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Targeted Radiotherapy Injection Shrinks Treatment-resistant Prostate Cancer Tumours in Early Clinical Trial
LONDON, England, Feb. 28 -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:* * *
Targeted radiotherapy injection shrinks treatment-resistant prostate cancer tumours in early clinical trial
The 'search and destroy' treatment shrank tumours or halted their growth in 83 per cent of patients on the phase I trial.
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A new drug for prostate cancer, which delivers a precisely targeted dose of radiation to cancer cells, can keep cancer at bay, a phase I trial reports.
The results from the global PanTHa trial, led by Professor Johann de Bono at The Institute ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, Feb. 28 -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news: * * * Targeted radiotherapy injection shrinks treatment-resistant prostate cancer tumours in early clinical trial The 'search and destroy' treatment shrank tumours or halted their growth in 83 per cent of patients on the phase I trial. * A new drug for prostate cancer, which delivers a precisely targeted dose of radiation to cancer cells, can keep cancer at bay, a phase I trial reports. The results from the global PanTHa trial, led by Professor Johann de Bono at The Instituteof Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, show that the 'search and destroy' treatment shrank tumours or halted their growth in 83 per cent of patients.
The treatment, known as 225Ac-PSMA-Trillium, uses a 'homing device' to seek out cancers all around the body by detecting the presence of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) on the surface of cancer cells. Once in contact, it delivers a radioactive payload to kill them.
The treatment uses an alpha-emitter - a highly potent radioactive substance that releases large amounts of energy over very short distances that are less than that of beta-emitters. This gives it the ability to kill cancer cells while potentially minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
The drug's target molecule, PSMA, is present at increased levels on the surface of cancer cells in some prostate cancer patients, and it is these men who can benefit from the treatment.
PSA level was halved in 83 per cent of trial participants
The clinical trial involved 50 participants with PSMA-positive advanced prostate cancer which has spread around the body, and who had previously received multiple other treatments, including hormone therapies.
225Ac-PSMA-Trillium was given as an injection every six weeks, for up to four doses. Of the 24 patients whose cancer could be measured on scans, almost half (46 per cent) saw their cancer shrink, and 83 per cent had their disease kept stable.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is another marker of disease that can be elevated if someone has prostate cancer. After treatment with 225Ac-PSMA-Trillium, 83 per cent of patients saw their PSA level halved, and 58 per cent of patients saw their PSA level drop by 90 per cent.
The most common side effect experienced by patients was a dry mouth, but for most patients this was mild. The next stage will be to test 225Ac-PSMA-Trillium in larger clinical trials.
"I'm very pleased to see these positive results from this early trial. This next-generation treatment seeks out cancer cells wherever they are in the body and acts as a guided missile - delivering radiation directly to the cancer to destroy it," said trial lead Professor Johann de Bono, Regius Professor of Cancer Research at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
"Once prostate cancer stops responding to hormone therapies, treatment options are really limited for patients. If 225Ac-PSMA-Trillium provides benefit to patients in larger trials, the drug could offer fresh hope to patients who urgently need more effective treatments."
"If I hadn't joined the trial, I honestly don't know where I would be now."
Jim Hilson, 79, from Leicestershire was diagnosed with advance prostate cancer in 2015 and was told he had around five years to live. After running out of treatment options, he joined the PanTHa trial at The Royal Marsden in 2024.
"Since being diagnosed with prostate cancer I've had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment, but when the treatment stopped working there were no other standard treatments available," said Jim.
"I joined the trial and the results have been remarkable. Across three consecutive scans, the cancer has remained stable and the treatment has successfully targeted the cancer in my vertebrae and other bones.
"I still run my own businesses, feel well, and can do everything I want to do, including driving through France and Spain on holiday. If I hadn't joined the trial, I honestly don't know where I would be now."
The PanTHa trial is sponsored by Bayer.
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Original text here: https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/targeted-radiotherapy-injection-shrinks-treatment-resistant-prostate-cancer
Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: Missouri Senate Bills 906 and 971 Would Improve Open Enrollment
LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 27 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on Feb. 26, 2026, by senior education policy analyst Jude Schwalbach:* * *
Missouri Senate Bills 906 and 971 would improve open enrollment
If signed into law, these bills would allow Missouri's students to transfer to public schools outside of their assigned school district.
