearm and the left side of his abdomen.

Spike's looking at her. He's looking directly at her, and his eyes are wide and wild and agonized.

Buffy breathes in slow. Then she looks at Dr. Walsh.

"Do you keep the re-consciencing machinery here?" she asks. She knows damn well they don't. "Or is that in a different room?"

Dr. Walsh smiles, pleased by Buffy's interest. "We'll show you. It's fascinating, how it all works. This process could really change how we fight demons."

"Yes," Buffy agrees. She fumbles with her purse as they're leaving, spills makeup and tampons across the floor. Riley bends down to help her pick her stuff up. "Shit! Oh, no, I got it."

Spike's watching her still. He looks less upset, now. There's a little wrinkle in his brow.

Dr. Walsh and Graham have gone ahead; Riley is waiting for Buffy, but he's waiting at the open door, turned half away from her, giving her space to organize her feminine products.

She glances up at Spike, meeting his gaze. Swallows. And murmurs, under her breath so Riley can't hear, "I'm gonna get you out of here. Okay? Hold on. I'm gonna get you out."

Riley's still not looking, so she creeps a bit closer. Spike's leaning against his restraints like he's trying to get closer to her.

Quickly, Buffy touches Spike's bare shoulder. He goes tense and still, and closes his eyes. He's freezing, like he hasn't eaten warm blood in days. She nods, mostly to herself.

Then Buffy turns and leaves, without looking back.

[hyperfixation-fix]

Everyone shut up, it's happy headcanon time 😌

After the first and only wizarding war, Remus and his friends revolutionised the treatment of werewolves by the wizarding world.

Marlene pioneered the first comprehensive treatment program for werewolves. Rather than a disease to be cured (or, worse, a crime to be punished), her program reframed it as a chronic illness to be managed day to day. It focused solely on quality of life, by minimising long-term damage from transformations and related injuries, maximising "well" periods between moons, and educating and empowering werewolves to manage their own health as much as possible.

Lily proposed and conducted formal trials of transformation management approaches, with particular focus on working with animagi. Naturally, Sirius and James innocently volunteered for the trials - as a public service, of course. The Ministry was less than impressed by the whole affair, but Lily was as diligent as ever and, once James and Sirius learnt to keep their mouths shut, she had relatively little trouble getting the project approved.

Remus himself, of course, worked in advocacy and dedicated his life to dispelling stigma and supporting new werewolves and their families. He mentored hundreds of wizards - werewolves and regular wizards alike - and was unanimously considered alpha to the massive, mismatched, ragtag pack he collected over the years.

It took a long, long time, but by the dawn of the 21st century werewolves were by and large being treated alright by the wizarding world. They were no longer forced onto a public registry, no longer forced to be kept under lock and key during transformations. Instead, they voluntarily attended clinics manned by animagi and located in outlying areas of Britain, where they would be able to transform in safety and then explore the woods as they pleased under the full moon.

[secretlythepits]

I’m struggling. Hard.

Dental issues that seem to never end. Must make my 2nd emergency appointment today.

TMJ

Teenager pushing boundaries.

Husband depending on me way too much (attention-wise, think the man who retires and drives his wife crazy)

Constant trips for clinical trial are wearing

Must see his friend group next weekend too (they are being nice, but if we get together Saturday, then road trip Sunday and Monday— it’s a lot. Big dental appointment is scheduled for the following Tuesday—so when do I have a chance to breathe and not be in pain?)

I think my hormones have further dropped so my HRT isn’t enough. Menopause specialist doesn’t want to increase until it’s been further from my last period.

I have been coping by falling into my phone which is not healthy. I’ve also read a couple books, which is healthy, but not something I can do all the time.

My insurance didn’t cover my biopsy so I have to call and fight that.

One good thing is that I’ve gotten an hour of outdoor exercise every day. I think that’s important, but I admit that it’s a struggle to start some days.

_________

I know exactly what I want. I am clear on that.

I want to just focus on losing weight. I want to implement a good weight training program and eat clean.

I also want to actually complete my work projects and get those going.

My dream life is simply working and working out. Isn’t that what most people are trying to escape? Why is it so hard for me?

