Skip to content

ETC Model Participant Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) Signing in 4innovation (4i) Platform Now Open

CMS has extended a final opportunity for ETC model participants to complete their Data Sharing Agreement (DSA). The final ETC Model DSA signing window for Measurement Year 7 (MY 7) is now open until July 24 at 11:59pm. ETC Participants or their designees must sign their relevant DSAs by 7/24/25 to gain access to beneficiary-level reports available in the 4i Data Hub. Background Under ETC Model’s regulations at § 512.390, CMS makes certain beneficiary-identifiable data available to ETC Participants under the condition that an ETC Participant completes and submits, on at least an annual basis, a signed data sharing agreement. Beneficiary-identifiable data include the ETC Participant’s attributed beneficiaries‘ names, Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers, dates of birth, dual eligible status, and LIS recipient status. Beneficiary-identifiable data may be retrieved by ETC Participants no later than one month before the start of each PPA Period. For the purposes of this notice, beneficiary-identifiable data…

more »ETC Model Participant Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) Signing in 4innovation (4i) Platform Now Open

New Hope for Children with High-Risk Neuroblastoma: Swissmedic Approves IFINWIL®

The Swissmedic, Switzerland’s drug regulatory authority, has approved the drug IFINWIL® (eflornithine) for the treatment of children aged one year and older with high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB). This decision marks a significant advancement in pediatric oncology, as the drug can be used as a monotherapy for patients who no longer have active disease after intensive first-line treatment. High-risk neuroblastoma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer that primarily affects children under the age of five. Annually, approximately 10.2 out of every million children under 15 are diagnosed worldwide, with half of the cases considered high-risk. Despite intensive therapies, the five-year survival rate is below 50 percent, and the disease accounts for about 15 percent of cancer-related deaths in children. The drug works by inhibiting an enzyme crucial for tumor development, aiming to prevent relapses – a critical factor for long-term survival. The approval was granted in...

more »New Hope for Children with High-Risk Neuroblastoma: Swissmedic Approves IFINWIL®

Child Abuse Impairs Body Awareness: New Findings from Dresden and Berlin

A research team from TU Dresden and FU Berlin has investigated the connection between child abuse and internal body awareness, also known as interoception, in a meta-analysis. The findings, published in the journal Nature Mental Health, show that emotional abuse and neglect in childhood significantly reduce trust in one's own body awareness, which can have far-reaching consequences for mental health. Interoception describes the ability to perceive and interpret internal signals such as heartbeat, breathing, or stomach activity. It is crucial for emotion regulation, stress management, and physical well-being, yet its development and significance are still poorly understood scientifically. The analysis included 17 studies with 3,705 participants and found no consistent link between child abuse and altered interoception. However, it did show that affected individuals, particularly those who experienced emotional abuse and neglect, have less trust in their body awareness. This can affect emotion regulation, the perception of one's own needs, and stress processing...

more »Child Abuse Impairs Body Awareness: New Findings from Dresden and Berlin

MAGA is Dead: Trump Protects Pedophile Criminality by Covering Up Epstein Files (COMMENTARY)

Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" is a lie, shredded by his refusal to release the full Epstein files. This cover-up is not bureaucratic failure, but an ice-cold act that shields pedophile crime, mocks victims, and destroys the foundations of justice. With every day the files remain sealed, Trump not only protects his own past but a network of powerful criminals who have destroyed the lives of minors. This is not an attack on one man – it is an outcry against the shame he brings upon the American people and humanity. Jeffrey Epstein was not an isolated perpetrator, but the head of a criminal system that systematically abused minors and involved elites from politics, business, and media. His files – thousands of pages of court documents, testimonies, and evidence – could expose this network. Yet, under Trump's presidency, they remain locked away. In February 2025… 

more »MAGA is dead: Trump protects pedophile crime by covering up the Epstein files (COMMENTARY)

Epstein: The victims cry out for justice – the Trump administration covers up

Jeffrey Epstein was not a myth, but a ruthless sex offender who, over years, spun a web of abuse, manipulation, and abuse of power. His actions destroyed the lives of numerous young women and girls. Yet, while the victims still hope for justice today, the Trump administration has done everything to obscure the full truth and block the investigation. The cries of the victims – and the silence of the powerful Epstein's victims report systematic abuse, psychological violence, and a perfidious system that supplied young girls to rich and influential men. Many of them were minors, some barely older than 14. They speak of fear, shame, and lifelong trauma – and how they were ignored or even intimidated by authorities and the justice system for a long time. "I was used, sold, and silenced," says one of the victims. "For years, no one listened." Trump administration: Cover-up instead of… 

more »Epstein: The victims cry out for justice – the Trump administration covers up

