Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
MFA supports increased central clearing of gilt repo transactions
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Managed Funds Association posted the following news release:
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MFA supports increased central clearing of gilt repo transactions
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Reforms to support voluntary clearing will reduce risk, improve efficiency, and underpin a more resilient gilt market
London, UK MFA urged the Bank of England to encourage greater voluntary central clearing of bilateral gilt repo transactions in a comment letter today. MFA recommended steps to expand clearing access and reduce structural barriers, while stressing that a mandatory clearing requirement
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Managed Funds Association posted the following news release:
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MFA supports increased central clearing of gilt repo transactions
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Reforms to support voluntary clearing will reduce risk, improve efficiency, and underpin a more resilient gilt market
London, UK MFA urged the Bank of England to encourage greater voluntary central clearing of bilateral gilt repo transactions in a comment letter today. MFA recommended steps to expand clearing access and reduce structural barriers, while stressing that a mandatory clearing requirementis premature.
"A stable gilt repo market helps keep borrowing costs low for the UK government, businesses, and households," said Jillien Flores, MFA Chief Advocacy Officer. "Voluntary central clearing will strengthen resilience without increasing costs or pushing activity out of the market. Smart, proportionate reforms will help ensure the gilt market remains deep, liquid, and a cornerstone of global finance."
Central clearing of bilateral repos reduces counterparty credit risk, improves transparency for regulators, and increases market capacity by lowering balance sheet and capital costs for dealers. These benefits depend on expanding access so a broader range of market participants can clear their trades. A voluntary approach, paired with stronger infrastructure and "done-away" clearing, will strengthen the market. The scale of the UK gilt market continues to evolve and imposing a mandatory clearing mandate at this time would disproportionately raise costs, limit participation, and concentrate activity among fewer firmsall to the detriment of market liquidity.
MFA outlined several areas where the Bank of England can reduce barriers and encourage greater adoption of voluntary central clearing, including:
* Address capital and accounting barriers: Revise capital requirements and accounting rules that make clearing costly for dealers and clients.
* Improve operational efficiency: Implement pre-trade credit checks and robust close-out provisions to reduce risk and streamline clearing processes.
* Enable cross-margining: Allow firms to offset margin requirements across products, which lowers costs and encourages broader adoption.
* Expand access through "done-away" clearing: Ensure indirect participants can clear trades executed with third parties, preserving anonymous trading and reducing fragmentation.
MFA also cautioned against requiring mandatory haircuts on non-centrally cleared repos. Such measures would ignore offsetting transactions that reduce risk, deviate from longstanding market practices, and impair liquidity. Firms should retain flexibility to apply proportionate, risk-based margining tailored to their counterparties and strategies.
Read the full letter here.
About the global alternative asset management industry
The global alternative asset management industry including hedge funds, private credit funds, and hybrid funds serves thousands of public and private pension funds, charitable endowments, foundations, and other global institutional investors. The industry provides portfolio diversification and risk-adjusted returns to help meet their funding obligations and return targets throughout the economic cycle.
About MFA
Managed Funds Association (MFA), based in Washington, D.C., New York City, Brussels, and London, represents the global alternative asset management industry. MFA's mission is to advance the ability of alternative asset managers to raise capital, invest it, and generate returns for their beneficiaries. MFA advocates on behalf of its membership and convenes stakeholders to address global regulatory, operational, and business issues. MFA has more than 180 fund manager members, including traditional hedge funds, private credit funds, and hybrid funds, that employ a diverse set of investment strategies. Member firms help pension plans, university endowments, charitable foundations, and other institutional investors diversify their investments, manage risk, and generate attractive returns throughout the economic cycle.
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Original text here: https://www.mfaalts.org/press-releases/mfa-supports-increased-central-clearing-of-gilt-repo-transactions/
The ASAM Weekly for November 25th, 2025
CHEVY CHASE, Maryland, Nov. 27 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news release:
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The ASAM Weekly for November 25th, 2025
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This Week in the ASAM Weekly
As the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches, we at the ASAM Weekly want to support our readers with our traditional Conversation Starters for the Addiction Specialist. This year's topic is pop culture.
