UCLA Health Receives $750K Department of Commerce Grant to Fund COVID-19 Innovation That Prioritizes Health Equity

UCLA Health has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to scale healthcare innovations for COVID-19 response and recovery and to support health equity through BioFutures, a new LA County workforce development program for diversity in the biosciences.

4DMedical Teaming with ATS Diversity Fund to Improve Access and Equity in American Health Care

The American Thoracic Society is recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion and is respected as a powerful advocate protecting the health of the American people by encouraging increased investment in public health care. During the ATS 2021 International Conference starting May 14, respiratory imaging disruptor 4DMedical is partnering with the ATS to make better health care technologies accessible to those who need it the most.

Roswell Park, Wilmot Cancer Institute Collaborate on First Large Study of Immunotherapy in Black Cancer Patients

A new collaboration between two Western New York cancer research leaders will help oncologists learn whether Black and white cancer patients respond differently to a game-changing immunotherapy treatment, and seeks to improve the safety and effectiveness of these newer drugs in diverse populations.

Corporate Employees Learn New Strategies for Helping Youth While Building Workforce of Tomorrow at CFES Brilliant Pathways Training

Corporations concerned with cultivating and recruiting the workforce of tomorrow due to the dramatic effects of COVID-19 on America’s youth are turning to CFES Brilliant Pathways for answers.

Lack of diversity in genomic databases may affect therapy selection for minority groups

Low representation of minority groups in public genomic databases may affect therapy selection for Black patients with cancer, according to new Mayo Clinic research published in npj Precision Oncology.

The researchers investigated the use of genomic databases and found that tumor mutation burden was significantly inflated in Black patients compared to White patients.

As a result of the study, clinicians who are using public genomic databases need to be aware of the potential for inflated tumor mutation burden values and how that may affect therapy selection and outcomes, especially for patients from underrepresented groups.

MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING ANNOUNCES NEWLY ENDOWED CHAIR AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND DIVERSITY

The new positions reflect MSK’s commitment to expanding patient access to cancer care and supporting ongoing research aimed at reducing cancer disparities that stem from racial, ethnic, cultural, or socioeconomic barriers.

Dr. Damon A. Williams to Speak at AACN’s Diversity Symposium

Dr. Damon A. Williams, a visionary and inspirational leader, and one of the nation’s most recognized experts in strategic diversity leadership, youth development, corporate responsibility, and organizational change, will be the featured speaker at AACN’s Inaugural Diversity Symposium. This virtual event will be held on December 2-3, 2020. Dr. Williams will speak on “Understanding Inclusive Excellence”, addressing nursing school’s diversity and inclusion efforts at the core of institutional functioning.

Baylor Scott & White Health Recognized for Commitment to Supporting Veterans and Service Members Pursuing Civilian Careers

Baylor Scott & White Health recently received VIQTORY’s 2021 Top Military Friendly® Employer designation, the only health system in Texas to be ranked in the top 10. The health system ranked No. 4 in the government/non-profit organizations category and was recognized for exceeding benchmark standards for the Military Friendly® designation. The 19th annual list of Military Friendly® Employers has been released on militaryfriendly.com and will be officially published in the December 2020 issue of G.I. Jobs® Magazine.

ATS/CHEST Foundation Award First Research Grant in Diversity

Thomas S. Valley, MD, of the University of Michigan has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the ATS/CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Diversity. The focus of the research grant is clinical research that contributes to the understanding of the pathophysiology of treatment of conditions related to pulmonary, critical care, or sleep medicine that disproportionately affects underrepresented minority patient groups.

Paper addresses fieldwork safety for minority scientists

Scientists and graduate students with minority identities who conduct fieldwork report being stalked, followed, sexually assaulted, harassed, threatened, having guns pulled on them and police called on them.
These issues threaten minority-identity researchers’ physical health and safety during fieldwork, while also affecting their mental health, productivity and professional development.

Demographic differences foster social ties in online support groups, UCI-led study finds

Irvine, Calif., Oct. 22, 2020 — Millions of adults in the U.S. join online support groups to help them attain health goals, ranging from weight loss to smoking cessation. In their quest to make connections, members have a tendency to hide demographic differences, concerned about poor social integration that will weaken interpersonal ties.

AIP Selects Taharee Jackson as First Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Officer

The American Institute of Physics welcomes Taharee Jackson as its first AIP Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Officer. Jackson is expected to begin her new role on Oct. 5. Jackson’s appointment is a direct result of AIP’s commitment to emphasizing diversity and inclusion in the federation and throughout the physics and physical sciences community. She was selected from an initial pool of more than 60 candidates and is looking forward to leading AIP’s diversity efforts.

A social-belonging intervention improves STEM outcomes for ESL students

A study conducted at 19 universities by IU researchers and their colleagues in the U.S. and Canada, found that a brief social belonging exercise, administered online before students arrive on campus, boosts the performance and persistence of students in STEM disciplines – science, technology, engineering and math – who speak English as a second language.

UIC earns ‘Seal of Excelencia’ for commitment to Latino students’ success

The University of Illinois Chicago has earned Excelencia in Education’s “Seal of Excelencia,” a national certification that recognizes colleges and universities for their “unwavering commitment to intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all.”UIC is one of five higher education institutions selected for the distinction, which was announced today during a press conference in Washington, D.

Rounds with Leadership: Combating Racism and Cultivating Inclusion

At a time when our nation is struggling to address systemic racism and the inequities that have long plagued communities of color, it is truly unsettling to see the recent Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, which calls for restrictions on diversity training offered at federal agencies.

Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence Now Within Reach of Low-income Students

The accelerated five-year bachelor’s degree in science and master’s degree in AI program is designed to adapt curricular and co-curricular support to enable students to complete their degrees in AI, autonomous systems or machine learning, which are critically important to advance America’s global competitiveness and national security. With this grant, FAU will recruit and train talented and diverse students who are economically disadvantaged and provide them with a unique opportunity to pursue graduate education in a burgeoning field.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Unveils BioMedical Laureates Program to Drive Diversity, Enhance Mentorship

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai today unveiled BioMedical Laureates at Mount Sinai, a program intended to increase diversity among its basic and clinical research faculty and reinforce the school’s strong ethic of mentorship. BioMedical Laureates and a companion program, Junior Laureates, will both launch in January, 2021, and will each announce new Laureates annually.

Research News Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins Medicine

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins Medicine Media Relations is focused on disseminating current, accurate and useful information to the public via the media. As part of that effort, we are distributing our “COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins” every other Tuesday.

Lab Researcher and Physics Undergrad Shares Poster Project Honoring Black Physicists

Inspired by the nation’s grappling with issues of race and racial discrimination, UC Berkeley physics major and Berkeley Lab student assistant Ana Lyons turned to art as a way to contribute to the conversation.

UCI launches Black Thriving Initiative

Irvine, Calif., Aug. 25, 2020 — Changing the culture, leveraging the mission and engaging communities are the key components of a far-reaching new initiative at the University of California, Irvine to create a campus culture in which Black people thrive. The initiative recognizes and responds to systemic anti-Blackness as an existential threat to the mission of the university and calls on all members of the campus community to confront anti-Blackness.

Meet the hedge fund managers of avian world

In uncertain times, it makes sense to manage risk in your endeavors — whether it’s investing in money-making opportunities or deciding where to lay your eggs. Brood parasites are birds that are known to lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. Cowbirds and cuckoos are among the most famous examples of this group.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Awards and Appointments

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) announces its most recent awards and appointments for the institution’s physicians, scientists, nurses, and staff.