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Since 2021, six of Missouri's neighbors have improved public school transfer opportunities for their students through open enrollment laws. These policies let students transfer to public schools other than their assigned one, so ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 27 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on Feb. 26, 2026, by senior education policy analyst Jude Schwalbach: * * * Missouri Senate Bills 906 and 971 would improve open enrollment If signed into law, these bills would allow Missouri's students to transfer to public schools outside of their assigned school district. * Since 2021, six of Missouri's neighbors have improved public school transfer opportunities for their students through open enrollment laws. These policies let students transfer to public schools other than their assigned one, solong as space is available. It's high time that Missouri students have comparable schooling options. Now, mirror proposals approved by the Missouri Senate Education Committee would weaken the barriers that Missouri students face.
Senate Bills (SBs) 971 and 906 would establish a discretionary cross-district open enrollment policy, letting students transfer to public schools in other districts that choose to participate in the program. These policies are popular with parents. A 2025 national YouGov poll showed that 74% of parents support open enrollment, and 88% of parents responded that students should be able to attend the public school that best meets their needs.
Research from other states shows that students use open enrollment to escape bullying, shorten commutes, and access specialized learning models or college-level courses, such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes. Data from Arizona, Florida, and Texas showed that participants tended to transfer to districts rated as "A" or "B" by the state.
If signed into law, SBs 971 and 906 would allow students to transfer to public schools in other districts. Each district decides whether to participate and sets any admission standards. Additionally, districts can cap the number of students transferring out at up to 3% the enrollment of the previous school year. After the 2028-29 school year, this cap can increase by 1% if the district is at maximum capacity for two years. However, no more than 5% of a district's enrollment can transfer out of it. All rejected applicants would be informed in writing the reasons for their denial.
Overall, these bills are a step in the right direction, as Missouri law doesn't afford students with any cross-district open enrollment options.
However, these bills' design would make them the most restrictive open enrollment policies nationwide. No other state's open enrollment law imposes wholesale caps on the number of students transferring out and gives districts the discretion to opt out.
For example, Vermont and Minnesota let districts impose caps on the number of departing students, but require all districts to participate in open enrollment. Similarly, in Michigan, school districts have the discretion to opt out of open enrollment and impose caps, but lose 5% of state funding in doing so. No such guardrails are included in SBs 971 and 906.
These proposals could be significantly strengthened by making participation universal for all districts, so long as space is available, and eliminating all participation caps. Policies like this help students attend schools that are the right fit, regardless of where they live.
Districts' concerns of enrollment fluctuations due to open enrollment policies are overwrought, and evidence from neighboring states should put public school officials at ease. Seven of Missouri's eight neighbors have more flexible open enrollment options. Five of them -Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas- ensure that open enrollment participation is universal, allowing students to transfer to any district with extra seats available in their grade level. Moreover, none of them allow caps on the number of departing students. Notably, Arkansas eliminated provisions in state law that let districts cap the number of students transferring out of them in 2023.
Of Missouri's neighbors with strong open enrollment laws, about five percent of students transferred to schools in other districts on average. Figure 1 shows statewide student participation rates in states with universal open enrollment programs. Generally, districts that lose students also gain some students.
Figure 1: The latest open enrollment data from states near Missouri
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State ... Total enrollment ... Cross-district transfers ... Percentage of enrollment
Arkansas 24-25 ... 444,235 ... 25,346 ... 6%
Iowa 24-25 ... 474,860 ... 41,487 ... 9%
Kansas 24-25 ... 862,230 ... 2,037 ... 0.2%
Nebraska 23-24 ... 328,648 ... 24,692 ... 8%
Oklahoma 24-25 ... 642,637 ... 8,517 ... 1%
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Source: State departments of education.
Moreover, data from eight states show that open enrollment programs don't cause an explosion of transfer students; rather, these programs scale up incrementally with time, giving districts ample opportunity to address fluctuating enrollments.
For example, data from Iowa showed that open enrollment participation increased by less than 4% annually between the 2009-10 and 2024-25 school years. More recent data from Kansas showed that less than one percent of students used Kansas' open enrollment program during its first year of operation last school year. Similarly, the number of participants in Arkansas increased by 3% or 702 students since it was launched during the 2023-24 school year.
Districts, including rural ones, can also benefit from open enrollment because it's an opportunity to boost their enrollments and state funding. In fact, a 2025 Reason Foundation report showed that rural districts in states neighboring Missouri, as categorized by the National Center for Education Statistics, often receive the bulk of open enrollment transfers. Figure 2 shows open enrollment participation rates by locale in these states.
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Chart: Figure 2 - Cross-district transfers by locale in select states
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These data illustrate that rural school districts can successfully navigate education ecosystems where students are more mobile. In fact, data from Wisconsin showed that rural districts gained more students than they lost, adding more than 2,300 students on net, during the 2023-24 school year.