After accomplishing those goals, I want to travel and host retreats. I’d like to move around a lot. See the world. Connect with women and live largely in the Divine Feminine energy. I want to develop and share my ideas. I want to see how far I can go in my career when I devote my full attention to it.

I don’t even see my kids in my future to be honest. I want them to step up and create good things in their lives. I certainly want to maintain tight connections and see them often, but I want to live MY LIFE, not MY ROLE in their lives. I want to retire from being a wife and mother.

Of course, I’m not supposed to say that. And I fear that any choices that I make for myself will be interpreted and abandonment. But seriously, when does my life get to be about me? I think I’ve been asking that for years.

I 100% don’t mind/ absolutely LOVE giving emotional and even logistical support to my kids. What’s killing me, quite literally, is the feeling of being the manager of their lives and my husband’s life. I don’t want to have to do all of the thinking, research, and planning for their lives, and then have to campaign hard for their cooperation and constantly have to remind them of all the details of their lives. That is the part I just want to quit.

I don’t know how much of that is my fault. I would advise myself to just stop doing the managerial stuff if I were a friend coming to me with this problem. (Think I phrased that weirdly.) But in reality, it’s hard to just stop because it feels like the fallout from their lives will come back to me, or in the very least, I will be blamed for their bad outcomes.

But again, is that just a mind game I’m playing with myself? Maybe they would adjust. Maybe they would learn better without my help. But it is true that mothers always seem to get the blame, so I don’t think my fears are irrational. It would kill me to become estranged from my kids because I finally had a chance to make choices that were best for me, but they interpreted as neglect. It would also kill me to live in fear of that and limit my life.

All I know is I feel trapped in a cage with open windows and doors. I hate myself for not flying away and the cage knows this. The escape hatch is not a viable path to freedom; it’s an instrument of cruelty, because I am truly trapped, but those open windows are just an illusion that only serves to purpose of making my imprisonment feel like it’s my own fault.

———

Out of feelings. Back to the day ahead of me.

My husband will come home late from treatment. (SIL went with him this week.) He will be exhausted and perhaps grumpy from the drive.

I have to call the dentist and see what comes.

I have to talk to my teen about the shit he pulled last night.

Maybe I really can’t do anything else today. Outdoor exercise.

Ugh. I already hate today. And the weather is beautiful and begging for love.

It’s time to be brave.

[thoughtportal]

mRNA vaccines have gained widespread attention for their crucial role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, even before the pandemic, researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center were investigating the potential of mRNA vaccine technology in the fight against cancer.

Leading this innovative research is Dr. Vinod Balachandran, a physician-scientist associated with the David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Dr. Balachandran's groundbreaking efforts have paved the way for a clinical trial focused on using mRNA vaccines to treat pancreatic cancer, offering new hope to patients confronting this challenging disease.

Neoantigens in Pancreatic Tumors

At the heart of this innovative approach lies the concept of neoantigens, proteins found within pancreatic tumors that serve as alarm bells, alerting the immune system to the presence of cancer cells. These neoantigens play a pivotal role in rallying the immune response to keep pancreatic cancer at bay.

Unlike traditional vaccines, which are one-size-fits-all, these mRNA vaccines are tailored to each individual, with the aim of stimulating the production of specific immune cells known as T cells. These T cells are trained to recognize and target pancreatic cancer cells, reducing the risk of cancer recurrence following surgical removal of the primary tumor.

Intriguingly, the results of this groundbreaking research have shown remarkable promise. Among the 16 patients studied, eight experienced activation of T cells that recognized their own pancreatic cancers.

Importantly, these patients demonstrated delayed recurrence of their pancreatic cancers, providing tantalizing evidence that the T cells activated by the vaccines may be effectively holding the cancer at bay.

Dr. Balachandran's work in pioneering mRNA vaccines for pancreatic cancer received a significant boost through collaboration with BioNTech, the company responsible for developing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

When asked about the inspiration behind using a vaccine to combat pancreatic cancer, Dr. Balachandran explained, "There has been great interest in using immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer because nothing else has worked very well. We thought immunotherapy held promise because of research we began about seven years ago."

