SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " collaboration " 966 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Cornell CAT convenes researchers, industry to accelerate life sciences innovation
At a daylong event designed to promote academic-industry collaboration, Cornell’s Center for Advanced Technology in Life Science Enterprise cast itself as both a funder of early-stage research and catalyst accelerating connections that move discoveries foward.
6,000-year-old humans with unique DNA are puzzling scientists - Futura-Sciences
The original hunter-gatherer group has no known modern descendants and no close ancient relatives. A study published in Science Advances details this isolated lineage. Led by Kim-Louise Krettek and senior author Cosimo Posth at the University of Tübingen, the project included collaboration with Andrea Casas-Vargas at the Universidad Nacional de...
How China and Russia could team up to shift global science ‘centre of gravity’
Scientists say they hope Xi-Putin summit will bring more support for collaboration as Moscow and Beijing sign deals on tech and innovation.
New ‘AI scientists’ are improving – but reveal their fundamental limits
More ‘natural’ collaboration between scientists and computers won’t necessarily be more effective.
Business leaders see ‘cracks’ in Colorado, while governor insists state is ‘competitive’
How does Colorado get back to the climate in the early 2000s, when there was collaboration between state government, companies and colleges and universities? That was the question posed to Gov. Jared Polis and a panel convened Tuesday by the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce as part of its annual state of the state luncheon […]
Business leaders see ‘cracks’ in Colorado, while governor insists state is ‘competitive’
How does Colorado get back to the climate in the early 2000s, when there was collaboration between state government, companies and colleges and universities? That was the question posed to Gov. Jared Polis and a panel convened Tuesday by the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce as part of its annual state of the state luncheon […]
UC researchers recruit older adults for extreme heat health study
The University of Cincinnati’s Center for Collaboration on Climate & Community for Health (C4H) is recruiting older adults to participate in a study tracking their health during periods of extreme summer heat.
Networking Mixer
Join us for an elevated evening of connection, collaboration, and opportunity. Set in a premium lounge atmosphere overlooking the field, this networking mixer brings together driven professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders ready to expand their circle.
Traditional Medicine Innovation for Health Impact: Financing, Collaboration, and Future Pathways
This session brings together WHO, Member States, innovators, regulators and private sector partners to explore the role of integrating and advancing traditional medicine to improve health outcomes, while accelerating innovation, partnerships and collaboration. Discussions will focus on translating evidence and innovation into implementation, addressing financing and policy barriers, and identifying practical pathways to scale credible, community-rooted traditional medicine approaches to expand access, equity and health impact.Watch live on YouTube
New MatterChat Model Helps AI to ‘See’ the Language of Science
From writing emails to generating computer code, much of the artificial intelligence prevalent in our daily lives has succeeded by mastering one domain: text. However, this leaves a major blind spot in the physical sciences, where models depend on the high-resolution, three-dimensional data of the physical world, like the intricate lattice of atoms in a crystal. Delivering on the promise of using AI for science requires teaching these data-driven text models to seamlessly “talk to” physics-based models. Now, a new AI framework from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), called MatterChat, solves this problem by creating a specialized “bridge.” It connects the conversational power of a Large Language Model (LLM) with a physics-based AI that models “interatomic potentials”: the complex physical forces between atoms. The resulting system already significantly outperforms general-purpose AI tools like GPT-4 at predicting material properties, and the team hopes it can accelerate scientific discovery by serving as a robust research partner that provides grounded insights and generates step-by-step instructions for synthesizing novel materials. A paper describing this work was recently published in Nature Machine Intelligence. “Traditional simulations can provide the physical rigor required for materials science, yet their computational cost remains prohibitive for high-throughput screening. Conversely, while LLMs excel at rapid knowledge synthesis, they inherently lack the ‘structural vision’ to interpret materials directly from their underlying atomic coordinates,” said Yingheng Tang, a postdoctoral researcher in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Math and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and lead author on the paper. “MatterChat was built to solve this dilemma, empowering LLMs with a structural ‘vision’ that allows researchers to leverage their full potential for solving complex, real-world materials challenges.” Empowering language models to solve complex challenges in materials science To build MatterChat, the Berkeley Lab team drew inspiration from technologies like Vision Question Answering (VQA) and Text-to-Image (T2I) generation. In these tasks, AI must translate high-level text concepts into visual images, or vice versa. Doing so requires developers to build tools that “bridge” two fundamentally different forms of data. The researchers adapted this concept to the physical sciences. With MatterChat, they created a “bridge model” that successfully connects an LLM’s general knowledge with the deep understanding of the atomic-scale world encoded in scientific interatomic potentials. Until now, researchers using LLMs to solve materials problems usually had to feed them raw data files as if they were just strings of text. It’s like asking an AI to understand a complex 3D engine based only on a parts list: the LLM can read the names, but it can’t “see” how the atoms fit together in space. MatterChat solves this by training a specialized AI bridge model, pre-trained on millions of crystal structures and an LLM, to align the LLM’s representation of the world with the interatomic potential’s representation of the world. The bridge model can translate physical insights into a format the LLM can actually understand. By giving the LLM these “scientific eyes”— a scientific “inductive bias” in the terminology of AI — the Berkeley Lab team has transformed it into a robust research tool capable of providing grounded scientific insights into complex materials challenges, such as predicting thermal stability or analyzing electronic band gaps. “We think of atoms as living in a physical space, but from a machine learning perspective, they are just vectors living in some very non-trivially structured manifold in a high-dimensional Euclidean space; and, of course, the same is true for the sentences and paragraphs that we use to express our ideas about those atoms,” said co-author Michael Mahoney, Berkeley Lab’s Scientific Data Division (SDD) AI Initiative Research Lead. “The bridge model basically gets those two structures to ‘talk with’ each other.” As a proof-of-concept of this general approach, the team trained their bridge model on a dataset curated by pairing nearly 143,000 stable atomic structures from the Materials Project with their corresponding physical properties. This training data was automatically assembled using the Materials Project’s API and deliberately enriched with properties fundamental to microelectronics design — like formation energy and bandgap — allowing MatterChat to learn the complex patterns connecting a material’s atomic blueprint to its functional performance. To validate their model, the researchers benchmarked MatterChat against a suite of other AI systems, from general-purpose LLMs to other specialized scientific AI methods. The results show that MatterChat consistently outperformed its competitors across a range of tasks. The model was more accurate in classifying material types and demonstrated superior precision in predicting numerical properties. For example, it excelled at predicting a material’s bandgap, a property critical for designing new electronics from high-capacity energy storage to next-generation computer chips. “Our design