While the policy design of open enrollment programs needs strengthening, SBs 971 and 906 get several things right. They would stop districts from discriminating against applicants based on their ability or disability. The open enrollment process would become more family-friendly because districts would have to post their available capacity and all transfer policies and procedures on their websites, ensuring that families know when, where, and how to apply. Rejected applicants would be informed in writing why they were denied.
Yet these bills could make open enrollment even more transparent. For example, districts should post their available capacity by grade level so families know if spots are available in their child's grade.
Additionally, the proposal's state-level reporting could be improved. The report should publish district-level data showing the number of transfers, rejected applicants, and reasons for denial. Currently, five states publish reports like this, including Missouri's neighbors, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas.
If signed into law, Missouri's score would improve from 5/100 points to 46/100 points on Reason Foundation's open enrollment best practices, surpassing Kentucky and Illinois. Currently, Missouri's open enrollment law is one of the weakest in the country because it's among the handful of states with no or nearly no open enrollment policies codified in state law.
Overall, SBs 906 and 971 are a step in the right direction, expanding students' public school options. But Missouri can and should do better by codifying a strong open enrollment system that prioritizes students' interests over districts by letting them transfer to public schools that are the right fit.
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Jude Schwalbach is a senior education policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/missouri-senate-bills-906-and-971-would-improve-open-enrollment/
Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: 50-state Report Reveals Gaps in Identification and Reentry Document Assistance for People Leaving Prison
LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 27 (TNSrpt) -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on Feb. 26, 2026, by Director of Criminal Justice Policy Vittorio Nastasi and criminal justice policy intern Maegan Smarkusky:* * *
New 50-state report reveals gaps in identification and reentry document assistance for people leaving prison
A new Reason Foundation report finds only 28 states mandate ID provision despite strong evidence linking employment access to reduced recidivism.
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Among the first challenges people face upon release from prison is obtaining identification documents required ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 27 (TNSrpt) -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on Feb. 26, 2026, by Director of Criminal Justice Policy Vittorio Nastasi and criminal justice policy intern Maegan Smarkusky: * * * New 50-state report reveals gaps in identification and reentry document assistance for people leaving prison A new Reason Foundation report finds only 28 states mandate ID provision despite strong evidence linking employment access to reduced recidivism. * Among the first challenges people face upon release from prison is obtaining identification documents requiredto obtain a job, rent an apartment, or open a bank account. Without a photo ID, birth certificate, or Social Security card, formerly incarcerated individuals cannot access the employment, housing, and financial services that facilitate successful reentry.
Reintegrating people released from incarceration into society poses a significant policy challenge in the United States. There are approximately 1.3 million people currently incarcerated in state and federal prisons. The vast majority of them will eventually return to their communities, joining the 5 million Americans who have previously served time in prison.
Upon release, the formerly incarcerated continue to face a wide array of restrictions on their legal rights, civic participation, and employment. These challenges contribute to high recidivism rates, with approximately half of those released from state prison returning within three years. This cycle of reoffending and reincarceration not only imperils public safety but also diminishes economic productivity, separates families, erodes civic culture, and siphons more taxpayer dollars into incarceration year after year.
A new report from Reason Foundation documents significant variation in state-level assistance programs designed to provide identification documents to individuals reentering society from incarceration. The report reveals substantial gaps in both program coverage and legislative frameworks across the United States. The report includes detailed profiles of all 50 states, documenting each state's statutory provisions, administrative policies, and implementation strategies.
Key findings
The report surveyed statutory provisions, administrative regulations, and agency practices across all 50 states for three essential credential types: photo identification cards, birth certificates, and Social Security cards.
Identification cards
* Twenty-eight states (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin) have enacted laws that explicitly direct the state corrections agency to provide or assist incarcerated individuals in obtaining a photo identification card prior to release.
* Corrections agencies in 16 additional states (Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Wyoming) operate such programs without a statutory mandate. In 10 of these states (Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wyoming), we identified published, written policies or procedures governing the provision of photo IDs.
* Five states (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Vermont, and West Virginia) issue temporary identification cards that can be used to obtain permanent documentation post-release. In Illinois, New York, and Utah, inmates may receive a permanent ID if they are able to obtain the necessary supporting documentation; otherwise, they may be issued a temporary identification card.
* We were unable to identify any statutory or regulatory basis for providing photo IDs to incarcerated individuals in Missouri.
Birth certificates
* Fifteen states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia) have enacted laws explicitly requiring correctional agencies to assist eligible inmates in obtaining a certified copy of their birth certificate.