This research, spanning seven years, revealed that a select group of pancreatic cancer patients managed to defy the odds and survive after tumor removal surgery. Upon close examination, it was observed that these tumors harbored an unusually high number of immune cells, particularly T cells.

These immune cells were drawn to the tumors by signals emitted from within. These signals, as it turned out, were neoantigens—proteins that T cells recognize as foreign invaders, prompting an immune system assault on the cancer.

Even more intriguing was the discovery that T cells recognizing these neoantigens persisted in the bloodstream of these fortunate patients for up to 12 years after tumor removal.

This sustained immune response resembled an autovaccination, with T cells retaining a memory of the neoantigens as a threat, akin to the way vaccines confer long-term protection against pathogens. This finding sparked the idea of artificially inducing a similar effect in other pancreatic cancer patients.

Unlocking the Potential of mRNA Vaccines

To understand how mRNA vaccines can combat pancreatic cancer, one must delve into their intricate mechanisms. Dr. Balachandran and his team published their findings on immune protection in long-term pancreatic cancer survivors in the prestigious journal Nature in November 2017. During this time, they were also exploring methods to deliver neoantigens to patients in the form of vaccines, with a particular focus on mRNA vaccines.

Unlike traditional vaccines, which introduce weakened or inactivated pathogens into the body, mRNA vaccines leverage a piece of genetic code known as messenger RNA (mRNA).

This genetic code instructs cells in the body to produce a specific protein, thus triggering an immune response. Coincidentally, BioNTech's co-founder and CEO, Uğur Şahin, expressed interest in the research conducted by Dr. Balachandran's team, initiating a collaboration that would prove pivotal.

In late 2017, Dr. Balachandran and his team journeyed to Mainz, Germany, where BioNTech is headquartered. Over dinner, they discussed the potential of mRNA vaccines in the context of pancreatic cancer treatment. This marked the beginning of a journey that held immense promise for cancer patients worldwide.Scientist, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech Ugur Sahin. (CREDIT: BERND VON JUTRCZENKA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The intricacies of designing an effective cancer vaccine are manifold. Given that cancer arises from the body's own cells, distinguishing proteins in cancer cells as foreign entities is a formidable challenge for the immune system. Nevertheless, advances in cancer biology and genomic sequencing have paved the way for the design of vaccines capable of discerning the difference.

Dr. Balachandran's team, in conjunction with BioNTech and Genentech, capitalized on these advances, recognizing the critical role played by tumor mutations in triggering immune responses. Their optimism in the potential of mRNA vaccines for pancreatic cancer was well-founded, setting the stage for their groundbreaking research.

Personalized mRNA Vaccines: A Tailored Approach

The personalized nature of mRNA vaccines for pancreatic cancer is a testament to their efficacy. After a patient undergoes surgical removal of a pancreatic tumor, the tumor is genetically sequenced to identify mutations that generate optimal neoantigen proteins—those that appear most foreign to the immune system.

Subsequently, an mRNA vaccine is meticulously crafted, containing the genetic code specific to these neoantigens present in the individual's tumor.

During the vaccine production process, patients receive a single dose of a checkpoint inhibitor drug. This combination is intended to enhance the immune response to tumors. Once the mRNA vaccine is administered into the bloodstream, it prompts dendritic cells—an essential component of the immune system—to produce the neoantigen proteins.

These dendritic cells simultaneously educate other immune system components, including T cells, to recognize and attack tumor cells bearing the same neoantigen proteins. With T cells primed to seek out and destroy cells displaying these proteins, the chances of cancer recurrence are diminished.

Overcoming Challenges: The Road to Success

The road to realizing personalized mRNA vaccines for pancreatic cancer was fraught with challenges, not least of which was the complexity of the manufacturing process. Unlike mass-produced vaccines like those for COVID-19, the mRNA cancer vaccine had to be custom-made for each patient based on the unique characteristics of their tumor.Neoantigens are an important feature of cancer cells and help to stimulate anti-cancer immune responses. (CREDIT: Technology Networks)

This necessitated an intricate series of steps, including the surgical removal of the tumor, shipping the tumor sample to Germany for sequencing, manufacturing the vaccine, and returning it to New York—all within a tight timeframe.