Revolution in protein engineering: Chinese researchers unveil AI-powered universal strategy

  • News

Beijing, July 7, 2025 – A groundbreaking advance in biotechnology could fundamentally change the way proteins are developed for medical and industrial applications. A team of Chinese scientists led by Prof. Gao Caixia from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a novel method called “AI-informed Constraints for Protein-Engineering” (AiCE). This AI-powered strategy, published on July 7, 2025, in the renowned journal Cell, promises to make protein engineering more efficient, cost-effective, and universally applicable. The approach uses inverse folding models and considers structural and evolutionary constraints without requiring specialized AI models to be trained. Challenges of Protein Engineering Proteins are the molecular workhorses of life and play a central role in biological processes, from immune defense to energy production. Their targeted modification, known as protein engineering, is crucial for the development… 

more »Revolution in Protein Engineering: Chinese Researchers Unveil AI-Powered Universal Strategy

World's First Documented Bloodless Heart-Liver Transplant Successful in Tampa

  • News

Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and USF Health have achieved a medical milestone: the world's first documented bloodless heart-liver transplant. The groundbreaking surgery was led by Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy and Dr. Gundars Katlaps, both leading experts at the TGH Transplant Institute and USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. The patient, who suffered from coronary heart disease and fatty liver disease, waited over 18 months for this complex double organ transplant, which had to be performed without blood products – a rare and technically demanding feat. “The surgery demonstrates the strength of academic medicine,” emphasized Dhanireddy. “Our expertise and multidisciplinary collaboration enable the best outcomes for patients.” TGH, the nation's leading transplant center with 889 procedures in 2024, is setting new standards in bloodless surgery. This method, which began in 1986 with the first bloodless single organ transplant, offers benefits such as faster recovery and a lower risk of infection. “No patient should be denied… 

more »World's First Documented Bloodless Heart-Liver Transplant Successful in Tampa

Groundbreaking Technology from Calidi Biotherapeutics Revolutionizes Cancer Treatment

Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) has developed an innovative technology platform that enables the systemic delivery of genetic medicines to tumor sites, including metastatic cancers. The platform utilizes proprietary, genetically engineered oncolytic viruses that hide therapeutic payloads within a protective human cell membrane to evade the immune system and specifically target metastases. Lead Product CLD-401 Shows Promising Results The lead product, CLD-401, delivers the IL-15 superagonist directly to tumor sites, demonstrating impressive results in preclinical studies for tumor eradication and immune activation. The technology allows for intravenous administration, enabling genetic payloads to reach tumors throughout the body. Preclinical data, presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) and American Association of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conferences in 2025, show that CLD-401 can destroy tumors and activate the immune system to prevent recurrence. Future Plans and Market Development Calidi plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the end of 2026…

more »Groundbreaking Technology from Calidi Biotherapeutics Revolutionizes Cancer Treatment

Lutris Pharma Presents Promising Results for LUT014 Gel at ESMO 2025

Tel Aviv, July 7, 2025 – Lutris Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, presented new data from its Phase 2 study of LUT014 Gel at the ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress 2025 in Munich. The topically applied B-Raf inhibitor gel demonstrated significant efficacy in treating acneiform rash, a common side effect of EGFR inhibitors such as cetuximab and panitumumab in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 118 patients across 23 sites experiencing Grade 2 or non-infected Grade 3 rash. Participants received either LUT014 Gel (0.03% or 0.1%) or placebo daily for 28 days. The primary endpoint was treatment success, defined as at least one grade improvement in CTCAE assessment or at least a 5-point increase in the FACT-EGFRI-18 HRQoL questionnaire. Results showed that the high dose (0.1%) of LUT014 achieved statistically significant success rates: 64.3% in panitumumab patients (p=0.028)…

more »Lutris Pharma Presents Promising Results for LUT014 Gel at ESMO 2025

BAföG remains unused: Misjudgments hinder students

  • News

Bonn, July 7, 2025 – Despite rising demand, many students in Germany are not utilizing their right to BAföG. Studies by the Max Planck Institute for Community Goods and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT show that misjudgments about funding requirements, parental income, and repayment terms are the main reasons. New approaches such as information campaigns and an AI chatbot could increase the number of applications and strengthen educational equity. A nationwide survey of over 22,000 students revealed that up to 70 percent of those eligible do not apply for BAföG. The main reason is a misjudgment of their own eligibility: 82 percent believe they are not eligible, often due to inflated assumptions about parental income. Even students who are aware of their eligibility shy away from applications for fear of repayment obligations. Need is not the problem – knowledge is lacking. A field experiment with over 6,200 students proved that clear information campaigns reduce misjudgments and increase the probability of application by 46 percent… 

more »BAföG remains unused: Misjudgments hold students back