* In 21 additional states (Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming), agencies operate such programs absent a statutory requirement. Of these, 14 states (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming) have published policies or procedures outlining their approach.
* We found no clear statutory, regulatory, or publicly available policy basis for assisting inmates with birth certificate access in 14 states (Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin).
Social Security cards
* Fifteen states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia) have adopted laws mandating that correctional agencies assist eligible individuals with obtaining a Social Security card.
* In 21 other states (Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming), agencies provide this assistance through programs or partnerships despite the absence of statutory direction. Fourteen of those states (Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming) have published procedures or written policies governing the process.
* We found no clear statutory or regulatory basis for providing assistance with Social Security card replacement in 14 states (Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin).
Overview of state implementation strategies
States have pursued a variety of approaches to assisting inmates with obtaining a photo identification card. Assisting inmates with obtaining a Social Security card and a certified copy of their birth certificate generally involves establishing memoranda of understanding between the state corrections agency, the federal Social Security Administration, and state offices of vital statistics. Corrections agencies have also generally adopted standard procedures for compiling necessary information and coordinating with relevant agencies as part of the reentry planning process.
States have adopted three primary models for implementing photo ID assistance during incarceration, each with distinct characteristics and resource requirements:
Mobile units
Transportation agencies deploy mobile Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) units equipped with photography and credential-printing equipment to correctional facilities. This model offers flexibility and scalability, allowing a single unit to serve multiple facilities while also providing services to rural communities. However, the mobile nature limits processing capacity at each location.
Transportation agency-operated embedded facilities
State motor vehicle agencies establish permanent offices within correctional facilities, staffed by agency personnel. This approach provides on-demand processing capacity without requiring corrections staff training, but requires sustained inter-agency coordination and resource allocation.
Corrections agency-operated embedded facilities
Transportation agencies provide equipment and training, while corrections agencies operate the facilities. This model grants corrections agencies greater operational control and may be more sustainable long-term, though it requires initial capital investment and ongoing staff allocation.
These models are not mutually exclusive. Several states have successfully implemented hybrid approaches combining embedded facilities at major institutions with mobile units serving smaller facilities.
States should pursue legislative reforms
While informal inter-agency cooperation has enabled program implementation in some jurisdictions, these programs should be codified in state legislation to ensure their long-term success and improvement. Legislative mandates survive administrative turnover, shifting budget priorities, and changes in agency leadership that may threaten discretionary programs.
Beyond ensuring these programs have long-term support not solely contingent on agency discretion, codifying these programs also provides the opportunity for oversight and revision. For instance, Virginia House Bill 2221 mandates an ID program, requires the correctional agency to create a report on how many credentials were actually provided, and asks the department to produce a legislative recommendation for altering the bill to improve the ID program.
Ensuring access to basic identification documents represents a relatively low-cost intervention with significant potential to facilitate successful reintegration and reduce recidivism. By removing unnecessary administrative barriers to employment and self-sufficiency, states can enhance public safety, reduce correctional expenditures, and facilitate the reintegration of returning citizens into productive economic participation.
The full report, From Prison to Paperwork: A 50-State Survey of Policies on Reentry Identification Documents, includes comprehensive state-by-state profiles detailing specific statutory citations, administrative policies, and program implementation approaches for all 50 states.
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Vittorio Nastasi is the director of criminal justice policy at Reason Foundation.
Maegan Smarkusky is a criminal justice policy intern at Reason Foundation.
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REPORT: https://reason.org/wp-content/uploads/fifty-state-survey-policies-reentry-identification-documents.pdf
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/new-50-state-report-reveals-gaps-in-identification-and-reentry-document-assistance-for-people-leaving-prison/
Rare Disease Day has special meaning for OMRF scientist
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Feb. 27 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:* * *
Rare Disease Day has special meaning for OMRF scientist
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Rare diseases affect an estimated 300 million people worldwide - so many that the last day of February is set aside each year to recognize them.
For Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Wan Hee Yoon, Ph.D., this year's Rare Disease Day carries more significance than usual. It comes the same week that The American Journal of Human Genetics published his lab team's discovery of an ultra-rare neurological disease.
Yoon ... Show Full Article OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Feb. 27 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news: * * * Rare Disease Day has special meaning for OMRF scientist * Rare diseases affect an estimated 300 million people worldwide - so many that the last day of February is set aside each year to recognize them. For Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Wan Hee Yoon, Ph.D., this year's Rare Disease Day carries more significance than usual. It comes the same week that The American Journal of Human Genetics published his lab team's discovery of an ultra-rare neurological disease. Yoonled an international coalition of scientists who found that mutations of a single gene, NRDC, caused the disorder. In the process, they identified 16 children afflicted with it.