Thankfully, Dr. Balachandran's team and their collaborators rose to the occasion, successfully enrolling the target total of 20 patients nearly a year ahead of schedule. Their unwavering dedication and meticulous planning ensured that the personalized mRNA vaccines could be provided to those in dire need.

As if the hurdles of personalized vaccine production weren't enough, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic added an unprecedented layer of complexity to the clinical trial. Dr. Balachandran and his team recognized the urgency of adapting swiftly to ensure that patients were not adversely affected.

Under the leadership of Cristina Olcese and with the unwavering support of individuals such as Department of Surgery Chair Jeffrey Drebin and Hepatopancreatobiliary Service Chief William Jarnagin, the team orchestrated the logistics required to maintain the trial's momentum.

Remarkably, what was initially estimated as a two-and-a-half-year trial was completed in a mere 18 months. The tireless efforts of Dr. Drebin, Medical Oncologist Eileen O'Reilly, Physician-Scientist Jedd Wolchok, Biologist Taha Merghoub, Computational Biologist Ben Greenbaum, and the support from Stand Up 2 Cancer/Lustgarten Foundation were instrumental in making this trial a reality amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic.

A Bright Future for mRNA Vaccines in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

The recent findings from this pioneering research offer a beacon of hope for patients grappling with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Balachandran affirms that "an mRNA vaccine can trigger the production of T cells that recognize pancreatic cancer cells."

The prospect of personalized vaccines enlisting the immune system in the fight against pancreatic cancer—a disease in dire need of improved treatments—holds tremendous promise. Moreover, these developments may extend their impact to other forms of cancer as well.

Looking ahead, Dr. Balachandran and his team are committed to further analyzing the data obtained from the clinical trial. This analysis will provide valuable insights into the factors that facilitate the vaccine's efficacy in patients. Armed with this knowledge, they aim to refine the vaccines to make them more effective and applicable to a broader spectrum of pancreatic cancer patients.

In a testament to the forward-thinking vision of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, this pioneering work exemplifies their commitment to bringing cutting-edge treatments to cancer patients.

Through their partnership with BioNTech and Genentech, and with the support of Stand Up 2 Cancer/Lustgarten Foundation, a larger study is already in the pipeline, aiming to test personalized mRNA vaccines in a more extensive cohort of pancreatic cancer patients.

As Dr. Balachandran notes, they were at the forefront of mRNA vaccines before their popularity surged, leveraging scientific discoveries to make a tangible impact on patients' lives. The future indeed looks brighter for those facing the formidable challenge of pancreatic cancer, thanks to the relentless pursuit of innovation in the field of mRNA vaccines.

Key Takeaways

Some people with pancreatic cancer survive many years after diagnosis.

In these patients, the immune system keeps the cancer from returning.

A messenger RNA vaccine based on this concept is being tested in combination with another type of immunotherapy.

Early results suggest the vaccine is having the desired effect on the immune system.

[soupedepates]

Skeletons in the closet (5)

A collab with @corneille-but-not-the-author and @hel-phoenyx

"Don't sugarcoat it, doctor, tell me what I can decently hope for."

Dr. Malchys just looks at the results of my latest analysis before putting it into my file. I see in Dr. Clairo's eyes I am done for. So... I am kind of need of reassurance right now.

"That thanks to your effort to sustain a healthy weight, your body is reacting quite well to chimiotherapy."

"I am at stage IV already. I..."

"Yes, you are", he answers. "But your latest biopsy shows that your liver is cancer-free. And there are signs of remission in your bones. Are you in any pain?"

"Well, I am at a good 8 out of 10 but nothing out of the ordinary", I try to smile. "You say that my bones..."

"...Are recovering. Your chimio helps with apoptosis, so it gets rid of the cancer cells."

"You're saying that the new treatment is killing my cells before they kill me."

That's a gambit I'm willing to take.

"It's a little more complex than that. But from a 14-percent chance of recovery you jump to a stupendous 50-percent. That's already more optimistic, don't you think?"

"I won't lie, doctor, that's making my day", I laugh. "Wow. 50-50 then. That will shut 'em up."