As your guests start rolling in, welcome them with some warm appetizers, good vibes, and a simple remark about how much you liked Season 3 of The White Lotus. It's all but certain that
... Show Full Article
CHEVY CHASE, Maryland, Nov. 27 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news release:
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The ASAM Weekly for November 25th, 2025
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This Week in the ASAM Weekly
As the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches, we at the ASAM Weekly want to support our readers with our traditional Conversation Starters for the Addiction Specialist. This year's topic is pop culture.
As your guests start rolling in, welcome them with some warm appetizers, good vibes, and a simple remark about how much you liked Season 3 of The White Lotus. It's all but certain thatmany will praise the show's relevance; however, some might comment about an association with internet searches for lorazepam. That's right, your guests also read JAMA Health Forum.
This could lead to a deeper discussion about the ills of the internet. Parents in particular will commiserate about being unable to protect their kids from social media ( Digital Trends ). Some might support an internet that comes with warning labels, while others find hope in cultural movements like the "Scrolling Kills" billboards of New York. Either way, you can tell them there's a word for what they're experiencing: "Enshittification!" ( Fortune ).
While some of your guests silently wonder if that was slang or a swear word, re-direct them to their seats and serve them something more positive with their dinner. Tell them how you recently read in the ASAM Weekly that Contingency Management Saves Lives and it's not just for methamphetamines ( Addiction ). Go on to explain that it's a form of harm reductionsomething beautifully built on trust, attunement, and competence ( Harm Reduction Journal ).
If they look bewildered, just say, "You know, the opposite of Purdue Pharmaceuticals." Many will nod in agreement, as they've all read about the evil opioid corporation so often featured in The New York Times.
As the turkey coma starts kicking in, it's time to offer your guests some dessert. Start with the children first, but be very careful when talking to any kids these days. They are known to speak in nonsensical numbers while waving their hands up and down. It's an infectious phenomenon of unknown cause (likely viral) that spreads quickly and has been known to affect adults too. The only thing that can stop itand save your Thanksgiving dinneris a good (bad) dad joke.
Q: How does a turkey say [insert numbers]?
A: "Gobble gobble...gobble gobble...gobble gobble..."
Tell Dad Jokes. Save Lives.
Thanks for reading,
Nicholas Athanasiou, MD, MBA, DFASAM
Editor in Chief
with Co-Editors: Brandon Aden, MD, MPH, FASAM; John A. Fromson, MD; Sarah Messmer, MD, FASAM; Jack Woodside, MD
Lead Story
Fatal Opioid Overdoses by Historical and Contemporary Neighborhood-Level Structural Racism
JAMA Health Forum
This cross-sectional study of 796 census tracts prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
(2017-2019) and 792 census tracts during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022) in Chicago, Illinois, assessed the extent to which there is a spatial association between neighborhood-level structural racism and opioid-involved overdose deaths. Researchers found that neighborhoods exposed to high levels of structural racism in the past (historical redlining) and present (contemporary segregation) had the highest fatal overdose incidence rates before the COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2019). Neighborhoods that experienced high levels of contemporary racism had the highest fatal overdose incidence rates during the pandemic (2020-2022).
Research and Science
Harnessing telemedicine to deliver patient-centered opioid agonist treatment within a community-based harm reduction service: a mixed methods evaluation
Harm Reduction Journal
This paper utilizes longitudinal chart review and semi-structured qualitative interviews (n=20) to describe the development and outcomes of a telemedicine opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment clinic co-located within a community-based harm reduction program in Montreal, Canada. Telemedicine visits with a medical team based out of a hospital addiction medicine service were facilitated by community harm reduction workers. Patients were offered methadone, buprenorphine/naloxone, or slow-release oral morphine for treatment of OUD, with or without hydromorphone co-prescription. Between April 2020 and March 2022, 69 patients started OUD treatment, with the majority reporting injection drug use (96%) and unstable housing (56%). Fifty-four percent of patients chose methadone, 35% chose slow-release oral morphine, 12% chose buprenorphine, with 78% receiving co-prescribed hydromorphone. Retention in care was 83% at one month, 74% at three months, and 54% at 12 months. Patients reported that trust, respect, patient-centered care, and the integration of harm reduction principles were critical to the program's success.