is significantly more efficient because we don’t have to build a massive AI model from the ground up,” said co-author Zhi (Jackie) Yao, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s AMCR. “Instead, we take two powerful, pre-trained models — a structural encoder for materials physics and an open-source LLM — and use them off-the-shelf. The only component we actually train is the lightweight ‘bridge model’ that translates between them. It’s the difference between building an entire car factory and simply designing a smart adapter that connects a world-class engine to a world-class navigation system. This approach is not only computationally efficient, but also makes the system modular, so we can easily upgrade components or adapt the bridge for other scientific domains in the future.” Crucially, this modular design highlights exactly how institutions like Berkeley Lab and the Department of Energy are carving out a highly valuable niche in the booming AI landscape. Rather than competing with Silicon Valley tech giants to build ever-larger language models from scratch, the lab is focusing on the specialized connective tissue that makes commercial AI useful for hardcore science. Because the bridge model approach underlying MatterChat is forward-compatible, it is perfectly positioned to leverage these parallel tracks of innovation. As Mahoney pointed out, “We expect that industry will continue to develop improved LLMs, and we expect domain scientists and facilities will continue to generate new data. An important part of scientific machine learning is not simply to solve problems on today’s data, but instead to develop general methods that will be forward-compatible with orders of magnitude more data, whether from scientific domains or from LLMs.” According to Yao, the MatterChat project, which was initially developed and enhanced with funding from a Berkeley Lab Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) Program, will now expand its capabilities. In a collaboration with Fermilab, MatterChat is already contributing to a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission project — called Accelerating eXtreme Environment Specs-to-Silicon (AXESS) — that aims to speed up the development of next-generation, high-speed, radiation-hardened detectors for challenging particle physics experiments by using advanced 3D integrated circuits (chiplets) and AI-driven data analysis. In addition to the LDRD support, the team also credits supercomputing resources at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), located at Berkeley Lab, with MatterChat’s success. “We are incredibly grateful to NERSC; this research simply would not have happened without access to the Perlmutter supercomputer through their AI for Science program,” said Tang. Wenbin Xu, a NERSC postdoctoral fellow at the time, was also a major co-author of the work, as was Benjamin Erichson, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s SDD, highlighting the benefits of AMCR-SDD collaboration on AI for science. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Business News: Royal Pop Sales Resume After Launch Rush For Audemars Piguet X Swatch Collaboration Forced Store Closures
This weekend's Royal Pop launch ends in disappointment and frustration at more than a dozen Swatch boutiques globally.
France's Publicis to buy US data firm LiveRamp in $2.2 billion
French advertising group Publicis Groupe has agreed to acquire U.S. data collaboration company LiveRamp for a total enterprise value of about $2.2 billion in an all-cash deal, it said on Sunday.
Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland
Test your knowledge of entertainment with this quiz on celebrities, trends and headline-making moments. Featured this week: mystery collaborations, red carpet close calls, celebrity confrontations and...
2026 Going to Bat for Small Business winners announced
The Lake County Captains — the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians — recently announced the winners of the 2026 Going to Bat for Small Business Program, in collaboration with PNC Bank. Now in its third year, the community-driven …
Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland
Test your knowledge of entertainment with this quiz on celebrities, trends and headline-making moments. Featured this week: mystery collaborations, red carpet close calls, celebrity confrontations and a dream cave wedding.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reveals new wave of toys, rollout starts this summer
Jakks Pacific today unveiled a new set of toys it has planned in collaboration with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. New products will begin rolling out this summer. So far we have the most information about the Chomping Wonder Bowser Jr. feature figure. It comes in at over 8 inches tall with “dynamic, action-packed fun with 13 points of articulation...
Blood pressure stations make health simple at YMCA of Central Texas
AUSTIN, May 15, 2026 — A former Jump Rope for Heart child is now helping YMCA of Central Texas foster long-term community impact. New YMCA blood pressure stations, installed in collaboration with the American Heart Association, will affect over 50,000...
Urban Science survey: Dealers confident in sales process, wary of AI for lead follow-ups
The sixth annual automotive research study by Urban Science in collaboration with The Harris Poll highlighted that nine in 10 U.S. car buyers said a traditional
Brown’s National Labs Day spotlights collaboration in AI-enabled science
A daylong conference brought scientists from the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories to Brown to explore new collaborations and research pathways for faculty and students.
MediaDailyNews: TikTok Updates Ad Offerings, Entertainment, AI, Shopping, Avatars, Creator Collaboration
During its TikTok World event Wednesday, the company announced updates designed to enhance campaign visibility, in-app shopping, creator collaborations, mini games and original series, AI-powered ad creation and more.
A Look at New or Expanded Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships from 2025: Findings from A Survey of State Medicaid Programs
To improve understanding of Medicaid / Public Health agency partnerships, the 25th annual Medicaid budget survey, conducted by KFF and Health Management Associates (HMA) in collaboration with the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD), asked state Medicaid directors about new or enhanced initiatives involving public health implemented in FY 2025 or planned for FY 2026
BASF and NOD Apiary Products collaborate to advance honey bee health
BASF and NOD Apiary Products Ltd., a Canadian company specializing in honey bee health solutions, today announced a collaboration focused on advancing honey bee health and supporting beekeepers through shared expertise and funding.
Mobile-health Network Solutions Enters into Non-Binding Strategic Memorandum to Facilitate Up to US$100 Million in Private Equity Funding for AI-Powered Healthcare Expansion
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2026) - Mobile-health Network Solutions (NASDAQ: MNDR) ("MNDR" or the "Company"), a leading AI-powered digital health platform, today announced that it has entered into a Letter of Memorandum with White Group Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) ("White Group") outlining a strategic collaboration to facilitate private equity funding of up to US$100 million to support MNDR's AI-powered healthcare expansion and digital health infrastructure initiatives.Under the...
Sports coaches can improve health for athletes with disabilities
Research highlights the role of sports coaches in enhancing health for athletes with disabilities, focusing on collaboration and effective health promotion.
Sports coaches can improve health for athletes with disabilities
Research highlights the role of sports coaches in enhancing health for athletes with disabilities, focusing on collaboration and effective health promotion.
Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) Business Expo 2026
The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) returns with their highly anticipated GWHCC Business Expo, taking place on Thursday, May 21, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. An event focused on connecting minority-owned businesses with corporate partners, business resources, and networking opportunities. Featuring more than 80 exhibitors, the event brings together entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and decision-makers from across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to support collaboration, visibility, and business growth.
