News from the life sciences community north of Boston
|
|
October 2022
Special Edition
|
|
|
|
Based in Butaro, Rwanda, UGHE was established in 2014 by Partners in Health, under the leadership of the late Dr. Paul Farmer, through a partnership with Cummings Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The University's mission is to advance global health delivery by training a new generation of global health leaders who are equipped to both build and sustain effective and equitable health systems.
|
|
Much of Dr. Kim’s career has revolved around health, education, and improving the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable, making him an ideal steward for the future of UGHE.
|
|
Dr. Kim graduated from Brown University, then became one of the first students to study jointly for a medical degree from Harvard Medical School and a Ph.D. in anthropology at Harvard University.
From 2003 to 2005, Dr. Kim served as director of World Health Organization’s HIV/AIDS Department. Following his service at WHO, he was chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, chief of the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard School of Public Health.
|
|
Dr. Kim co-founded Partners In Health with Dr. Farmer and several others while at Harvard. Harvard Medical School (HMS) has been heavily involved with UGHE on a regular basis since its beginning.
In 2009, Dr. Kim was named the 17th president of Dartmouth College, where he served until he was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as president of the World Bank Group, a role he held from 2012 to 2019.
Since 2014, Cummings Foundation has been pleased to provide $30 million in ongoing support to UGHE and has been delighted to witness its rise to become a leading institution working to radically changing the way health care is delivered around the world. Dr. Farmer served as the first chancellor of UGHE until his unexpected passing in February 2022, when he was in Rwanda for a planned three-week teaching session at the University.
|
|
Cummings Foundation was delighted to welcome Dr. Agnes Binagwaho to Woburn yesterday. A champion of both health equity and gender equality, Dr. Binagwaho served as Rwanda's minister of health and is helping to prepare the next generation of health care leaders as vice chancellor of UGHE. Dr. Agnes is also a Cummings Foundation trustee.
Dr. Agnes (center) is seen here with Laura Hiller (left), deputy director and foundation counsel, and Andrew Bishop, grants manager, for Cummings Foundation.
|
|
The MetroNorth Life Sciences Update now reaches close to 3,000 readers. If you enjoy its monthly informative content, please share this edition, and invite additional members of your team and others in your network to sign up.
|
|
|
In other international news well connected with the MetroNorth, Tiba Biotech (78 Olympia Avenue, Woburn) recently announced a collaboration with the Australian government of New South Wales to develop next-generation mRNA vaccines against emergency animal diseases that threaten Australia’s livestock industry and domestic food security. As Covid-19 demonstrated the protective potential of mRNA vaccines for human health, Tiba recognizes a similar approach is possible for high-risk animal diseases.
|
|
|
|
In North America, Tiba embarked on a new collaboration with leading researchers at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine earlier this year to develop next generation vaccines against emerging tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The goal is to design a multi-antigen messenger RNA vaccine protective against the particularly dangerous Powassan virus, a TBD that threatens the Northeast and the upper Midwest of the United States and parts of Canada. The virus, first identified in 1958, has become more prevalent over the past five year. There is no vaccine or treatment available at this time.
|
|
As a member of MassBio, we are supporting the organization's efforts to learn more about how the life sciences industry commutes. Please complete the 2022 MassBio Membership Transportation Survey by Friday, October 21, to inform MassBio’s public policy advocacy and expand the transportation resources available to its members.
|
|
In other transportation news, the next public meeting for the MBTA Bus Network Redesign will take place on Wednesday, November 2, at 6:00 PM.
Thank you to all who have provided feedback on the planned MBTA route changes, including those impacting the 354 bus to West Cummings Park in Woburn. Since releasing the draft map in May 2022, the MBTA has received more than 20,000 comments.
The MBTA has reviewed this feedback and is, consequently, evaluating potential changes to the draft network. At the November 2 meeting, the project team will present a revised network and answer questions.
|
|
|
|
The next virtual BioXchange will be held Wednesday, October 19 from 4 PM to 7 PM. This free forum provides an opportunity to interact with individuals throughout the life sciences industry from all over the world. Register.
|
|
The Fletcher School's Center for International Environment & Resource Policy at Tufts University presents a research seminar: "Adaptation funding for African countries: trends, progress, and priorities." Based on research conducted by CPL fellows for the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), junior research fellow Bethany Tietjen will highlight preliminary findings and analysis of important next steps for funding adaptation in African countries in advance of this years’ “African COP” in Egypt. Thursday, October 20 from 12 to 1:15 PM. Register.
|
|
Join our friends at North Shore Technology Council this Thursday, October 20 at TradeCenter 128 for a fascinating conversation about the green economy in Massachusetts. Nicholas Myers, CEO of Phoenix Tailings will discuss a variety of topics including the company's innovative technology creating valuable materials from mining waste, the importance of skilled manufacturing training programs, and how new legislation will advance clean energy in Massachusetts.
Register here - select "Board" and use promo code "Friends" to attend as our guest.
|
|
Join North Shore Technology Council board members and the BioSciences group for a night of networking on Thursday, October 26! This Oktoberfest event is for anyone in the MetroNorth region who shares a passion for, or does business within, the life sciences industry. Celebrate fall with an evening of beer tasting and networking at True North Ale Company in Ipswich. Doors open at 5 PM. Cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members and includes food and two drink tickets. Register.
|
|
|
|
|
Join MassBio in examining the current state of digital health as it relates to the life sciences, the challenges facing its growth, and opportunities for collaboration. Through keynotes, panel discussions, and case studies, the hybrid MassBio Digital Health Impact event will explore new strategies for therapeutics and digital health innovators to converge and ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients. Thursday, November 3, 12:30 - 6:00 PM. Register.
|
|
Now with a new name reflecting the breadth of innovation in the region, the MetroNorth Life Sciences &Technology Update is distributed twelve times a year, on or around the middle of each month. With lots of news to share in October, including the breaking news of the esteemed Dr. Jim Yong Kim to assume the role of chancellor of UGHE, we felt it was important to share this special edition.
We welcome your feedback on this newsletter and invite readers to share company news, personnel changes, product launches, funding updates, events, and more. Contact Sue Howland, client engagement manager, at svh@cummings.com to offer your news for upcoming newsletters. We look forward to hearing from you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