Dutasteride as a Treatment to Support Reduced Drinking: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Journal of Addiction Medicine
Dutasteride inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase involved in the production of neuroactive steroids that modify GABAA receptors. These neuroactive steroids are increased by ethanol, and this study explores whether inhibiting the production of these steroids will reduce alcohol use. Participants meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder (n=155) were randomly assigned to receive either dutasteride 1 mg daily or placebo for 12 weeks. Dutasteride compared to placebo reduced both standard drinks/week (-32% dutasteride vs -16% placebo, p=.016) and heavy drinking days (>5 drinks/day) (-40% dutasteride vs -23% placebo, p=.041). Reductions in phosphatidyl ethanol confirmed the self-reported reductions in drinking. Adverse events did not differ significantly in the two groups. The drinking reductions were less in women due to a greater placebo response in women than men. The authors conclude that dutasteride reduced heavy drinking.
Implementation and formative evaluation of a peer-led chemsex intervention targeting sexualised crystal methamphetamine and GHB use: the M3THOD study
Harm Reduction Journal
This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of a peer-led chemsex intervention (M3THOD) based in New South Wales, Australia, which seeks to address barriers to care and improve harm reduction engagement for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who use crystal methamphetamine and gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in sexual contexts. The study assessed acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of the service through 33 semi-structured qualitative interviews with clients, community members, M3THOD peer workers, M3THOD managers, and clinicians. Researchers found the M3THOD program was acceptable and appropriate, with appreciation from clients for peers' personal experiences which allowed for the rapid development of rapport and trust. The intervention was feasible as long as robust support for training, technical support, care for peers, and strong referral pathways were in place.
Association between cigarette smoking status, intensity, and cessation duration with long-term incidence of nine cardiovascular and mortality outcomes: The Cross-Cohort Collaboration (CCC)
PLOS Medicine
Tobacco use remains a leading cause of cardiovascular (CV) disease and mortality, and to better understand this relationship researchers assessed risk by pack-years, cigarettes per day (CPD), and years since cessation. Researchers found that even low-intensity use (2-5 CPD) was associated with increased risk of various CV outcomes. Cessation provided substantial immediate decrease in risks, which decreased further over time. Notably, former smokers with >20 pack-years of use had lower risk than current smokers with <5 pack-years of use. Researchers note that while duration and CPD are important in determining risk for current smokers, in former smokers, time since quitting may be more important than total pack-years. These findings highlight that helping patients quit smokingnot just cut downshould always be the goal.
Learn More
Contingency management interventions for substance use and addictive behaviours: Review of the United Kingdom evidence base
Addiction
Contingency management (CM) can be effective in changing behaviors, including abstinence, and adherence to other evidence-based treatments, including medication, for substance use and non-substance use (behavioral) related disorders. Researchers conducted a scoping review to evaluate implementation of CM in the United Kingdom. Overall, researchers found CM to be clinically effective, including digital approaches, but they also identified several barriers including resource limitations such as staff shortages, direct cost, and training requirements. Other barriers included possible ethical concerns about CM potentially being manipulative, risk of relapse when CM stops, and negative impact on therapeutic relationships. Given the demonstrated effectiveness of CM, the authors underscore the need to address these barriers.
Internet Searches for Lorazepam Following the Release of The White Lotus
JAMA Health Forum
On February 16, 2025, HBO Max released the third season of The White Lotus, which featured a central storyline in which a character repeatedly used lorazepam for anxiety, with frequent on-screen references to this benzodiazepine. Given that shows on streaming platforms can contribute to public interest and health behaviors, and lorazepam carries misuse risk, this study evaluated whether The White Lotus season 3 release was associated with increased public interest in lorazepam and compared trends with other commonly prescribed benzodiazepines. Researchers found that weekly internet search rates for lorazepam remained stable from January 2022 through the first week of February 2025, then increased following the release of the third season of The White Lotus (February 16, 2025) and remained elevated for 12 additional weeks (through the week of May 4, 2025). During this 12-week period, lorazepam queries were cumulatively 98.6% higher than expected, representing approximately 1.6 million additional searches. During the same time frame, queries for alprazolam and clonazepam remained at expected levels, at 1.4% and 0.7% of expected volumes, respectively.
In Support of a Public Health Approach to Drug Policy: Position Statement of AMERSA, Inc
Substance Use and Addiction Journal
This commentary describes the position on drug policy of The Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction (AMERSA). The authors note that in the past, the War on Drugs was punitive, not evidence based, and produced societal damage. Currently, xylazine scheduling and drug-induced homicide laws also criminalize people who use drugs and make them reluctant to access harm reduction services and help with overdoses for fear of arrest. The authors state that drug use is a public health concern that should be approached with evidence-based and compassionate approaches. Evidence-based approaches include drug checking programs, overdose prevention centers, and Good Samaritan laws. AMERSA recommends that health care experts and people with lived experience be included in drug policy making, and opposes policies that impose criminal penalties.