MNG Brands Supports Science-Based Kratom Regulation and Consumer Safety Standards
MNG Brands, parent company of CBD Kratom and Korthals' Collection, including DER- a low-dose kratom beverage line developed in collaboration with actor and artist Nico Tortorella, is encouraged by the support shown for natural leaf kratom by President Donald J Trump. In an Oval Office appearance on May 10, the President stated that he was in favor of his Administration taking steps to approve some forms of kratom. "We're looking very seriously at natural 7-OH and getting that approved" was the m
Win the Ultimate Car and Game Lover’s Jacket, Built with Forza Horizon 6
Be in with a chance to win a unique Japanese denim racing jacket inspired by Forza Horizon 6, designed in collaboration with actor and car enthusiast Sung Kang.
Ravens Nominated for Four Hashtag Sports Awards
The Ravens’ 2025 schedule release video and collaboration with Michael Phelps are among those nominated.
World Cup 2026: Sesame Street, Fox Sports Set Broadcast Collaboration
Elmo, Big Bird and other favorites will be part of the soccer tournament's telecasts and assorted programming.
Phasmophobia by Alan Wake: Opening the Doors to Phasmophobia’s First Collaboration
"Phasmophobia by Alan Wake" is a limited-time event, happening now! Learn about how this first-ever outside collaboration for Phasmophobia came together:
College of Ag Sciences, FAO mark one-year anniversary of Youth Food Lab
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences welcomed a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, or FAO, to University Park last week to mark the first anniversary of the World Food Forum Youth Food Lab North America at Penn State partnership and to explore opportunities to deepen collaboration on global agrifood systems, innovation and education.
RWJBarnabas Health Opens the Doors to Harvest: A Farm to Community Center
On May 4, RWJBarnabas Health, community partners and public officials celebrated the grand opening of Harvest: A Farm to Community Center. In collaboration with Newark-based farm-to-city social enterprise Urban Agriculture Cooperative, this innovative, first-of-its-kind initiative brings together the power of health care, agriculture, education, and economic development in one strategic centralized location.
The Christ Hospital Health Network partners with universities to create new pathways for medical careers
The collaboration seeks to create new pathways for students to pursue medical careers while remaining in Ohio.
Physician Association of California and Astrana Health Launch Collaboration to Strengthen Independent Primary Care
/PRNewswire/ -- The Physician Association of California ("PAC") and Astrana Health, Inc. ("Astrana") (NASDAQ: ASTH), a physician-centric, technology-enabled...
Crain's Chicago Business reports: Building on its reputation, Chicago area, City Colleges of Chicago, becomes a force for workforce development
Aon has already hired more than 300 apprentices through its long-running collaboration with City Colleges of Chicago and workforce programs are increasingly designed around employer needs while also addressing barriers to employment.To support the individual needs of students, City Colleges offers wraparound support such as tutoring, internships, apprenticeship and advising. The goal is upward mobility — especially for students from underrepresented communities.
Translating AI Digital Health Into Impact
AI is accelerating digital health, but real impact depends on adoption, collaboration, and integration into clinical care.
OSF–ISU Data Science Competition Highlights Student Innovation and Healthcare Analytics Excellence
Illinois State University students showcased innovative machine learning models and predictive analytics solutions during the OSF–ISU Data Science Competition, addressing real-world healthcare challenges through collaboration with OSF HealthCare.
Vendor Notebook: Health AI bolstered by collective approaches to quality
New collaborations aim to ensure rural healthcare organizations have access to artificial intelligence to address rate-limiting factors in care delivery while vendors seek advancements in reliability and AI controls.
How jellyfish bycatch could be valuable collagen source for cosmetics and biotech
Dr Ainara Ballesteros is a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Environment and Marine Science Research at the Catholic University of Valencia, where she leads a research group focused on jellyfish biology, aquaculture, and the sustainable use of marine resources. Her work is centered on developing innovative solutions based on marine science, particularly through the study of underused organisms as sources of high-value compounds within circular bioeconomy and zero-waste strategies. She is joined in this work by Raquel Torres, a PhD student at the same institute, who is carrying out her doctoral thesis within this line of research, focused on jellyfish valorization, collaboration with the fishing sector, and the sustainable management of marine resources. They are co-authors on a new Frontiers in Marine Science article which investigated whether jellyfish accidentally caught by small-scale fishers in Spain could be transformed into a valuable resource instead of being treated as waste. The team worked side by side with fishers to better understand their perceptions of jellyfish bycatch, identify which species are most frequently caught, and evaluate whether one of them, Rhizostoma pulmo, could serve as a sustainable source of high-quality collagen.
How Investors May Respond To Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) Profit Squeeze And Kalshi Branding Deal
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. has reported its fiscal third-quarter 2026 results, with revenue rising to US$246.26 million while net income eased to US$5.11 million, and separately entered a multi-year partnership making Kalshi an Official Prediction Market Partner with naming rights to the sixth-floor Kalshi Concourse at Madison Square Garden. Despite higher expenses weighing on quarterly profit, management’s confidence in robust full-year growth and the Kalshi collaboration’s...
Class of 2026: Aspiring medical illustrator Zora Weir-Gertzog is drawn
At VCU, her two degrees, independent project and broad collaborations reflect longtime creativity and motivation.
A different kind of leader: Scaling impact in geospatial science
David Page, head of the Geographic Data Science Section at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, leads with a focus on judgment, collaboration and empowering teams. Drawing on experience in academia, entrepreneurship and national security science, he has helped advance faster, scalable geospatial analysis while building resilient, forward-looking research teams.
Bayer Crop Science and bp partner to expand camelina market for biofuels
A new partnership between Bayer Crop Science and bp could increase access to the biofuels market for farmers. Chad Bilby, biofuel crops innovation and commercial lead at Bayer, says the collaboration will commercialize camelina to produce biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel. “It has a lot of great properties that allow it to be […]
Desert school, ocean science: How an ASU student found her calling beneath the waves
Makena Krause came to ASU with dreams to change the world — but with no clear plan on how she was going to do so.This spring, she graduates with a clear answer, found through coral reef ecology, collaboration, and the next generation of scientists and practitioners she hopes to inspire.Coming from a family of Sun Devils, Krause has always had an affinity for Arizona State University. However, what ultimately solidified her decision to attend was ASU's focus on real-world application and impact.
Official Feature Entertainment Group (OFEG) Announces Strategic Alliance with Nubian TV to Expand Digital Distribution
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Official Feature Entertainment Group (“OFEG”), a next-generation entertainment and media platform focused on premium digital access and scalable content experiences, today announced a strategic alliance with Nubian TV, a Boston-based OTT distribution platform operated by Leverett Media. The collaboration is designed to support OFEG’s Phase I rollout of live-stream and on-demand content distribution, expanding audience reach through integrat
Islanders, Northwell Health Team Up to Welcome Newest "Rookies" with 2,000 Onesie Gift to North Shore Hospital
The New York Islanders and Northwell Health today announced a new collaboration to celebrate the community’s newest additions. Launching ahead of Mother’s Day weekend, the Islanders and Northwell are teaming up to provide 2,000 co-branded infant onesies and swaddles to every newborn at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset.