This marks Yoon's fifth discovery of a rare neurological disease, each caused by separate gene mutations. As with the previous four, this disease has devastating neurological effects.
For Yoon, whose lab focuses on unraveling mysteries like this one, the discovery culminates 14 years of study into NRDC.
His research began in 2012, when Yoon, working as a postdoctoral fellow at the Baylor College of Medicine, discovered severe neurological issues in fruit flies bred with a mutation of NRDC. Four years later, a California boy was found through genetic testing to have a mutation of the same gene.
"But with just one known case at that time, we couldn't prove that this mutation caused his condition," Yoon said.
In 2021, a second case was confirmed in Turkey. This drew scientists from eight other countries to begin examining the effects of missing or malfunctioning NRDC genes.
Collaborating with Yoon, they found that fruit flies without a working version of this gene died early. But when scientists gave them a normal NRDC gene, the flies survived.
They have since found that 14 more children, primarily in Middle Eastern countries, had the same disease-causing mutation in NRDC. All had profound intellectual disability and abnormally small brains. Six died before their first birthday, and three others died before turning 3.
"Dr. Yoon excels at the painstaking, prolonged science necessary to identify the mutations behind these rare, incapacitating conditions," said Benjamin Miller, Ph.D., who chairs OMRF's Aging & Metabolism Research Program.
While Yoon's latest discovery is neither a cure nor a treatment for the rare, unnamed disease, it cast light on mysteries that will need to be solved for those one day to become possible. "In that sense, our discovery moved us one step further in understanding how the human body works," he said.
Yoon's research was supported by grant No. R01 NS121298 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health, and by the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.
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Original text here: https://omrf.org/2026/02/27/rare-disease-day-has-special-meaning-for-omrf-scientist/
Health Foundation: Continued Rise of Young People Not Earning or Learning Should Be a Wake-up Call
LONDON, England, Feb. 28 -- The Health Foundation issued the following statement by Sam Atwell, policy and research manager at the Healthy Lives, on the latest Office for National Statistics data on the number of young people not in education, employment or training:* * *
'The continued rise of young people not in education, employment or training should be a wake up call. Not working or learning can have profound consequences for young people's current and future health, earnings and life opportunities.
'Poor health is increasingly a factor behind young people not in work or education. This ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, Feb. 28 -- The Health Foundation issued the following statement by Sam Atwell, policy and research manager at the Healthy Lives, on the latest Office for National Statistics data on the number of young people not in education, employment or training: * * * 'The continued rise of young people not in education, employment or training should be a wake up call. Not working or learning can have profound consequences for young people's current and future health, earnings and life opportunities. 'Poor health is increasingly a factor behind young people not in work or education. Thiscreates a cycle that is hard to break: ill health makes it harder to participate, and not earning or learning for long periods can worsen mental and physical health over time.
'Alan Milburn's independent review is the opportunity to dismantle the structural issues that lead to young people, particularly those with health challenges, prematurely falling out of education and struggling to get a foothold in the labour market.
'This will require action on two fronts. We need to see early intervention in schools to prevent young people from falling through the cracks. We also need to provide suitable routes and support back into learning and employment for young people who are already out of work or education.'
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Original text here: https://www.health.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/continued-rise-of-young-people-not-earning-or-learning-should-be-a-wake-up-call
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary: Japan's Economic Plan
DETROIT, Michigan, Feb. 27 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on Feb. 26, 2026, by political theorist Jake Scott:* * *
Japan's Economic Plan
New election gives Sanae Takaichi a mandate for reforms.
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In the wake of Japan's early general election on February 8, 2026, much of the commentary has focused on two major aspects: the landslide victory of Sanae Takaichi's Jiyu-Minshuto (Liberal Democrat Party, LDP) of 316 seats; and LDP's hardline shift against immigration and foreign workers. Underdiscussed, however, are the likely impacts the election outcome ... Show Full Article DETROIT, Michigan, Feb. 27 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on Feb. 26, 2026, by political theorist Jake Scott: * * * Japan's Economic Plan New election gives Sanae Takaichi a mandate for reforms. * In the wake of Japan's early general election on February 8, 2026, much of the commentary has focused on two major aspects: the landslide victory of Sanae Takaichi's Jiyu-Minshuto (Liberal Democrat Party, LDP) of 316 seats; and LDP's hardline shift against immigration and foreign workers. Underdiscussed, however, are the likely impacts the election outcomehas on Japan's economic fortunes.