"You'll have to undergo another surgery to get rid of the metastasis the treatment won't make go away, but you can stay pretty optimistic. Don't let them take away your sunshine-y smile", he says gently. "Well, do you need help to go back to your room?"

"Nope, that will do."

"I'm advising the nurses to get you more painkillers though. See you in three days, Egill."

***

I feel like I see Sigismund more and more often at the hospital. He legit comes more times a week than my parents. He is with another guy. I think I know him too, but only because mum knows his parents or something like that. Fenrir, I guess, one of the brown kids with a Nordic name. We tend to stand out.

Well.

Why not be friendly with him too?

"Heyyyy, I'm seeing you awfully often around here", I say to approach him. "Is something bad happening?"

He has heard me coming, I can't catch anyone off-guard with my IV and my oxygen canister. Being sick is noisy.

"Oh, the guy who doesn't want to die. Lulea, right?"

"Himself!"

"You're Domhildr's brother, ain't you", he scoffs. "It runs in the family to play pretend with happiness."

"Aw, don't be so prickly, I may be ill but I am still strong and kicking!"

I manage to get him to chuckle. He has a faint smile.

"Egill, that's right?"

"And Fenrir, for you?" I ask.

"Yep", he nods. "And to answer your question, something bad is happening but it's under control."

"Please, cancer is never under control", I smile as I slightly elbow him. "It's like my sister. Feral and insidious."

Fenrir laughs more frankly. He gives me a playful glance before turning to the rest of the room, packed with patients, interns, and nurses. No window. Perfect for me.

"Can't agree more", he replies. "You're treated by doctor Malchys, right?"

"The magician himself, yessir."

"I've heard he is experimenting with a new treatment. Have you heard of it, perchance?"

"Oh, yes! I'm in the clinical trial program", I twitter. "Works wonder. My prognosis is much more optimistic now."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, I'm jumping from a 14-percent chance of survival to a 50-percent chance, can you believe it?"

"Wow, research is sure fast when handled by a genius."

"Yeaaaah", I continue. "Of course, I have all of the secondary effects, such as nausea or else, but since I'm staying at a healthy weight everything goes smoothly."

"That's a miracle."

"I'll survive, inch'Allah."

He pats me on the shoulder.

***

No but really. It starts to freak me out to see Sigismund and Fenrir so often at the hospital. They don't look like they are in-duty - and they are by far the most sympathetic cops to me but cops nonetheless.

I tried to know more by using Domhildr as an interface between me and her boyfriend but the Knight in shining armour won't say a thing about it. She says, "He is just coming to see you I think, because he is just like that and he is family now so he is invested". I don't know if she is blinded or not by love. My sister has a tendency to let emotions affecting her judgement...

It's not I don't believe that Sigismund wants to make moves hinting that he is family now.

I want to believe that for Dom.

But let's be realistic. Life is no fairytale.

And that's fucking sad for both of them because they are painfully in love from what I've heard.

And well.

His visits, and Fenrir's, feel off. They ask questions. Mostly about Dr. Malchys.

...

Let's not be all dark and brooding but...

...

I just hope that no one in their loved ones has cancer.

[tech4bizsolutions]

MedAI by Tech4Biz Solutions: Pioneering Next-Gen Medical Technologies

The healthcare industry is undergoing a seismic shift as advanced technologies continue to transform the way care is delivered. MedAI by Tech4Biz Solutions is at the forefront of this revolution, leveraging artificial intelligence and cutting-edge tools to develop next-generation medical solutions. By enhancing diagnostics, personalizing patient care, and streamlining operations, MedAI is empowering healthcare providers to deliver better outcomes.

1. AI-Driven Medical Insights

MedAI harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to analyze complex medical data and generate actionable insights. Its advanced algorithms can detect anomalies, predict disease progression, and recommend treatment pathways with unprecedented accuracy.

Case Study: A large medical center integrated MedAI’s diagnostic platform, leading to:

Faster identification of rare conditions.

A 30% reduction in misdiagnoses.

Enhanced clinician confidence in treatment decisions.

These capabilities underscore MedAI’s role in advancing clinical decision-making.