TAMEST Executive Director Visits Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to Strengthen Research Collaboration
TTUHSC welcomed Terrence Henry, executive director of the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST), for a campus visit aimed at strengthening partnerships and expanding research engagement opportunities across Texas.
Communication, collaboration essential to the future of US public health, leaders say
The future of U.S. public health will require stronger partnerships, clearer messaging and more public involvement. That was the consensus of leaders who shared their insights this month during a discussion on challenges facing the field.
Museum of Life and Science Unveils Shaping Our Future Exhibit
The Museum of Life and Science in Durham, N.C., has announced the opening of its newest exhibit, “From Here On: Shaping Our Future”, an immersive and interactive experience that invites visitors to explore the possibilities of a world we might build together. With both indoor and outdoor activations, this exhibit aims to encourage conversation and collaboration with guests of all ages.
Ford, Carhartt double down on American workers with new truck, small business push
Ford Motor Company and Carhartt launch a broad collaboration spotlighting the "essential economy," including a new co-developed Super Duty pickup truck.
Bridgerton-The Sims 4 to Launch Collaboration: Masquerade Ball Kit
Dearest Gentle Gamer: Netflix and EA are pleased to announce the release of the first-ever "Bridgerton"-"The Sims 4" collaboration.
Baltimore Ravens Join Green Sports Alliance
Ravens enhance environmental sustainability efforts through expanded network, resources and industry collaboration.
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
EA SPORTS FC™ and LALIGA Launch New York Community Pitch as Part of FC FUTURES Program, Designed by Local Artist BG183
EA SPORTS FC™ and LALIGA have unveiled a newly refurbished community football pitch in the South Bronx, New York, as part of FC FUTURES – EA SPORTS’ grassroots initiative to expand access to the game and connect football communities around the world. EA SPORTS FC™ and LALIGA launch New York community pitch as part of FC FUTURES program Marking the 10th pitch delivered through the program with LALIGA globally, the project brings together soccer, creativity and community to create a safe, inclusive space for young people and local families to learn through play. Developed in collaboration with local partners and featuring a custom design by Bronx artist BG183, the pitch is connected to P.S./M.S. 31 The William Lloyd Garrison School and has been delivered alongside love.fútbol and South Bronx United to support long-term impact in the community. Located in the South Bronx, the pitch has been designed as a multi-use space that goes beyond the game, supporting school physical education and
Collaboration in community: Political scientist Jeff Harden wins Arts & Letters Research Award
Jeff…
RWJBarnabas Health Celebrates Grand Opening of Harvest: Farm to Community Center in Newark
RWJBarnabas Health, community partners and public officials, today, celebrated the grand opening of Harvest: A Farm to Community Center. In collaboration with Newark-based farm-to-city social enterprise Urban Agriculture Cooperative (UAC), this innovative, first-of-its-kind initiative brings together the power of health care, agriculture, education, and economic development in one strategic centralized location.
A different kind of leader: Scaling impact in geospatial science
David Page, head of the Geographic Data Science Section at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, leads with a focus on judgment, collaboration and empowering teams.
Packers welcome UW Health Gate to Lambeau Field
Gate partnership is part of collaboration between Packers, UW Health featuring joint community initiatives and fan focused events
Electronic Arts and Visa Team Up to Launch a Global, Multi-Year Partnership With EA SPORTS
Delivering immersive in-game rewards and expanding how players play, connect, and compete Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), a global leader in interactive entertainment, today announced a landmark, multi-year collaboration with Visa (NYSE: V), the world’s leader in digital payments, to deliver the next generation of immersive, player-first experiences across EA SPORTS™ franchises. Visa is partnering with EA SPORTS franchises EA SPORTS FC™ and EA SPORTS™ College Football, offering in-game rewards and experiences for EA SPORTS’ global community of fans. By combining EA’s interactive, participatory platforms with Visa’s expansive global brand, this partnership demonstrates how the line between sports fandom and video games continues to blur as audiences increasingly play, watch, and connect across both physical and virtual sports. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Visa for one of Electronic Arts’ most expansive brand partnerships to date, bringing more value to fans,” said David
Global Health & WASH: May 2026 Funding Opportunities (14 new opportunities!)
The May update for Global Health & WASH brings new calls that cluster around three distinct shifts: LMIC research leadership moving from funder encouragement into a hard eligibility constraint, pharmaceutical and corporate-linked funders running structurally independent education and use-inspired research portfolios at substantial scale, and AI adoption shifting decisively from speculative tool to operational capability across health and WASH systems alike. In LMIC Research Leadership as Eligibility, Not Encouragement, Wellcome anchors the dominant signal of the month with three separate major calls that all require or strongly center LMIC leadership in their basic eligibility architecture. Wellcome’s ESIC Hubs (£1.5-£1.9M per hub over 3-5 years) explicitly requires an LMIC-based lead applicant, treating Global South leadership as a design constraint rather than a participation goal. Wellcome’s Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Development Award funds transdisciplinary teams whose lead must be a mid-career or established researcher based at an organization in Africa, South Asia, or Southeast Asia. Wellcome’s larger Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Award (£1M-£8M for optimizing licensed interventions) requires the administering organization to be in eligible LMIC regions and at least 50% of applicants based there. Around Wellcome, the same pattern shows up at smaller scale and across funders: CHINNOVA channels $1M into West and Central African research institutions for climate-health work; IBRO’s Neuroscience Training Grants explicitly tier ceilings by region of residence with Africa receiving the highest amount ($5,000); IHME’s GBD Emerging Researcher Award reserves at least one of its two annual awards for an LMIC researcher; Sidaction’s HIV Cure call funds research teams across France, the Netherlands, and eligible African countries with a minimum two-country collaboration requirement. Taken together, these calls signal a meaningful shift in how research equity is being operationalized — not as encouragement language at the bottom of a call, but as a structural feature of who can lead, where the work must be administered, and what proportion of the team must be regionally rooted. In Pharma-Funded Independent Medical Education and Use-Inspired Research, the lineup this month is unusually deep. Pfizer alone runs four parallel calls under independent education and quality improvement frameworks: a Migraine and Women’s Health RFP (200K x 2-year, $500K pool), Migraine IME ($200K, $1M pool), JAK Inhibitor evidence-based education ($100K), and Maternal Vaccination HCP Education in Saudi Arabia ($75K), plus a separate Pediatric Pneumococcal Surveillance research call in Saudi Arabia ($400K per project). Novo Nordisk Foundation runs four parallel calls of its own at substantial scale: Infectious Diseases Catalyst Grants (DKK 60M pool, up to DKK 7M collaborative), Non-Diabetic Endocrinology Collaborative Grants (DKK 53M pool, DKK 5-10M per project), Pioneer Innovator Grant Health (DKK 1.1M), and Distinguished Innovator Grant Health (DKK 6.8M). LEO Foundation deploys DKK 2-4M per project for dermatology research excellence. Pfizer’s framing across calls deliberately separates the funding from product promotion, emphasizing measurable practice-relevant change and structural distance between scientific outputs and commercial activity. Novo Nordisk’s “use-inspired” hard filter pushes researchers toward a credible translation pathway from mechanism to deployable tool. The pattern: industry-aligned funders are running structurally independent portfolios at meaningful $ that fund implementation evidence, not promotion. In AI as Operational Capability, Not Speculation, several calls this month explicitly treat AI adoption as a near-term operational question with real evidence and governance requirements, rather than a speculative trend to be watched. Wellcome’s ESIC Hubs frames AI as “the accelerator” for evidence synthesis, asking hubs to translate technical innovation into