In the News
Judge to Approve Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy, Releasing Billions for Opioid Plaintiffs
The New York Times
GLP-1 weight-loss treatment is being used for alcohol and drug addiction
The Washington Post
Kids' screen addiction is pushing parents to spend top dollars on digital
detox
Digital Trends
I helped build the architecture of addiction for social media and I see warning labels coming. That's just a start
Fortune
As inmates die from infections, guards blame addiction.
USA Today
She was pregnant and addicted to fentanyl. Getting to keep her baby saved them both
The Guardian
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Original text here: https://www.asam.org/news/detail/2025/11/27/the-asam-weekly-for-november-25th--2025
Olympic Champion Apolo Ohno to Deliver Keynote at The HFA Show 2026 in San Diego
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 27 -- The Health and Fitness Association (formerly the International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association) issued the following news release:
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Olympic Champion Apolo Ohno to Deliver Keynote at The HFA Show 2026 in San Diego
His talk will focus on the human connection in a rapidly changing world.
Washington, DC - The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) announces that Apolo Ohno, the most decorated US Winter Olympian in history, will deliver the third-day keynote address at The HFA Show 2026, taking place March 16-18, 2026, in San Diego.
Ohno's keynote, "Human
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 27 -- The Health and Fitness Association (formerly the International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association) issued the following news release:
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Olympic Champion Apolo Ohno to Deliver Keynote at The HFA Show 2026 in San Diego
His talk will focus on the human connection in a rapidly changing world.
Washington, DC - The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) announces that Apolo Ohno, the most decorated US Winter Olympian in history, will deliver the third-day keynote address at The HFA Show 2026, taking place March 16-18, 2026, in San Diego.
Ohno's keynote, "Human2.0: Upgrading Mindsets for Connection in a Fast-Changing World," will share how teams can stay connected, focused, and inspired amid constant change. Drawing from his Olympic journey and post-athletic career, Ohno will share strategies to cut through digital chaos, build trust, and transform shared challenges into collective strength, helping organizations thrive in a fast-paced world.
This message resonates with The HFA Show theme: Stronger Together. As the health and fitness industry continues to evolve, Ohno's insights will empower attendees to embrace reinvention, foster resilience, and lead with purpose, reminding us that our greatest strength lies in unity.
Ohno burst onto the speed skating scene by winning the US Championships at just 14 years old--after only six months of training. Over the next 15 years, he became a global icon, earning a combined eight Olympic medals in the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Games. Since retiring from competition, Ohno has become a best-selling author with his book "Hard Pivot: Embrace Change. Find Purpose. Show Up Fully." He also has become a sought-after speaker and a business leader focused on performance, reinvention, and purpose.
Ohno's Five Golden Principles for reinvention have helped countless individuals and organizations navigate change with clarity and confidence. He remains active in the Olympic movement, serving as an NBC sports analyst and ambassador for the Special Olympics and Winter Games. He also was a key advisor for the Salt Lake City Winter Games bid and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
From winning "Dancing with the Stars" to completing the Ironman World Championship in under 10 hours, Ohno continues to redefine what's possible--and now he's bringing the key strategies behind that mindset to The HFA Show 2026.
The HFA Show is the premier annual event for the health and fitness industry, hosted by the Health & Fitness Association. It brings together fitness professionals, club operators, wellness innovators, and thought leaders for three days of education, networking, and inspiration. Plus, it offers two days (March 17-18) of a vibrant trade show.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive on March 15 for the Health & Fitness Hall of Fame ceremony where the association will induct eight pioneers into the HFA Hall of Fame.
To learn more and to register for The HFA Show 2026, go to healthandfitness.org/show.
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About the Health & Fitness Association
The Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA), a global community of industry leaders, is the only worldwide trade association providing a unified voice for the community of leaders who operate health and fitness facilities, offer professional guidance on physical activity, and provide the tools and equipment to do so to the millions of fitness facility members who understand that exercise improves their physical and mental health.
Through advocacy, education, and research, the association speaks to opportunities, challenges, and changes that are moving the industry into a new era.