2. Personalized Patient Care

Personalization is key to modern healthcare, and MedAI’s data-driven approach ensures treatment plans are tailored to individual needs. By analyzing patient histories, lifestyle factors, and genetic data, MedAI offers more targeted and effective interventions.

Example: A chronic disease management clinic used MedAI to create personalized care plans, resulting in:

Improved medication adherence.

Decreased hospital readmission rates.

Greater patient satisfaction and engagement.

MedAI’s solutions allow providers to offer more precise, patient-centered care.

3. Enhanced Operational Efficiency

MedAI goes beyond clinical improvements by optimizing healthcare operations. Its automation tools reduce administrative burdens, freeing healthcare professionals to focus on patient care.

Insight: A regional hospital implemented MedAI’s workflow automation system, achieving:

A 40% reduction in administrative errors.

Faster patient registration and billing processes.

Streamlined appointment scheduling.

These improvements enhance overall operational efficiency and patient experiences.

4. Advanced Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics play a vital role in preventive care. MedAI’s algorithms identify patients at high risk of developing chronic conditions, enabling early interventions.

Case Study: A primary care network used MedAI’s predictive models to monitor high-risk patients, leading to:

Early lifestyle adjustments and medical interventions.

A 25% drop in emergency room visits.

Higher enrollment in wellness programs.

By shifting to proactive care, MedAI helps reduce healthcare costs and improve long-term outcomes.

5. Revolutionizing Telemedicine

The rise of telemedicine has been accelerated by MedAI’s AI-powered virtual care solutions. These tools enhance remote consultations by providing real-time patient insights and symptom analysis.

Example: A telehealth provider adopted MedAI’s platform and reported:

Improved diagnostic accuracy during virtual visits.

Reduced wait times for consultations.

Increased access to care for rural and underserved populations.

MedAI’s telemedicine tools ensure equitable, high-quality virtual care for all.

6. Streamlining Drug Development

MedAI accelerates the drug discovery process by analyzing clinical trial data and simulating drug interactions. Its AI models help identify promising compounds faster and improve trial success rates.

Case Study: A pharmaceutical company partnered with MedAI to enhance its drug development process, achieving:

Faster identification of viable drug candidates.

Shorter trial durations.

Reduced costs associated with trial phases.

These innovations are driving faster development of life-saving medications.

7. Natural Language Processing for Clinical Data

MedAI’s natural language processing (NLP) capabilities extract insights from unstructured medical data, such as physician notes and discharge summaries. This allows for faster retrieval of vital patient information.

Insight: A healthcare system implemented MedAI’s NLP engine and experienced:

Improved documentation accuracy.

Quicker clinical decision-making.

Enhanced risk assessment for high-priority cases.

By automating data extraction, MedAI reduces clinician workloads and improves care quality.

8. Robust Data Security and Compliance

Data security is paramount in healthcare. MedAI employs advanced encryption, threat monitoring, and regulatory compliance measures to safeguard patient information.

Example: A hospital using MedAI’s security solutions reported:

Early detection of potential data breaches.

Full compliance with healthcare privacy regulations.

Increased patient trust and confidence in data protection.

MedAI ensures that sensitive medical data remains secure in an evolving digital landscape.

Conclusion

MedAI by Tech4Biz Solutions is redefining healthcare through its pioneering medical technologies. By delivering AI-driven insights, personalized care, operational efficiency, and robust security, MedAI empowers healthcare providers to navigate the future of medicine with confidence.

As healthcare continues to evolve, MedAI remains a trailblazer, driving innovation that transforms patient care and outcomes. Explore MedAI’s comprehensive solutions today and discover the next frontier of medical excellence.

For More Reachout :https://medai.tech4bizsolutions.com/

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Your Guide to the Best Diabetes Treatment in Columbus

Living with diabetes requires diligent management and access to effective treatment options. For residents of Columbus, Gerogia, finding the best diabetes treatment can be instrumental in maintaining optimal health and well-being. In this guide, we'll explore the various factors to consider when seeking diabetes treatment in Columbus, as well as highlight some of the top options available in the area.

Understanding Diabetes:

Before delving into treatment options, it's essential to understand diabetes and its implications. Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, which can lead to various health complications if left untreated. There are different types of diabetes, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, each requiring unique approaches to management.