adoption-ready workflows that can match real-world policy timelines. UNICEF Venture Fund’s new Climate Tech for Children’s Health call funds for-profit startups deploying AI, machine learning, and blockchain in low-resource environments, with a strict requirement that solutions must already have a working prototype with promising pilot results. The Water Research Foundation has launched two simultaneous AI calls treating reproducibility, cybersecurity guardrails, and human-in-the-loop deployments as core design constraints rather than nice-to-haves: one on GenAI and Agentic AI in water utilities ($200K), one on alternatives to water shutoffs that explicitly screens for implementation economics evidence. Nordic Innovation’s quantum technology call (NOK 4.5M) extends the same logic into life science and healthcare, demanding consortium-stage projects mature enough to test with real users. TEF-Health offers €300K in subsidized testing infrastructure for European healthcare AI and robotics SMEs. The pattern: funders are converting AI pilots into playbooks, requiring transfer evidence and risk controls before AI can move from experimentation to sector-wide operational practice. For LMIC-based researchers in infectious disease or evidence synthesis, the three Wellcome calls together represent the deepest concentration of LMIC-led research capital in recent memory — pair the Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Development Award (£200K, deadline May 19) as a strategic pipeline feeder into the larger Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Award (£1-£8M, deadline June 2), since the development award functions explicitly as a track into the larger trial scheme. For Nordic researchers, the four Novo Nordisk Foundation calls plus LEO Foundation and Nordic Innovation Quantum represent ~$30M in regional research capital this cycle, all with deadlines clustered in May-August. For WASH practitioners, the three Water Research Foundation calls together (each up to $200K) are a cluster worth reading across — one on AI deployment, one on shutoff alternatives, one rewarding applied innovation — and the strongest applicants will articulate how their work bridges utility operations to policy-relevant evidence. For US-based clinical researchers and educators, the four Pfizer calls plus the APF Portfolio’s 80+ programs form an unusually accessible recurring pipeline; APF’s prohibition on indirect costs is a meaningful structural feature for early-career applicants whose institutions might otherwise absorb significant overhead. Snapshot of New Opportunities Total Estimated Funding Pool: $100 Million+ USD The grants are organized into three categories: Open Calls: Current grant and opportunities with a deadline. Grants are listed by closing date. 39 open opportunities- 14 new! Rolling Applications: current grant and opportunities with rolling applications (but it’s still best to submit as early as possible). 14 rolling opportunities- 1 new opportunity! Long term planning: Grants that have closed their current rounds, but are expected to open new windows. 4 long term opportunities! A quick tip for returning readers: if you want to jump straight to the newest additions, use CTRL F to search for “New!” and navigate quickly to the latest funding opportunities This post is for paid subscribers. This helps support the time and effort it takes to curate and organize these opportunities. Subscribe To keep this accessible to everyone who needs it, we’re happy to offer pay what you can rates. You can find more details here. Open Calls: Migraine Competitive Grant Program: Migraine and Women’s Health (Quality Improvement and/or Research RFP), Pfizer.*Closing soon!* Pfizer, in collaboration with the American Headache Society, is seeking independent quality improvement and research projects that close persistent gaps in migraine care for women across the United States. The funding logic centers on measurable, practice-relevant change: proposals should generate actionable evidence, tools, or system improvements that can be shared and used widely, not just within a single site. Priority areas span menstrual migraine and screening in women’s health settings, the role of hormonal fluctuations across the lifespan, sex-specific risk factors, comorbidities and quality-of-life burden, and disparities in outcomes by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The call is structured as a two-step competitive process with an initial Letter of Intent, with the strongest concepts expected to translate scientific insight into implementable improvements in diagnosis, management, and equity. Geographies: United States. Who can apply: U.S.-based organizations (not individuals), including professional schools, healthcare institutions, professional organizations, and other entities focused on healthcare improvement. Funding amount: Up to USD $200,000 total over 2 years; total pool USD $500,000. Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: migraine, women’s health, quality improvement, clinical research, menstrual migraine, health disparities. Deadline: LOI: May 5, 2026; Full proposal (by invitation): August 28, 2026. Learn more and apply here. This RFP rewards “shareable impact”: the most competitive submissions will pair rigorous methods with a clear plan for system uptake and dissemination beyond the originating institution. ReSSARC: Strengthening the Health Sector and Food Security in the Central African Republic (AID 013381/01/0) Call for Proposals, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). *Closing soon!* AICS is seeking a limited set of high-capacity humanitarian partners to deliver an integrated package that stabilizes essential health services while reducing acute malnutrition and strengthening food security resilience in priority areas of the Central African Republic. The funder’s logic is explicitly nexus-based: proposals should meet urgent, life-saving needs while reinforcing local systems, coordination mechanisms, and community-level capacity so results persist beyond the emergency window. AICS emphasizes inclusion and protection outcomes, expecting gender-sensitive design and explicit measures for groups facing compounded vulnerability, including women, children under five, internally displaced people, and people with disabilities. The call also signals a localization pathway, encouraging stronger collaboration with national NGOs and balanced partnerships, alongside clear coordination with existing cluster and humanitarian actors to minimize duplication and improve coverage. Geographies: Central African Republic (Bangui, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Lim-Pende, Lobaye). Who can apply: Non-profit organizations registered with AICS, plus eligible non-profits without an office in Italy that have a pre-existing collaboration agreement with an AICS-listed organization. Funding amount: Total pool EUR €1,800,000; max EUR €800,000 (single applicant) or EUR €1,000,000 (ATS). Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: malnutrition prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, community health services, food security and resilience, localization partnerships Deadline: May 5, 2026. Learn more and apply here. This call is structured to reward partners who can link frontline service delivery to system durability and localization, not just short-term coverage gains. Contracts for Innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare, Innovate UK. *Closing soon!* Innovate UK, on behalf of the Office for Life Sciences Addiction Healthcare Goals program, is procuring R&D to accelerate innovations that can improve treatment outcomes, strengthen recovery, and reduce harm and deaths linked to drug and alcohol addiction. The competition is positioned as a market-facing readiness push: selected projects are expected to advance solutions toward later-stage validation, generate evidence of user acceptability and UK market fit, and map credible routes through regulatory and certification requirements. Innovate UK signals a preference for innovations that can be field-tested in relevant UK settings and progressed to TRL 6 or 7, with practical plans for commercialization after contract completion. This structure favors applicants that can execute most work in-house, co-develop with service providers and people with lived experience, and translate technical progress into deployable tools for addiction healthcare delivery. Geographies: United Kingdom. Who can apply: Single organizations of any size (including EU, EEA, or international) leading delivery, with most work and key deliverables carried out in the UK; subcontractors for specialist skills only. Funding amount: GBP £200,000–1.5 million per project (inclusive of VAT); Total pool: GBP £20 million (across two strands). Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: Mental Health, Health Systems Strengthening, Research & Development, Technology Access. Deadline: May 6, 2026 (11:00am). Learn more and apply here. This call uses procurement to pull near-market addiction innovations toward operational proof and adoption pathways in UK services.