The election to the House of Representatives, the lower house of the National Diet, was held early after Takaichi's winning of the leadership in October 2025. Takaichi, Japan's first female Prime Minister, was governing with a minority as part of a coalition with the Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party, JIP), but the early election led to the largest majority Japan's government has seen since 1945, with a supermajority exceeding even the 2009 majority of 308 won by the left-wing Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan, DPJ). As The Economist pointed out, the victory has been read as giving Takaichi quite a significant personal mandate.
But this mandate comes at a time of unusual economic sensitivity. The scale of the victory matters not simply because it consolidated the rule of the conservative right in Japan, but because it expands the government's fiscal and legislative room for maneuver as Japan navigates inflation, currency weakness, and the first meaningful shift away from ultra-loose monetary policy in a generation.
The immediate economic debate now centers on the future fiscal direction of the nation. Japan's gross public debt remains the highest in the developed world relative to GDP (currently 228%). For decades, that burden has been manageable due almost entirely to near-zero interest rates, and strong domestic absorption of government bonds; but as policies shift, so too does arithmetic. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has consistently warned that Japan must balance near-term growth support with credible medium-term consolidation; likewise, the Japanese Ministry of Finance has stressed that rising interest rates will mechanically increase debt servicing costs, narrowing fiscal flexibility despite the legislative headroom.
In this context, tax cuts are politically attractive--but economically consequential. On one hand, they promise relief for households facing elevated import costs and energy prices that have remained high largely due to an overexposure to international prices, and the weakness of the yen on the dollar. On the other, tax cuts raise questions about sustainability unless accompanied by structural reforms that lift productivity and expand the tax base. The parliamentary majority removes legislative gridlock, and ensures political will; it does not remove bond market scrutiny or override economic reality.
The fiscal question intersects directly with Japan's evolving monetary regime. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has begun adjusting the framework that defined Japanese macroeconomics for much of the past two decades; but the transition is delicate. As Mia Glass has pointed out in Bloomberg, bond markets are sensitive to even incremental policy adjustments.
So, in the combined context of a shifting economic landscape and a landslide victory forming Japan's largest ever supermajority, it is important to consider the LDP's economic policies and their likely impact on the economic future of the country.
Takaichi's government's economic commitments rest on three pillars: targeted tax relief; strategic industrial policy; and calibrated fiscal management within the aforementioned extremely high public debt.
Notwithstanding the above difficulties around tax cuts, this has sat at the center of the LDP's economic narrative: the tax cuts that the party favors are intended to ease rising cost-of-living pressures and stimulate private investment. Given the limited ability of any national government to ride the waves of international economic fortunes, tax cuts are the most attractive--and reasonable--route to reducing burdens on the population.
The main beneficiaries of the tax cuts are intended to be those most exposed to international tensions: first and foremost are working and middle-income households who were most deeply impacted by inflation. Because wage growth has lagged behind prices as a consequence, disposable income has been squeezed, leading to tax reductions as a compensatory method of restoring purchasing power, stabilizing household consumption and easing political dissatisfaction.
Second are the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with which the LDP, like any conservative party, maintains strong ties. Here, however, is more than pandering to a base; it is a long-term strategic attempt to facilitate domestic manufacturing and export-oriented firms by lessening their burdens, and encouraging capital expenditures and investments in a likely period of tightening borrowing conditions. All of this is a gamble: but the hope is that, by boosting domestic manufacturing through tax cuts over subsidies, long-term regional development is assured and state interventionism is decreased, leading to a more sustainable economic footing.
The third intended beneficiaries are those firms operating in industries and sectors that align closely with the new government's industrial policy goals, such as semiconductors, green technology (especially reversing the country's previous move away from nuclear), and, perhaps most crucially, the defense industry. Given that it's baked into the Japanese constitution in Article 9 that defense spending must be pacifist in focus--a long legacy of the Second World War and an attempt to neutralize the once-Imperial nation--this is only possible with a supermajority. Which, of course, Takaichi's LDP now has.
But the shift in defense spending policies are economically significant as much as political: first, the intention of targeted growth stimulus via the defense industry ties in with the other strategic industries, including semiconductors, tying defense closer to domestic prosperity as much as international security--much like China; and second, there is a hope that if this works, and the increased defense spending strengthens Japan's geopolitical position and industrial base, bond markets might stabilize through improved growth credibility. But if this growth fails to materialize, this could completely backfire, increasing imports without the domestic economy bolstered to offset them.
Overall, Takaichi and the LDP are taking some significant steps in restructuring the Japanese economy away from international dependency, and back towards self-sufficiency--but not in key strategic industries. This is a risk, and at a time of international turmoil, could well be the wrong one. But if it works, it could pay major dividends.