Factors to Consider:

When evaluating diabetes treatment options in Columbus, several factors should be taken into account:

Expertise of Healthcare Providers: Look for healthcare providers with expertise in diabetes management, including endocrinologists, primary care physicians, and certified diabetes educators.

Comprehensive Care: Seek out treatment facilities that offer a comprehensive range of services, including medical consultations, nutritional counselling, exercise programs, and psychological support.

Access to Innovative Therapies: Consider treatment centres that provide access to innovative therapies and technologies, such as continuous glucose monitoring systems and insulin pumps.

Personalized Approach: Opt for providers who offer personalized treatment plans tailored to your individual needs, preferences, and lifestyle.

Community Support: Explore resources for community support, such as diabetes support groups and advocacy organizations, which can provide valuable peer support and educational opportunities.

Top Diabetes Treatment Options in Columbus:

Columbus Diabetes Center: With a team of experienced endocrinologists and diabetes educators, the Columbus Diabetes Center offers comprehensive care for individuals with diabetes. Services include medical consultations, nutritional counselling, and access to advanced treatment options.

OhioHealth Diabetes Services: OhioHealth provides a range of diabetes services across multiple locations in Columbus. Their team of specialists offers personalized treatment plans, diabetes education classes, and support groups to help individuals manage their condition effectively.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center: As a leading academic medical centre, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center offers cutting-edge diabetes research and innovative treatment options. Their multidisciplinary team of experts provides personalized care for individuals with diabetes.

Mount Carmel Diabetes & Endocrinology Center: Mount Carmel's Diabetes & Endocrinology Center offers comprehensive care for individuals with diabetes, including medical management, nutritional counselling, and access to clinical trials for innovative treatments.

Nationwide Children's Hospital Diabetes Clinic: For pediatric patients with diabetes, the Nationwide Children's Hospital Diabetes Clinic provides specialized care tailored to the unique needs of children and adolescents. Their team of pediatric endocrinologists and diabetes educators offers comprehensive treatment and support services.

Conclusion:

Finding the best diabetes treatment in Columbus requires careful consideration of various factors, including expertise, comprehensive care, access to innovative therapies, personalized approach, and community support. By evaluating these factors and exploring top treatment options in the area, individuals with diabetes can access the care they need to manage their condition and improve their quality of life effectively. Remember to consult with healthcare providers to determine the most suitable treatment plan for your individual needs and preferences. With the right support and resources, individuals with diabetes can lead healthy, fulfilling lives while effectively managing their condition.

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Much of the IT and cybersecurity infrastructure underpinning the US health system is in danger of a possible collapse following a purge of IT staff and leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), four current and former agency workers tell WIRED. This could put vast troves of public health data, including the sensitive health records of hundreds of millions of Americans, clinical trial data, and more, at risk of exposure.

As a result of a reduction in force, or RIF, in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), the sources say, staff who oversee and renew contracts for critical enterprise services are no longer there. The same staff oversaw hundreds of contractors, some of whom play a crucial role in keeping systems and data safe from cyberattacks. And a void of leadership means that efforts to draw attention to what the sources believe to be a looming catastrophe have allegedly been ignored.

Thousands of researchers, scientists, and doctors lost their jobs earlier this month at HHS agencies critical to ensuring America’s health, such as the Centers for Disease Control and and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Hundreds of administrative staff were also subjected to a reduction in force. Many of these staffers were responsible for helping ensure that the mass of highly personal and sensitive information these agencies collect is kept secure.

Employees who were subject to the RIF, as well as some who remain at the agency, tell WIRED that without intervention, they believe the systems they managed could go dark, potentially putting the entire health care system at risk.

“Pretty soon, within the next couple of weeks, everything regarding IT and cyber at the department will start to operationally reach a point of no return,” one source, who was part of a team that managed these systems at HHS for a decade before being part of the RIF, alleges to WIRED.

Like many across the agency, administrative staff found out they were part of the RIF on April 1 in an email sent at 5 am Eastern, though a number of employees only realized they had been let go when their badges no longer worked when trying to access HHS buildings.