Gaming’s Expanding Influence: Licensing Expo 2026 to Host Panel on How Gaming Brands Are Shaping Mainstream Entertainment
Session featuring CD Projekt Red, Supercell, Ubisoft, and Think Influence will explore how gaming brands are redefining entertainment through licensing and cultural innovation, in a panel moderated by Game DeveloperLAS VEGAS, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Informa Markets’ Licensing Expo, the world's most influential event for licensing, IP extension, and brand collaborations (May 19–21, Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV), announces a panel discussion that will spotlight the gami
Gen Z Cares about Politics, We Just Don’t Believe Politics Cares about Us
As part of a collaboration between The Fulcrum's NextGen initiative and Made By Us, The Fulcrum is publishing Letters to America, a series created through the Youth250 project that invites Gen Z to reflect on the nation’s past, present, and future as the United States approaches its 250th anniversar...
DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round ‘The King of Fighters XIV Collaboration’ trailer
Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Team NINJA have released a new trailer for DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round introducing the game’s collaboration downloadable content characters Mai Shiranui and …
Registered nurses, allies to demand Maine Health cancel contract with Palantir Technologies
Maine Medical Center registered nurses will hold a press conference on Friday, May 1 in Portland to demand Maine Health cancel its contract with Palantir Technologies. Joined by their allies in the Purge Palantir campaign, nurses will detail why leaders of Maine’s public institutions and health care organizations should refuse collaborations with the surveillance software giant.
Krafton's removal from Subnautica 2 Steam page "blown up a little bigger than it was meant to", as developers emphasise continued co-publishing support
Krafton has confirmed to Eurogamer that it will continue its collaboration with Unknown Worlds on Subnautica 2 following Steam page debacle.
UCF, Orlando Health Co-Locate to Accelerate Healthcare Innovation
A ribbon-cutting ceremony formally welcomed Orlando Health as a tenant in SPRK and highlighted a shared commitment to accelerating healthcare solutions through proximity, collaboration and real-world application.
Research commissioner pitches EU to US scientists and investors
Research Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva is just back from a two-day trip to San Francisco, where she pitched the EU as the place to be for US researchers looking to move and US venture capitalists looking to invest. A Commission spokesperson told Science|Business that Zaharieva used the trip to “promote Europe as a stable, rule-based and vibrant innovation destination.” She emphasised Europe’s excellent infrastructure and predictable funding, particularly through the European Research Council (ERC) and Europe Innovation Council.These are already proving tempting, with applications from US-based researchers to ERC and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) calls increasing substantially over the past few years. According to the Commission, the number of US-based applicants for the annual ERC Consolidator Grant call rose from 19 in 2025 to 64 in 2026, while US bids to the ERC Advanced Grant call rose from 23 in 2024 to 114 in 2025. Meanwhile, US applications to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme rose from 352 in 2024 to 998 in 2025.Pressure on US scientists to seek alternative employment has increased since Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Jobs at federal science agencies have been slashed, funding cut in some research areas and international scientific partnerships turned upside down. He has also made unprecedented attempts to control university affairs.During her trip, Zaharieva made a point of highlighting the protection of academic freedom in Europe, “especially in areas like climate change, renewable energy, and health, where US funding has faced cuts,” the spokesperson said.She also underlined the EU’s “attractive long-term career opportunities and relocation support for top researchers from anywhere in the world,” especially through its new Choose Europe for Science initiative.“Transatlantic cooperation remains essential to tackle global challenges while safeguarding shared values such as academic freedom and openness,” Zaharieva wrote on social media ahead of her visit.Related articlesERC walks back stricter resubmission rules for 2027Don’t feel guilty about poaching scientists fleeing Trump, US science body tells EuropeHer itinerary took in Stanford University’s business school and school of medicine, where topics for discussion included entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration. She also met with venture capital firms, including Playground Global, Forgepoint Capital and Akkadian Venture Capital, as well as the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the largest public pension fund in the US.Other meetings included Jensen Huang, the chief executive of AI chip manufacturer Nvidia, and local business associations such as the Bay Area Council and EuroCham. European delegations in the area also received visits, including Advantage Austria and France’s La French Tech, and the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco.
eFootball™ x NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Collaboration | KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT B.V.
Naruto x Neymar Jr. Sasuke x Kubo Headline a Football x Shinobi Crossover Where…
Why science diplomacy matters for infectious disease prevention, global progress
Amita Gupta, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins, explains why global collaboration—among governments and beyond—is key to scientific advancement and health security.
Mental health series presented by MSPR and campus partners
Morehead State Public Radio, in collaboration with the Department of Sociology, Social Work & Criminology, Counseling & Health Services, and the JED Foundation, will present a five-part radio series throughout May 2026 in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. The series, “Call to Mind,” is produced by American Public Media and hosted by veteran journalist Angela Davis. The hour-long programs feature sound-rich storytelling and expert insight, highlighting the experiences of individuals navigating mental health challenges and exploring ways to support well-being. You can listen to WMKY at 90.3FM at www.wmky.org, via a phone app, or by smart speaker (“Play WMKY”). For additional information, email Hitchcock at p.hitchc@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2334.