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Dr Jake Scott is a political theorist specialising in populism and its relationship to political constitutionality. He has taught at multiple British universities and produced research reports for several think tanks.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/japans-economic-plan/
Breakthrough T1D Announces National Volunteer Award Recipients at Annual One Conference
NEW YORK, Feb. 27 -- Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, posted the following news release:* * *
Breakthrough T1D Announces National Volunteer Award Recipients at Annual One Conference
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New York, Feb. 27, 2026-Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, proudly presented five awards to outstanding volunteer leaders and influential organizations whose impact has pushed the organization's mission forward. The group was recognized with the awards at Breakthrough T1D's annual ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Feb. 27 -- Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, posted the following news release: * * * Breakthrough T1D Announces National Volunteer Award Recipients at Annual One Conference * New York, Feb. 27, 2026-Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, proudly presented five awards to outstanding volunteer leaders and influential organizations whose impact has pushed the organization's mission forward. The group was recognized with the awards at Breakthrough T1D's annualOne Conference on Feb. 26, 2026, in New Orleans. Award recipients include:
* Pete Cerar, Carol and Erwin Lurie Award
* Deborah Nuzzo, Dr. Gerald Fishbone Award
* Matt Varey, Jim Tyree Award
* Larry Soler, John Brady Award for Innovation
* Mattel, Voice of Influence Award
"Breakthrough T1D's volunteer leaders and partners are fueling the movement that brings our purpose to life and that will help make type 1 diabetes a thing of the past," said Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., Breakthrough T1D CEO. "We're thrilled to honor these leaders whose generous and bold action has had a profound and lasting impact on our organization and the entire type 1 diabetes community. We're grateful for their commitment to accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications."
Carol and Erwin Lurie Award
Named after Carol and Erwin Lurie, who helped found Breakthrough T1D in 1970, the Carol and Erwin Lurie Award is presented to a chapter volunteer whose commitment to the volunteer and staff partnership has significantly advanced the mission and strategic priorities of Breakthrough T1D over the past fiscal year. Breakthrough T1D celebrates Pete Cerar's dedicated service and extensive and influential leadership within his chapter and across Breakthrough T1D programs.
Pete became involved with Breakthrough T1D in 2016 shortly after his son, Brice, was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 13. He currently serves as board president of the Northern Ohio Chapter and member of the Golf Committee, Ride Committee, Gala Committee, and the Ohio Territory Executive Leadership Team. Pete is an avid supporter of the Breakthrough T1D Ride program. Since 2019, Pete and his wife, Jackie, have completed five rides, and they pledge to ride until a cure is found. As a board president, Pete was instrumental in separating three combined boards to ensure each could focus more intimately on their unique communities and growth opportunities. He partnered closely with staff to guide the recruitment of new leaders, establish sustainable committee structures, and define each chapter's strategic priorities. He continues to foster cross-chapter connections and encourages leaders to think locally and strategically. He is actively involved in his chapter's events and is committed to growing event leadership and donor pipelines. At the 2025 Promise Ball Gala, Pete single-handedly recruited four of the eight "Moms on a Mission" honorees, securing influential community leaders who helped drive record engagement and donor participation.
Dr. Gerald Fishbone Award
The Dr. Gerald Fishbone Award recognizes an individual for exemplary, long-term volunteerism in support of Breakthrough T1D mission priorities. Breakthrough T1D is proud to recognize Deborah Nuzzo with the Dr. Gerald Fishbone Award for her longstanding volunteerism at Breakthrough T1D, service on the Global Mission Board, and leadership within numerous chapters.
Deborah's journey with T1D began when she was diagnosed with the condition 54 years ago. In 2002, she became involved with Breakthrough T1D through her local chapter and quickly discovered a deep sense of purpose. Throughout her decades of service to Breakthrough T1D, Deborah has served in many volunteer leadership roles. She currently serves on the Global Mission Board and Board Development Council and is a sustaining board member within her local chapter in Naples, Florida.
Deborah and her husband John have chaired multiple galas and been recognized as gala honorees. In 2017, Deborah took on a challenging gala in need of support, and within the first year, the gala revenue increased by 300%. She has served as board president for multiple chapters, where her strong business acumen, tenacity, and steady leadership has been invaluable. In 2014, Deborah played a critical role in facilitating the merger of the Central Jersey and Mid-Jersey chapters, helping to strengthen the organization's footprint and impact. In just the past month, Deborah helped lead the South Gulf Coast Chapter gala to record highs in fundraising. She has passionately contributed to each program Breakthrough T1D has to offer, advocating for T1D research and fostering a strong sense of community along the way
Jim Tyree Award
The Jim Tyree Award recognizes a volunteer leader who has made a significant and noteworthy contribution to Breakthrough T1D during their tenure of service. Breakthrough T1D celebrates Matt Varey's impactful leadership and unwavering commitment to raising funds for T1D research.