Among those impacted were half of the staff working at the OCIO—around 150 people, including the entire workforce at the Immediate Office of the CIO, which includes senior figures like the chief of staff, HR director, acquisition director, and budget director, sources tell WIRED. The CIO, Jennifer Wendel, who has worked in the federal government for almost three decades, is also departing, sources say, and will end her tenure next month. Wendel did not respond to a request for comment from WIRED.

“The suggestion that critical IT and cybersecurity functions at HHS are being left unsecured is simply untrue,” an HHS spokesperson tells WIRED. “Essential operations at HHS, including contract management and cybersecurity oversight—remain staffed and functional. It’s unfortunate that some former employees are spreading unfounded rumors. HHS remains committed to a secure, modernized HHS that serves the American people, not internal bureaucracy.”

One team that was purged from HHS managed over a hundred contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, including crucial cybersecurity licenses. It also managed the renewal of contracts for hundreds of specialized contractors who perform critical tasks for the department, including a dozen cybersecurity contractors who work at the Computer Security Incident Response Center (CSIRC)—the primary component of the department’s overall cybersecurity program which is overseen by the chief information security officer.

While all of HHS’s agencies have their own cybersecurity and IT teams, the CSIRC is the only one that has visibility across the entire network of the department. This center, based in Atlanta, monitors the entire HHS network and is tasked with preventing, detecting, reporting, and responding to cybersecurity incidents at HHS.

“It is the department’s nerve center,” the source says. “It has direct links to DHS, CISA, Defense Health Agency, and the intelligence community.”

The contractors provide round-the-clock coverage on three eight-hour shifts every single day, monitoring the network for any possible outages or attacks from inside or outside the network. Those contracts are set to expire on June 21; while there is time to renew them, it’s not clear who is authorized to do so or knows how, since the entire office that oversees the process is no longer working at HHS.

Adding to the threat is the decision by the General Service Administration to terminate the lease for the CSIRC in Atlanta, effective December 31, 2025.

Many of the cybersecurity and monitoring tools the contractors use to monitor the networks are also due for renewal in the coming months.

If the situation is not addressed, “pretty soon, the department will be completely open to external actors to get at the largest databases in the world that have all of our public health information in them, our sensitive drug testing clinical trial information at the NIH or FDA or different organizations’ mental health records,” the source claims, echoing the opinions of other sources who spoke to WIRED.

In the weeks leading up to the RIF, some administrative staff did have interactions with Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) operatives, including Clark Minor, a software engineer who worked at Palantir for over a decade and was recently installed as the department’s chief information officer.

As one employee was detailing the work they did at the OCIO, they said, they got the sense that Minor—whose online résumé does not detail any experience in the federal government—seemed overwhelmed by the sheer scale of HHS, an agency that accounted for over a quarter of federal spending in 2024 and consists of an almost innumerable amount of offices and staff and operating divisions.

Minor has not provided guidance to the remaining HHS staff on the transition, according to two sources still at the agency.

Minor did not respond to a request for comment from WIRED.

Some internal systems are already breaking down, according to sources still working at HHS. One employee, who facilitates travel for HHS employees, says the RIF “set federal travel back to processes that were in place prior to the first Electronic Travel System contract in 2004.”

While sources who spoke to WIRED differed on exactly when and how the IT and cybersecurity infrastructure at the department might collapse, they all agreed that without a radical intervention in the coming weeks, the fallout could be catastrophic.

"If the US health system lost CMS, FDA, NIH, and CDC functionality indefinitely without warning, and no backup systems were available, this would be an unprecedented systemic shock," one source at the OCIO tells WIRED.

Current HHS workers say they have not been presented with a plan to remedy the looming crisis, and have seen no leadership from either the political appointees or DOGE operatives who have been installed at HHS.

“There is no transition, and those in charge are AWOL,” one person currently working at HHS tells WIRED, echoing the sense of “chaos” found in an in-depth investigation into HHS by Stat. “I’m doing nothing productive. I’m answering emails stating we cannot help, we cannot process, we have no guidance, we cannot operate. This ship has no captain whatsoever, and I’m playing in the band while the Titanic sinks.”