While we argue, schizophrenia advances
Nature Mental Health - In this World View, Constanza Morén, a biomedical researcher and daughter of a man with schizophrenia, calls for humility and collaboration to bridge the divide between...
Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for NTDs 2021–2030.Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated.“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma.”Australia’s journey to eliminationAustralia’s achievement reflects decades of targeted public health action, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trachoma persisted despite its earlier disappearance from the rest of the country.National efforts intensified with the establishment of the National Trachoma Management Programme in 2006, which implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy: surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics to treat infection, promotion of facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Regular screening of all communities classified as at-risk of trachoma by teams of qualified health workers formed an important part of the Programme. Interventions were delivered through coordinated partnerships between federal and state governments, Aboriginal community-controlled health services, and local communities.Over time, sustained screening, treatment, and prevention activities, including improvements in housing, water, sanitation and hygiene, led to a steady decline in trachoma prevalence. Australia’s approach included adaptations to reflect its context, such as targeted treatment based on community-level data rather than mass drug administration, and strong integration with environmental health programmes.“Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health of communities across Australia, particularly those whose lives have been impacted by a disease that is entirely preventable,” said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, Australia. “This major milestone is thanks to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, community commitment and sustained investment over many decades.“The lessons from this work will inform how we approach other preventable health conditions in remote and regional Australia. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and local health workers have been central to this success, delivering culturally safe care and community-led solutions.”“This recognition from the World Health Organization reflects decades of work led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, alongside local health workers in remote First Nations communities,” said Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. “Their work has been critical to eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in Australia.”Advancing global efforts against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)Trachoma is one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by WHO as NTDs. Together, NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, primarily in underserved populations with limited access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and health care.Australia’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem highlights the importance of sustained political commitment and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing the underlying determinants of health. It also underscores the feasibility of eliminating trachoma even in geographically challenging settings.In addition to trachoma, Australia has several endemic NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, leprosy and scabies. Validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem marks the first time that WHO has confirmed the elimination of an NTD in Australia, which becomes the 63rd country globally and 16th in the Western Pacific Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.“Tackling neglected tropical diseases in the Western Pacific Region has long been a challenge for countries across the socioeconomic spectrum, given the complexities in reaching the most vulnerable communities, including in remote areas,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “As a doctor from Tonga, I’ve experienced these challenges for myself. But I also know that with strategic commitment underpinned by optimal resources and partnerships in health, success is possible as other countries in our region have also demonstrated. I commend Australia on eliminating trachoma as a public health problem and urge all involved to remain vigilant to ensure this status is maintained.”WHO continues to support countries working to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs, ensuring that progress reaches those most in need and that gains are sustained through strong surveillance, appropriately integrated into national health systems, and mainstreamed within the wider health sector and beyond.Editor’s notesNeglected tropical diseases and trachoma elimination effortsNeglected tropical diseases are associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences. Their burden is mainly felt among impoverished communities in tropical areas.Public health targets for the control, elimination and eradication of these conditions were set in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240010352).In 1996, WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020), creating a network of governments, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions dedicated to the fight against trachoma. WHO continues to support endemic countries to accelerate progress towards the global target of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem worldwide; 2030 is the new target date.Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) “unknown to the health system” of < 0.2% in ≥15-year-olds; and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) in children aged 1–9 years of < 5%, in each formerly endemic district, plus (iii) the existence of a system to identify and manage incident cases of TT.Other countries validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.
Animal and Range Science Professor Is Changing Agriculture from the Ground Up
Selected for Class 52 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, a Chico State professor is sharpening leadership skills through immersive training, travel, and collaboration—bringing new perspective and impact to agriculture, education, and industry connections.
Paradigm Health Announces Collaboration with the FDA to Transform Regulatory Review of Clinical Trial Data
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, Paradigm Health announced the launch of a landmark research collaboration with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) focused on...
San Francisco State University Partners with UC Law San Francisco to Expand Downtown Presence - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings)
SFSU’s Lam Family College of Business will use classroom and office space at 198 McAllister Street to establish a new downtown campus. San Francisco State University (SFSU) and UC Law San Francisco have reached an agreement that establishes a new downtown home for SFSU’s Lam Family College of Business at UC Law SF’s Academic Village. The agreement places SFSU business students in close proximity to leading employers, industry partners and transit hubs, enhancing opportunities for internships, networking and career advancement. The UC Law SF Academic Village is a shared-campus model designed to foster collaboration among higher education institutions and contribute to San Francisco’s ongoing revitalization. San Francisco State University (SFSU) and UC Law San Francisco have reached an agreement that establishes a new downtown home for graduate business programs from SFSU’s Lam Family College of Business at UC Law SF’s Academic Village. The agreement creates a new downtown campus location for SFSU, giving students direct access to San Francisco’s thriving business environment. Beginning in Fall 2026, graduate business students will take classes at the UC Law SF building at 198 McAllister Street, at the nexus of the Civic Center, Mid-Market and Tenderloin communities. Under the agreement, SFSU will occupy 3,200 square feet of exclusive teaching and office space and will share additional classrooms with UC Law. The move positions students in close proximity to leading employers, industry partners and transit hubs, enhancing opportunities for internships, networking and career advancement. “This partnership is an example of the growing strategic collaborations that expand opportunities for our students,” said SFSU President Lynn Mahoney. “By situating graduate business programs in the city’s urban core, we will help students build connections, gain experience and achieve their goals for meaningful careers and upward mobility.” Students enrolled in select Lam Family College of Business graduate programs will have access to the Academic Village’s modern classrooms, conference facilities, library, study spaces and resident and event support services. The site also includes lounges, on-site dining and newly built, fully furnished, apartment-style housing for students and professionals. As institutional partners, SFSU College of Business students and alumni are eligible for tuition discounts if they enroll in the UC Law SF Master of Legal Studies program, designed for professionals whose work intersects with the law. “San Francisco State University is an excellent addition to our Academic Village, and we are excited to have the Lam Family College of Business join us in the fall,” said UC Law SF Chancellor & Dean David Faigman. “The partnership advances UC Law SF’s commitment to collaborate with California’s other great public schools and adds vibrancy and energy to the heart of the city. Our students and programs will benefit from the interdisciplinary opportunities that will arise.” The UC Law SF Academic Village is a shared-campus model designed to foster collaboration among higher education institutions and contribute to San Francisco’s ongoing revitalization. The Lam Family College of Business will begin occupying its new space there in July 2026, with classes beginning in August. The move continues SFSU’s longstanding presence in downtown San Francisco and reflects a broader effort to align academic programs with the needs of both career-minded students and the region’s expanding and evolving workforce. For more than 60 years, the Lam Family College of Business has delivered high-quality, AACSB-accredited business education across the San Francisco–Silicon Valley region. Its graduate programs — including the MBAand the STEM-designated Master of Science in Business Analytics and Master of Science in Accounting and Analytics — are designed to help students develop the skills they need to navigate the complex challenges of a global, data-driven economy. About San Francisco State University San Francisco State University is a public university serving students from the San Francisco Bay Area, across California and around the world, with nationally acclaimed programs that span a broad range of disciplines. More than 20,000 students enroll at the University each year, and its more than 304,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond. Through them — and more than 1,300 world-class faculty members — SFSU proudly embraces its legacy of academic excellence, community engagement and commitment to social justice. For more information, visit sfsu.edu. About UC Law SF UC Law San Francisco is a public law school of the University of California, founded in 1878 as the first law school in the UC system. Located in San Francisco’s Civic Center, it offers a comprehensive legal education with a strong emphasis on experiential learning, public service and professional preparation. Through its Academic Village, UC Law SF brings together students, faculty and partner institutions in a collaborative campus environment in the heart of the city. Other Academic Village partners include UC San Francisco, UC Davis, the University of San Francisco and the University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry. For more information, visit www.uclawsf.edu.