Founded in 1981, the association publishes a monthly magazine, Health & Fitness Business, and operates The HFA Show, the HFA European Congress, and the Fly-In and Advocacy Summit. The association also partners on events around the world, including Fitness Brasil, ChinaFit, and MEFIT Summit. Follow the Health & Fitness Association on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
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TNS LEADERSHIP
Original text here: https://www.healthandfitness.org/about/media-center/press-releases/olympic-champion-apolo-ohno-to-deliver-keynote-at-the-hfa-show-2026-in-san-diego/
[Category: Health Care]
National MS Society: Fast Forward Continues to Drive Research on Treatments for Progressive MS
NEW YORK, Nov. 27 -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news:
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Fast Forward Continues to Drive Research on Treatments for Progressive MS
Fast Forward - the commercial development program of the National MS Society - is doing its part to address unmet needs in MS. Specifically, addressing the lack of treatments that protect people with progressive MS from further nervous system damage, and repairing the damage that the disease has already caused. Fast Forward is uniquely poised to help commercial programs complete the necessary studies so that promising therapies
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Nov. 27 -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news:
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Fast Forward Continues to Drive Research on Treatments for Progressive MS
Fast Forward - the commercial development program of the National MS Society - is doing its part to address unmet needs in MS. Specifically, addressing the lack of treatments that protect people with progressive MS from further nervous system damage, and repairing the damage that the disease has already caused. Fast Forward is uniquely poised to help commercial programs complete the necessary studies so that promising therapiesdo not stall in the early stages of the MS pipeline.
Recent Funding
These four projects were selected in response to recent targeted funding opportunities seeking strategies to protect the nervous system or repair damage in MS:
Myrobalan Therapeutics is testing the effectiveness of its compound, MRO-002, on myelin repair in MS-like models to determine a safe and effective dose for future human trials in people with MS.
Neurogenesis is validating the safety and effectiveness of their experimental therapy, NG-01, in a Phase 2b clinical trial. NG-01 has previously been shown to protect nerve cells and improve clinical function in people with secondary progressive MS, and positive results of this trial could help advance it to a phase 3 clinical trial.
Population Council is testing the safety of their novel Nestorone (segesterone acetate) gel. Nestorone has previously been shown capable of promoting myelin repair in animal models; these safety studies are critical to testing the compound in people with MS.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada is studying a new, experimental compound that stops excitotoxicity (when the chemicals brain cells use to communicate become toxic to those cells). The compound is now entering the final stages of preclinical testing to prepare for future human clinical trials. This project is also supported by Brain Canada and Health Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund.
Recent Results
Clene Nanomedicine presented exciting findings on a trial partly supported by Fast Forward at the 2025 meeting of the European Committee on Treatment and Research in MS - the world's largest MS meeting. The study, funded by Fast Forward since 2023, tested an experimental therapy called Biocatalytic Nanocrystalline Gold (CNM-Au8) that provides supportive energy to brain cells. This support may facilitate myelin repair and nerve protection.
Overall, 26 people with MS participated in phase 2 trials, including 11 people with relapsing MS and 15 people with nonactive secondary progressive MS (not experiencing relapses). After 12 weeks of treatment, significant improvements in brain energy metabolism were seen with CNM-Au8 treatment across all groups.
The results also show striking connections between how the brain makes energy, and disease activity in MS. Tests administered before treatment show that brain energy metabolism correlated with MS disease severity, physical function, and cognitive function. This suggests that improving brain energy could help slow disease progression.
These data are available here. This is a small study with promising findings. More analysis is needed to determine if CNM-Au8 can stop MS progression and restore function lost in MS.
New Opportunity for 2026
Fast Forward is continuing to drive the development of treatments to stop MS progression, releasing a new request for applications to support therapeutic strategies addressing MS progression and progressive forms of MS. This request for applications is open to applicants from for-profit commercial organizations and not-for-profit research institutions worldwide.
Learn more...
Since 2009, we have deployed $26.3 million towards commercial research through Fast Forward including 43 projects in the biotech/biopharmaceutical sector and 13 projects at academic institutions.