Matt's involvement with Breakthrough T1D began in 2001 with his participation in the "battle of the banks" Ride. While he has no direct connection to T1D, he selflessly gives his time to advance Breakthrough T1D's mission. Matt currently serves as the Vice Chair of Breakthrough T1D's International Board of Directors and is the first Canadian and first person from outside of the United States to hold this leadership role. He also actively serves as a member of the Breakthrough T1D Canada Board of Directors.
Matt is a former chair of Breakthrough T1D Canada. In 2025, Matt's desire to inspire others to action and raise awareness and funds for T1D motivated his Coast-to-Coast for Cures Ride across Canada with the incredible support of his wife AJ and the remarkable Breakthrough T1D Canadian team. During this two-month-long cycling journey, he withstood many hardships - from terrain and temperatures to insects and natural disasters - which further illustrated his steadfast commitment to Breakthrough T1D and the T1D community. He has provided leadership and support for Breakthrough T1D's Global Expansion project, which has helped the organization to purposefully advance this work. Breakthrough T1D has benefitted greatly from Matt's 20-year partnership.
John Brady Award for Innovation
The John Brady Award for Innovation recognizes an outstanding Breakthrough T1D volunteer who has exhibited leadership in driving innovation and pioneering projects or ideas with the potential to meaningfully impact the T1D community. Breakthrough T1D is proud to honor Larry Soler's impactful contributions to the advocacy program and commitment to Breakthrough T1D's mission.
Larry was diagnosed with T1D at 22 years old, and he has since devoted his time and talents to rallying around the cause. Larry currently serves as a member of the Directors Emeritus. He is an active volunteer within his local chapter and has participated in century bike rides with the Ride program for over eight years.
Larry has been a constant within Breakthrough T1D since 1998, when he joined the advocacy team, leading major organizational policy initiatives that resulted in passage of legislation that has provided more than $2 billion in supplemental federal funding for T1D research and Native American treatment programs since it was established. In 2001, he went on to organize and chair a national patient campaign that successfully paved the way for regenerative medicine that has now resulted in the mass production of insulin-producing cells that have been transplanted into patients. Notably, Larry partnered with Breakthrough T1D CEO, Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., to spearhead the Artificial Pancreas Project, working together to create a regulatory, reimbursement, and business atmosphere that resulted in the industry's pursuit of game-changing closed loop devices that are now on the market. Larry joined the International Board of Directors (IBOD) in 2012, where he sat on the Executive Committee and chaired the Nominating and Governance, Audit, and CEO Search committees throughout his six-year tenure. He also chaired a special governance reform committee that reduced the IBOD size by 50% to match best practices in the nongovernmental organization community. In 2020, Larry and his family were honored with the Rapaport Lifetime Service Award at the Mid Atlantic Chapter Gala. This award recognizes individuals or families who support and serve the T1D community over many years and who make a true impact for all those living with T1D.
Voice of Influence Award
The Voice of Influence Award recognizes a public figure who uses their voice to raise T1D awareness and drive support for the T1D community. Breakthrough T1D proudly recognizes Mattel for their partnership in developing the first-ever Barbie(r) doll with T1D to drive breakthroughs big and small, shaping a world where people with T1D are seen, heard, and empowered.
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, including Barbie. Through this meaningful representation, Mattel demonstrates a genuine commitment to advocacy-amplifying the voices of everyone living with T1D and helping the world understand their daily realities.
The Barbie Fashionistas line features more than 175 looks across various skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashion styles, including a Blind Barbie doll, a Barbie doll with Down Syndrome, and a Barbie doll with Hearing Aids, among others. The Barbie with T1D partnership exemplifies the power of marketing collaboration and has generated billions of media impressions to raise awareness for those living with T1D.
About Breakthrough T1D, Formerly JDRF
As the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with type 1 diabetes better while driving toward cures. We do this by investing in the most promising research, advocating for progress by working with government to address issues that impact the T1D community, and helping educate and empower individuals facing this condition.
About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short and long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death. Globally, it impacts 9.5 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D.
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Original text here: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/for-the-media/press-releases/breakthrough-t1d-announces-national-volunteer-award-recipients-at-annual-one-conference-2/