Neuroinfectious Diseases Research Workshop: Advancing Translational Science and Clinical Innovation
The Neuroinfectious Diseases Research Workshop will be a two-day scientific meeting designed to accelerate research, foster collaboration, and build capacity in the field of neurological infections. Hosted at the NIH Neuroscience Center (NSC, Executive Boulevard), this meeting will bring together clinician-scientists, laboratory investigators, translational researchers, government partners, and trainees committed to advancing understanding of neuroinfectious
Astorg buys Thermo Fisher Microbiology business
Astorg has agreed to acquire Thermo Fisher Scientific’s microbiology business, creating a standalone diagnostics platform backed by private equity investment.
Petroglyph Development Group and Great Canadian Entertainment Announce the Successful Closing of the Acquisition of Chances Maple Ridge
SNUNEYMUXW (NANAIMO), British Columbia, April 27, 2026--Great Canadian Entertainment ("Great Canadian" or the "Company") and Petroglyph Development Group Ltd. ("PDG") confirmed the close of PDG’s acquisition of Chances Maple Ridge. The acquisition marks another milestone in the ongoing collaboration between the two companies. PDG is a wholly owned corporation of Snuneymuxw First Nation and the vehicle through which the Nation builds long-term economic self-determination. Snuneymuxw respectfully
Pink Parrot Media Boards Animated Tennis Feature ‘Winner’ From Paratha Entertainment & The Rafa Nadal Foundation
EXCLUSIVE: Pink Parrot Media has boarded the 3D animated feature Winner from Paratha Entertainment in collaboration with the Rafa Nadal Foundation. The English-language film is said to follow a “young...
Prison or treatment? Thousands participate in mental health courts. Half graduate — and millions are left out
This story is a collaboration between Illinois Answers and the Chicago bureau of MindSite News; sign up to receive their newsletter here. Bloomington native Shayla Woodworth had struggled with mental illness and […]
Curbing health care costs through collaboration
How Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan reduced costs by $6.3B through provider partnerships and value-based care over 20 years.
Imperial College London and Institute of Science Tokyo sign partnership
Five-year deal marks a further strengthening of scientific collaboration between the United Kingdom and Japan
OpenAI just updated its principles with 3 key changes
Sunday's version was a 180-degree shift from the company's 2018 guidelines on collaboration and avoiding competition with rival labs.
‘Native American Business Showcase’ features artists, crafts
In an event featuring talented professionals standing by their glistening jewelry and clothing, the University of New Mexico has once again brought together Native American businesses, organizations and student entrepreneurs in this year’s Native American Business Showcase. Hosted by the American Indian Business Association, the Thursday, April 23 event marks the third annual showcase that has been held at UNM. Executive Director of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico Marvis Aragon opened the event, encouraging entrepreneurship and collaboration among Native small businesses.
NASCAR’s First Outsider CEO Is Betting on Something Radical: Listening
Steve O’Donnell steps into the top job promising accessibility and collaboration in a sport that hasn’t always embraced either.
"We want players to spend their time actually enjoying the content they're passionate about" – Honkai: Star Rail Developers Discuss the Future, Potential Switch 2 Port, Himeko’s Coffee, and More
Ahead of its third anniversary, we spoke to the Honkai: Star Rail development team to discuss plans for the future, a potential Trails collaboration, Steam Deck and Switch 2 support, Himeko's coffee, and much more.
Health & Educational Professionals Share Knowledge to Build Cross-Sector Power
Health and educational professionals gathered at NYSUT’s conference to share strategies, strengthen collaboration and build collective power to better support students, schools and communities.
Huitt-Zollars
The collaboration supports TEA's mission and strengthens the firm's ability to partner globally
Six New Projects Are Empowering Early-Career Engineering and Computer Science Faculty
Six teams from the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering have been awarded funding to accelerate interdisciplinary research collaborations that include an early-career faculty member.
Elon Musk explores Mistral partnership to take on AI rivals
Musk is eyeing a collaboration with French startup Mistral to help xAI catch Anthropic and OpenAI.
Preparing the next generation to tackle complex environmental challenges
Middle school science classrooms are shifting towards an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to better prepare students to solve complex, real-world problems that require collaboration across fields.
GE HealthCare touts international expansion of its partnership with RadNet
The companies say they’re entering the next phase of collaboration, offering GEHC mammography systems paired with AI offerings from DeepHealth.
What are next steps for online sports betting in Wisconsin?
This report is in collaboration with our partners at ICT.
School of Health Professions Students Collaborate at IPE Day
Stony Brook University's School of Health Professions hosted an interprofessional education event that provided students with hands-on collaboration.
New Program Explores the Intersection of Spirituality and Mental Health
The new YSM program, in collaboration with Yale Divinity School, is fostering spiritually informed conversations within psychiatry.
School of Health Professions Students Collaborate and Learn at IPE Day
Stony Brook University’s School of Health Professions hosted an interprofessional education event that provided students with hands-on collaboration.
New ID@Xbox showcase in collaboration with IGN set for 23rd April
A new ID@Xbox showcase in partnership with IGN has been set for 23rd April, with Aphelion, Solo Leveling Arise Overdrive, and more set to make new reveals.
[TUY8S1.1] Cherry Blossom Event, Creator Collaboration & Updates
Cherry blossoms are falling across D.C., and something new has come with them. A Creator Collaboration with Otsuichi, Rezina, and Mobilmobil adds its own activities and rewards to the update.