Read more about how Fast Forward turns potential treatments into reality
Learn more about Fast Forward
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About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Currently there is no cure. Symptoms vary from person to person and may include disabling fatigue, mobility challenges, cognitive changes, and vision issues. An estimated 1 million people live with MS in the United States. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to minimize disability. Significant progress is being made to achieve a world free of MS.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National MS Society, founded in 1946, is the global leader of a growing movement dedicated to creating a world free of MS. The Society funds cutting-edge research for a cure, drives change through advocacy and provides programs and services to help people affected by MS live their best lives. Connect to learn more and get involved: nationalmssociety.org, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, YouTube or 1-800-344-4867.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/research-breaking-news-4
[Category: Health Care]
NVCA Statement on the Passing of John Backus
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 27 -- The National Venture Capital Association issued the following news release:
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NVCA Statement on the Passing of John Backus
WASHINGTON, DC - National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) President and CEO Bobby Franklin issued the following statement in response to the passing of former NVCA Board of Directors member John Backus:
"John was a generous and passionate leader whose work on behalf of founders, investors, and the venture community set a high standard. He brought tremendous insight to every discussion and he cared deeply about advancing innovation.
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 27 -- The National Venture Capital Association issued the following news release:
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NVCA Statement on the Passing of John Backus
WASHINGTON, DC - National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) President and CEO Bobby Franklin issued the following statement in response to the passing of former NVCA Board of Directors member John Backus:
"John was a generous and passionate leader whose work on behalf of founders, investors, and the venture community set a high standard. He brought tremendous insight to every discussion and he cared deeply about advancing innovation.NVCA joins the venture community in extending our heartfelt condolences to John's family, the team at PROOF, and all who had the honor of working alongside him."
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The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) empowers the next generation of American companies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow. As the voice of the U.S. venture capital and startup community, NVCA advocates for public policy that supports the American entrepreneurial ecosystem. Serving the venture community as the preeminent trade association, NVCA arms the venture community for success, serving as the leading resource for venture capital data, practical education, peer-led initiatives, and networking. For more information about NVCA, please visit www.nvca.org.
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Original text here: https://nvca.org/press_releases/nvca-statement-on-the-passing-of-john-backus/
[Category: Financial Services]
ERIC Legal Center Weighs in on Two Major Cases Impacting Large Employer Pension Plans
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- The ERISA Industry Committee issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:
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ERIC Legal Center Weighs in on Two Major Cases Impacting Large Employer Pension Plans
On Monday, The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) filed amicus briefs in two separate cases affecting pension plans governed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The first case represents a challenge to the practice of "pension risk transfers." The second case involves a challenge to the use of "forfeitures" in 401(k) plans. An overview of each case is below along with comments
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- The ERISA Industry Committee issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:
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ERIC Legal Center Weighs in on Two Major Cases Impacting Large Employer Pension Plans
On Monday, The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) filed amicus briefs in two separate cases affecting pension plans governed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The first case represents a challenge to the practice of "pension risk transfers." The second case involves a challenge to the use of "forfeitures" in 401(k) plans. An overview of each case is below along with commentsthat can be attributed to Tom Christina, Executive Director of the ERIC Legal Center. Links to each brief can be found at the conclusion of the overview.
Spohn v. International Business Machines Corporation
Spohn v. International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a putative class action brought by former IBM employees challenging a transaction in which a defined benefit pension plan maintained by IBM purchased annuity contracts from an insurance company by transferring assets to the insurer, which agreed to be liable for payment of the former employees' pension benefits. ERIC and a coalition of employers filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts supporting IBM's motion to dismiss the plaintiffs' complaint, explaining that the plaintiffs had not been harmed in any way.
"Pension risk transfer cases are another fad cooked up by the plaintiffs' bar. One thing is clear - these cases threaten to leave both employers and the courts drowning in costly and time-consuming litigation. This would be devastating to plan sponsors and the participants who rely on benefit plans for their financial security. The court can curtail the spread of this growing category of litigation by dismissing this case."
ERIC was joined by the American Benefits Council and the Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets on the brief. Seyfarth Shaw LLP prepared the amicus brief, which is available here (https://eric.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3fd7ffe23e2ee60817b3ee175&id=21cc5e5bef&e=4b9822ddff).
Wright v. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Wright v. JPMorgan Chase & Co. represents a growing wave of class actions challenging the use of "forfeitures" in 401(k) plans to pay plan expenses or offset employer contributions -- a practice that has been permitted under Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations that predate enactment of ERISA. ERIC and a coalition of trade associations filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to uphold a lower court decision that dismissed the case with prejudice earlier this year.
"When the lower court dismissed this case, they made clear that it is permissible for plans to use forfeited funds to offset either employer contributions to the plan or plan expenses. Those options didn't emerge from thin air. They were informed by more than half a century of regulatory and legislative precedent. But, unsatisfied with their "day in court," the plaintiff's bar is seeking the judicial equivalent of a "do-over." The court can end the game now by affirming the decision of the lower court. This would bring this case to a close before more money is spent on legal fees, leaving less to be invested in the voluntary retirement plans that employees rely on for financial security."
ERIC was joined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Benefits Council, and the National Retail Federation on the brief. Goodwin Procter LLP prepared the amicus brief, which is available here (https://eric.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3fd7ffe23e2ee60817b3ee175&id=b06bf4921d&e=4b9822ddff).
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All media inquiries to The ERISA Industry Committee should be directed to media@eric.org.
About The ERISA Industry Committee
ERIC is a national advocacy organization that exclusively represents large employers that provide health, retirement, paid leave, and other benefits to their nationwide workforces. With member companies that are leaders in every sector of the economy, ERIC advocates on the federal, state, and local levels for policies that promote flexibility and uniformity in the administration of their employee benefit plans.
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Original text here: https://www.eric.org/press_release/eric-legal-center-weighs-in-on-two-major-cases-impacting-large-employer-pension-plans/
[Category: Human Resources/Personnel]
Can Your Driving Patterns Predict Cognitive Decline?
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Nov. 27 -- The American Academy of Neurology issued the following news release:
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Can your driving patterns predict cognitive decline?
Highlights
* Your driving habits could be a marker of your brain health.
* GPS trackers spotted cognitive issues better than age or memory tests alone.
* People with mild cognitive impairment started driving less, especially at night, and stuck to familiar routes.
* Adding driving data to the mix increased the accuracy in detecting cognitive decline to 87%.
* Watching how you drive could help catch brain changes early--before
... Show Full Article
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Nov. 27 -- The American Academy of Neurology issued the following news release:
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Can your driving patterns predict cognitive decline?
Highlights
* Your driving habits could be a marker of your brain health.
* GPS trackers spotted cognitive issues better than age or memory tests alone.
* People with mild cognitive impairment started driving less, especially at night, and stuck to familiar routes.
* Adding driving data to the mix increased the accuracy in detecting cognitive decline to 87%.
* Watching how you drive could help catch brain changes early--beforeany crashes happen.
*
Using in-vehicle driving data may be a new way to identify people who are at risk of cognitive decline, according to a study published on November 26, 2025, in Neurology(R), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology
"Early identification of older drivers who are at risk for accidents is a public health priority, but identifying people who are unsafe is challenging and time-consuming," said study author Ganesh M. Babulal, PhD, OTD, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. "We found that using a GPS data tracking device, we could more accurately determine who had developed cognitive issues than looking at just factors such as age, cognitive test scores and whether they had a genetic risk factor related to Alzheimer's disease."
The study involved 56 people with mild cognitive impairment, which is a precursor to Alzheimer's disease, and 242 cognitively healthy people with an average age of 75. All participants were driving at least once a week at the start of the study.
Participants agreed to take tests of thinking skills and to have the data tracking device installed on their vehicles. They were then followed for more than three years.
While the driving patterns of the two groups were similar at the start of the study, over time older adults with mild cognitive impairment had greater reductions in how many times they drove each month, how often they drove at night and how much they varied their routine in where they drove.
The researchers used driving factors such as medium and maximum trip distance, how often people went above the speed limit and how much they varied their routine to predict whether a person had developed mild cognitive impairment with 82% accuracy. Once they added in the factors of age and other demographics, cognitive test scores and whether people had a gene associated with Alzheimer's, the accuracy improved to 87%. In comparison, using all of those factors without any driving information resulted in 76% accuracy.
"Looking at people's daily driving behavior is a relatively low-burden, unobtrusive way to monitor people's cognitive skills and ability to function," Babulal said. "This could help identify drivers who are at risk earlier for early intervention, before they have a crash or near miss, which is often what happens now. Of course, we also need to respect people's autonomy, privacy and informed decision-making and ensure ethical standards are met."
A limitation of the study is that most participants were highly educated, white people, so the results may not be generalizable to the overall population.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging.
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Original text here: https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5298
[Category: Medical]
